Living in the Moment

A Typical home along the streets of Medellin...seen by taxi

The sunset from above the clouds...taken on my trip home from Houston last Thursday night

"The Team" Pastor Phil Wagler, Ryan Jantzi, Me, Alisha Estep on the steps of a Catholic church called El Cerro de Monserrate (pictures and stories of this place to follow in another post)

The 'hut' I lived in while at the retreat centre from Sunday to Tuesday. Alisha and I shared a room with the 'maid' and her daughter...who just couldn't seem to understand the fact that we didn't speak Spanish. Several times a day she would talk on and on to us, expecting us to understand her...even though we explained time and again "No hable Espagnol".

Living in the Moment

This is something that I have tried to make a conscious effort to do especially since having children. Do you find that often in your life you look forward to the next stage (boy it'll be nice once the kids are out of diapers...man I can't wait until they're all in school etc. etc.). I have been guilty of this most of my life. I couldn't wait to go to University, get married, have kids, work etc. Then when I'm in those exact stages that I looked so forward to, I'd find myself looking ahead once again. Not that it's bad to look to the future, but as I get older I'm realizing just how quickly the time really goes, and those moments you can never get back again.

While on my trip to Colombia I made the effort to live in the moment every day. This was sometimes quite a struggle for me. Some days I found myself dreaming of home and wishing I was there with my family, but I'd remind myself that this trip was the chance of a lifetime and to savour every moment. Other times when this was extremely difficult were those times when I was flying (which was very often...4 out of 9 days included flying). Anyone who knows me well knows I hate flying, it makes me very nervous. Mostly the take-off, the turbulence and landing, everything else I'm okay with ;) While sitting in those big metal planes and pouring sweat from my hands, I would remind myself that I was blessed to be there. Another time I found this a challenge was riding in Taxi's in Medellin. I honestly can't say whether I was more terrified of flying or riding in those cabs. For any of you who've ever been down south you know what I'm talking about. It's quite amusing and fascinating really. The way that they manoever in and out of traffic, horns blaring and cars just barely squeezing by eachother. I remember forcing myself to look out the side windows instead of watching infront or behind the vehicle. I would take in all of the scenery as we sped by. The picture at the top shows typical homes that we would drive by. I would feel ashamed when I'd think of the home I would return to...so big and comfortable.

My goal when heading to Colombia was to be as open as possible. To embrace the experience and give everything I had...to live in the moment. Every new food that was offered to me I would try. Every custom they had I would dive right in, not worrying about how much it differed from what i did back home. Let me tell you, hovering over a toilet with no seat is a challenge. I would also often find myself in a public washroom, forgetting to grab toilet paper from the dispenser on the wall outside of the stall before I headed in. It was all a part of the experience. I was thrilled to be able to experience a new culture head on. To actually live with Colombian people (that I couldn't understand). It was awesome. So much better than visiting as a tourist staying at a resort. I recommend it to anyone that has the opportunity. My advice to you is just to be open-minded. Embrace the experience. Don't pass judgement on those areas in which your custom differs. It's not about pushing our customs on others...it's about seeing how other people live and experience life around the world. Amazing...

Mel