October Highlight: Kersey Visit

We were truly blessed by Paul and Becky Kersey's visit in mid-October (from our sending church in CA). Becky was here for one week and Paul for two. During that time we were able to share our daily lives with them, visit some of Bogota's sights and introduce them to our many friends and ministries here.

 

 On top of the mountain that overlooks Bogota at the Monserrate Catholic church complex.

The view of the church on our way up in the cable car.

 

 Paul and Bill purchasing hats on the street downtown.

Spent an evening with four other married couples, Paul had us work on an activity and then gave a brief devotional about marriage.

 

 

 Introduced them to as many of Bogota's traditional foods as possible. This is our version of a tamal - usually eaten at breakfast or for a light evening meal.

We enjoyed every day spent together ... when are you coming back??

P.S. thankful that Paul also fixed my clogged sink while he was here!

September Church Happenings

 There were several good opportunities for fellowship and for working together this month at our church. We had a special lunch for all the leaders and their families on the first Saturday; several planning meetings; baptisms last Sunday... as well as the regular weekly worship and Bible study gatherings.

 

Rotisserie chicken (Colombian style) with salted potatoes, sweet plantain and salad was served for lunch.

About 40 people were there, only one family was unable to attend.

After lunch Gilberto led the devotional.

Some of the kids waiting for their parents.

We work with the team of 12 people that handles the sound and publicity needs within the church. We enjoy this area of service and the opportunity for discipleship as we work together.

Just a Sunday morning view. Our meeting area has a lot of windows, so it's really hard to get good pictures!

Last Sunday five people were baptized. The young lady has been a Christian for a couple of years, she is in Bill's Old Testament class so we have gotten to know her over this year. The next three men have come to Christ through the church's ministry at a nearby drug rehab center. The young man on the right has been brought up in a Christian home and has attended our church his entire life.

Since there isn't a proper baptismal tank they set up a wooden box, line it with thick plastic and fill it with cold water! They use step stools to climb up and into the tank to be baptized.

20 de Julio Parade

In honor of Colombia's 200 years of Independence there was a big military parade in Bogota today (3+ hours long!) It went right past our apartments, so we took a wander outside before it began and discovered huge crowds of people.

Looking north on Avenida 68:

 

 Looking south:

 Patriotic Colombians waiting for the parade to come by:

 

There were hundreds, maybe thousands just standing on our side of the block. A couple of men standing beside us started to argue about their turf and since I'm not great with crowds anyway, we came inside and saw the heads of the soldiers marching by. Not a great view, but less stressful! 

Unpatriotic tensions:

But lots of extra security guys around (police and military soldiers... just boys mostly!):

The view from our bedroom window:

If you want a glimpse of what the military parade was like you can see a short news clip using this link: http://www.citytv.com.co/videos/120600/apartes-del-desfile-de-las-fuerzas-militares-en-honor-al-bicentenario

Since our corner was the end of the parade route, the street behind our apartment (which we can also see from our windows) was lined with trucks and buses waiting to take the soldiers back to their bases. They just load all the guys standing up in the back of these trucks to transport them. Within an hour of this photo our normally quiet street was full of citizens hurrying to see the parade and soldiers getting into the trucks!

Airforce Show

Colombia's airforce put on a show as part of today's Independence Day celebration. They flew right over where we live, so we went outside and got a good view of the different planes and helicopters as they went over. (For those who know more than me about planes, the news said these were among the aircraft: Mirage, Tucano and OB 10.)

(those are men hanging & waving at us from the copters!)

Simple happenings since we've been back...

In our first week back in Bogota we had fun enjoying the World Cup Final with friends (Julio & Erika and their family). Bill was the only one hoping Netherlands would win! They didn't.

Waiting for a bus last Wednesday we watched the recycler (man with horse and cart who picks up unwanted junk and cardboard) getting a ticket from the police - old tv sets were falling off his cart and causing a traffic jam.

Went textbook shopping for the new semester at the Institute. A young man, Oscar, from our church works at the bookstore warehouse and he was happy to show what was available and in stock this month. (We can only use what happens to be in stock at the time the semester starts - it is frustratingly to not always have the desired books available!)

CA Trip: STEP Outreach & Family Time

We took a three week break in California ... by the time it was over we had worked and played so hard that when we got back to Bogota we felt like we needed a vacation!!

Team members - from Wisconsin, California, Nebraska, Minnesota & Montana

Classroom - Equipping for Ministry

Practical Experience: Outreach - Kids' Bible Club in Spanish-Speaking Communities

Discipleship Opportunities

Family Time!

We feel blessed to have been a part of STEP 2010 and thankful for the sweet hours spent with loved ones!

Congreso de Mujeres

After many months of praying and planning 450 women from the Aposento Alto churches here in Bogota spent a Saturday hearing, thinking and praying about God's plan for their lives in their current life stage. It was an encouraging day for all those involved. We hope that it was a blessing and help to many women, especially to those struggling in their marriages or those trying to understand and live with the "why" of their difficult situations. If you know of any Spanish speaking women who might want to hear the messages, they are available online at http://etapas.wtl.org/.

Logistics: Janet, Consuelo & Sonia

Speakers: Sandra, Peggy (Song leader), Angela, Betsy, Adriana & Sheran

Women of all ages attended