Mission Experience Part 2

Entering the City of Refuge - Canaan:

YES! Finally we were in Canaan. Upon arrival we were greeted by the staff and all the men in the program. It was an overload of our senses. In the middle of unloading our luggage, they were hugging us, trying their English on us, and we were practicing our very limited Spanish on them--"hola amigos soy Ray". "Te amo Hermano" came the reply. I had purchased the latest lessons on Spanish communications months previous to this trip. You know the book "How to Speak Spanish In Four Easy Lessons." Its suppose to enable you to speak and understand the beautiful language of your neighbor to the south. Ahhh! Español the language of love... I hardly understood a word they were saying! No, that was an understatement; these guys were saying so many words so fast, it was much like getting rolled in the sand at the bottom of the sea just when you thought you were going to get to surf that beautiful wave! Ok, so I couldn't understand the words that were being said, but one thing for sure, we were experiencing more love and acceptance than we could contain. The book's authors were right about one thing, I was hearing the language of love! It may sound crazy, but I felt as though I was being greeted like a king from an honored battle, or that I was a renowned explorer returning from a distant discovery. Will this wave of delight, and curious intoxication come to an end?

When I said it was a sensory overload, it really is an understatement. Colombia is already washing over me like a gigantic warm Hawaiian wave. But, upon entering this City of Refuge here in the middle of what some un-informed outsiders might consider "God forsaken Colombia"…I was completely and totally overwhelmed! After all who comes to Colombia? Maybe a dealer looking to make a "deal", coordinate a "shipment of goods", or some crazy missionary, and now this band of "raising cane" Americanos. I know that Phil, Mike, Bob, and I are a bit loco, and I had suspected maybe Roni & Vivian were a little off their rockers to have chosen Colombia as their calling, but I have to say, even I can see that God is in this place powerfully. Yes, here on this little piece of the planet where drug kings, distributors, kidnapers, and rebel forces have knowingly created an environrnment of chaos and fear; unbelievably has also become a wellspring of peace where God resides. I wondered as I experienced this delightful welcome, "what does He really have me here for? What does He really want me to see?"

My thoughts soon turned back to my physical destination, Canaan. "This place is Incredible!" I exclaimed. Bringing back to remembrance a phrase I regularly heard from one of my new, soon to become Colombian friend Gustavo; "Espectacular! Canaan is like a twin city of Dunklin Memorial Camp.

For those that may not know about Dunklin Memorial Camp (DMC) I will give you a quick explanation. The camp is the first of its kind, the birthplace of Cities of Refuge located and yet to be located across this wonderful planet we call home. DMC was first established in Florida, North America 45 years ago when a Baptist preacher named Mickey Evans heard the call, he left his comfortable place and the pulpit behind and moved out into the swamps of Florida to start a sanctuary, a "refuge" if you will, for drug addicts and alcoholics who wanted a new chance at life. Some hear the call of the mountain, some the call of the sea, but I know of a few (many actually) good men and women that are grateful that Brother Mickey heard the call to the swamp! For the very first time in a distant land I became a witness to these grateful men and women of Colombia as a result of Brother Mickey answering the call. This is an extention of that same beautiful family…our family.

Canaan, like Dunklin, has its daily activities, work, and classes. Men are being regenerated by restored, and those in the process of being restored: alcoholics, drug addicts, co dependants, other various and sundries dysfunctional men and women who have taken the 12th steps to heart. I affectionally call them X men, and by that I mean EX- drunks, drug addicts, sex addicts, con men, drug lords, rebels, hit men, father stabbers, mother haters, wife beaters, prostitutes etc! Ok, I am getting carried away in my description of these fallen and restored. But one thing is for sure, this bunch was yesterday's out cast-- the lepers of society but today's hope in this new world we have found, and they were hugging and welcoming us four crazy North Americans, as though we were fellow disciples. Wow and Wow again! Now that I mention it, I guess we are! We are fellow disciples! That vast planet earth just got smaller for me as I realize just how connected we are. We are fellow brothers and sisters with something very much in common. It reminds me of this story that I have read and experienced, it goes something like this.

