Dear friends & family,
I cannot say thank you enough for your prayers over this last week. I am amazed at how God chose to answer your prayers as well as my own. He was ever present with me while I was away from home, in meetings, teaching, and sick.
My plane returned safely last night just after 11:30. Unfortunately, I received some bad information in Bogota, so my bag was still in Miami. At this time, however, it has been returned!
I worked from home today so that I could rest and relax. I'm getting better from being sick and enjoying very much being home. Seriously, your prayers have been answered and we appreciate them so much!
Many thanks to those of you who took care of Kevin while I was gone. It made me feel better knowing that he wasn't alone either.
Many thanks & blessings,
Brittany
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Final Detour
On Monday morning I hopped a short flight to Cali, Colombia where the first Christian University was founded just a few months ago - CUDES. Right now, they only have one major in marketing and international business, but they are growing quickly. I met with the folks in Cali about their entrepreneurship program. In Colombia, every academic program is required to include an entrepreneurship course, so the staff at CUDES wanted to talk with me (on behalf of RCE) about using our Rwanda curriculum in their program.
It was amazing how God worked out all the pieces. I was able to meet with the Rector (President) of the University, the chairman of the board of directors, and the chair of the Center for Entrepreneurship, Territory and Development. They were passionate about their mission and our personalities really meshed.
I went out to lunch for some traditional Colombian food with the Rector and my translator, James Bonilla. I ate a banana picked off the bunch, tried a fresh tomato and lime, and brought a ton of food back with me to the hotel (which was absolutely beautiful by the way!!)
By the end of the day, we had forged some great relationship and came up with some great ideas for working together. Once again, God was in every detail in amazing ways! I can really see a big picture view of how God was tying together what he planned in Bogota with what he planned in Cali.
Here's some pics from my hotel!
It was amazing how God worked out all the pieces. I was able to meet with the Rector (President) of the University, the chairman of the board of directors, and the chair of the Center for Entrepreneurship, Territory and Development. They were passionate about their mission and our personalities really meshed.
I went out to lunch for some traditional Colombian food with the Rector and my translator, James Bonilla. I ate a banana picked off the bunch, tried a fresh tomato and lime, and brought a ton of food back with me to the hotel (which was absolutely beautiful by the way!!)
 |
| Me at Lunch! |
Here's some pics from my hotel!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Last Day in Bogota
Tomorrow I will be leaving for Cali at 8 AM. I think I have meetings all day, but I guess we'll really find out tomorrow. Today was my last day in Bogota and it was a perfect ending to the day.
This morning we went to church at La Casa. They rent a theater in another part of the city. There were probably 500 people at the service and it was the liveliest worship I have been to in a long time. There were dancers, flags, a loud band, video, communion, and a lot of Hallelujahs. I wish I could have taken a picture but that would have been weird.
I knew quite a few people there because of the class and having met other members of the team. It was very nice knowing some names and being able to actually fellowship in a totally different country.
We sang quite a few songs I actually knew. I learned more Spanish by singing than I ever would have in a classroom. For instance, bendito = blessed, sancto = holy, hosanna = hosanna. I was also able to recognize some key phrases along the way - no otra nombre (no other name).
Today was the launch of the year of jubilee for La Casa, a year of freedom, joy, and holiness. The pastor preached on Leviticus 25:8-12. When he talked about the trumpet sounding to bring in the year of jubilee, the lady next to me sounded the shofar. The theme was restoration and freedom.
In the end, Jesus is our jubilee. He grants us freedom, rest, and restores us to our intended status as being in the presence of God. In Him we can go back to the original plan. One interesting thing the pastor said was that the first thing mankind saw when they opened their eyes was God resting. So the original plan was to rest in the presence of God always.
They had a time a prophetic words at the end and my translator, Tato, called me down because he got a word from the Lord for me in particular. It was incredible. We'll see how God chooses to be faithful to those words!
Prayers are appreciated that travel tomorrow and then Tuesday goes smoothly. Also, I'm not feeling well at all. I've been struggling with my health most of the day today and it's no fun to be sick and traveling. I'm sad to be leaving Bogota and the friends I've made here, but hopefully we are able to work together in the future!
This morning we went to church at La Casa. They rent a theater in another part of the city. There were probably 500 people at the service and it was the liveliest worship I have been to in a long time. There were dancers, flags, a loud band, video, communion, and a lot of Hallelujahs. I wish I could have taken a picture but that would have been weird.
I knew quite a few people there because of the class and having met other members of the team. It was very nice knowing some names and being able to actually fellowship in a totally different country.
We sang quite a few songs I actually knew. I learned more Spanish by singing than I ever would have in a classroom. For instance, bendito = blessed, sancto = holy, hosanna = hosanna. I was also able to recognize some key phrases along the way - no otra nombre (no other name).
Today was the launch of the year of jubilee for La Casa, a year of freedom, joy, and holiness. The pastor preached on Leviticus 25:8-12. When he talked about the trumpet sounding to bring in the year of jubilee, the lady next to me sounded the shofar. The theme was restoration and freedom.
In the end, Jesus is our jubilee. He grants us freedom, rest, and restores us to our intended status as being in the presence of God. In Him we can go back to the original plan. One interesting thing the pastor said was that the first thing mankind saw when they opened their eyes was God resting. So the original plan was to rest in the presence of God always.
