My first mission trip was in March of 2014 to Riohacha and two years later the trip leader, Betsy, and I were married. You just never know where a mission trip will lead you! My first one lead me not only into the married life, but also to Riohacha, Colombia and Castillo Fuerte es Nuestro Dios (A mighty fortress is our God). It's a small, family-originated and family-led church and Dionisio and Olivia Mejia and their grown children are the family.
I've uploaded six pictures: the first shows from right to left: Pastor Julio Pinzon of Iglesia Esperanza in Santa Marta, Dionisio Mejia, Felipe Pinzon (young man in background) and 3 members of that team: Heather Wooten, Amanda Henson and Will Henson. All good friends now. Notice the pavement of the courtyard and the brickwork. Which leads me to my second picture: a closeup of the bricks. Dionisio had a SINGLE mold for making bricks and made that courtyard just like his family builds that church... one brick at a time. And over the two plus years that I've seen Castillo Fuerte, teams from our church have helped build the steel-reinforced concrete ceiling, the second floor, the walls on the second level, the baptismal cover, bought steps to the roof rooms, you name it. Picture 3 shows a team member, Jody, helping with the second story, and picture 4 a Nov2013 team member helping build the concrete/steel ceiling. Picture 5 is a fellow team member, Dan, on the "febrero2016" team that served in Santa Marta. Picture 6 is a 2015 team member, BJ, touring the upper level of Castillo Fuerte.
Our first trip included door-to-door evangelizing and sharing of our testimonies. I wrote mine out in Spanish and parroted it whenever it was my turn. How incredibly friendly the people of Colombia are to invite us into their homes when we knock!
I'm delighted to return to Riohacha, to Castillo Fuerte and to lead others to their own life-changing mission trip.
I've uploaded six pictures: the first shows from right to left: Pastor Julio Pinzon of Iglesia Esperanza in Santa Marta, Dionisio Mejia, Felipe Pinzon (young man in background) and 3 members of that team: Heather Wooten, Amanda Henson and Will Henson. All good friends now. Notice the pavement of the courtyard and the brickwork. Which leads me to my second picture: a closeup of the bricks. Dionisio had a SINGLE mold for making bricks and made that courtyard just like his family builds that church... one brick at a time. And over the two plus years that I've seen Castillo Fuerte, teams from our church have helped build the steel-reinforced concrete ceiling, the second floor, the walls on the second level, the baptismal cover, bought steps to the roof rooms, you name it. Picture 3 shows a team member, Jody, helping with the second story, and picture 4 a Nov2013 team member helping build the concrete/steel ceiling. Picture 5 is a fellow team member, Dan, on the "febrero2016" team that served in Santa Marta. Picture 6 is a 2015 team member, BJ, touring the upper level of Castillo Fuerte.
Our first trip included door-to-door evangelizing and sharing of our testimonies. I wrote mine out in Spanish and parroted it whenever it was my turn. How incredibly friendly the people of Colombia are to invite us into their homes when we knock!
I'm delighted to return to Riohacha, to Castillo Fuerte and to lead others to their own life-changing mission trip.