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

Trip to Bucaramanga

During the last week of March we made a quick visit to Bucaramanga, a city of a million  located in the Andes mountains about half way between Bogota and the coast. Soon after arriving we drove past the place I called home for four of the eight years we lived there (from ages 3 to 13, with 2 years in New Zealand in the middle!! = being a third culture kid becomes chronologically challenging!). 

These blue apartments hold many memories for my sister and I. Playing hide and seek till 10pm, climbing the mango trees, eating green guavas, losing all my marbles (literally), skating in the parking lot, slumber parties at the neighbors, wondering why people prayed at the statue of Mary, screaming at the big spider, teaching our baby brother to walk...

Our main purposes in visiting was to meet up with old friends and for Bill to teach at the Easter conference held by one of the churches. My parents were also in town so we had the added bonus of extra days with them. We enjoyed several meals in the homes of old friends. Here we are with two of the church leaders and their families:

I met some old childhood friends for icecream and enjoyed an afternoon catching up with them:

We stayed with Marcia and Sandra, two missionary ladies I've known my whole life. They're pictured here on the right with the rest of the crowd from the church choir who came to give us a mini-concert!

It was fun to see the sights and hear the sounds of a warmer climate. Much more of life is lived outdoors  there compared to the city of Bogota which has colder weather. Here are a couple things that caught my eye:

 

notice the statue?

 

yummy!

I even got to eat an ANT for the first time in many years! They are a true delicacy in this region and they don't taste THAT bad.

and just to give you an idea of the size:

It all ended so quickly, before we knew it we were on a plane back to Bogota.