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So going back almost a month now I had my last week of school before I began to hit the real world of work. In my last blog I gave a teaser by saying I had started, and yes I have. Leaving school was hard, as I had made friends with people and it was my security, my structure and a place where speaking Spanish was safe, as you knew that people knew you were learning. In the real world people don't know how long you've been in Colombia or how long you've been learning Spanish so it's scary! Anyway my last day at the school was a mix of emotions. I did really badly in an exam so felt that I didn't know any Spanish, but then had some good conversations in Spanish so felt that I did! Argh cue frustration! The school had a cake, as there were a few of us leaving, but it was also to celebrate my birthday. Then they also gave me a little present, which was totally unexpected.
The next day (Saturday) I went rafting with the school in a place called Tobia, which was awesome!! I've never done it before and always been a bit scared of doing it, but as soon as I got started I lost all my fear. I was ducking a diving and reaching right into the water with my oar…my abs got a good work out! We had to do certain drills like jump into the water and save each other and then flip the raft (obviously in parts of the river that weren't mental). We were rafting for about an hour I think, in gorgeous weather to! Afterwards, we had time to relax by the swimming pool or swim so I took the chance to top up the tan! We then had lunch, more time to relax then head back to Bogotá. I was exhausted! I got back to the house and literally couldn't speak to trying to explain the day was rather tough. I think I went to bed earlier than I have any other Saturday!
And so, Monday came and I started work. For the first week I shadowed the sexuality project, so for this week the groups were on HIV prevention. We were in the same University for the week with a different class each time, which lasted 1 hour. The format was to show a video for 15 minutes about HIV, how it is transmitted and how to prevent it (abstinence, fidelity and use a condom). There was then a discussion and a chance for the students to ask questions, etc. Oscar who heads the project spoke about his experiences of life and abstinence (he waited until he was married before having sex), and it was interesting to see the reaction of the students when they heard this. By Thursday I understood almost all the video and what Oscar was saying. It was still hard for me to understand the students because I didn't know their voices and they used slang. By Thursday I had built up my confidence and told Oscar that I was happy to share my experiences to. So Thursday I spoke in front of two classes for about 1-2 minutes about my experiences. I didn't wait until marriage (clearly I'm not married), but now I am waiting. I was as honest as I could be in Spanish and the students understood (or appeared to understand) what I was saying. After one class I got a round of applause and some of the girls looked close to tears! Something seems to happen inside of my heart when I say something personal in Spanish. It's as though the emotions of re-living something are stronger when you also need to think in a different language. The experience was really good for my confidence and I know that God gave me that boldness to try something in front of strangers.
What was also interesting was that I discussed this with Grace, the head of UCU in Bogota and she told me that a lot of the students had never heard that it is okay to wait until marriage before having sex. I couldn't believe it! She said that a lot of them felt that if they didn't have sex it wasn't normal and they didn't realise they had a choice. I think this partly reflects the education system here as well, as I have spoken to many teachers who say that in the schools the students are not taught to think for themselves or make their own decisions. Also the age of sexual consent in Colombia is 14 years old, so we're talking about children supposedly being able to make a decision involving not just their body, but their minds and soul to. This also then opens up doors for all kinds of abuse, which I won't go into, but it's pretty obvious the power an older person can have over a 14 year old when the law says it's acceptable to have sex at 14 years old. Anyway with that week over, I wondered what the next week would bring…not much.
Monday I went back to the University for the final group of the project, then that was my day done. Tuesday and Wednesday I had no groups so I started work on my presentation, which is for a conference in May (explanation in a minute). Thursday I went to the south of Bogota to observe a group in the violence reduction project, which Laura runs. This was in a college in quite a poor area, with students ranging from 14- 17 years old in the same class. For this session there was a teacher of Aikido teaching the students about conflict resolution and avoiding conflict. It was really interesting to watch (and attempt to understand to) and see how the students interacted with the teacher. It was mainly the boys who answered questions and offered information with only 1-2 girls participating. I felt this reflected the confidence levels between the sexes and perhaps the levels of conflict experienced in their lives. He got them doing practical exercises, like breathing and co-ordination then did an exercise of how to avoid conflict. The students were great and attentive and appeared to enjoy the time that they had. At the end one girl came up to me and asked if I was from England. When I said yes she said it was her dream to go. This broke my heart a little bit and made me realise how privileged I have been and am to have the ability to travel, the money to do so and the freedom to explore this world.
