Hola UBC family!
First of all, it’s been such an encouraging and humbling journey getting to Colombia. I am so grateful for everyone who has prayed and helped our team go! Thanks for partnering with us in the Gospel.
It’s our second full day in Medellin! We started the morning off visiting Cristo para las Naciones, a discipleship and biblical training center for young adults
. Some of the students attended the B family’s house church yesterday–it was great to see them again! While we were there, we joined them for their daily worship service and sang in English and Spanish. Worshipping with brothers and sisters from another culture in a different language was so much fun!
Afterward, we drove up the mountain (literally straight up at times) to visit an indigenous family the B family has been ministering to. The family is made up of all women, including a mid-twenties woman named Rosalina. Rosalina is disabled and gravely ill, but refuses to go to the hospital for treatment. Instead, she and her family want to go to the witch-doctors again to get help. The B family shared the Gospel with Rosalina and shared the Creation to Jesus stories with Rosalina’s family. The B-family discouraged the family to go to the witch doctors and told them that they believed Jesus could heal Rosalina. When we asked Rosalina if she believed Jesus could heal her, she replied, “Poquito”–which means, “a little bit”. Faith as small as a mustard seed is all it takes. Please join us in praying for Rosalina and her family. The B-family thinks the only way this family is going to turn to Christ is if they see the miraculous healing of the Father. We believe He can heal her and we are begging Him to.
We then drove down the mountain and headed to the market to eat lunch. The market was huge and full of fragrant fruits and vegetables, knock-off shirts and shoes, and goats. We ate lunch and walked around while the B family shared stories about their life in Medellin.
That evening, we joined the B family for dinner at their home. We then loaded up the car and met up with the B family’s team partner, to attend an indigenous Bible study. Mr. A* is one of the teachers for this indigenous church. They’ve been going through marks of a healthy church, as outlined by the IMB. Tonight’s mark was “giving”. He taught from 1 Corinthians 16 and 2 Corinthians 9. It was very evident that the team leader has a gift for teaching, and his message was really encouraging. The church members asked good questions about giving and being active members of the body.
Overall, we got to see and participate in a typical day for the B and M families serving the indigenous. Since arriving to Medellin, I have learned so much about what it’s like to be a missionary to the indigenous here. I have seen the Holy Spirit drawing people to Himself–from sharing the name of Jesus with people for the first time to equipping believers in the local church. It’s been such a privilege to be a part of what God’s doing in Medellin. I’m excited to keep learning from the B family and support their work in Colombia as fellow members of UBC!
Continue praying for the B and M families–that they would continue being faithful in sharing the Gospel and serving the indigenous groups here, despite the many obstacles they face. Pray that Satan would have no power among the indigenous, and that the power of Christ would be a shining light in the darkness. Pray for existing believers, that they would mature as faithful brothers and sisters, holding fast to the Word.
In Christ,
Joy Hawkins
UBC Missions 