Lent Photo a Day: Dessert

Shortly after we arrived to Colombia we were talking with one of the members of IELCO who has spent time in the United States, and understands some of the things we like. One of these is our love of dessert (good dessert). He told us that if we were ever feeling 'nostalgic' for dessert that tasted like it was from the US, where we could find a bakery that made such desserts. We never have learned the name and continue to call it nostalgic - and it is good! This was the first dessert we bought. 

Lent Photo a Day: Pisilago

Right before our first Chrsitmas vacation in Colombia, the IELCO office took a trip to Psisilago, a famous amusement park in Colombia. Katie and I took a paddle boat ride around the park.

Lent Photo a Day: Fuquene

When we arrived to Colombia, I didn't speak much Spanish at all, so I went to an intensive language school. One of the things the school offered was outings to see more of Bogota and surrounding areas and practice Spanish in the 'real world'. One of the outings we did (Curtis came with me) was go to Fuquene a lake near Bogota and go for a short boat ride. It was absolutely beautiful! 

Lent Photo a Day: Apartment Warming

When we first arrived to Colombia in 2014, we stayed at IELCO's guest house as we searched for an apartment of our own. After we found our apartment and had moved in, our companions in the IELCO office helped us celebrate with a house warming party.

Lent Photo a Day: Arrival

This photo was taken the first night we arrived in Colombia, we were warmly welcomed at the airport and when we got to the Church Guest House (where we lived our first month) there was this basket of Colombian fruit and a sweet card to welcome us. 

Lent Photo a Day: Who am I?

At a workshop on Women's Rights, we played a 'guess who I am game', based on how others were responding to the identity taped to our backs. Being invited into spaces like this was always an honor as it showed a level of comfort and trust that my counterparts in IELCO and ecumenical partners felt.

Starting Lent

A few years ago we started the tradition to post a picture a day during Lent. This Lent we will continue with the tradition focusing on "remembering". We have been in Colombia almost 5 years (where did the time go) and there are so many stories that haven't made it on the blog; short stories from the ordinary moments of life that we don't want to forget. 

This is what I wrote in our last newsletter (which was emailed on February 25): Several years ago we started the tradition of sharing a photo-a-day on our blog during Lent. Lent is starting next week (March 6) and we have committed to continuing our tradition. This year we are focusing on remembering. We have been in Colombia almost 5 years now, and so much has happened. We have shared the bigger events on our blog (retreats, workshops, etc) however, so many of the day to day activities never make it to the blog. It is Biblical to remember and to share our stories. In Joshua we read: “The people crossed the Jordan River….They carried with them the twelve rocks that they had taken from the Jordan River, and Joshua set them up at Gilgal. Then Joshua told the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these rocks mean?’ Tell them, ‘These rocks help us remember the way the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry land.’” (Joshua 4:19-22) These are our “theme verses” this year for Lent. We won’t share rocks (although, some of you may know I do have a habit of collecting rocks to remember places and times) but we will share photos. Every day in Lent we will share a photo of a memory either Curtis or I have from our time throughout the last 5 years. I hope you join us as we remember the people, places, and moments that have made Colombia so special to us.

This picture was taken at the Tayrona national park, and is our 'theme' picture for Lent. What are memories you have of Colombia? Memories of Global Mission?