There was this King who had prepared a great feast, a party, a fiesta so to speak. This King was cool, He was awesome, and He loved the people in His kingdom. There were some He had chosen as special. He had sent out invitations to all of them. They were His prestigious, and elect, the wealthy in knowledge, money and fame. He wanted to spend time with them and thank them for all their hard work in helping to take care of His kingdom. He wanted to show His appreciation.

"Come to my party, feast at my table, enjoy the best music, there might even be a little dancing. Come celebrate with me", He resounded!

Sadly, He realized that all had failed to RSVP. They were too busy with their meetings and their pomp and important dates to come. After all they had said to themselves, someone has to keep things in order, and there is too much to do. So the King said to his servants: "go out in the street and invite the homeless, the beggars, the drunks and the fools. Invite anyone who will come- no education, no job, no skill is necessary… ask all the x-men and women. I don't care who they are or what they have done; invite all who will come, to my grand affair. If my own don't have time for Me, then I shall invite anyone who desires to attend."

I don't know how to explain it any other way except to say; I feel, in this moment, in the spirit of this City of Refuge, like I am at that party! While the rest of the world, secular and religious alike, are out there too busy proving their point, a bunch of wild men and women are in this "city" awash in the Spirit of living. This is the King's party, and I am attending it.

Well, back to the reason for this mission we were on. There was so much to do. The welcome "bienvenido" was complete, our luggage deposited in our styling bungalow with 2 bunks and our own bath, and we were off for an incredible lunch with the staff of Canaan Colombia. I felt so honored, humbled, and important, at the same time. "How is this possible?" I thought, Colombia style--that's how! From Enrique, the director of Canaan, to the newest man in the program, these guys were so hospitable it is difficult to describe.

For those who are familiar with the workings of a City of Refuge, you know how important the Servant Leadership Training portion of the recovery process is, but these guys take it to another level- Let me carry that for you; here is some water; we will clean the room, and about the time one meal was finished another was being prepared. One word describes the culinary talents at work in this place, incredible! Ok, two words, es espectacular! One could not help but see they are setting out their best for us. This was no 10% tithe this was their finest. I considered some of this was to show us how proud they are of their camp. After all, they have a right to be proud of their work here, or maybe, were they hoping these guys from the prosperous US of A might help financially, and might possibly have solutions to some of the camps problems? But, I was quickly humbled as they were proudly showing us the walk-in cooler that had been donated to them. It was almost empty. I had more in my refrigerator and one cupboard at home than they have in their walk-in to feed this whole camp. "Not to worry", one of the men said "God , always provides". By the end of the day some local drop by with some chickens, another donate some vegetables. Another bunch of bananas had ripened on a tree out back, and we were given fruit with our breakfast the next day. They are truly experiencing, "living by faith".

I am quickly seeing that these Colombian brothers and sisters are not only naturally rich in fellowship, their faith and hope make them wealthy. I have another uneasy feeling to confess, that I am in over my head. My poverty is showing and I do not like it. I am to find out later that the whole camp had been frugal with their use of electricity the month previous to us coming so that we could run the AC window unit in our quarters. In Colombia things like water, electricty, gas, waste removal, and other utility services we take for granted, are not readily available, if at all, and are costly at best. I am beginning to realize this level of relational generosity, and degree of monetary sacrifice that they are exhibiting has no other motive than their desire to bless and connect with their brothers from Dunklin. I am starting to get this overwhelming feeling that this experience is going to break up some of the calloused places in my heart. I have come to this place to do something for God. I have come to set an example of how to give to others with wisdom. I believe sincerely that my heart is in the right place, so then why does it feel like it's about to shatter. In this moment of stark awareness, I had to ask myself, do I really have anything of significance to give?

Let me catch my breath, and check my heart. If it is still beating, I will see you in November with more about my mission experience to Colombia, and the City of Refuge.

God, what would You have me see? --- Ray Nelson