It´s hard to believe I´ve been in Colombia for a year now. With my first year of teaching finished, I am enjoying my vacation time. I have been stretched and have grown tremendously in my faith and trust in the Lord. I feel comfortable for the next school year as I now know how things work and what to expect and have a better grasp on Spanish. I hope to go deeper in my relationships at school, in my social life, in church, and in the community. I am looking forward to what God will do in this next year and if He has for me to stay at ECA or if He takes me somewhere else.
11th Grade Service Trip
At the beginning of June I had the opportunity to go on the ECA 11th grade service trip to Villavicencio, Colombia for five days. We got to serve at Ágape, a home for children of persecuted Christian families. We also visited two different schools to lead activities for the students there. My main responsibility on the trip was supervising and encouraging the ECA students. My favorite thing was talking and hanging out with the kids at the school. Visiting schools has definitely grown into a passion of mine. Another great opportunity I had was officiating the soccer game between ECA and Ágape guys. It was great seeing the ECA students lead activities. I was very proud of them! Almost half of our group became sick with something during the trip, but it was a good experience overall.
Dad in Bogotá
Another big thing that happened in June was my dad coming to visit Bogotá and Colombia June 11-18. It was a good time of hanging out, showing him things in the city, introducing him to people in my life, and exploring new places. The first day we hiked up to Monserrate to see a great view of the city and walked downtown. We took two trips outside the city to the Embalse de Neusa and the small town of Tobia in hot country. In Tobia, we got to take two awsome hikes – one up a mountain and the other along a river to see a waterfall. It was refreshing to be in nature and experience God´s presence there. My dad enjoyed his time here, and I hope he learned a lot.
Colombia Coast Adventure
On June 23, I left Bogotá to visit the Caribbean coast of Colombia. I bought a one-way plane ticket and will return when I feel I should. My plan and desire has been to explore, hike, serve, take pictures, be a blessing, and do whatever else God has for me to do. So far I have been to Bocachica (an island off the coast of Cartagena) and the city of Cartagena. My plan is to go to Barranquilla and then to Santa Marta next week and see and do what God has for me there. It has been amazing how God has opened up doors already for ministry, sightseeing, meeting new people, and being a blessing. His care for me in all the details big and small has been incredible. I am looking forward to what He has for me in the next two or three weeks on this adventure.
God´s Heart and Mind
One thing God has been teaching me is challenging me to not only understand God´s mind, but also understand His heart. With all of His heart God wants to take care of us, see us healed and healthy, love us richly, see us in a right relationship with Him, and many other things because we are His children and creation. I need to understand this because it opens me up to love others like this and be bold in faith in caring for others, sharing His Word, encouraging them, seeing them healed, and many other things.
Another challenge has been to more intentionally hide God´s Word in my heart to grow spiritually and share it with others, especially in relation to the spiritual gifts I am seeking to grow in. I need to take time to make this a priority in my life. It is difficult to do this in Spanish, too, but it´s something I want and need to do. Lastly, I have been so blessed by God´s grace in my life. This amazing grace empowers me to continually move forward in my relationship with God knowing I am already forgiven and have this message of truth to share with others. God is good!
En Cristo,
Jonathan
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don´t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
“Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.” – Psalm 51:14-15az clic aquí para modificar.
11th Grade Service Trip
At the beginning of June I had the opportunity to go on the ECA 11th grade service trip to Villavicencio, Colombia for five days. We got to serve at Ágape, a home for children of persecuted Christian families. We also visited two different schools to lead activities for the students there. My main responsibility on the trip was supervising and encouraging the ECA students. My favorite thing was talking and hanging out with the kids at the school. Visiting schools has definitely grown into a passion of mine. Another great opportunity I had was officiating the soccer game between ECA and Ágape guys. It was great seeing the ECA students lead activities. I was very proud of them! Almost half of our group became sick with something during the trip, but it was a good experience overall.
Dad in Bogotá
Another big thing that happened in June was my dad coming to visit Bogotá and Colombia June 11-18. It was a good time of hanging out, showing him things in the city, introducing him to people in my life, and exploring new places. The first day we hiked up to Monserrate to see a great view of the city and walked downtown. We took two trips outside the city to the Embalse de Neusa and the small town of Tobia in hot country. In Tobia, we got to take two awsome hikes – one up a mountain and the other along a river to see a waterfall. It was refreshing to be in nature and experience God´s presence there. My dad enjoyed his time here, and I hope he learned a lot.
Colombia Coast Adventure
On June 23, I left Bogotá to visit the Caribbean coast of Colombia. I bought a one-way plane ticket and will return when I feel I should. My plan and desire has been to explore, hike, serve, take pictures, be a blessing, and do whatever else God has for me to do. So far I have been to Bocachica (an island off the coast of Cartagena) and the city of Cartagena. My plan is to go to Barranquilla and then to Santa Marta next week and see and do what God has for me there. It has been amazing how God has opened up doors already for ministry, sightseeing, meeting new people, and being a blessing. His care for me in all the details big and small has been incredible. I am looking forward to what He has for me in the next two or three weeks on this adventure.
God´s Heart and Mind
One thing God has been teaching me is challenging me to not only understand God´s mind, but also understand His heart. With all of His heart God wants to take care of us, see us healed and healthy, love us richly, see us in a right relationship with Him, and many other things because we are His children and creation. I need to understand this because it opens me up to love others like this and be bold in faith in caring for others, sharing His Word, encouraging them, seeing them healed, and many other things.
Another challenge has been to more intentionally hide God´s Word in my heart to grow spiritually and share it with others, especially in relation to the spiritual gifts I am seeking to grow in. I need to take time to make this a priority in my life. It is difficult to do this in Spanish, too, but it´s something I want and need to do. Lastly, I have been so blessed by God´s grace in my life. This amazing grace empowers me to continually move forward in my relationship with God knowing I am already forgiven and have this message of truth to share with others. God is good!
En Cristo,
Jonathan
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don´t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
“Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.” – Psalm 51:14-15az clic aquí para modificar.