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An ACCTS staff couple recently traveled to Colombia to encourage and build upon relationships established while Colombian military officers trained at the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in San Antonio. The DLI ministry is one of hospitality and discipleship for international military students.
19 May: our
day began with a wonderful breakfast, followed by sightseeing in Colombia, and fellowship with a Colombian Air Force officer whom we had not seen in over a year.
21 May:
we discovered that everything was closed, including the coffee shops, so we struck up a conversation with seven local policemen who were curious about our presence. One of them spoke a little English and became our interpreter. We explained ACCTS' ministry to uniformed services around the world and gave them ACCTS Warrior coins as a reminder that God is on their side in times of difficulty. They were very appreciative of the gifts, and we prayed with them there on the street before excusing ourselves. Later that day, we headed off to the Air Force Base where the evening service would be held.
The Sunday evening service was a wonderful time in the Lord. Another DLI graduate joined us to Interpret and be our escort the rest of the week. The Christian Cadet Corps Church was started 17 years ago by our host when he was a cadet. The church is cadet-led and has continued to grow over the years. As the service opened, we had an opportunity to share why we were in Colombia and outline the mission and ministry of ACCTS. Our host led a time of worship before I brought the message on Joshua 1:1-9,. Following an alter call, we spent 30 minutes praying with the cadets.
 22 May
: we traveled to Armenia to see our friend, the Commander of the Mountain Police, a graduate of the Inter-American Air Forces Academy in San Antonio, a technical school for the Air Forces of North, Central, and South America. She had arranged for us to address the Mountain Police about ACCTS. Afterwards, we presented each of the Mountain Police with an ACCTS Warrior Coin, which they greatly appreciated since don't normally receive such recognition.
23 May:
our host had arranged a personalized tour of a coffee plantation that was very educational. During lunch, we asked our driver to join us, and had the opportunity to thank him for his service, and present an ACCTS Warrior Coin. Then it was off to the Armenia airport for our flight to Bogota and the drive to Melgar to stay with our interpreter's family, arriving around 1:30am on Wednesday morning.
24 May:
Our guide's parents showed us around the town of Melgar, an Army Air Base with Black Hawk helicopters. During the evening, we had a chance to talk to his Dad, a retired CMSGT who spent most of his career fighting the drug cartels. We thanked him for his service and had a good talk about God's role in our lives.
25 May:
Unfortunately a medical emergency required the family van that was to take us to Bogota, so we took the express bus. On arrival, we discovered that the National Commandant of Police had assigned us a driver, Despite some miscommunication, we arrived at the Home of another DLI graduate for dinner about 10 PM, Our host has a wonderful testimony about fighting the drug cartels and surviving a head injury, We finally got to bed about 1:30 AM,
26 May:
we were up at 0600 for breakfast in Bogota with the leader of the Colombian military Christian fellowship (MCF), a retired Admiral who spoke highly of ACCTS' ministry and our Latin America Staff members. We discussed the presentation planned for the Colombian Naval Academy on Sunday, and he asked us to continue praying for the MCF. Another DLI friend heard that we were in town, and rode his motorcycle 1.5 hours in his dress uniform to deliver a gift. Over lunch, we shared some good memories, prayed together, and exchanged coins. Then it was off to the airport for our flight to Barranquilla. We arrived about 2000, and were met at the airport by another DLI friend who hosted us in his home on the air base.
27 May:
we toured some of the local museums and shopping areas. Later, we met with the Base Commander, and exchanged coins as we shared our ministry. After dinner, it was early to bed for the trip to the Naval Academy at Cartagena.
28 May:
we arrived at the Naval Academy by 0745 and were met by the Commanding Officer of Columbia's newest ship, who is also the leader of the Christian Fellowship Church for the Midshipmen. The service began at 0820 with worship after which we brought the message on Joshua. After the altar call, prayer went on until after 1000. I was concerned that the midshipmen might be in trouble for staying late, but the commandant of cadets had had heard the message and wanted us to come back and share it with the entire brigade of midshipmen. What an honor!
Pray that these renewed relationships in the Colombian military will flourish and grow, and that God will be honored across that nation.
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