CAR SHOPPING IN COLOMBIA Today was an absolutely gorgeous day in Bogotá. There were few, if any, clouds in the sky nearly the whole day - a rarity for a city at an altitude of 8,000 feet with clouds and storms constantly passing through. It was a perfect day for… you guessed it! Car shopping. When Pr. Jairo was in Custer several months ago, in conversation with some members of Custer Lutheran Fellowship (CLF), the need for a car was identified. And, of...

SAN PABLO As folks gather for worship at San Pablo Lutheran Church (sibling church to Custer Lutheran Fellowship) they greet one another as if they haven't seen each other for months. The singing is robust. The clapping sometimes follows the beat and at other times, not exactly, but no one seems to mind. Like other congregations, there are large extended families that take up whole sections, individuals who prefer to sit in the back row and remain mostly an...

STELLA & FELIPE'S WEDDING DAY When I came to Colombia in 2010 with a group from Custer Lutheran Fellowship, Stella was our fearless guide, translator and security guard. A few months ago I received an invitation from Stella and her fiancé Felipe to attend their wedding on June 2, 2012. I knew it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It proved to be all that and more. For the video summary of the wedding, click here. For the narrative version, rea...

"SMALL" TOWN LIFE On Friday I woke at Pr. Jairo's parents home with a refreshing shower and a leisurely standard breakfast of an over easy fried egg, a choice of fresh rolls, mango juice and hot chocolate. Hot chocolate, it seems, is served in Colombia with just about any meal where there is food. Life has a different pace in Sogamoso (population of about 125,000), Pr. Jairo pointed out to me, than in Bogotá (population of well over 8 million). I asked Pr....

SOUP & FAMILY IN SOGAMOSO Thursday morning Pr. Jairo and I travelled to his hometown of Sogamoso which was about a three-hour bus ride costing around $13 per person. We met his parents, Jairo Sr. and Maria, for lunch near the bus terminal and shared a traditional soup called 'cuchuco' (pictured here). Cuchuco is made with a base of ground up wheat, but also has potatoes, beans and meat. It was delicious and hearty for the journey ahead. Pr. Jairo's par...