Best and worst does not apply to this day. What a day!
I was able to sleep in this morning, and then I had a leisurely time of getting ready for the day and enjoying my breakfast in the company of Marv and Judy.
I skyped with my little sister for a bit before I headed out the door for the day's adventure.
And, boy, adventure it was. :)
I had made arrangements with a Venezuelan friend to go to a street kids ministry he helps with, and so I had to meet him at his house. I had no idea where it was. Thankfully, the city of Bogotá is really well organized, and it's relatively intuitive the way the street systems are gridded. So, I hopped on the Transmi--back in service today after a little bit of craziness yesterday--and made it to the Calle 127 stop.
Miracle #1: I walked about thirty blocks in Bogotá all by myself, completely unmolested. I was never really in fear of the walk, but in the moment, I realized how vulnerable I was, even though it was morning. Also how easily I could have gotten lost or been misdirected by my ideas. But, nope.
Miracle #2: I found the friend with whom I was to meet and travel to la Jungla--the Jungle. This is a really cool building in one of the hardest hit neighborhoods in Bogotá, where there is basically an indoor playground that opens Saturdays for the street children--children of prostitutes, drug dealers, recyclers, and other less than ideal professions for parents (for the hours and the difficulty of the tasks required). It's beautiful for them to at least have those two hours, warm, away from the influences of the street, and with people who genuinely want to teach them principles and morals and habits that will bring them a more hopeful life.
Miracle #3: In the apartment where my friend lives, a family from the US had just come today to stay there a night on their family mission trip--and they're from Wheaton, from GEBC. They had not been properly prepared for the time at the Jungle, as far as explanations of who the kids are, how they work, how their status doesn't allow them the easiest access to cleanliness and lice-lessness...nor about how tough the lives they lead really are. So...Miracle #4: Today was the Saturday that I was led to go to the ministry, not any of the past few--just in time to help ease their time here, explain, translate, and encourage. It was really a hard time for the mom, who is struggling with recurring memories of recent health difficulties her daughter had due to lice--therefore, the fear of that happening again is very real, with the fresh memories. I got to share about my gap year with them, and all the cool things I am learning, and how much I love Bogotá. I filled them in on the place we were going, and the "what-to-expects". Then, once we got there, I was upstairs at the zipline and little playhouse monitoring station. It was fun to interact with these kids, knowing that it might be perhaps the only healthy and caring interaction they've had all week. They are such powerful personalities, the majority of them, and very independent. They have to be; how else do they get remembered? get fed? get necessities? On the street, more often than not, they are on their own for growing up. Nice to offer them a place to just be kids for a little while.
Miracle #5: There were no accidents, major fights, lost kids, or other incidents during the time with the kids. It's always a valid possibility, my friend E says. But we were all safe.
After they had all had their snack and been sent out the door, I noticed that the family from the States wasn't with us and the other leaders. I asked E where they'd gone, and he said he didn't know. They were upstairs, encouraging each other and dealing with the toughness of the situation they'd just finished experiencing. I extended comfort as best I could, and then encouraged them to come downstairs and join us for the farewell and closing prayer.
We all eventually got everything cleaned up and then got on the bus to go home. On the bus ride home, Miracle #6: I got the opportunity to share with this family the encouraging story of Anna's Amazing Ankle Adventure, also known as my testimony. :) I just felt it to be very suited to their needs in the moment, and the words just flowed. Any chance to encourage anyone brings me joy. It was beautiful.
Upon arriving at the apartment, we all got out and chilled around a while, laughing and talking, while we figured out all our plans for the travels home. I got to play with the family's son, S, who is a riot, and talk and laugh along with the others. Then, Miracle #7: E accompanied me home. It was so fun to talk through the day with him, explain the parts that had gotten lost in the whole language barrier thing for him (with the US family), and talked about how good life is. It was just so neat to be able to laugh with him--a friend I had made the first time I came to Bogotá. More and more, I am finding immense joy in the extended possibilities of returning to a place that I had already fallen in love with.
Miracle #8: The Mirandela arepa lady was at the bus stop again tonight. Mmmm. :)
Now, here I am on the couch, hoping to get a jacket soon...brr...listening to the quasi-raging party next door, pondering tomorrow's insanely-far-south adventure to church. I will be visiting the church of GN, a Colombian friend made in Buenos Aires, and eating at his house for lunch. I like the adventuring and navigating I am getting in here. It's good.
Love from Colombia! xox
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