Video: The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of (Part II)

Palenque has a huge significance for African history and culture and was the place where the first free Africans in the Americas made their home. Stepping off the bus was like stepping through a stargate to another time.

On the outside Palenque looks like a village you might find somewhere in Africa. Depending on your wealth there is running water and electricity. Others draw their water from the river or well and live in huts with tarps instead of walls to help with air flow. The method of transportation is either motor bikes or horses. There is a bus that can take people outside of the village, other than that you walk.

The people lived in houses made of concrete, with roofs of tin and thatch. Tiled or dirt floors and gates of iron or wood depending on their wealth. Dogs were everywhere and chicken and pigs roamed free during the day. There was no escape from the sun and we quickly began to feel the effects of dehydration, heat exhaustion and questionable sanitary conditions.

The schedule is different here, as in there is none. Music and drums would play until early in the morning and lunch could be at noon or three depending on the day.

Witch craft is big in this area and we were told to avoid the wrong side of town where drugs and crime become dangerous.

We did street evangelism, knocking on doors, telling them about the nearby churches and asking to pray for them. We taught in the local school, sharing stories about hopes and dreams and the life of joy, peace and unconditional love that God offered them. We preached, played, and held intercession. We taught English, sang songs and got to know the people and the culture they were so proud of.

 This week held a lot of firsts for me.

First time leading worship.

First time speaking with a translator.

First time on Colombian public transportation.

First time washing clothes in a river.

First time I stunk up a room (note to self handwashing is about quality NOT quantity).

First time eating cow stomach.

And papaya.

And fish soup (picture broth with a fish head).

And crab….like…it was staring at me.

First time I prayed for someone who couldnt understand me.

First time I felt spiritually attacked.

First time I made empanadas.

First time my team became family.

First time I brushed my teeth next to a pig.

First time the heat in Florida felt like a winter wonderland.

First time I saw how God could move through a nation.

And many many more, but you get the jist. 

Palenque. The little African gem in the middle of Colombia.