adios mi amigos!

Well folks,

My DTS experience is drawing quickly to a close. How fast it's gone by! In a way it feels like I've lived here with everybody for sooo long, but it still feels like I just got here.

So, for those of you who hadn't heard yet, I have all of my lecture and outreach fees paid off- so I'm officially going to Colombia!!!!!!! It has been amazing seeing God meet all my needs through people like you guys, willing to support me in what I do. So a HUGE thank you to you all! : )

About 9 people on my team are still trying to raise support. About $18,000 to go! If they are unable to get the money in, they can't join the rest of the team for outreach until they have everything paid for. So please keep them in your prayers. I want everyone on my team to be able to go on this outreach. I really want to see God do a miracle in meeting everyone's financial needs in the next few days before we leave. I have total faith that He can!

I want to let you all know about some different stats and issues going on in Colombia that I researched yesterday (just so you know what you can be praying for while I'm in this country):

-90-95% of the country is Roman Catholic, and 60% say they don't even practice their faith actively. There are also many who practice animism, the worship of animal spirits.

-Over 80% of the world's cocaine is produced in Colombia, with illegal growth of coca plants spreading all over the coutry. When the government tried destroying these crops, illegal armed forces just planted more in response.

-The most common cause of death, after cancer, is drug related crime.

-The FARC (a revolutionary army in Colombia) has been active in the country for many years. Children under the age of 18 make up about 30% of the army. Many are kidnapped or tricked and forced into the army, but many still join voluntarily, to escape poverty or family problems. Of these children many see the FARC as a way to obtain power. Rather than living a lowly life of a farmer with a machete, they want to be free to do with they want with all the gunpower they want.

-Over half the country is below the poverty line. And most Colombians live on only $2 a day.

-Although Colombia is considered well-educated compared to most Latin American coutries, it still suffers from poorly qualified teachers. Many children don't receive the higher education they need.

So there you have it. Just a few things to be thinking about.

Hopefully, I'll be able to post one last time before I leave. My flight leaves at 12 noon on Monday, so keep us in your prayers! Thank you and LOVE YOU ALL! : )