Upon my first look at Medellin, it was beautiful. A HUGE city, but pretty.
There are tons of mountains, valleys, hills, and buildings that give it so much character. Upon closer look, the city is filthy. The smog is unreal (I miss my country air!). There is trash everywhere even though people come and rake it up each day. Trash bags are all over the streets for collection. The homeless are constantly digging through it to find items of importance (food, possessions, things to sell). I’ve been to town a few times and while riding in a vehicle or just passing by, I have seen homeless people laying on sidewalks in the middle of the heat of the day, a man with a bloody face, people dealing drugs, and a lot of hurting souls.
One of the first nights here, I was up on the terrace. It was getting dark. The houses on the hill were all lit up. There is a church with a cross shinning. The city looks beautiful again with the light.
This scene reminded me of my Creation experience. We had a candle lightening ceremony. We were on a hill and thousands of us started lighting candles. One candle was lit, and then another. Soon, that small light turned into a huge force and the darkness faded away. It was so bright and it made you feel hopeful.
Matthew 5:14-16 says this, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
This verse and the imagery I’ve been seeing reminds me of my squad and the others here sharing the hope of Christ. With just one small interaction with others, with one glimpse of hope, we can be such wonderful lights.
Our days have been full of prayer walks, ministering to the homeless, prostitutes, drug addicts, and transgenders at night, VBS for the kids during the day, providing messages at worship services, praying over people and so much more. We are living out our call to “GO” and share the good news!
God is the light in the darkness, the hope to the hopeless, and the peace to the restless. He is the God of this city (and everywhere!). And greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done here. (Lyrics taken from God of this City & modified). I cannot wait to see how much more of an impact we are going to make in Medellin in the next few weeks! We’ve only been here about a week and God is MOVING.
My challenge to you is to be bold this week! Reach out to someone and be a light! Take a moment to pray for someone, send a note of encouragement, make someone feel loved…you never know who needs to hear the good news! 🙂
Love you Kelly and praying for you.
And God’s working goes on! Excited for you as the journey is engaged. Loved the insight with the image of light overpowering the darkness. And a nice challenge given to all of us from the passage you chose! Blessings!
Thank you! Love you too.
Very descriptive and insightful. Thanks. I have a Columbian friend and she was talking about going in June to visit her family. She was showing me pictures of the towns in that area and talked about an indigenous national park. I think it was Tairona. It started with a “T” Enjoy your time and I pray for the safety of your group.
Thank you! Hmm, I’ll have to see if it’s nearby.
Her hometown is Pueblo Viejo Magdalena and it is Tairona Park. She said there are other indigenous people in rioacha juajira
So excited to hear from you. I bought a world map and put it up on my wall with push pins so I can track your journey. Also am reading the book your mother told me about, “Kingdom Journeys.” It’s very good. Something you said struck me. When you were talking about how beautiful the area was with the mountains, valleys, hills and buildings that give it character. But looking closer, deeper, you could see the filth, the crime, the homeless. Yet at night, when all that was hidden from the light, the church light shown above it all, and the lights of the homes made it all look beautiful again. How that is so like our lives. On the outside we may look alright, but deep inside there may be pain, or sickness, or wounds that have never healed. Yet when Christ comes into our lives His light shines in our darkness and makes our lives beautiful again. Our prayer is that someday the whole city will shine with the light of Christ’s love in the daytime and not just at night. John 1:5 — “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” You carry that Light. I am so very proud of you and what you are doing. Perhaps because when I was about 16 I remember standing in front of my mirror talking to God. I told Him I knew I was supposed to surrender all of me to Him, but could I just keep one little piece of me? You see I was afraid if I gave Him complete control of my life He might send me to some third world country, and I was afraid of that. Who knows how different my life might be today if I had surrendered back then. I guess that’s why I am so excited for you. Because you dared to do what I could not. I thank God that He has brought us together as friends. May His continued blessings and protection and guidance be with you and your team. In Christ’s love, Barb.
Kelly, it is so good to hear about your experiences! May God bless you richly for taking His light to the lost, hurting, and broken. And may his protection cover you and your group.
Praying for you and your team. I fractured my ankle.
Love this
God bless you all! What a great opportunity you have to spread the Word to people in such need; people that may not ever receive what you are bringing if you were not there. Be blessed!
Thank you so much Pat! Wow. God is doing so much!!
Yes!! Thank you!!
Praying for you Sue.
Thank you Michelle! 🙂
This is so powerful. Thank you for sharing.
I’m so glad I can share!!
Thanks TT!
So, so true! He is LIGHT in the darkness!!!
Its wonderful to hear about your experiences and all the great work you and your team have accomplished so far. Thank you so much for sharing!