Short Trip Report ( Barranquilla )

[Tim413]

Hi All!!!!!!

Just got back from 10 days in Barranquilla. Since I got married three years ago, I mainly go to hang out with my wife's family and to do mission work. Now that I go for other things then looking for a wife, I am experiencing many new things.

I wish I could say everything that happens, but it could be dangerous for my family and the people we know in Barranquilla. I am sure that others here wish they could say everything they experience, but they need to keep tight lipped for safety, also.

During our time in Barranquilla, we spend time with very wealthy and very poor Colombians. Also, we are around many tough people. It is interesting to watch people. My wife and I go everywhere. Our poor friends will go everywhere, but the wealthy will not hang our in poor areas or with poor people. It is fun to watch the wealthy make excesses why they cannot be with us when we go to poor areas.

Hanging our with my wife's family and doing mission work is a good mix. My wife's family enjoys this, also. We spend time with the family or did things together. Then, after we spent time with my wife's family, we are off to do ministry.

The highlight this year was watching my 18 month son have a lot of freedom. In my wife's families house, he ran around the house like he lived their his whole life. Another thing my son loved was riding in the taxis. He was totally free since he did not have to be in his car seat! He had no fears in Colombia.

For our mission work, we work with Christian leaders. Our primary purpose on the trip was to help willing Christian leaders apply 5 principle Jesus used in his ministry, which are:
1. Look to the Father for direction.
2. Know your mission
3. Have a strategy to accomplish your mission
4. Prepare for ministry expansion
5. Follow Core Values.

Had a great time in Colombia and look forward to going back soon!!!!

Tim

[TheWix]

@ Tim,
Nice trip report. How many times a year do you visit Colombia?

[Whitey]

Ahhhhh Barranquilla ... man do I ever want to be there right now!

Thanks for the report Tim ... nice to hear you're doing some good work down there.

Whitey

[LastLion]

Awesome Tim, I have a question .. Do you think that purpose you share with your wife and family makes the bond stronger..

Kind of a loaded question, but curious on your thoughts, I have always looked for something purposeful to share with my novias. That has been a bit dififcult in colombia at times!

Nice hearing from you keep us informed!

[Whitey]

Originally Posted by LastLion

I have always looked for something purposeful to share with my novias.

LL, you don't share your "special purpose" with your novias?!

Whitey

[LastLion]

Originally Posted by Whitey

LL, you don't share your "special purpose" with your novias?!

Whitey

hahaha, good one mane!

[TheWix]

@L.L.
Kind of a loaded question, but curious on your thoughts, I have always looked for something purposeful to share with my novias. That has been a bit difficult in Colombia at times!
Why?

[Tim413]

Thanks for your interest in my trip!!!!!!
Doing mission work just kind of happened. After my wife came to the US, we started doing ministry together. When she talked with her friends in Colombia, she would tell them what we were doing, and they wanted us to teach them to do the same.
Now we go to Colombia once a year to see my wife's family and do mission work. Also, each year we bring some of my family or friends from the US.
LL asked if our mission work brought us closer to my wife's family. Yes, I think it does, and here are some reasons why. My wife's family feel they are part of something. They participate in meetings and trips. They go to places they would never go naturally. This gives my wife's mother a chance to watch our son. At first I was nervous because when we came to Barranquilla, we did not spend all our time with my wife's family. Now, I can say that doing mission work has helped bring my wife's family closer to us.
There are many opportunities to help people in Colombia without being an enabler. For example, I heard of one Gringo that goes to hospitals in Barranquilla and helps children trapped in the hospital because the children's family cannot pay to get them out. Maybe the guy I am talking about is a member here. The fact is that there are many ways to help Colombian.
Do you know other ways we can help Colombians when we visit?

Tim

[LastLion]

That is good Stuff Senor Tim. Great job by the way! I think the shared religous values with your wife is huge. Congrats on all the work.

I am sure having something like that in common is a great addition especially when the whole family can join in. I have done a lot of volunteering in my community and see that as something I always will do in my life all depends on what community I live in.

I have dated some girls south of the border that really stick so close to family that they dont actually do anything in the community, this is not to say they are bad people many are just scared to put themselves out there...

I know if I ever lived SOTB I would have to find something purpseful to do in the community, I have thought about that often. There are a ton of oppurtunities in colombia to be of service..

ANyways keep us posted, great hearing about your relationship and your son too BTW!!

[Sailover]

Colombia is one of the more 'religious' cultures of the world. It is also one of the more violent and corrupt. It does make you wonder. I remember being in a Bogota taxi while the driver crossed himself as he passed each church, then wildly overcharged me for the trip. Kiss THIS ring, Pope.