June 1, 2012

• [Adventures 2012]: Bogota, Colombia

  Ah, Colombia.

  It was a lot different than I expected and yet, similar in ways to what I had imagined. Is that possible? Well, anything is possible. hehe.
  Like other countries, it depended on what area of the country we were in. Thursday we left Chia and went exploring in downtown Bogota. Adventures anyone? We kinda stressed our hosts as we were rather obvious looking as a group, half of us carrying cameras and just overall being in downtown Bogota. There is something so delightfully incredible about exploring a place you have never been… the unknowns, the things to see and learn… the possibilities. The sheer wonder of knowing adventure is out there… 

  There was a lot of color in Bogota… from buildings and houses painted bright colors to the colors of market carts in the busy section of downtown. People were e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. like, everywhere. It was a good afternoon to just walk around, take pictures and hang out as a team. We also had met up with our two wonderful translators that were coming up to the Orphanage with us. I took advantage of a little “downtime” being together and had us take some pictures. After exploring a while, we had lunch at a nice resteraunt where they served steaks that were literally ten inches long and amazingly wonderful and of course, enjoyed some limonada [I fell in love with it, Spanish version of lemonade... it has limes in it too and is completely wonderful!] and good conversation. 

  Eventually, we had some change in our plans and needed to head up to the Orphanage earlier than planned… public Transportation is something I am not truly familiar with, but after Colombia, I feel like a “pro”… ok, not quite a pro, but definitely way more experienced than before. Think of sardines in a can. Squished, pushed and trying to get all 14 of us [11 team members, two translators and one host] on the same bus with only moments before the doors shut… yeah.

  We made quite the sight, quite the sight… while we were waiting at one bus station, I suggested a team picture, and I am so glad I did, it ended up being the only one in the daylight we got, and moments after we took the picture… our bus got there and we had to “run for our lives” and barely, I mean, barely made it. Benjamin almost got left behind because he let me in one set of doors, Daniel C. almost got his foot caught in the door and I was closer to a guy than I’d ever been in my life as we all clutched at our bags and each other for dear life. haha. It was hilarious and laughable, even at the time. We were super grateful for Brandon, Benjamin and Daniel Dickson who are all well over 6′… to keep an eye on all of us. 

  It was a two hour drive up to the mountains, where in was nestled the place that was home for kiddos who would change our lives. The two hour drive up in our “mini-bus” was squishy, hot and many of us ended up kinda car sick, but once we arrived up in the mountains, the fresh air helped immensely. The kiddos were still in school, so we explored the town a few miles away, listened to church bells, soaked in the view of the mountains and the fact that we were HERE!

  Hours later, we got our first glimpses at the kiddos, right before dinner and yeah… 
  That is when my heart wasn’t coming back to America. 

  “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy… the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” - C.S. Lewis

  -KM

   

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
  Converses in Colombia! So comfortable and fun… especially when three of us wore them without planning. 

   

  
  The team from R to L: Me, Christina, Daniel C. Brandon, Elizabeth, Ashley, Daniel Benjamin, Ashlyn, Marissa and Greg. 

  More coming sooonnnnnn….
  Are you having fun yet?
  Are you wishing you had been there?

  *smiles* 

   

  • 6:45 pm
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