They had a time a prophetic words at the end and my translator, Tato, called me down because he got a word from the Lord for me in particular. It was incredible. We'll see how God chooses to be faithful to those words!
Prayers are appreciated that travel tomorrow and then Tuesday goes smoothly. Also, I'm not feeling well at all. I've been struggling with my health most of the day today and it's no fun to be sick and traveling. I'm sad to be leaving Bogota and the friends I've made here, but hopefully we are able to work together in the future!
A Long (but Fruitful) Day
Yesterday was a long day. The conference started at 9 AM and went through the afternoon. It was a beautiful culminating experience from the previous two days. Again, we had only 17 students, but the class had really gelled as a unit. By yesterday, they were all willing to share their (sometimes very personal) ideas and question one another. I knew the students well and could cater what we were talking about directly to their needs and ideas.
We moved rooms to another auditorium that was in a newer building. It was much nicer and I liked the switch. It gave us real presentation space. The campus as a whole - Universidad El Bosque) is really pretty:
We started the day off simulating launching a business. It combined all that we had talked about so far - identifying opportunities, taking calculated risks, and solving problems. The class broke into groups of 4, came up with a business idea, and then created a commercial, print ad, mission statement, and a pitch for the investors (me).
Only one of the groups split up the tasks based on strengths. They sent the publicist to do the print advertisement and the other three split up the rest of the tasks. The rest of the groups worked together on all the pieces and so were rather rushed for time at the end.
They came up with a number of neat ideas:
I was truly inspired by the hard work of the people in the class and how well we all worked together. This experience was truly a blessing. I made good friends and we learned a lot together. Now the class will be continuing to 3 more modules, learning how to write a business plan and start a business in Colombia. I hope this weekend the class learned what it really means to have entrepreneurial patterns based on biblical principles.
We moved rooms to another auditorium that was in a newer building. It was much nicer and I liked the switch. It gave us real presentation space. The campus as a whole - Universidad El Bosque) is really pretty:
We started the day off simulating launching a business. It combined all that we had talked about so far - identifying opportunities, taking calculated risks, and solving problems. The class broke into groups of 4, came up with a business idea, and then created a commercial, print ad, mission statement, and a pitch for the investors (me).
Only one of the groups split up the tasks based on strengths. They sent the publicist to do the print advertisement and the other three split up the rest of the tasks. The rest of the groups worked together on all the pieces and so were rather rushed for time at the end.
They came up with a number of neat ideas:
Samm Bar - providing a healthy, high quality, fast food alternative. This was actually one of the student's ideas coming in, so it was very helpful for him to have some feedback on the idea. They had a very specific and reachable target market and had a great presentation style.- Emerpet - making the lives of people easier by helping their pets with medical and grooming needs. Their commercial told a great story and they definitely had the most finished presentation. After getting feedback from me and the rest of the class, one of the students decided that she wanted to try really pursuing this idea on a smaller scale (to minimize the risk).
- The Store - supporting entrepreneurs to start their own business. Basically, it's an incubator for direct sales. The group of friends that came up with this idea for the first time and had been talking about going into business together. They decided to go for it! They started looking for a place after class got out and are continuing the search tomorrow.
- Fruserve - providing a fast, easy, innovative and healthy food option on college campuses. They had thought through many details, had a clearly identified need, and appeared to work well together as a group. Each member of the group owns their own business already and was looking for further development and training.
- Be like Christ
- Serve and Grow with Others in Opportunities
- Live and Enjoy what God has Given
- To Live Without Worries and Not Be Frustrated as Time Goes By
- Tool of God, Light to Personal, Family, Business, and National Finances
- Bridge People and Opportunities
- Give My Time to the Lord, Serving the Things I Can, Because I was Born to Obey
- See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor. (Isaiah 55:4-5)
I was truly inspired by the hard work of the people in the class and how well we all worked together. This experience was truly a blessing. I made good friends and we learned a lot together. Now the class will be continuing to 3 more modules, learning how to write a business plan and start a business in Colombia. I hope this weekend the class learned what it really means to have entrepreneurial patterns based on biblical principles.
Friday, February 3, 2012
I Could Sing Tato's Praises
My prayer going into tonight was, “God I am still all yours.
All glory to you for last night. Please, please, please do it again!”
He did.
Tonight was great. Not only was it a lot of fun, but we
started to gel as a group. Their participation was more active and they were
sharing personal information in the safety of the group. We laughed at each
other and at ourselves. God was there.
To begin, I met Tato. Tato was my translator. Immediately we clicked in terms of personality. He was fun and really
just brought a great attitude. We went over what we would be covering and
talked about some terms that might make things tricky. Before we got started,
Tato asked if we could pray. He prayed that God would bless the time, that He
would make Tato and I of one mind and one mouth so that it wouldn’t feel like
there was translation, rather it would feel like one fluid movement. He prayed
that he would have clarity and wisdom to find the right word quickly.
Basically, Tato was amazing.
When we got started, we did a quick review and then started
right in talking about life purpose. We did a great exercise that Dr. Mulford
suggested before I left. I brought up Carla (smallest foot in the class) and
Roosevelt (largest foot in the class) and made them switch left shoes. Thankfully,
Carla wore tiny black 3-inch heels. They looked RIDICULOUS walking around the
classroom. By the time I offered them 50,000 pesos ($25) they were willing to
wear them the rest of the night. We used the exercise to talk about how
identifying an opportunity is recognizing the right fit. A good business is the
right fit. Unfortunately, however, sometimes when we are offered money,
reputation, and status we sacrifice the right fit. We aren’t walking in our
calling.
