I am back! After spending the past eleven days in the coastal town of Cartagena, it feels quite nice to be back in Bogota, to be home. Pondering what to write has felt a little overwhelming as a rush of memories and insights flood my thoughts. I’ve decided to give a brief recap of what these past few weeks of my life have been like, although I suppose that is the point of this blog anyhow. This entry will be a touch bit longer, it is two in one- special of the day.

Having my mother come experience a part of Colombia, a part of my life here was amazing. To be able to show her around, explain the city, the culture, the people and have her know a part of my experience and have it become an experience that is now apart of her life was an amazing gift. Saying goodbye at the airport was surreal, the apartment felt empty without her presence.

Luckily I didn’t have too much time to dwell on her absence as two days after her departure, we jetted off to the beautifully picturesque and humid Cartagena, where were warmly welcomed by the parish priest and his family. They were incredibly helpful and generous especially with the fumigation of our room, feeding us broth and carrot juice while we were sick, and making plenty sure we knew where we were going.

After our first few days in Cartagena we met up with an incredible group of people from the Diocese of Connecticut (the companion diocese to Colombia). For the past 3 years they have brought a group down from their diocese making it possible to maintain a relationship with the churches in Colombia. We visited many of the parishes on the coast, helped host a radio show, met a group of ex-gang members trying to get their lives back on track, saw communitites of displaced families who have built their homes out of palates and tarps around the mounds of trash and mucky rivers.

It was inspiring to meet people who have such different and unique life stories; bringing on a fresh perspective to my thoughts on Colombia, on my life, on mission work and beyond. With this experience in Colombia, I have found myself many times at a loss of words, wanting badly to express my feelings and my experienced moments hoping you will get some small grasp on what life is like here. My difficulty of expression comes from the extremes I have seen, the extreme poverty and injustice but also the love, kindness and respect people have for friends, families and strangers. Trying to process it all and then articulate it. Big task.

I feel as if the second part to my mission has begun as work begins picking up pace. The first part was important to my understanding of this country, to understand and learn the patience of life and the importance of being with people just as much as the second will be. Now we are on the fast track after a visit to the doctor this afternoon we will be scheduling trips to different dioceses and parishes within and around Bogota while exploring the city with new friends. New photos are up check them out!

chicken dance

Connections, perceptions and observations, all the while hoping not to end up like this poor chicken feet up in a bucket. A compilation of our memorable moments in a nutshell...

The happy birthday song on repeat for the duration of a flight from Bogota to Quito by a man enjoying the complimentary whiskeys while gushing compliments and questioning someones marital status. Sharing his thoughts on how beautiful we are and how Audra was not a good name for Audra, saying the name didn't fit her beauty. At the end of the flight passengers offering reassurance and admiration of our patience.

Arrival in Quito. The unknown, would we be picked up? Where to now? Plan B? Nope we only had a plan A. Conclusion: hugs, laughter, smiles. 24 roses on a 24th birthday, food, food and more food. Hot springs, exploring muddy back roads, enjoying the expansive beauty of the Andean country side, an old friend turned into an adventurous guide taking us to places we never would have imagined. City lights, broccoli fields, markets of meat, fruits, nick knacks and cleansing of the spirits- literally. Food being kindly offered and 'no thank you' not being accepted immediately leading to... just a little, little bit. Of course, their perception of 'a little bit' is a hearty portion similar to a meal size. Wanting to share all they have, plus a little more food on top of that. We'll be back.

The other half of the nutshell. Hello humidity. Hello Panama. Our bones thawed and the down vest and fleece jacket quickly found their way to the bottom of our bags. Taxis, shopping (someone's least favorite activity), the famous canal triggering memories of people long past, and a historic district with it's very own Casa Blanca. A hostel bed with a midnight, bed slat dropping mind of it's own and muggy adventures on a bus to paradise to reunite with an old friend. Shy smiles from little ones, mothers holding their children close, timid glances at the two sweating gringas, a young college student afraid to speak English as a fearless mother blunders her way through spanglish, exchanging emails and the wheels on the bus go round and round...

Paradise found in the form of Achotines... hermit crabs moving like leaves blowing in the wind. The ocean sounds and smells, early morning hikes and monkey watching, horses, exploring 'the ranch', orchards and knee tiles. Snorkling, puka shells and private beaches, feeding (not eating) yellow fin tuna, sundowners in the cabana, fresh banana ice cream, sunrise hikes and one last snorkel.

Goodbye paradise and back to the city, back to Bogota. As we touch down, out come the fleece and vest once again. A daughter that sighs happily and says this feels like home. What more could we want? Oh wait, after all that food, of course, the time must be found to head to the climbing gym. There she goes like a spider scuttling up those walls. Me, I settled back with a still full stomach and a book of Sudoku!

la pollita and her mother.
new photos have been posted: http://picasaweb.google.com/home