Day 2- Reunited

Written by Mikayla Smith

Hola! Buenos!

Today is Sunday, March 9th. We woke up early and got ready to go to church. I share a room with Fran and Sophie. (I really like them.) We got up eventually and walked downstairs to the restaurant in our hotel. Yeah, I forgot to mention—we are staying in a hotel lol. I don’t know how I feel still. We sat down and ate together before journeying to the church. It was funny sitting through breakfast because the workers played “Young, Wild & Free” by Snoop, “Wild Thoughts” by DJ Khaled, and “They Not Like Us” by Kendrick LOL. (I guess they figured we would eat that up.)

When we finished our meal, we walked to Calvary.

Upon arrival, I saw a couple whom I met last year. The woman greeted me with such love, but I did not recognize her. I did, however, recognize her Spanish. I told her I wasn’t singing and that I was with my friends from the United States. Then the woman’s husband showed up, and I realized I knew them—they were the couple I took a picture with last year. It was a joy to be re-embraced by them as if they’d been waiting for me to come back.

Then I saw Carolina and Alex. Alex was so happy to see me. I gave Carol her hug, but then Alex and I continued to share conversation. He asked me the question I had not prepared for: “Why did you come back?”

I told him that in the same way I annually reconnect with my blood family, I felt as though I needed to do the same for my family here in Colombia—because they are indeed family. He cut me off and began to tell me that the kids do not remember everyone who comes on these trips. They collectively only remember Dan because he dresses funny and is so funny (I like to think they also remember him because he comes back all the time). They can’t forget him. And then he said they remember me.

Wow.

They—according to Alex—remember the way I worship. It encouraged them. He said it was “beautiful.” They “cannot wait to worship with [me] again.” He said, “Two people. They only remember two… and you are one of them. Be encouraged.”

And I am.

Afterwards, we (me and my team) went to serve in the youth ministry with the middle school and up. There, Bianca and Tyler re-shared their testimonies. Tyler and Bianca shared aspects of their story that they hadn’t shared before. I feel very confident that the Lord was doing something in them because I know they were nervous.

While they shared, we sat around in a circle, and I sat next to a woman named Angie and another young woman named Anna-Sophia. Once the testimonies were shared, Juan Daniel encouraged us to engage with the youth in the ministry. I had an excuse to not engage because Angie wanted to talk with me. Her English was poor, and my Spanish is poor, so we both did our best. Surprisingly enough though, I felt like our conversations were so organic, funny, and encouraging. I didn’t feel as though I was struggling at all.

We discussed Marajli, Cartagena, her major, and then my testimony. So scary. I had never shared my story on command. I felt so strange. Bianca had walked up at this point and was able to translate for me. I just remember her sharing Psalm 46: “Be still and know that I am God.” And the story where God was in the whisper. She shared that with me because I had shared my struggle to feel and hear God. She said sometimes God just needs us to remember He whispers.

I know that—but I was encouraged to be reminded.

I met Angie, Ashley, Anna-Sophia, Nora, and Riccardo on Sunday. My favorite part of the day, though, was being reunited with Jackie. My sweet Jackie and Patti. They blessed my soul. I can’t ever explain how much.

I thank God.