From there, they shared about the self, community, and
resource assessments I assigned for homework. One student said this exercise
was the first time she realized that the only thing that keeps her up at night
and wakes her up in the morning is the thought of finding a way to help
someone. Another shared from his experience that he felt that the restaurant
industry in Colombia lacked vision and drive and that he felt like he was the
one who could disrupt that culture. Another talked about a memory she had of a
simple life growing up and how when she starts her own business she can create
that simple life again. I challenged them to write down their life purpose
statement and share it tomorrow at the end of class. We’ll see tomorrow, but I
hope I have some great statements to share.
I got to employ my favorite teaching technique today –
interactive storytelling. It was so fun! And doing it with a translator
(something I was really concerned about) was actually even more fun. Tato would
follow me around and do every action, every face. It was like watching myself
on repeat. Not only that, but he and I would interact with one another. We
involved the students and it created a really powerful and memorable moment. We
told the parable of the man who didn’t count the costs from Luke 14. It led us
into opportunity cost and the students had a lot to say about what it would
cost them and their community not to start a business.
We moved from talking about taking calculated risks, to
problem solving, using Philippians 4:6-8 as a guide:
"Do not be anxious about anything,
but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will
guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and
sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy—think about such things.”
It was an
incredible activity. We walked through the biblical problem solving steps (Do
not worry; Pray; Thank God for His Faithfulness; Make your Request; Think
Rightly; Ask What the Bible Says; Take Action; Actively Rest in God’s Peace)
and really applied each one to our own lives and particular situation.
The last
activity we did was group problem solving and it went just as I wanted it to. The students broke into groups and had a
case study to come to consensus about. The hitch was that I gave one person in
each group a slip of paper that told them which option they were allowed to
vote for. The goal was to see how the groups would respond to an incredibly
stubborn participant. Two groups came to consensus and two did not. After the
session was over, I had one gentleman come up to me to talk about the exercise.
He wouldn’t change his opinion, even though the rest of the team had come to
side with the plant. He wanted to know if he was right about the problem. I
explained that there was no ‘right’ answer, but that in group problem solving
situations, you can’t just cater to the most stubborn person. This activity had
the groups excited!
Pastor
Edgardo, Maru, and I went out to dinner for crepes after the session. We sat
and talked for almost two hours about their vision and what God is doing through
their organization. There is so much synergy between RCE and Visionet and I am
excited to see if God has bigger ideas in mind.
Both
Edgardo and Maru said that they didn’t understand why Regent was sending me,
but now, after just a couple of days, they realized that Regent didn’t send me –
God did. Amen to that. I have been so blessed by my time in Colombia and am
just so excited to see what God has in store tomorrow.
Outside the City
Great day so far! It was my first day outside of Bogota since I've been in Colombia. I spent the morning with Maru and Ivan. Ivan works on the Visionet team and he has been videotaping the conference for posting online. He just has a great heart (and his English is pretty good too!)
The day started out with food and more food! After breakfast, we took a ride out of the city. When you get past the sea of apartment complexes, Colombia is even more beautiful! Here are some pics I took from the car as we were driving:
From there, we went to La Cabana. It’s hard to describe, but
I’ll do my best. It is a Colombian founded dairy farm. They make cheeses and yogurts
and ice cream. Near their factory is a neat grocery store that only has dairy
products. We all got a post-breakfast snack. I decided to try something they
described as “distinctly Colombian.” It was some kind of cheese with a berry
puree and Colombian caramel. 
Quite
tasty, but very rich! Ivan had to finish mine for me. It was nice to sit in the sun and talk for a little while. I'm learning more everyday about Colombia. I was asked (again) if I had any kids; when I said that I'd only been married since June, Ivan adamantly responded, "At least 2 years. Wait at least 2 years." He quickly followed it up by telling me more about his family, his wife and 3 children. About his kids, he said, "They gave us our reason to live." I was really moved by his openness and kindness.
The day started out with food and more food! After breakfast, we took a ride out of the city. When you get past the sea of apartment complexes, Colombia is even more beautiful! Here are some pics I took from the car as we were driving:
We drove past absolutely beautiful houses on the
mountainside, gorgeous! Beautiful farms and ranches. Lots of cows (made me miss
my husband).
We drove to the small town of Sopo and Ivan and Maru showed
me a Colombian amusement park. They had many famous sites from around the world
represented. Despite their resemblance, however, the depictions were distinctly
Colombian. My favorite was their version of the Statue of Liberty. Same pose,
but instead it was a naked man, not Lady Liberty. The park looked like so much
fun, and it was fun to find in the middle of a town.
From there, we went to La Cabana. It’s hard to describe, but
I’ll do my best. It is a Colombian founded dairy farm. They make cheeses and yogurts
and ice cream. Near their factory is a neat grocery store that only has dairy
products. We all got a post-breakfast snack. I decided to try something they
described as “distinctly Colombian.” It was some kind of cheese with a berry
puree and Colombian caramel. 
