New Year's Day 2025

In spite of a late night on New Year's Eve, we were up early on New Year's Day ready for a fun outing. We traveled out from Bogota to Zipaquirá to visit a salt mine. 

 

outside the salt mine

 

 

The technical term is Catedral de Sal which translates to Salt Cathedral.

 

Entering the salt mine.  Overhead were lights that changed to show flags from many Latin American countries.  

 

 The mine is carved from 250,000 tons of salt and goes 190m underground.

 

a map of the mine

Cruz got a piece of salt for a souvenir.

 

We stopped for ice cream inside the mine and also did some shopping at the gift shops.

 

We enjoyed a Christmas themed light show.

 

a reflection pool 

 

some of the video I took while inside the mine

 

 

a family photo on New Year's Day outside the salt mine in Colombia

 

We stopped for lunch in town.  We enjoyed a delicious variety of meats.

 

Ben at the restaurant.

 

  

Next, as we made the drive back into Bogota, we stopped along the way for an afternoon hike to a lookout.  It was perfect weather to be outdoors, and I think everyone loved the fresh air and sunshine.

 

We saw many beautiful views along the way.

 

We also saw many beautiful flowers in bloom.

 

After walking for 1.5 hours, we arrived to our lookout destination only to find the gate locked.  We didn't waste the time though.  Instead, we spent some time singing praise songs and praying.  It was sweet!  At some point the owners noticed us there and came to open the gate and let us in. 

 

a few of us at the end of the hike

 

the ladies

 

 

almost to the lookout

 

 

Cruz and Evan playing around on the property

 

 

our group at the mirador (lookout)

 

 

views from the top

 

 

 

They opened their restaurant and served us coffee and hot lemon tea.  This was the sunset view as we drank and chatted.

 

another sunset view 

 

We made it down the mountain and back into Bogota that evening.  We were all tired but full of fun memories from a fabulous day together. 

We had two more days of meetings ahead before we flew back to Guatemala.  Overall, the week was fantastic.  We love the people we serve with on our indigenous leadership team! We look forward to a wonderful year ahead of leading and serving together. 

 

Bogota/ New Year's Eve

A few days after Christmas we boarded a flight for Bogota, Colombia to attend an indigenous cluster leadership meeting.  Part of choosing those dates was our kids all being out of school and free to travel with us. They were looking forward to spending time with the other MK's.  We were excited not only about the meetings but also just getting to spend time with our leadership team and getting to know them better.

 

Our family in the taxi headed to the airport in Guatemala City.

 

 

Cruz on the plane.  We flew direct from Guatemala City to Bogota.  The flight was just a little over three hours.

 

 

Welcome to Bogota

 

 

With the exception of New Year's Day, our days were spent in meetings.  We would start at 8:30 in the morning and go until late in the afternoon. We did a lot of praying, discussing, and planning. It was work, but the fellowship and laughter around the tables made it fun and enjoyable. Here are Cruz and David walking to our mission office one morning. 

 

 

The boys had a week of fun and fellowship with their MK friends. Their week was filled with daily outings to places like a theme park, the movies,  a mall, and a trampoline park. They could not have had a more fun week!!

 

 

 

On New Year's Eve we gathered together for a fun night of celebration.  

 

 

Our family on New Year's Eve

 

We enjoyed some delicious food, watched football, and played several games.  One of those was bingo.  We also did several Minute To Win It style games.  Those were a lot of fun!

 

 

In addition, we played the white elephant game.  That provided much laughter for the group!

 

our Indigenous cluster leadership ladies

 

our Indigenous cluster leadership men 

We really could not ask for a better group of people to serve with!

 

 

We did not make it until midnight together.  Around 9:30/10:00 everyone headed in for the night.  Our family stayed up to watch the fireworks at midnight. We could see them in the distance.  

 

To our surprise we could see several local people from our window out and about with suitcases.  We just assumed they were traveling to the airport for early morning flights.  We found out the next morning that it is part of their tradition there in Colombia to walk around the block with a suitcase at midnight on New Year's Eve.  It symbolizes a desire to travel in the new year.  I think I like that tradition.