Destination...CORDOBA

In three weeks I will be heading out with a team of students to Tierra Alta to participate in a Health Brigade. In all my experiences in missions, I have the feeling that this will be something that forever marks my life.

HISTORY

Most people don´t realize that Colombia is in a war. There are three different groups that are constantly battling for domination over certain areas. One of the groups will come and drive people out of their homes. Thousands have had to flee for their lives. So where do they go? Colombian refugees make their own little communities in the nearest "safe" place. They have nothing except what the government helps them with for six months: seeds and training how to cultivate their own food. They have lost everything, family members, security, all of their possessions, and have to start all over from scratch- broken.

Four times a year YWAM organizes a Health Brigade to be able to offer relief and consolation to these people. We take doctors, psychologists, dentists, carpenters, beauticians, nutritionists, etc to come and offer aid. We take clothes, medications, house supplies, mattresses, all which have been donated by local Colombians.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO PARTICIPATE?

My team will be divided. We have a nurse and a physical therapist that are going to be offering their services. My team will be in charge of evangelism, which is the focus of the brigade. If people can´t know Jesus, we are just providing band aids for gaping wounds.

I will be working in the area of counseling. That is going to be a huge challenge for me, one that is going to force me to CLING to Him for WISDOM. My director was telling me that she talked to a woman who was eating breakfast one morning with her four kids and a group came in and killed all of her children in front of her, leaving them at the table. No amount of wisdom can speak into those wounds. I need Jesus so much to use me as a vessel of His presence. I feel as though I will actually be going into hell to bring His mercy and comfort. I am not sure I will ever be the same after this.

HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE?

We need clothes, medication, MONEY. It is going to cost us about $6000 USD to pull this off. If you would like to send a donation, for time purposes, it would be best to send it to my house (let me know and I will get you the address). Personally, I do not have all of the finances I need to go. Lots of last minute purchases and expenses that I wasn´t aware of. (ie a tent, transportation, uniforms, rain boots, a mosquito net, etc etc and etc). If you would like to help, please send checks, again, to my parents house and distinguish whether it is for me or for the brigade.

PLEASE PRAY

I would like to invite you to make a commitment to pray for us, at least until May 1st. I am asking you to pray in groups, to fast, to really become apart of what we are doing to reach these people.

Please pray that:

1. That God would pour His Spirit upon us and give us a special anointing to do the work that He has put in our hearts.

2. For SAFETY. The area is safe enough for us to go, but it is near dangerous areas.

3. Our health. There is a big malaria risk in this area. It is also pretty unhygienic.

4. Pray for the salvation of the people there. They they would come to know Christ truly as a SAVIOR. As the PRINCE OF PEACE.

5. Pray that the insurgents living in the area would come to know the Lord and would find a way out of the lifestyle they have been living.

6. Pray that we find transportation that will take all of the good the whole way there (which requires crossing a river on a raft).

7. Pray for protection in our relationships. (Best way for the enemy to botch up what we are doing is to bring division among us or conflict).

8. That God would speak to people and touch them in a way that only He can.

Please note also that my leaders are very responsible in where they send us. If they perceive that a place is too dangerous to go, they will not allow us to. In fact, we will not be going to one of the city with our outreach team because the road to get there is too dangerous for foreigners. We are also going as a humanitarian relief group, which is very respected even among insurgents. Do not be afraid.