Quite
tasty, but very rich! Ivan had to finish mine for me. It was nice to sit in the sun and talk for a little while. I'm learning more everyday about Colombia. I was asked (again) if I had any kids; when I said that I'd only been married since June, Ivan adamantly responded, "At least 2 years. Wait at least 2 years." He quickly followed it up by telling me more about his family, his wife and 3 children. About his kids, he said, "They gave us our reason to live." I was really moved by his openness and kindness.
Our tour continued to an even smaller town, where we drove
around the town plaza with the church and town hall. We even stopped at a fruit
stand (where I got an incredible nectarine). As we continued, we drove past the reservoir that
supplies water to Bogota. It was absolutely beautiful!
I got out of the car to take a picture or two and Ivan put
the car in neutral and revved the engine like they were leaving. He just about
gave me a heart attack. I jumped and turned around and he and Maru were just rolling
with laughter.
We went on to visit one of the other Visionet team members,
Median, who is home sick. Her mother and daughter-in-law were also there so it
was nice to visit. The grandmother served us all tiny cups of very black
Colombian coffee. Not too bad! (I don’t think I’ll ever be able to drink coffee
when I come home since I’m being spoiled.) Most of the visit was in Spanish, so
I was able to pick up very little, but I knew Ivan was telling the story about
pretending to leave me at the reservoir when he pointed at me and laughed hysterically.
They thought they were so funny!
When we got back in the car, Ivan told me a little bit more
about Median. She is a professor and has an incredibly strong spirit. Despite
some health problems, she always meets her commitments above and beyond. She is
faithful, strong, and does great things to transform the community. So when she
says she’s sick, she’s really really sick. While we were there, she seemed to be in good spirits and really appreciated the visit.
Throughout the day, Maru shared with me that she received some excellent feedback about our session last night. I knew that God had truly intervened to make it a comfortable, safe place to share and grow, but the confirmation was great. She was very honest with me about some of the staff's reservations when they found out a young kid, just out of college would be coming, but that they were very happy with the session last night. All the glory to God!
Now I'm preparing for tonight and getting ready for God to show up again. Even with one successful night, He is the organizer and creator of all good things. He is in control and He has been from the beginning. I didn't bring myself here, He brought me here and so I will give him all the glory, honor and praise for any success that happens!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Day 1 Total Success
I'm settled in for the night. In fact, it's 11:30 and I am leaving for breakfast at 8 AM tomorrow morning. (What am I still doing up?) I just have to share God's faithfulness, though, while it's still fresh in my mind.
We arrived at the university where the conference is being held about an hour and 45 minutes early. That's when our contact was supposed to meet us, but she got delayed for 45 minutes, so Maru and I found a cute arrepa place and sat down for a drink and a snack.
Maru is wonderful and the work that Visionet is doing is truly incredible! Maru and I talked for a long time about what it would look like for them to start a Business Development Center here in Bogota. They are willing to do all the translation so that RCE's program can be offered completely in Spanish. Really, I think God had a number of things in mind when he arranged this trip.
Eventually, we got to head over to the university. About 60 people were registered for the class today, but because of the holiday (No Cars in Bogota Day) only 14 showed up for the session. I know that in myself, I would have been disappointed and frustrated that I had prepared a program for 100. Instead, God was there. He was guiding my every step. It was incredible.
I was so nervous, especially about the fact that I don't speak Spanish. I realized my cultural superiority complex, too. I hear so often about how people in Rwanda so highly value American teachers. Colombia, on the other hand, is very proud of Colombia. They are proud of their universities, their opportunities, their entrepreneurship. It's beautiful to see the pride they have in their community.
So I didn't speak much as people came in other than "Buenos Noches" and "Hola". I fiddled with my computer, straightened my hair, and prayed. As people finished filling out their registration forms, I was reminded of what my husband told me last night. He told me to be myself. God called me, so use what He has given me. So I did that, I went into teacher mode.
I started on the left side of the room, to Marcella, a girl I know spoke a little bit of English. "Como se llama?" Oh man was I excited! I remembered how to ask someone's name in Spanish! I went down the row and had them repeat their names a couple of times and I'd repeat them back.
In about 15 minutes I had learned everyone's name and we all had a good laugh at my poor spanish accent. It was the perfect way to break the ice. I needed a way to let them know that I laugh at myself and that I was learning with them. The name activity is always good! AND when the program started I could call on them and respond to them by name.
After the session was over, Pastor Edgardo said that the name exercise (really just an attempt to break the ice for myself) was the most impressive part of the whole evening. Really, when you take the time to learn someone's name, when you value their person and respect them as a learner, the environment is relaxed. God knew what was best in terms of size of a class for me for the first night. He was even a little gracious to me giving me space to learn and grow as a facilitator.
That's exactly what I was (thanks to Lisa!) I was a facilitator. I didn't purpose to teach them anything, rather I sought to provide the resources necessary to examine themselves as future entrepreneurs and to practice what I referred to as "the patterns of biblical entrepreneurship."
Colombia is one of the top nations in the world for entrepreneurship. An incredibly high percentage of the population starts a business, but a shockingly low percentage still have their business after 2 1/2 years. What we are trying to explore together through this weekend is how to have a pattern of entrepreneurship that affects the start and the ongoing lives of their businesses. Identifying new opportunities in their field, solving problems as they arise, using money wisely. All pattern-worthy processes.
