Welcome to my photo gallery.
Browse through the slideshows below to learn more about my year in Colombia.
Browse through the slideshows below to learn more about my year in Colombia.
Monserrate
Monserrate is a pilgrimage site in the mountains above Bogota. On our third day in Colombia we took a train up the mountain to see the site. For more information on Monserrate, click here.
Monserrate is a pilgrimage site in the mountains above Bogota. On our third day in Colombia we took a train up the mountain to see the site. For more information on Monserrate, click here.
Cartagena - Presbyterian Women
On October 15 the Presbyterian women from Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Pital gathered in Cartagena. First we worshiped together and participated in a workshop on forgiveness and reconciliation. The workshop was especially poignant only two weeks after the country voted to reject the Peace Accords. Afterwards we ate a lunch of pasteles, made by the women of Pital. Then half the group went downtown to explore the city, while the rest of us went to the beach.
Dia de los Angelitos
While the major cities of Colombia celebrate Halloween, in rural areas like Pital, the people celebrate Dia de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels) on November 1. Similar to Halloween, the children go from house to house asking for candy, saying "somos angeles" (we are angels).
Campamento de los Jovenes
On November 19 and 20 the young adults from the Presbyterian churches of Barranquilla and Pital went to a farm in Luruaco for a camping trip. Luruaco is home to a small community of displaced campesinos. Despite it raining for about 22 hours straight, we had a fun weekend of worship, fellowship, music, food, and learning about the campesinos' lives and testimonies. You can read more about the weekend here.
Thanksgiving
On November 27 we celebrated Thanksgiving at Sarah's house with the accompaniers and friends from Barranquilla. The night included lots of food, a puzzle, and dancing.
Dia de las Velitas
Among Catholics, December 8 is known as the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. In Colombia this day is more commonly known as Dia de las Velitas (Day of the Little Candles). Catholics and Protestants alike celebrate by rising before dawn to line the streets with candles and set off fireworks. For my Catholic brothers and sisters it is a holy day to honor the Virgin Mary. For my Protestant family it is a cultural celebration that marks the beginning of the Christmas season.
Christmas
In preparation for Christmas I introduced my host family to one of my own family traditions: baking gingerbread cookies. Christmas Eve I preached my first sermon in Spanish and the children performed a small pageant for the church. After the morning service the church shared food and gifts.
Children's Programs
One of my favorite parts of my job is working with the kids at the church. On Saturday mornings we have art and English classes. In Sunday school we are studying the life of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke. While the kids were on their end of the year vacation we learned about the story of Joseph in VBS. On occasion we go walking and explore Pital and the surrounding area together.
Seattle Delegation
The last week of January a delegation from Seattle Presbytery visited the churches of el Presbiterio de la Costa (Coast Presbytery). On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, two members of the delegation led us in a conference on building peace and reconciliation. On Tuesday we visited the displaced campesinos of Luruaco. Many members of the delegation had visited last January, only three weeks after the campesinos had settled on their new land. For them it was incredible to see how the community had built their homes from nothing. Even in the past two months since my last visit (you can see photos from my last trip here) many improvements had been made.
Burro Corcoveon
The traditional burro costumes Carnaval are made at Los Llanos, the farm of the leader and founder of the organization. A few weeks before Carnaval I went with my host brother while he worked on his mask. While there I was asked to be a photographer for the burros at several of the parades. I accompanied the Burro Corcoveon (which roughly translates to Bucking Burros or Wild Burros) to Juan de Acosta (read more about the trip here), Santo Tomas, and La Batalla de Flores in Barranquilla.
The traditional burro costumes Carnaval are made at Los Llanos, the farm of the leader and founder of the organization. A few weeks before Carnaval I went with my host brother while he worked on his mask. While there I was asked to be a photographer for the burros at several of the parades. I accompanied the Burro Corcoveon (which roughly translates to Bucking Burros or Wild Burros) to Juan de Acosta (read more about the trip here), Santo Tomas, and La Batalla de Flores in Barranquilla.
Uraba - Mid Year Retreat
After a busy four days of Carnaval, Brittany, Sarah, and I traveled to the Uraba region for our mid-year retreat. The first day, after a long bus ride, we stopped in Arboletes for some relaxing beach time. The next day we continued on to Apartado to visit the church and the Colegio Americano where we had the opportunity to talk to some of the classes about the YAV program and our work here. After a brief stop in Carepa, where one of last year's YAVs lived, we continued on to Dabeiba. Over our two days in the mountains we visited an indigenous village, the home of Madre Laura (the first Colombian woman to be canonized as a Saint), swam under a waterfall, worshiped with the Presbyterian church, and learned how to make coffee from raw beans. Although the long hours spent on the road were exhausting, the trip was a refreshing break, during which we reflected on the past six months and made plans for our final five months in Colombia.
Cartagena - Final Retreat
In June, Brittany, Sarah, and I spent a week in Cartagena for our final retreat. In addition to reflecting on the past year and where we were going next, we visited the church of Cartagena, explored the Walled City and the Castillo de San Felipe, and snorkeled in the coral reef off the Islas del Rosario.
Cucuta
At the end of June my friend Jineth invited me to visit her in the city of Cucuta on the Venezuelan border. While there she introduced me to her church small group, and I had the opportunity to worship with them several times during the week. Jineth and her friends showed me around the city, and took me up the mountains to visit Chinacota.
Campesinos of Luruaco
In July Brittany and I made another visit to the displaced campesino (farmer) community in Luruaco. You can see photos from previous visits above. You can also read more about the community and my first meeting with them here. On the way we picked up 100 plantain "seeds" which will be used to expand their growing farms. Other new additions include pigs, orange trees, and ongoing construction on a new house.
Bogota
My last week in Colombia before heading home I traveled to Bogota and the Amazon (see photos from the Amazon below). In Bogota I visited the Catedral de Sal (Salt Cathedral) and Candelaria, the historic district of Bogota.
Amazon
After a few days in Bogota I flew down to Leticia in the southern tip of Colombia. From there I took a boat down the river to Puerto Narino. While there I went to Isla de los Mikos (Island of the Monkeys), took a night hike through the rain forest, watched dolphins, fished for piranhas, visited the indigenous community of San Martin, went to a nature reserve, and climbed a Ceiba tree.