change and compassion.

My brother, Bryan, arrived in town Wednesday 5/11 and left early Thursday 5/14 morning; a quick and action packed trip. After Bryan had a chance to recover from the day of traveling and altitude change we headed to the climbing gym, explored the culture of the city by visiting the town center, markets, malls and museums. On Saturday we were able to get out of the city and hike around Suesca, just an hour outside of Bogota, (where I had my first real, outdoor rock climbing adventure a few months ago, incredible- once I got over my fear of heights). Bryan was so willing to try everything I ordered for him, and it was great fun sharing the Colombia I have grown to love, the food, the sights, my family and friends.

The director of the Young Adult Service Corps came for a visit to talk with the Bishop, Laura-Catherine and I about how we can move forward with the mission program with the Diocese of Colombia.. Of course, we are very excited to be a part of this process, paving the way for the future of missionaries in this beautiful country, with this incredible diocese. We are now working at the mission 3 days a week and are slowly finding other ways we are able to get involved in, there is so much potential it is just finding where we fit in.

One thing I love about the Diocese of Colombia is the importance they encourage for social outreach projects. The vast majority of parishes have a some sort of social outreach project that are involved in, for example Laura-Catherine and I help with the mission at Padre's Jose's church where they provide lunch to children and food and housing to elders who have no place to go. They also occasionally put families for a few nights who have been displaced by the war. Another church in Soacha, just about an hour outside of Bogota. With the help of Trinity Wall Street, has constructed a church and is now in the process of building a clinic above the church, to work with and attend to people with HIV/AIDS. The list of incredible people doing incredible work goes on and being involved and a part of the church here, seeing and experiencing first hand, people helping people, reaching out within a local community is something to be inspired by. I do realize this is something that is happening all over the world, not just in Colombia, as I have experienced with my local church in Spokane. What I am getting at is the joy, hope and deepen of faith it brings me to hear and witness this stories of compassionate humans.

the bus.

Riding the bus home from the mission has become a favorite activity of mine, aside from having to fight off nausea and the bus drivers who have the idea in their heads that they are actually driving a racecar instead of a 48-passenger bus; I enjoy the world and culture the bus cultivates. A wide variety of vendors ask the drivers permission to share the stories of their lives, sell candies and other sweet treats or the musicians who want to play a sweet melody.

Last week, I was dosing in and out of consciousness when I received a friendly tap on the shoulder from Laura-Catherine, (we both usually end up sitting one in front of another so we each can enjoy the window seat, which we are convinced is a remedy for our motion sickness), she motioned with her eyes to the harp player who had just lugged his extremely large instrument over the turn stile and into the crowded isle of the bus. The moment he began to play the normal hustle and bustle transformed into a calm and enjoyable atmosphere, as we all together, escaped our own thoughts and worlds for a few moments as we listened to the unexpected beauty the harpist gifted us with.