Colombia: Preludes

Once upon a time, five young professionals stepped onto an unknown path, traveling to Bogota, Colombia as part of their church plant's first international mission trip. They had been charged with a God-given mission to love Him and spread His love for others in both their local community (Clifton) and their broader global community. Loving others, serving others, and creating community by opening a coffee house were three components of that mission , so Colombia seemed an obvious choice. And then there was that small connection created by two adorable little boys born in Colombia and brought to the USA to be loved and raised by two great parents who also oversee this whole crazy thing called D'VINE.


The group worked with their broader church community to raise money and elicit donations of much-needed medical equipment for Luz y Vida , an amazing facility for orphaned children with special needs. Through these efforts, they were able to provide car seats, clothes, a patient lift, and, together with another group's donation, a much-needed commercial grade washer/dryer to replace the single household washer that was being employed to wash the clothes, diapers, and linens of the 120+ children cared for at the facility. They then traveled to Bogota to provide whatever hands-on help was needed in the orphanage, which generally included holding, feeding, changing, and otherwise entertaining the children as the staff worked tirelessly to meet their extensive basic and broader medical needs.


Through this experience, God worked in amazing ways. He touched the hearts of each team member, and, they were quite sure, touched the hearts of those served as well. Reflection will undoubtedly yield insights, musings, lessons, direction, and even callings for some time to come, and this is where our story begins...


Sometimes (or oftentimes) God doesn't have the same plan for us that we have for ourselves. His is always ultimately better, but it doesn't always seem like that at every point along the way. Then there are the times when He really throws a curveball - you don't know whether to swing or whether you should let it go because it's really not the best pitch for you in the moment.

Here's my recent curveball.

I know there was a divine purpose to this encounter, I just don't yet know what that is. I know it confirmed some things and brought some other fleeting possibilities closer to the forefront. I know this child touched my heart and, with that touch, brought a fresh touch from God. For now, that will be enough until the rest comes into focus.