We have been on the mission field for less than a week and I already feel changed. Through the love of a couple who cant even speak the same language as me. Through incredibly beautiful views. Through the sights and sounds of the city. Through ministry preparation. Through the hearts of my team. Through vulnerable conversations. Through fasting, prayer and worship. Through some bomb food. Through salsa and tango dancing sessions with Olga and Momma Christina. Through lots of laughing. 

This month our team, Team Fiercely Loved, is paired up with Team Lit (We are Fiercely Lit). We are serving with a ministry called Ministero Vida Nuevo which is part of an Assemblies of God church nestled right outside of the city of Medellin. God has blessed us with amazing hosts, pastor Willy and his wife Christina. We are staying at there home and it holds the most amazing view overlooking the city. 

So far our days have been spent training for the ministry we are going to be doing over the next 3 weeks and getting acclimated to the city and the church we are serving. Although the ministry is primarily a prison ministry, Pastor Willy has different things planned for us this month. Along with prison ministry, we will be doing children’s ministry and evangelism through drama and dance. Yes, both of those things are way out of my comfort zone (WOO this is going to be FUN). Our team has had a blast preparing for it and I am excited to see what God does through it. 

Last night we went to church and Pastor Willie preached to us while one of the guys on our team named Oscar translated. Side note: we have 5 people on the team who knows Spanish and it has been the most amazing God-send. Pastor Willie preached out of Acts 3 where Paul heals the lame beggar outside of the gate called Beautiful. The beggar had been sitting there for years, unable to walk therefore unable to work, asking people passing by for money. Each day he went there thinking that he knew what he needed; but God had bigger things in store for him. Paul responded to the beggar saying “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you. Get up and walk.” DANG. When that man went to the gate that day, he had no clue that God would give him way more than what he showed up there looking for. 

Pastor related that back to us and our World Race. We are going to encounter people who think they know what they need to get by in life. They are standing there with their hand out asking for all the wrong things. Those things we may not have, but what we do have is going to change their entire life. Pastor Willie encouraged us to be bold and be willing to give away what  Holy Spirit wants us to give whether thats as big as a healing or as small as a smile. He challenged us to think about the times in our own life where we have been like the beggar, thinking we know what we need from the Lord and thinking we know what he should be doing through us. BUT NO… he has so much more in store for us and so much more He wants to do through us than we could ever imagine. 

I cannot wait to explore what that looks like and see it all unfold. 

Thank you for everyone who has been standing with me in prayer. Continued prayers are needed as we move into ministry next week. Prayers that our team would be bold in giving away the precious gifts we are led to give away. Prayers that the people of Colombia would have ears to hear and eyes to see. Prayers for Pastor Willie and his ministry. 

On earth as it is in heaven. 

Much love, 

Cam