Final Preparations for my First Voyage to Colombia

     Final Preparations for my First Voyage to Colombia
      2:40am: I am sitting in the kitchen of my Charlotte family’s home; reminiscing on the first month and a half of my summer and imagining what the next five weeks are going to hold. Three trips to Target, four trips to Wal-Mart, one to World Market, one to a chocolate shop, phone calls and a Skype session with my family, and multiple correspondences with Mario and Mel Bolivar later….I am finally packed for my first voyage to Colombia! I have my Bible, gifts for my hosts, American candy (Mario and Mel’s suggestion), a different outfit for each day I am imagining in my mind, less pairs of shoes than usual, my travel gear, and many well-wishes from friends and family. I believe I am ready for my trip to Colombia!

                As I think about all of the preparations I have made, I cannot help but wonder if they are necessary. I am traveling to Colombia to connect two Presbyteries, two countries, many churches, lots of families, and to do God’s work. Do I really need my most comfortable walking shoes, peanut butter for my nighttime snack, my laptop to blog, Kindle to read, and an assortment of outfits? Should I take gifts for each person I meet? Do I need to keep a blog and be on the Internet to post few times a week? The answer to all of these questions is no. I do not need to write a blog. I do not need to take my electronic devices. I do not need to take different outfits. The Colombians I am meeting are not expecting gifts from me, so I do not need to take them. However, I want to show my gratitude for their hospitality. I want to be an “Ambassador,” as my Grandmother would say, for the United States, Miami County, Troy, OH, and Queens University of Charlotte. I want to arrive prepared for anything. I prepare for trips by packing heavily, arriving with gifts for my hosts, bringing comfort food from home, and traveling with my electronics so I can update everyone on how life in Colombia is going.

                Most importantly, preparing is an individual task (although I did miss my mom folding and rolling and organizing all of my clothes for me). My preparation includes getting everything together that I might want or need while I am in Colombia. Preparing includes corresponding with Gina and Mario and making sure I have all of the details figured out. Preparing includes saying lots of prayers and telling everyone I see that I am going to spend five weeks in Barranquilla, Colombia!

               My goal is to post a blog entry at least twice a week. I will most likely be including photographs, so look forward to that! I appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm, prayers, and support while I travel to Colombia to do God’s work and experience being Presbyterian, a woman, a college student, a native English speaker, and a mother/daughter/sister in Barranquilla.