Life in Bogotá Update
I’m proud to say that my first year of teaching is officially over. It’ been a year of huge growth and new experiences given by the Lord. I definitely feel more prepared and confident for the next school year. The past few weeks have been a bit crazy as I finished PE classes, students had finals, went on a five-day service trip with 11th grade, and then had awards day, goodbyes to teachers leaving, senior banquet, and graduation. The HS guys’ soccer tournament ended with 11th defeating Staff 2-1 in the championship. The tournament was so fun to organize and play in. Seeing the presentations for the kids this past Saturday and seeing most of them one last time before break (and some maybe never again) made me a little emotional as well as saying goodbye to several teachers. My heart has a special place for each grade, especially the elementary kids.
Opportunities to Heal
This past month I have had several opportunities to pray for people to be healed of various things. Riding the bus back one day after a hike, an older woman sat next to me. I felt I was supposed to pay for her bus ticket, and we started talking shortly after. She told me that she hurt her arm and wrist many years ago in an accident. After we got off the bus I prayed for her and asked God to heal her arm and wrist. I will probably never know what happened, but it was a cool opportunity that I wasn’t expecting. I was able to pray for a man’s elbow, a man’s foot, a woman’s eyes, a woman’s sickness, and a blind man to receive sight. As far as I know none of them were healed in the moment, but that’s up to God not me. I felt like God is asking me, “How much do you want this gift of healing? What are you willing to do?” Am I willing to take risks, to look foolish, to have nothing happen?
The Spirit of God
I continue to learn about and be challenged by the Holy Spirit and the gifts He gives. I certainly don’t understand everything or His timing, but my goal is to take steps to become more sensitive to Him. There was a period of time a few weeks ago where I felt the Holy Spirit flowing through my hands and feet regularly, especially in my feet. One way I have been challenged is to not only think and see from God’s perspective, but also to possess His heart toward people. I try to pray every day that God would pour out His Spirit in Bogotá and open people’s eyes to the Truth.
Summer Travels
Now that school is over, I feel like a free man. My dad is visiting June 11-18, so I will get to be the tour guide and spend time with Him. I plan on taking a trip to the coast of Colombia over summer break as well. The plan is to take a one-way flight to Cartagena (a famous historical city in Colombia), bus to Barranquilla, and then bus to Santa Marta (the place I really want to go) to do hiking, serving, exploring, and anything else that comes up for however long I feel like. It will be an open adventure with God for sure!
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
En Cristo,
Jonathan
I’m proud to say that my first year of teaching is officially over. It’ been a year of huge growth and new experiences given by the Lord. I definitely feel more prepared and confident for the next school year. The past few weeks have been a bit crazy as I finished PE classes, students had finals, went on a five-day service trip with 11th grade, and then had awards day, goodbyes to teachers leaving, senior banquet, and graduation. The HS guys’ soccer tournament ended with 11th defeating Staff 2-1 in the championship. The tournament was so fun to organize and play in. Seeing the presentations for the kids this past Saturday and seeing most of them one last time before break (and some maybe never again) made me a little emotional as well as saying goodbye to several teachers. My heart has a special place for each grade, especially the elementary kids.
Opportunities to Heal
This past month I have had several opportunities to pray for people to be healed of various things. Riding the bus back one day after a hike, an older woman sat next to me. I felt I was supposed to pay for her bus ticket, and we started talking shortly after. She told me that she hurt her arm and wrist many years ago in an accident. After we got off the bus I prayed for her and asked God to heal her arm and wrist. I will probably never know what happened, but it was a cool opportunity that I wasn’t expecting. I was able to pray for a man’s elbow, a man’s foot, a woman’s eyes, a woman’s sickness, and a blind man to receive sight. As far as I know none of them were healed in the moment, but that’s up to God not me. I felt like God is asking me, “How much do you want this gift of healing? What are you willing to do?” Am I willing to take risks, to look foolish, to have nothing happen?
The Spirit of God
I continue to learn about and be challenged by the Holy Spirit and the gifts He gives. I certainly don’t understand everything or His timing, but my goal is to take steps to become more sensitive to Him. There was a period of time a few weeks ago where I felt the Holy Spirit flowing through my hands and feet regularly, especially in my feet. One way I have been challenged is to not only think and see from God’s perspective, but also to possess His heart toward people. I try to pray every day that God would pour out His Spirit in Bogotá and open people’s eyes to the Truth.
Summer Travels
Now that school is over, I feel like a free man. My dad is visiting June 11-18, so I will get to be the tour guide and spend time with Him. I plan on taking a trip to the coast of Colombia over summer break as well. The plan is to take a one-way flight to Cartagena (a famous historical city in Colombia), bus to Barranquilla, and then bus to Santa Marta (the place I really want to go) to do hiking, serving, exploring, and anything else that comes up for however long I feel like. It will be an open adventure with God for sure!
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
En Cristo,
Jonathan