Colombia Bound???

Well, those of you who know me well know that my dear hubby went on a week long trip to Bogota Colombia last April. It was a very difficult time for me because I was afraid for his safety and also disappointed that it wasn't something that we would be able to experience together. He had been chosen by leaders in the church to go as a 'learning team' to seek out ways that we could help in Colombia (we have a family of missionaries over there from our church).

A couple of weeks ago, they announced in church that they were looking for two women who would be interested in going to Colombia in November to help with children's ministry. Joel and I started to calculate immediately to see if he was working the week the team would be away. It turned out that indeed the team would be gone on the only weekdays of the month that my dear Mother-in-law wouldn't be able to help with babysitting. Another issue was that I had planned and co-ordinated a bunch of women to go to Toronto for a doula conference for only a few days before the Colombia team would leave. I took these both as a sign that it wasn't the right time for me to go. I said to God right then and there, that the only way I would was if someone came up to me and VOLUNTEERED to watch my kids those days when I didn't have someone to care for them (never imagining this would ever happen :) Doesn't God have a great sense of humour. I went on with my life, barely thinking about it again.

This past weekend at a craft retreat one of the women who had gone to Colombia in the spring was there. We talked often throughout the weekend of her experiences there. Then Sunday morning she had been asked to share. What she shared really spoke to me. She had mentioned she thought I should go on a few occasions, and I explained that it just wouldn't work out logistically and told her why.

So yesterday, Tuesday, after teaching my class at heart to heart (our women's group at the church) which happened to be on TAKING BIG RISKS FOR GOD (haha...Good one Lord!), Ian came up to me and told me how much he thought God would be able to use me on the upcoming Colombia trip. At this point I still had no real intentions on going. I explained about how I wouldn't have childcare for a couple of the days the team would be away (and with a hubby who works 24 hour shifts childcare isn't as easy to come by). He mentioned that he'd pray about it.

Half an hour later I walked into my sewing elective. My sewing teacher is none other than Linda...the woman from the retreat who I had been speaking with all weekend about Colombia. She says to me "so Mel, I talked to Bob and he said it was no problem if I wanted to watch your kids while you're in Colombia and Joel's working". PARDIN??? I literally almost fell over backwards. I was still not convinced that this was what God wanted (duh...I know). As the hour went on I thought more and more about it. I decided on the way home that I would need Joel's full support and excitment for me to go (he had by this point also come to the conclusion that I wouldn't be able to go because of the childcare issue). I told him what Ian and Linda had said. You should have seen him light up. He was so excited. You're going, he said, over and over. "Mel, it's the experience of a lifetime" he said. I shared with him about my fears...fears for my safety, fears because I am such a homebody and get TERRIBLY homesick when I'm away (and i've never been away that long). He started making phone calls to firm up babysitting arrangements and telling me all the things I'd have to do to get ready to go. It was hilarious to me. I'd never seen him plan something for me like that.

I said that the one thing I regretted was that we weren't able to experience Colombia together. Why did we have to experience it separately. He made a good point, that we wouldn't experience it the same way together as we would apart. This makes sense to me because this whole trip is literally RIPPING me out of my comfort zone. You don't understand. I cling to the familiar. Joel, my kids, my home... I know that in Colombia GOD will be all I have to cling to. I don't know the missionary couple personally, I don't know who the other woman is that's going, there are some pastors going along, but it's not like I'm taking my husband, or best friend with me. The idea of living in a dangerous country with people who don't speak english really terrifies me. But I know that's a good thing. Because I'll have to trust God to get through that week. As I've said in previous posts...I love a challenge. This will be one of my biggest yet.

So, it looks like God's going to win this one ;) His sense of humour and care for me thrills me. The way He speaks through other people and through situations blows me away. That He cares enough about me to send evidence that this is where He wants me to go. WOW.

So, it looks like I'll be "Taking a Big Risk for God" after all. Not just with leaving my comfort zone, but with entering a whole new world. Interestingly enough I have always DREAMED of going to a poor country and reaching the children there. I've always wished we could visit our sponsor child. I've always wanted to be one of those people who gets to give out the Samaritan Purse boxes to those poor children at Christmas. To see the gratitude and joy that simple things can bring to a child has always been a desire of mine. I can't believe that it looks like I'm going to have that opportunity.

God, you ROCK. Now fill me with the trust I'm going to need to believe I can do this...

Mel