Loving the Land

Bogotá. January 2020.

Abram received instructions from God to go and settle in a place that He was going to show him.

God never talked about the type of land He was guiding Abraham to, God didn´t describe this land, He didn´t say to Abram (not Abraham yet) if the land was green and full of grass for his sheep, or with trees for Abram to have a shelter or beside a river for all his family to have something to drink. What God said was:

‘I will make you into a great nation,

and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,

and whoever curses you I will curse;

and all peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.’ / Gen 12:2-3 NIV

So Abram trusted God´s word and went.

But, let´s thing about this more carefully. Abram had good money, loads of servants and a great status before that (v.6). He had no need to move*. But he did. He didn´t have the need of jump to the unknown, risking everything for "just" a promise, but he did, he went, he jumped.

Sometimes, when we receive an instruction from God, and advice and even a promise, we hesitate. His promise, sometimes is not enough. We have to analyze with our "logical" minds God´s instructions, check the weather, the % of chance of rain and speed of wind before going. Are we going to fit in this place? Is God really calling me there?, do i have the language? do i have to eat something different? do i have to go out of my comfort zone? I´m not saying that is wrong, is just what we all do as humans.

So some of us take some measurements, and go, because "looks good." The numbers are in our favor and we thing we can do it!

Some go without putting attention to the probabilities, numbers, and all of that. They just go because God tell them! they go because they are obedient. Obedience is the driven motivation.

But few go because they love where they are going, even if is an unknown place for them! They love it without any logical reason. I guess they love it because God puts in them love for the place or the people or the culture where they are going! So for them, love is the reason.

And i think this is the case of Abi. The first time that she came to Colombia for a "long term" (3 months), was in rainy season and if you know Abi, you will know that she can´t cope with the cold. In that occasion she was robbed 3 times! but she decided she wanted to be here.

So even when she had really, really difficult times when she couldn´t understand people, and culture and habits, with time, she loved it. She love it so much that she decided to stay for long term. She love it so much that She married a Colombian! and thanks God, despite me, she still loving Colombia! She loved it so much that the last January she finishes her process to be a Colombian Resident!!!! and the last 20th of March she has been in the country for nine years!!

So this entry is to say THANK YOU! family and friends, churches and supporters for been so faithful in Abi´s process for the last 9 years! Your support during all this time has been key for her and for us as a family! THANK YOU!

To thanks God for the opportunity to see His faithfulness in our own life, being witnesses of His incredible plans for us!

And finally we want to invite you to believe in God´s plans even when they look a bit crazy, to trust in what He said about us, our present and our future.