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April 1976 Newsletter
COLOMBIAN CHRISTIAN MISSION
Dale and Jeanie Meade
San Jose del Guaviare in Colombia, South America
Volume 4, Issue 4 April, 1976
(PHOTO)
The work crew eating lunch. The native Christian women served the meal on large leaves.
COLOMBIAN WORK MISSION
-STEVE BECHTEL
Recently, fourteen men from churches in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois had the opportunity and privilege of visiting the mission field of Colombia, South America. The purpose of our trip, which occurred the last two weeks in January, 1976, was primarily that of a work mission, but we were also taught valuable lessons in faith, love, and sacrifice.
As a work crew, we provided the tools, skills, and manpower to do badly needed jobs that might otherwise have been done at a high labor cost or else gone undone. We were able to take with us items that were needed by the missionaries there but which are hard to come by in Colombia, such as outboard engine parts, electrical supplies, a luggage carrier for a motorcycle, tape recorders, to name a few, plus certain food items (we sure hope Jeanie Meade doesn't get sick from an overdose of peanut butter!).
Two of the projects we were able to successfully complete were undertaken in Bogota, the capital of Colombia, and several smaller jobs were undertaken in San Jose, a small jungle town where Dale, Jeanie, and Wendy Meade, and Phil Banta live and evangelize. One project in Bogota was a brick and concrete storage building, and the other was the repairing of a Jeep station wagon which hadn't been running for several years, but will now see some good use.
After our many experiences, it certainly feels good to again have our feet on U.S. soil, and we thank the Lord for our safe journey. There were times when our faith couldn't help but be strengthened, such as riding over the mountains with our lived in the hands of a "maniac" bus driver, or meeting our Christian brothers and sisters in the jungle church at San Jose. The people were so full of the love of Christ that is was nearly overwhelming. We were also impressed by the simpleness of living and yet the happiness of the people and then the sacrifices required of the missionaries as they fit into the lifestyle of the people they serve.
We praise the Lord for the fine men and women serving Him in faraway places and for the privilege we had of sharing some time with them.
(PHOTO)
The storage building is ready for the roof.
The work crew takes time out for a cruise in a dugout canoe.
WINTER WONDERLAND IN THE TROPICS
We had been very busy lately. So busy in fact, that we hadn't even taken a day off in a longtime. After a while one needs some recreation. So in February Phil and I combined business with pleasure. We took a trip to visit Ramon in Santa Rosa del Cabal. After the visit we took a four day vacation and did something we had planned to do for over a year. We headed for the snow capped volcano of Ruiz. Since this is quite near Santa Rosa it was not too difficult to get to it.
We left bright and early from Ramon's house. Before noon we were at the base of the mountain. We got a jeep and were soon climbing. Soon we had arrived at the ski lodge (hardly anyone on skis, they just call it that) which is at the snow line. Two fellows who worked there told us how dangerous it was and that we needed a guide. Having some experience in winter camping we turned them down.
We started up with full packs. But at 16,000 we soon found out that full packs weigh a good deal more. We trudged upward for about three hours; stopping to rest frequently. The cold air felt good after 2 1/2 years of living on the Equator. By 3:30 p.m. we were thoroughly exhausted and we hadn't reached the top. We decided to make camp early.
We cooked supper (freeze dried beef stew) and settled in for the night. It was cold, about 15 degrees F. I awoke the next morning with a terrible headache. I was unable to see. I was snow blinded. Phil has some altitude sickness so he too stayed in the sleeping bag. My sight slowly returned in the shade of the tent.
The next day we left our tent and packs and started up again. We crossed the peak (at about 17,000 feet) and entered the still active crater. One must stand in awe in the presence of the mighty forces of God's earth. Steam roared out of the earth. The immensity of the sound would have dwarfed a jet engine, but seemed appropriate in the giant cavity. The boiling water and hot sulfur gas was a harsh change in the white snow and crisp air. God's creation is truly amazing.
We spent one more day exploring the glacier field and crevices. Then, after three days on snow, it was time to head down. we got down to the lodge rather quickly by using our packs for sleds. We were greeted by two relieved and startled guides. In ten years working on the mountain, no one had ever spent three days up in the snow. They had become concerned for our safety. We spent the night at the lodge and got a jeep down the next day. It was an invigorating and welcome break from our normal routine.