Heading Home....

I have been in Bogota since Saturday afternoon, spending my remaining few days visiting family. Sofia was very happy to see me, and we have had some time to explore other parts of Bogota and outlying areas. We have also had some great time visiting family and friends who we only see about once a year, if lucky. Last time Sofia and I were here was in the summer of 2005, I bought Juan a plane ticket to go on a surprise visit to his mom over Easter this past spring. Last year when we came here I said to Juan that I consider Colombia my country as much as the United States, I feel at home and comfortable here. Juan also has a very large and gracious family that I enjoy a great deal. This is also the first trip to Colombia where I have been allowed to be on my own! One of my frustrations with travel to Colobmia is the security situation, and my in-laws are very, very protective of me. This time I got to travel alone in Colombia, see some of the country on my own, and I have done taxis alone in Bogota which is quite an adventure! I took one home to my mother-in-laws home a few nights ago and as is usual in Bogota, the driver wanted to go a different way, and got lost. We spent about five minutes arguing about how to drive back, and I held my own, which was good, but I am also not going to tell my mother-in-law about this (and she has no idea how to go online!) or else that will be the last taxi ride I will EVER be allowed to take alone in Bogota. She is very careful with my safety and security here in Bogota which can get crazy at times. But it fufilled my need for five minutes of adventure and we got home ok. Travelling to Barranquilla with the PPF was such a joy and seeing the work of the church was wonderful, even if I only got to see some of it. I hope to be able to come back in the next year for some more accompaniment time.

One of the reasons we scheduled our trip for November was because my sister-in-law was due to have her first child on November 8th and Sofia wanted to be here for the birth of her first full-fledged cousin. Sara was born five weeks early after it was discovered that she was in distress. It has been a long and stressful few weeks for our family with little Bebe Sarita, but she is growing, and we have had some good times with her. Last night Diana, my sister-in-law, and her husband Jorge asked me to serve as her godmother which sent me into tears of joy. I am so honored by this. In the Presbyterian Church we do not usually affirm godparents, even though it is a common practice, I remember having a spirited discussion in seminary with one of my professors about this. I am very close to my two godparents, so I just am unwilling to give into the theological idea in the PC(USA) that they are not needed. I intend to be the spoiling type, but also take good care of Sarita. She is so little, barely five pounds, but we have had such a good time being with her, she is adorable. As I always am at the conclusion of an international trip, I am grateful, I am ready to head home, but I am also filled up. I look forward to seeing everyone over the weekend when we return! Sofia is looking forward to coming home, and sharing all about her very special little cousin who she just adores!