The activities were a big hit. The students seemed to really enjoy the self-reflection time as well as the group time. We did the paperclip activity today. Basically, they split up into groups of 3 and tried to come up with as many alternative uses for a paperclip as they could in 10 minutes with no limits. They came up with anywhere between 15 and 25 alternative uses. Then we made the point that no limits means the paperclip could be 50 feet tall. It could be made of foam. We gave them 10 more minutes and a list of questions to get their creativity pumping. Then we got some fun results - swords, bag hangers, bubble blowers.
The winning group was an all male team and came up with 62 alternative uses for paperclips, many of which they made models of. They each won their very own box of paper clips.
What a fun night we all had together, practicing our creativity, reflecting, and beginning to explore the patterns that make a truly great entrepreneur. It was a blessed tome. I feel relieved that it went well, but also just incredibly blessed that God used it the way that He did. Frankly, now I can't wait for tomorrow night!
We arrived at the university where the conference is being held about an hour and 45 minutes early. That's when our contact was supposed to meet us, but she got delayed for 45 minutes, so Maru and I found a cute arrepa place and sat down for a drink and a snack.
Maru is wonderful and the work that Visionet is doing is truly incredible! Maru and I talked for a long time about what it would look like for them to start a Business Development Center here in Bogota. They are willing to do all the translation so that RCE's program can be offered completely in Spanish. Really, I think God had a number of things in mind when he arranged this trip.
Eventually, we got to head over to the university. About 60 people were registered for the class today, but because of the holiday (No Cars in Bogota Day) only 14 showed up for the session. I know that in myself, I would have been disappointed and frustrated that I had prepared a program for 100. Instead, God was there. He was guiding my every step. It was incredible.
I was so nervous, especially about the fact that I don't speak Spanish. I realized my cultural superiority complex, too. I hear so often about how people in Rwanda so highly value American teachers. Colombia, on the other hand, is very proud of Colombia. They are proud of their universities, their opportunities, their entrepreneurship. It's beautiful to see the pride they have in their community.
So I didn't speak much as people came in other than "Buenos Noches" and "Hola". I fiddled with my computer, straightened my hair, and prayed. As people finished filling out their registration forms, I was reminded of what my husband told me last night. He told me to be myself. God called me, so use what He has given me. So I did that, I went into teacher mode.
I started on the left side of the room, to Marcella, a girl I know spoke a little bit of English. "Como se llama?" Oh man was I excited! I remembered how to ask someone's name in Spanish! I went down the row and had them repeat their names a couple of times and I'd repeat them back.
In about 15 minutes I had learned everyone's name and we all had a good laugh at my poor spanish accent. It was the perfect way to break the ice. I needed a way to let them know that I laugh at myself and that I was learning with them. The name activity is always good! AND when the program started I could call on them and respond to them by name.
After the session was over, Pastor Edgardo said that the name exercise (really just an attempt to break the ice for myself) was the most impressive part of the whole evening. Really, when you take the time to learn someone's name, when you value their person and respect them as a learner, the environment is relaxed. God knew what was best in terms of size of a class for me for the first night. He was even a little gracious to me giving me space to learn and grow as a facilitator.
That's exactly what I was (thanks to Lisa!) I was a facilitator. I didn't purpose to teach them anything, rather I sought to provide the resources necessary to examine themselves as future entrepreneurs and to practice what I referred to as "the patterns of biblical entrepreneurship."
Colombia is one of the top nations in the world for entrepreneurship. An incredibly high percentage of the population starts a business, but a shockingly low percentage still have their business after 2 1/2 years. What we are trying to explore together through this weekend is how to have a pattern of entrepreneurship that affects the start and the ongoing lives of their businesses. Identifying new opportunities in their field, solving problems as they arise, using money wisely. All pattern-worthy processes.
The activities were a big hit. The students seemed to really enjoy the self-reflection time as well as the group time. We did the paperclip activity today. Basically, they split up into groups of 3 and tried to come up with as many alternative uses for a paperclip as they could in 10 minutes with no limits. They came up with anywhere between 15 and 25 alternative uses. Then we made the point that no limits means the paperclip could be 50 feet tall. It could be made of foam. We gave them 10 more minutes and a list of questions to get their creativity pumping. Then we got some fun results - swords, bag hangers, bubble blowers.
The winning group was an all male team and came up with 62 alternative uses for paperclips, many of which they made models of. They each won their very own box of paper clips.
What a fun night we all had together, practicing our creativity, reflecting, and beginning to explore the patterns that make a truly great entrepreneur. It was a blessed tome. I feel relieved that it went well, but also just incredibly blessed that God used it the way that He did. Frankly, now I can't wait for tomorrow night!
Happy Holidays!
Happy No Cars Day from Bogota!
As it turns out, I'm here for their version of Earth Day. No one in the entire city drives their cars on the first Thursday of every February. Only buses, taxis, motorcycles, and bicycles. It gave the city an entirely different feel! (And let's be honest, I just love holidays!)
Today's morning consisted of a planned shopping excursion with Magi. I'm staying with her and her husband, Pastor Edgardo, at their beautiful home. Magi is wonderful and incredibly sweet. She doesn't speak much English, so when I found out that Maru wasn't coming with us, I was a little nervous for a very quiet morning. Since we couldn't take a car, we rode a taxi to the bus stop (Trans-Millenial).