Thursday afternoon I went to a different university in the north of the city for a Bible study group with a different Laura. Only one person showed up, but he and Laura went and asked two random people if they wanted to join in; they said yes. This for me was good to see because they had no fear of asking and a reminder that if we put ourselves out there, God will do the rest. We studied John 3:1-20. Now I know this passage, I've read it many times and even studied it a bit. However, something I've realised since being in Colombia is that when I try and study the Bible in Spanish, even when I understand the passage I literally go blank. It's not because I don't understand the words or the meaning because I do. I feel that the devil is putting up a barrier, as it's a way of preventing me from sharing God's word with others. I also don't want to keep going to Bible study groups because I feel like a lemon sat there with nothing to say, but I'm going to persevere because I know that God can break these boundaries, so please pray that this will happen.
Friday I had my first English class- intermediate level so only discussion. I had prepared some stuff about the Olympics, so the sports that took part. We discussed the sports and I explained any sports they didn't know in English, we discussed the clothes, the actions amongst other things. The people who came work for UCU and have a reasonable level of English. For me it was good fun and they seemed to like it to. The class was for about 2 hours, and at the end we played a bit of a describing game with the sports to be reminded of the names of the sports and practice different English words. I still don't know anything more about other lessons I might give, but I think intermediate class will be on Fridays, so that's one thing I do know.
The following week, so week 3 was only 3 days because in Colombia for Easter they take the Thursday and Friday off work. I had no work in the day, only in the evenings of Tuesday and Wednesday 6pm- 9pm for a workshop on sexuality and the Bible. This was hard going and my Spanish understanding was tested to the limit! I got through it and did speak a tiny bit when made to in front of the whole group. I had chances to speak to people one on one and was complimented on my Spanish- cue big grin and pat on the back! Anyway the topics were the creation and why we should be abstinent until marriage and then sexual abuse in and out of the church. What struck me in one exercise that we did (we read the sentence criteria for sexual offences in Colombia) is that they receive a much higher time in prison than in England especially for Pornography. We also looked at statistics for child abuse within the church and between men and women. It was all food for thought, especially when you are discussing abuse within the church and the horrendous things that do occur by people who proclaim to love and obey God. It's something I'm not sure I can understand, but then we all do things against God and only He can judge us.
Anyway moving on from this…the conference I mentioned earlier. So there is a conference, which will happen sometime early May about violence and violence reduction. I've been asked to speak for about 30 minutes (not hard for me really), in Spanish (maybe a little bit harder) about my experiences working with violent offenders and the motivations for their crimes. So far I have written in it English and am now in the process of translating it into Spanish. Once I have done this I'll give it to someone to correct and then I'll do a powerpoint presentation to. So far I feel okay about speaking in Spanish, as all I have to do is practice and read what I have written. However, there is going to be a question and answer session, which is where my nerves already feel, well, nervous! Number 1, I struggle to understand, number 2, having to answer questions that could be a bit complicated when I don't have any prepared…well…hmmm…I'll just have to try. I will have Grace there to translate if necessary and I suppose I'll just have to rely more on God and accept that if I make a mistake, well that's okay.
Okay so what else has happened in my life, hmmm I met up with the other missionaries in Bogota with Latin Link and we climed the Colpatria tower which is really high! The day was perfect and the views were incredible, and there was also a procession of all the theatre companies in Bogota in the road, so this was very entertaining to watch. Afterwards we went and got some food and had a chance to chat more. It was great to spend time together, but sad, as we had to say bye to Ning who had completed her 7 weeks and was going back to England. Maybe God will send her back out! We can hope, as she was an inspiration and someone with patience, kindness and a genuine heart with constant enthusiam.
So more has happened but this is long enough. I've been away to, so will write a blog about my holiday.
Love to all
xxxx
- comments
John Stodghill Esther, happy birthday! It is exciting to hear that you are having opportunities to share personal, meaningful truths with the youth there. I know that you can get down on yourself languagewise, but I would encourage you that it comes with time and the topics you are discussing are sure to have a lot of slang. You are doing cool things, and I am sure that God will continue to sustain you and empower you to grow in language and relationships. God bless.
Boyd wellings Hello Esther Happy birthday! I read your blog with a lot of interest, I have struggled a lot recently with hearing gods voice when I am asking for guidance. I realised that it was because my own mind was to crowded with my own thoughts and fears. Perhaps you need to calm your mind, and know in your heart that god will not let you fail. Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you and be confident that with Jesus walking beside you, you can not go wrong. Relax Esther you are already doing gods work, he does not forsake you.
Steve Collins Sounds amazing. Great pictures, great memories I hope. Dont doubt yourself Champion, life's tapestry will weave itself. Belated happy birthday, mine's in April too. Hope you are well. Quite sleepy here in Cheddar, just back to college after a maojor abdo op! Got to wait another month before can exercise again. Take care.
Mumx Wonderful things you are doing, so proud of you. You always give your best. God loves you