I am not the same person that arrived to Colombia.

New Blog : http://amazonlifeproject.blogspot.com/

I write this in the same airport that I went through to get to Colombia, it has the same bustle of people but I am not the same Sandra that waited anxiously for that plane that would take me to Colombia. I now wait for the plane that will take me to my homeland, Puerto Rico, where I will trade the “Want a “tinto”?” for the “Want coffee? With or without sugar?” I am not the same person that arrived to Colombia.

                When I arrived, I arrived with the team of Wine to Water, and like them I was disoriented in a new country. The only difference was I knew the language and with my role as interpreter I had to adjust fast and try to make them understand the Colombian world in English. During that week we went to San Antonio and Irene; in both communities we served and tried to provide them what we have in abundance and take for granted: clean water. What was done this week I will leave, so that if you have the opportunity, to experiment with your own five senses. Descriptions have a habit of turning monotonous and never make justice to reality. Words have their limits.

                What I will talk about is how the thought transition goes from, “I am going to this place to teach and share the gospel” to “I have been changed by this experience”. When I arrived it was to impart, to give and to share the knowledge of a God that loves. Instead I came back with a deeper conviction of my faith. I saw the Amazon and its imposing majesty; the children and their freely given affection, their disposition of always wanting to help and their shining smile when they receive a bible. This was a scalpel that the Lord used to cut open and show me who he is and who am I. He showed me things that not even I knew were in my heart. And he showed me how to take them out.

                Jesus said that it was better to give than to receive but he did not say that when you give you are changed permanently in the depths of your soul. And yes, I am not the same person that went to Colombia couple of weeks ago, I am different because of the blessings the Lord gave me when I was giving to others. I come back thankful for food, for clothing for clean water and for having the hope that God gives me. That is the most important part. Every day that passed my love for God took a bigger space in my heart and turned more intense. I do not understand why the Lord permitted me, a lowly human, to live this experience but I do know that I am thankful with a bigger capacity to be thankful, that I praise him with a bigger capacity to praise and that now I can serve him with more devotion. I have grown in this trip and I am thankful to the one who permitted me to take it: God.

This is written by Sandra Santigo, she is a student at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. She volunteered with Agua y Vida for a couple weeks for the summer 2014.  

Flying

I had just arrived to visit some very good friends and it amazed me the enthusiasm they had to watch the TV, nobody was turning their eyes away from the devise, I asked; what is going on? what am I missing? Everybody knew how little Tv I watch and they did not look surpised with my unknown discovery, but they gave me the answer giving me faces like, !which world do you live on¡ -YuRi and Adriána are live streaming on national Television!

It was American Idol national version in the biggest audience hour. I live in a Country of aproximately 45 million people, almost everybody has a TV at home and during that season, it was the TV show with the higher rating. Just vauge guess, it was about 25 million people that were watching this TV show. That day, their vocal (acapella) band had been selected to continue in the program, the excitement of everybody in the house was inevitable.

The voice (acapella) band of my friend Became more famous with each episode , very well KNOWN, everybody used to speak of the band, there was more followers on social sites every day, likes and comments, every day they were closer to being chosen as the winners.

It was the beginning of a great music career, every musician wants to be recognized, wants his music to be heard , to know that as a musician they exists, this was the time to succeed. And so it happened, the popularity was growing, it was such that they were invited to TV shows, concerts, presentations, and finally, they had made it. This is the country of Juanes, Shakira , Carlos Vives, cumbia and vallenato and they, my two friends had their space and their place in the small hall of fame.

A few days after the euphoria of the media, Adriana, one of the host girls of the TV show came to me and saiod "I want to go to Amazon, I believe God is speaking to me , I would like to go "
For a moment I got speechless . I studied music in college and how hard it is to succeed as a musician, the competition is big, there are many good musicians, access to the media is more difficult , you nee to have contacts, so she already had it, she had succeeded

it was time to take advantage and make an artistic career. On the other hand I remembered when I decided to serve God with what I had learned and decided to surrender my life to serve God in Music and Missions . I could not tell Adriana : forget about going to the Amazon. We had to do something. We continue talking, can you imagine what happened?

I want to share a small letter of Adriana, a member of the vocal (acapella) group.

"What for many is folly, to me it is an experience that undoubtedly will be one of the wonderful surprises of the Lord.
February 8 I fly to the Amazon. Not to mention it was my first plane ride , I must say I was very afraid, for me it was hard to believe that for a moment I would be flying in one of the greatest inventions of man, only by the immense wisdom of God. Yes! I was flying to the Amazon jungle, accompanied by people from around the world who like me for the first time , we would know that place.

My flight was very comfortable but the ascent was very unpleasant, but once being up only the wonder to see how close the clouds were makes one forget your fears. From above I could see the clouds forming shapes that seemed like figures constructed from the ground.
Perfect love cast out fear 1 John 4:18 I saw that perfect love shown in these majestic clouds. Oh! how great is our God , I exclaimed and said , how do some people watching this still believe that we are products of an explosion?

And not to mention the famous Amazon river, which from above looks like a big snake . The famous Amazon river, in person, not in photos , now I understand why everyone wants to come here .
We arrived at the port where there was a traditional method of transportation, motorboat . Being 5:45 pm I began my journey to the base camp , where I will live while this experience. Thirty minutes was the time of the trip down the river . To my right side Peru, to my left Brazil and behind, Colombia . Three countries share a common river, wow!
This is just the beginning , more news will surely come, I remind you that this is one of the many surprises of the Lord.

Blessings

Adryana O."
John 17:3

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

Adriana is our first interim in the Amazon this year, we are very happy about the decision and the courage she took to make this decision.

Adriana will be at least three months in the Brazilian Amazon jungle, sharing God's love, teaching music to indigenous children (Tikunas). She will also be sharing with the indigenous community in more different activities.

Yes our Creator calls you, He will send and train you. When was the last time you listened to God's voice!?

                                              Jhonny A Nieto