The bus was packed! I wanted to take a picture, but it would have been weird. After a few stops, Magi and I were able to get some seats. As we rode through parts of the city I hadn't seen yet, she pointed out a district known for witches, prostitution, and abortion clinics. She told me that abortion is illegal in Colombia, but this district tends to look the other way. Unfortunately a lot of university students live in that district. It was very sad.
When we got to the shopping district, we got off the bus and I followed Magi very closely down the crowded streets (without cars). She warned me to clutch my purse rather tightly and eventually just put it in her bag instead. She took me upstairs in this store that probably had 50 little booths that all sold jewelry. I didn't end up with anything for Kevin (not even a briefcase for Matt). But I did find myself an adorable souvenir!
As it turns out, I'm here for their version of Earth Day. No one in the entire city drives their cars on the first Thursday of every February. Only buses, taxis, motorcycles, and bicycles. It gave the city an entirely different feel! (And let's be honest, I just love holidays!)
Today's morning consisted of a planned shopping excursion with Magi. I'm staying with her and her husband, Pastor Edgardo, at their beautiful home. Magi is wonderful and incredibly sweet. She doesn't speak much English, so when I found out that Maru wasn't coming with us, I was a little nervous for a very quiet morning. Since we couldn't take a car, we rode a taxi to the bus stop (Trans-Millenial).
The bus was packed! I wanted to take a picture, but it would have been weird. After a few stops, Magi and I were able to get some seats. As we rode through parts of the city I hadn't seen yet, she pointed out a district known for witches, prostitution, and abortion clinics. She told me that abortion is illegal in Colombia, but this district tends to look the other way. Unfortunately a lot of university students live in that district. It was very sad.
When we got to the shopping district, we got off the bus and I followed Magi very closely down the crowded streets (without cars). She warned me to clutch my purse rather tightly and eventually just put it in her bag instead. She took me upstairs in this store that probably had 50 little booths that all sold jewelry. I didn't end up with anything for Kevin (not even a briefcase for Matt). But I did find myself an adorable souvenir!
At times it was very difficult communicating, but we
definitely used the universal language indicators – laughter, smiles, and the
crinkled nose to say “I don’t really like that”. Her English was stretched and
my Spanish was stretched. We only called Maru a couple of times in order to
communicate! She was wonderful and put up with my incredible pickiness about
jewelry.
Right now, the fashion in Bogota is enormous rings. I have
funny hands, and so when I put these rings on, my fingers looked ridiculous!
The ring took up the entire distance between my knuckles. It took a long time
for me to figure out how to communicate that I didn’t need to have what was “in”.
When we came back, we took one of those little carts pulled
by a bicycle. Here’s a picture of me and Magi and then just me:
When we came home, I found out that the translation (all of
it) was lost with Maru’s friend’s fried hard drive. Maru stayed up most of the
night re-translating the workbooks and powerpoint so that we’d have the
materials for the first day of the conference.
Not only that, but Tato’s dog died. Tato was supposed to be
my translator. Tato has had 5 pit bulls. The first four died within 3 months of
his owning them. This one lasted 10 months. Maru let him off tonight so that he
could bury his dog. Since they couldn’t drive their car, however, he took his
family and the dog in a taxi to the burial site.
And, none of my English materials are printed either. So, we’re
going to just make it work tonight!
I’m almost ready, I think, for the conference tonight. I’m
incredibly nervous, but growing more confident by the moment. It’s really
amazing, because feeling so out of my element, has really grown my prayer life.
I would say this is what is meant by “pray ceaselessly”. The last three days, I have been getting to know
people who work with Visionet who are much more qualified than I am. I ask “why
me?” but the answer God always gives is, “Because I chose you.” He wanted me.
My prayer is that He gives me strength, makes me bold, and gives me peace. I’m
excited knowing that He is in control of the conference, my reputation, the
interactions, and the curriculum.
To share the most up to date plans (things are always
changing): talking with the education students got cancelled or maybe
postponed. Also, they added back in the part of my trip where I fly to Cali,
Colombia on Monday morning to meet with the first ever Christian university in
Colombia to talk about starting a Center for Entrepreneurship. So that’ll be interesting! Pray!!!
PS. I am starting a list of things I love about Colombia and
things I could never get used to. I'll add more as they come to me.
Things I Love About Colombia
- The women wear scrunchies. I think it should still be socially acceptable.
- Fast food. Yummy arrepas with chicken or beef.
- The mountain view from EVERYWHERE.
- Cell phone use. All the time. Every day. No matter what you're talking about.
- Speakerphone. For whatever reason, everyone answers in speakerphone.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
First Cup of Coffee (Among Other Things)
Today I had my first cup of coffee... ever. It only seemed appropriate to have Colombian coffee with breakfast this morning. Of course I filled it milk and sugar. It was actually pretty good (still bitter, but I liked it more than I thought I would).
Communicating over breakfast was fun. Pastor Edgardo and Magi speak English too, but figuring out the vocabulary is like a big puzzle. He'd describe the word and I'd have to fill in the blanks. They are very fun people to be around! I had a wonderful time at breakfast.
