Greetings from Cúcuta! It has already been 24 hours since our mission trip began. As a team, our students and leadership decided early on in the semester to leave straight from school on Friday in order to have an extra day of ministry with our partners, alumni Sam Killins and his wife Ale. Many of our students teamed up with their church in Duitama last Spring and we were all impacted by our experience there of the body of Christ in action. Their church plants in Duitama and Cúcuta aren’t just about a worship service on Sunday mornings; they live life together like the church in Acts 2 and they are always finding ways to welcome new members into the family. We are so excited to be a part of spreading the good news of Christ and His church around the city this next week. We hope to see many people experiencing the joy of Jesus-centered community for the first time and returning hungry for more.
Our trip started off with some surprises, though we know none of it came as a shock to God. Four of our 17 team members, including our leader Mr. Becker, had to stay behind in Bogotá last night due to baggage issues. Thankfully, the airline agreed to fly them out at 6:00 AM this morning for no extra charge. We prayed for discernment, supernatural peace, and the positive attitudes Philippians 2 exhorts as a mark of a believer, and God delivered. The students were troopers, encouraging one another and keeping the momentum going despite the unexpected obstacles and by 8:00 AM this morning, we were all reunited in Cúcuta. We spent the morning studying Acts 2-4 together, reflecting on what being the church really means and preparing our hearts for the work God has in store for us this week. Our team is currently on its way to connect with the Cúcuta community and invite them to our church service tomorrow. We anticipate seeing God do amazing things as we step out of our comfort zones in faith.
Please pray that we would have energy to lean into what God has prepared for us, especially for the members of our team who were stuck in the airport overnight. Pray that we would be good witnesses for Christ and the church we are partnering with here. Already, we are seeing the ways that a life lived for Jesus can make a difference in every interaction. The owners of our hotel spoke to one of our leaders to share how shocked they were with the kindness of our students. They were nervous at the prospect of housing a large group of crazy teenagers but they found themselves blessed instead. Every moment is an opportunity to be a light!
– Bethany Litteral
