ECA Mission Trip to Cauca
I went on a mission trip with a small group from ECA October 11-15 to some indigenous communities in the state of Cauca. I didn’t have super high expectations before going, but really it was one of the most awesome experiences of my life. Our team spent a day and a half at a school on a mountain in the middle of nowhere. We did some activities for the kids. I had the opportunity to play with the kids, teach them games and exercises (they’ve never had a PE class before), and enjoy the peacefulness and simplicity of nature and life in that area. I also got to preach in Spanish the first night with about ten minutes warning. God moved powerfully, gave me the words to speak, and touched many people in the service! I know that we brought so much joy to those kids and staff, and I learned a lot from them, too.
The next three and a half days we spent in the Nasa indigenous community where they speak their native language more than Spanish. The community was founded and built by an American for displaced people. The kids in this community were absolutely amazing and so sweet. God filled me with so much of His love to give to them. I got to play and hang out with the kids all day and teach them some games. Our team also helped to paint some walls in some classrooms in the school. I know God used me to bring so much joy and happiness to those kids, and He used them to bless me so much. I will never forget that experience.
Bogotá Ministry
I was able to work at Camino a la Cima school in the south of Bogotá for four days upon returning from the mission trip. I was able to help with English and PE classes and also give a few devotionals. The kids were really sweet, and I enjoyed my time at the school. I also worked at Beth Shalom school in the north of Bogotá for two days. I had a great experience there mainly doing English activities. The students were really excited to have me there. I then substituted as a PE teacher at El Camino Academy this past week where I have worked for the past two years. It was great to work with the kids again and see how God continues to work at ECA.
My Next Steps
My life continues to be a crazy adventure, but God is stretching me and teaching me so many things. I am about to embark on a new chapter of my life as I will now be living in the city of Santa Marta (as off November 6). I decided to move to be closer to my girlfriend, and I will also be focusing on the schools in Santa Marta and on the coast for the next semester. My desire is to work in the area of spiritual formation helping schools build and improve discipleship programs and give students training in spiritual formation and evangelism. I believe God has something great for me in Santa Marta for ministry and for my relationship with Maria. I have been experiencing so many spiritual attacks recently trying to make me doubt and not go through with moving, and I firmly believe Satan doesn’t want me to be in Santa Marta.
During the two and a half months of school vacation (Colombian schools finish the school year in November), I will be hopefully working with some ministries in the city. God has already opened some doors as I have a place to live and some ministry options to work with. With one ministry I fit the profile perfectly of what they are looking for. I know my life will change a lot in this new environ, but I am trusting the Lord’s hand in everything. I know there will be many challenges and many blessings. Just this past Friday God gave me a vision of my purpose in Santa Marta, and it’s something really big! The adventure continues!
Healed and Set Free
God has been speaking to me in a lot of ways recently. I have enjoyed feeling Him so close – so close as if I could touch Him. During the mission trip, I felt God told me I would be a “father” for many children and that I have the love of God in me. My desire was to have a healed heart and to be set free spiritually and emotionally in many ways. I feel God answered my prayers, but I am still working through many of those things. He continues to ask me to just trust Him – He knows what He is doing. My life isn’t about me but rather His purposes. I need to seek to see how God sees, not looking just at the human level. In all the spiritual attacks I have been experiencing, I need to realize that Christ has already defeated Satan and I already have the victory. I need to see myself as God sees me. A leader takes action, not waits around. I am challenged to truly believe who I am in Christ, who God is, and that nothing is impossible with God.
En Cristo,
Jonathan
“God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of a man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?” - Numbers 23:19
“He who did not spare His own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” – Romans 8:32
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don’t lean on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” - Psalm 119:105
I went on a mission trip with a small group from ECA October 11-15 to some indigenous communities in the state of Cauca. I didn’t have super high expectations before going, but really it was one of the most awesome experiences of my life. Our team spent a day and a half at a school on a mountain in the middle of nowhere. We did some activities for the kids. I had the opportunity to play with the kids, teach them games and exercises (they’ve never had a PE class before), and enjoy the peacefulness and simplicity of nature and life in that area. I also got to preach in Spanish the first night with about ten minutes warning. God moved powerfully, gave me the words to speak, and touched many people in the service! I know that we brought so much joy to those kids and staff, and I learned a lot from them, too.
The next three and a half days we spent in the Nasa indigenous community where they speak their native language more than Spanish. The community was founded and built by an American for displaced people. The kids in this community were absolutely amazing and so sweet. God filled me with so much of His love to give to them. I got to play and hang out with the kids all day and teach them some games. Our team also helped to paint some walls in some classrooms in the school. I know God used me to bring so much joy and happiness to those kids, and He used them to bless me so much. I will never forget that experience.
Bogotá Ministry
I was able to work at Camino a la Cima school in the south of Bogotá for four days upon returning from the mission trip. I was able to help with English and PE classes and also give a few devotionals. The kids were really sweet, and I enjoyed my time at the school. I also worked at Beth Shalom school in the north of Bogotá for two days. I had a great experience there mainly doing English activities. The students were really excited to have me there. I then substituted as a PE teacher at El Camino Academy this past week where I have worked for the past two years. It was great to work with the kids again and see how God continues to work at ECA.
My Next Steps
My life continues to be a crazy adventure, but God is stretching me and teaching me so many things. I am about to embark on a new chapter of my life as I will now be living in the city of Santa Marta (as off November 6). I decided to move to be closer to my girlfriend, and I will also be focusing on the schools in Santa Marta and on the coast for the next semester. My desire is to work in the area of spiritual formation helping schools build and improve discipleship programs and give students training in spiritual formation and evangelism. I believe God has something great for me in Santa Marta for ministry and for my relationship with Maria. I have been experiencing so many spiritual attacks recently trying to make me doubt and not go through with moving, and I firmly believe Satan doesn’t want me to be in Santa Marta.
During the two and a half months of school vacation (Colombian schools finish the school year in November), I will be hopefully working with some ministries in the city. God has already opened some doors as I have a place to live and some ministry options to work with. With one ministry I fit the profile perfectly of what they are looking for. I know my life will change a lot in this new environ, but I am trusting the Lord’s hand in everything. I know there will be many challenges and many blessings. Just this past Friday God gave me a vision of my purpose in Santa Marta, and it’s something really big! The adventure continues!
Healed and Set Free
God has been speaking to me in a lot of ways recently. I have enjoyed feeling Him so close – so close as if I could touch Him. During the mission trip, I felt God told me I would be a “father” for many children and that I have the love of God in me. My desire was to have a healed heart and to be set free spiritually and emotionally in many ways. I feel God answered my prayers, but I am still working through many of those things. He continues to ask me to just trust Him – He knows what He is doing. My life isn’t about me but rather His purposes. I need to seek to see how God sees, not looking just at the human level. In all the spiritual attacks I have been experiencing, I need to realize that Christ has already defeated Satan and I already have the victory. I need to see myself as God sees me. A leader takes action, not waits around. I am challenged to truly believe who I am in Christ, who God is, and that nothing is impossible with God.
En Cristo,
Jonathan
“God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of a man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?” - Numbers 23:19
“He who did not spare His own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” – Romans 8:32
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don’t lean on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” - Psalm 119:105
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