Since there's some construction in the building I'm staying in we don't have any water today. So I headed to Maru's apartment to shower and get ready for the day. Maru is so interesting to be around and talk with. She has an incredible life story and I am so blessed to have a fast friend in Colombia.
We spent the day together touring the city. I got to see the barrio (neighborhood/ghetto) where Visionet does most of its work. From the mountain, I was able to get a great view of the city:
Maru pointed out one house in particular - Claudia's house. Claudia has seven children from infant to teenager. She is on her second marriage. She's only 34. Claudia is involved in Visionet's ministry. She is one who wants to be trained in Entrepreneurship so that she and her husband can provide for their family and hopefully move out of the barrio someday.
The stories are amazing. I'm going to share my tour of the city via pictures!
Our tour continued to the land that Visionet is planning on buying for their non-profit, school, and church. One of their prayer needs is that God brings creativity in land planning because there are a number of historically or environmentally protected areas of the land God has planned for them.
On we went from there to a HUGE mall for lunch and walking around. I just have to say one thing, crepes are amazing. We went to a place called Crepes and Waffles. Apparantly, it was started as a master's thesis. The franchise only employs single women who are the heads of their households. When everywhere else is bustling for Mother's Day, they are closed and holding a party for their employees. The story, the food, and the ice cream were all incredible!
We window shopped for a little while so I could get a taste of Colombia before returning to the house for a relaxing evening. I'm still adjusting to the altitude shift and have some prep left for the conference starting tomorrow.
On an exciting note - a really cool opportunity opened up. Maru spoke with one of her friends who teaches college students preparing to be teachers and set up a time for me to go meet the students and spend some time talking about teacher prep and expectations in America. I'm really excited. God is opening up new opportunities every day! But more on that tomorrow.
Communicating over breakfast was fun. Pastor Edgardo and Magi speak English too, but figuring out the vocabulary is like a big puzzle. He'd describe the word and I'd have to fill in the blanks. They are very fun people to be around! I had a wonderful time at breakfast.
Since there's some construction in the building I'm staying in we don't have any water today. So I headed to Maru's apartment to shower and get ready for the day. Maru is so interesting to be around and talk with. She has an incredible life story and I am so blessed to have a fast friend in Colombia.
We spent the day together touring the city. I got to see the barrio (neighborhood/ghetto) where Visionet does most of its work. From the mountain, I was able to get a great view of the city:
Maru pointed out one house in particular - Claudia's house. Claudia has seven children from infant to teenager. She is on her second marriage. She's only 34. Claudia is involved in Visionet's ministry. She is one who wants to be trained in Entrepreneurship so that she and her husband can provide for their family and hopefully move out of the barrio someday.
The stories are amazing. I'm going to share my tour of the city via pictures!
 | |
| This is the view from the truck (sorry it's shaky) of one of the houses. They are using all kinds of building materials (but mostly brick. The houses up the mountain are basically shanty houses. This community started about 20 years ago, but they are still very much developing. |
 |
| This is one of the churches that Visionet works with in the barrio. They hold conferences and workshops on the roof of the building. |
 |
| The mountains create an interesting dynamic. The valley between the mountains is where the wealthier people live, so tucked into the mountains are all these tiny houses made of tarps and sheet metal. |
 | |
| They mined some of the land on the mountain, making it entirely unusable for agriculture or anything else for that matter. Visionet is planning on training the community to do vertical agriculture in the areas that are still available and lush. There are a number of aquifers that are in and around the mountainside. Other than the mined areas, it is a good place for small self-sustaining gardens. |
On we went from there to a HUGE mall for lunch and walking around. I just have to say one thing, crepes are amazing. We went to a place called Crepes and Waffles. Apparantly, it was started as a master's thesis. The franchise only employs single women who are the heads of their households. When everywhere else is bustling for Mother's Day, they are closed and holding a party for their employees. The story, the food, and the ice cream were all incredible!
We window shopped for a little while so I could get a taste of Colombia before returning to the house for a relaxing evening. I'm still adjusting to the altitude shift and have some prep left for the conference starting tomorrow.
On an exciting note - a really cool opportunity opened up. Maru spoke with one of her friends who teaches college students preparing to be teachers and set up a time for me to go meet the students and spend some time talking about teacher prep and expectations in America. I'm really excited. God is opening up new opportunities every day! But more on that tomorrow.
Safely Arrived
After a very long day of flights, I arrived safely in Colombia. The airport was nothing like I expected! I had been warned that I would be searched many times for drugs before I got out of the airport, but no one stopped me once. I didn't even see any guards with guns.
I went through customs and got my bag in about 10 minutes, way faster than I figured it would be. When I was leaving, the guard took my customs form and let me know that the address it was asking for was the one I'd be at in Colombia. Well I didn't know that information! The guard, who didn't speak any English, was very nice to me and just let me go through.
Walking out the door to the sea of waiting faces was a bit overwhelming. I walked up and down the crowd a couple of times looking for a sign with my name. Nothing. No one so much as looked like they were waiting for an American girl.
After my moment of panic, and about 5 minutes, I met Ana Maria and Sarah. They were wonderful. Ana Maria's English was great! We talked about all kinds of things. It turns out that Thursday is the Colombia version of Earth Day. No cars are allowed to be on the road, only public transportation. She told me all about Bogota and her mom drove us back to the house where I'll be staying with Pastor Edgardo and his wife Magi.
