The leadership at the Union Church in Bogota Columbia heard that a youth speaker from the States was in town. So they called and wanted to know if I would speak a couple of days to their Church teens and speak to the Church Sunday as the Pastor was absent.
O. K. by me. I met with the Church leadership to get a better take on the weekend. I was shocked to find that the Sponsors of their youth were agnostics. The Christian Deacon from the church was apologetic ... he sadly told me that they were the only ones willing to take the Youth of the Church.
I was to be housed with them. They soon heard that a Baptist Youth Worker was to be their guest.
That didn't go over too well.
I climbed the stairs to the double doors of the big house meeting the couple on the porch. Bogota’s weather is rather cold and humid and the meeting between us was as cold yet civil.
Once inside the house I noticed in their foyer lots of healthy green Marijuana plants. They showed me up to my room in the third floor. On the way up I was invited to join their big drinking party in about an hour.
I deferred and went the unpacking route.
The young lady was strong into women’s-lib, the young man had to do his share 50/50. As guest I had to cautiously side step around the constant arguments. It seems they each saw 50/50 differently.
At dinner the couple mentioned to me that the Pastor and his teenage son were out in nearby mountains searching out some special hallucinogen mushrooms. You might say they were on a "trip" of their own. (Sunday service was going to be a challenge.)
My three meetings with the kids went as well as could be expected under the conditions.
It seems that this couple were on a grant studying the effect of a poor diet on young children in poor areas of Bogota.
Our last time together was at breakfast. I remember breakfast well. The young man asked me a little of what I did.
I told him I was a missionary to the very poor street kids (Gaminos) in Mexico.
I'll never forget their surprised look.
The young man leaned over his plate, looking at me ... He stated a stinging question:
"You mean you're an Evangelical Christian, and you give a Damn about the poor?"
I'll never forget that shocking question he stated to me.
Ah yes, we Christians have a great reputation among those of the world! A reputation we well deserve.
