Quick, lets do a self quiz. How does the following make you feel?

MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA

And what were your first impressions? Positive or Negative

Let’s face it, if you are an American, you wouldn’t associate Medellin with hope, warmth, and progress. Yet, the reality is Medellin and its people are exactly that. We had the opportunity to participate on a city tour (Real City Tour) and to see and scratch the surface of decades of history on a 4 hour walk. It is a tour that needs to be seen and experienced personally to better understand how despite different eras of violences and hardships, the people Medellin were able to push forward to create a better future for the generations to come. Doesn’t mean it is perfect. Every city has its challenges, but you know your are dealing with something special when Medellin goes from murder capital of the world to winning awards and being recognized as one of the most innovative cities in the world.

One word of advice, don’t let shows about Colombia influence your opinion of a resilient city and people. You know what show I’m talking about… This show and other documentaries associated with the topic barely show a sliver of truth on what really happened and how it affected thousands of people. Instead of being informed through shows, come down and experience Medellin yourself. It is a welcoming city that is modern and safe.

We learned a lot today and we hope to continue learning about Medellin and its people. Doing so will help us better understand how we can serve and walk along with our local church partners to make disciples and share the good news. The people of Medellin have worked hard to bring physical hope and progress through their warmth and effort. Partners, let’s work together to bring spiritual hope and progress through the truth of the gospel.

On a side note… someday, I’ll make a video about the city tour. I got so engaged in listening and learning, I didn’t end up with good footage. But here are some photos 🙂