Driving through the city was really interesting. Parts of the city are as developed as the United States, and parts look like a third world country. It's such a diverse environment. Truly in the midst of developing. (As an aside, the best restaurant I saw was side by side - Pollo Pollo next to Pizza Pizza.)
When we arrived at the house, I was blown away by how beautiful it is. Here are some pics:
It was a very very very long day, so I went to bed pretty soon. God blessed Kevin and I with the ability to talk before bed. It was wonderful to be able to say goodnight. What a great night's sleep! I slept like a rock. Praise God!
I went through customs and got my bag in about 10 minutes, way faster than I figured it would be. When I was leaving, the guard took my customs form and let me know that the address it was asking for was the one I'd be at in Colombia. Well I didn't know that information! The guard, who didn't speak any English, was very nice to me and just let me go through.
Walking out the door to the sea of waiting faces was a bit overwhelming. I walked up and down the crowd a couple of times looking for a sign with my name. Nothing. No one so much as looked like they were waiting for an American girl.
After my moment of panic, and about 5 minutes, I met Ana Maria and Sarah. They were wonderful. Ana Maria's English was great! We talked about all kinds of things. It turns out that Thursday is the Colombia version of Earth Day. No cars are allowed to be on the road, only public transportation. She told me all about Bogota and her mom drove us back to the house where I'll be staying with Pastor Edgardo and his wife Magi.
Driving through the city was really interesting. Parts of the city are as developed as the United States, and parts look like a third world country. It's such a diverse environment. Truly in the midst of developing. (As an aside, the best restaurant I saw was side by side - Pollo Pollo next to Pizza Pizza.)
When we arrived at the house, I was blown away by how beautiful it is. Here are some pics:
 |
| The view of the sea of apartment complexes in Bogota. Apparently, they categorize people's social class on a number scale from 0-7. This area is a 4. |
 |
| The house I'm staying is is more beautiful than a hotel would have been. |
 |
| There's even a balcony garden across the street from my room. |
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
What a Funny Way to Start
Headed out this morning early... too early if you ask me. But Kevin was good about making sure I made it to the airport on time. I cried most of the way there and even more when I arrived at Norfolk Airport. This is the longest we've been apart in a long time, especially since we've been married. Things seemed to go pretty easy for the most part. I found my gate no problem and sat down to spend some time texting my husband and doing some research before boarding the plane.
The plane was small so we had to walk onto the tarmac to board. I found my seat and arranged my things. It was only then I realized that I didn't have my phone anymore. I emptied my briefcase... twice! Nothing. Absolute panic washed over my face and I could tell the tears were coming again. I spoke with the flight attendant who made a phone call back to the gate.
A couple minutes later a gentleman comes out to the plane and says he looked everywhere but he couldn't find it. He said, "If we do find it, you can pick it up when you come back through Norfolk at the security desk." Two things went through my mind - 1) I will have to buy a new phone and we don't really have another $100 to spend on a new phone; and 2) That was my safety blanket for being able to talk with my husband and in case of any emergencies. Honestly, I was mostly thinking #2. In fact, #1 was really just to make myself feel better about seeming so desperate.
In the next 10 minutes, our plane started to roll away from the gate. I sat in my seat praying something like this, "I know your grace is sufficient and that you are faithful. I can't fool you into thinking this is an issue of finances. I know it's about my control and my comfort. You can provide for the finances and you can do a miracle. You made food appear when people needed it. If this is something I need, you can make it appear in my bag when I arrive. You can help the security guards find it at the airport. I know I still need to realize that you are the only one I need. Your grace is sufficient. Your grace is sufficient. Your grace is sufficient."
My mother-in-law texted me this morning that she was praying because she knew how tough it would be to be away from Kevin. While I was praying, I kept thinking of what she had said: "Some of the best (and most challenging) ministry things have happened when Scott wasn't available. Jesus is all we really need and that's especially evident when we're away."
So I cried, and prayed, and made friends with the lovely elderly couple sitting next to me. I stared out the window as the plane rolled away from the airport.
In the middle of the safety demonstrations, the flight attendant's phone rings. He stopped the recording talking about the air masks dropping from the ceiling, opened a door, and came down the aisle to bring me my phone. I have never seen anything like it! The other passengers were flabbergasted and frankly so was I. Those around me commented on how surprising that was.
The flight was uneventful. I got a nap and did some reading. Mostly I just began to feel a little more secure in God's faithfulness over this upcoming trip. I think I endeared the flight attendant to me. He owns a house in Colombia and shared with me some of the must-see places.
Just about everyone I passed as I got off the plane asked, "Are you sure you have everything?" but I'm alright taking a bit of pride hit to give God a chance to prove his faithfulness.When I boarded the flight in Norfolk, I felt very very alone. Now, sitting here in the Miami airport, I'm still alone, but not alone. Not really alone. God is with me.
But really... what a funny way to start!
I walked to my gate here at Miami with one of the gentleman sitting behind me on the Norfolk flight. He said he never in all his years of flying has ever seen anything like that! He said it was "my lucky day". My response: "God just answered my prayer, that's all." All he could say was, "Yeah, I guess He did."
PS I'm hoping all of my blog posts will have pictures attached, but since I've been crying recently, there's no picture. We're just going to pretend I look better than I do. :-)
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