It seems unreal to me to think it’s a year since I’ve been to the country, and the city, closest to my heart: Colombia, and Cali. Due to team ‘personnel’ issues the March and July trips were cancelled late on, and I feel like I’ve been suffering withdrawal symptoms since last November! This Friday, I head back ‘home’ and this trip is GOING to happen! I’ve also got the biggest team that I’ve taken for a long time – normally it’s me and 3 others: there are 5 others this time, and, with the exception of one of my best mates, Lee Collier (he’s been 2 or 3 times before), none have experienced the amazing ‘open heaven’ that is over Colombia, and expecially Cali.

The six of us would really appreciate and value your prayers: I’m believing for God to do what he always does there: but really, I’m asking him to gives us ‘more than I’d ever dare to ask, dream, or imagine’. The six of us going are:

• Davy King – from Londonderry, Northern Ireland: a good friend growing in faith and effectiveness for healings: a man quite happy to pray for anyone he sees that God says to pray for, in places like hospital waiting rooms. Davy seems to know almost everyone in Londonderry, and those he doesn’t know seem to know him! He’s 52, I lose count of how many are in his family – he has lots of brothers and sisters! – and three (I think!) children of his own, and a number of grandchildren. Davy is a very practical man, and something of a ‘jack of all trades’!

  

• Andrew Seaton – from Bangor, Northern Ireland: a Sales Manager, worship leader, and has been praying for the sick for some years. Married to Orpah, Andrew is 48, two children, Callum and Naomi. Andrew’s been ‘thinking’ about going to Cali for a few years – this year, I – or God! – was obvious more persuasive! Andrew has, very kindly, shuttled me to and from airports for trips – though this time he’s going, so the shuttle won’t work!

  

• Lee Collier (35 I think!) – from Maidstone, Kent: a man who, like just about everybody who’s been with me – fell in love with Cali on his first visit, and is back again. Lee is a Registrar Neonatologist (it’s fantastic to have a doctor on the team who believes in miracles!), married to Katie, also a doctor

  

  partner in a GP surgery, who has also been to Cali, and loves miracles. As well as being a successful doctor, Lee also has a degree in Computer Systems Engineering – he’s been my ‘saviour’ a myriad times with his computer genius, though I’m glad to say he’s never treated me for any of the babies I’ve been pregnant with! He and Katie have a gorgeous daughter, Mary, 2 years old, a miracle herself. Lee is also a worship leader, and a genius with sound and light systems, and electronics generally. Needless to say, I don’t feel in the least inferior to all of Lee’s multple gifts (not!!).

• Thanney Pyper, 62, from Bangor, Northern Ireland: a very good builder with his own business, Thanney (Nathaniel – but he doesn’t like being called that!) is married to Colette, and has two daughters, and a son. We met, and got to know each other very well, when he came to do some urgent repairs to my house when I had a leak from my main water tank. Thanney initially wanted to go on this trip to do some building,

  

  but as the time has got closer, he’s longing to see people healed and ‘miracled’ when he prays for them. Thanney has raised quite a large amount to buy good quality power tools, to take with him, use them there, and then leave them with someone who’ll make good use of them.

• Adrian Curry – Adrian, from Londonderry, has recently become a friend, I don’t know too much about him yet – but he’s recently completed a 3 year Bible college course, and is now ordained. Adrian is married, a man of faith, a good evangelist, and loves praying for the sick. He has a reall lovely spirit, I’m looking forward to getting to know him better! No picture of Adrian yet….
• And me…..!!! I won’t bore you with any information!! – just a picture with a Cali pastor who truly is one of the best friends I’ve ever had…..

  

  As well as a lot of practical building work, there’ll be many church visits, we’ll spend time at the lovely Ana Beiba’s Home for Abandoned old people, with the wonderful Enrique Leal, at Reconocer, the Christian Drug Rehabilitation centre he’s run for many years, with lovely Ana Bustos, and the street people she blesses immensely, visit hospitals, prisons (I hope!), and whatever else God and the local pastors put in front of us to do. What I do know is that the time we’ll be there will go far too quickly! And it’ll be wonderful to be in 30C temperatures every day, enjoy the glorious fresh fruit juicescoffee, and the occasional wonderful steak!

Some years ago, I found this sticker, bought 4 of them, and stuck one on my luggage for going to Colombia. The immigration soldiers (yes, they were soldiers, then – still are, I think!) thought it was so funny they asked if they could have it…. the first three, I said yes to, but then superglued the fourth one as I didn’t think I’d find another the same to buy! Well, I found a patch, which I’m sure I’ll iron on somewhere, for the arrival in Bogota on Saturday morning…..

As usual, when I’m in Cali, I’ll try and blog every day, perhaps get each othe guys to contribute what they feel about what God’s doing…. that’s if you want to read lots of stories of miracles…..!