Simple joys and the swine flu…

My time here in Sincelejo, Colombia is almost up, but I am still not sure what awaits me next. My original plan was to go on to Mexico City for the summer spearhead program, but it appears a good possibility that the program will be cancelled (still awaiting word on that, please keep it in your prayers). I have been looking forward to getting back to Mexico and Spearhead for some time now and will be really bummed if the program gets cancelled, not to mention will be unsure what to do with myself. I need to get back surgery which can’t really happen in the US because of money so with no reason to go to Mexico right now I am left unsure what to do and my already up in the air life just added a new twist with this flu virus. Also, as an interesting note, being so far away from Mexico, my friends who work in a pharmacy, mentioned later, tell me that masks are sold out in all of Sincelejo and that every 2 minutes someone tries to buy some. They said before the flu stuff no one ever bought them. Just an interesting tidbit.
Anyways, this was not the point of my entry today; I was today reflecting upon my time here and the friends I have made. With each place I have visited people have made an impact on me. Here in Colombia to be honest I didn’t try to lay down deep roots, I knew I would be leaving soon and felt like my heart couldn’t deal with any more goodbyes. Even so I still have some tough goodbyes to say. There are the obvious ones of the people I live and work with, but after that my friends are somewhat few, but unique. There is my favorite mototaxi driver with whom I talk a lot about God, the church, my girlfriend and how he one day would like to be a missionary. I will miss seeing his smiling face every morning as he takes me the 15 minute motorcycle ride to work at 7:43 every morning. Then there is the guy from the internet café who also turned into the guy from church and the guy from the drug rehab center. I will miss him and all the guys from the drug rehab center (I’m going there tomorrow again to share a message). Then there is the motorcycle mechanics on my street that would always yell out “hey you, gringo!” and we’d have a short conversation and then this weekend as I was walking by, they invited me for a drink and we chatted about why I was here and about life In the US, México and Brasil. I will miss the motorcycle mechanic gang. Then there is the guy that sells candy outside the school where my office is. I will miss giving him the thumbs up and asking him how he is every time I come in and out of work. I will miss the gatekeeper at the school who looks up and says good morning and see ya later every day. Then there are my neighbors who live on my street, about 3 or 4 little kids and their parents who always say hi to me when I am on my way to work or the internet café. The one little kid must asking me 5 times a week “Como se dice Eduardo en ingles?” Always asking me how to say his name or someone else’s in English. I try to explain names don’t translate well and then give my best bet at whatever name he throws at me. As I walk down the street there are at least 4 or 5 people that yell out “Hey gringo! Como estás? How are?” I’ll miss that too. Last (can’t say this is an all inclusive list, but last for now), but not least are my friends at the pharmacy where I have occasionally bought pain medication, two guys my age who work there and always say hi when I’m passing by. I will miss having conversations about them about my adventures and them trying to figure out what the heck I am doing in Sincelejo and why I have done all my travels. Today we talked for probably 45 minutes and they treated me to a coffee. I will miss them. I will miss all my clients and friends at ADIN (my NGO), I will miss helping them in their small businesses and seeing certain ideas about accounting and basic business skills click in their heads and seeing their eyes light up as they start to believe that there is hope to leave the vicious cycle of poverty.
I will miss Colombia, I don’t know when or if I’ll be back, but I will miss it. I am glad to leave, excited for Mexico, a bit scared if Mexico doesn’t work out, but I continue on my crazy journey. I don’t really know what God is doing, but I am learning to trust that He does know. Pray for my back to hold up in my trip to Cartagena on Saturday and then my trip to Miami/Mexico City on Monday. There is a chance if spearhead is cancelled that I would stay with my bro for a while in Miami and try to figure out what I am doing with my life now. Please pray for faith to keep on going forward when my life seems to be all over the place and trusting God is hard. Pray for Mexico and that if there is a chance that Spearhead might be able to happen. Thanks so much for all your prayers and support, I love and miss you all.