I went on a group bike trip through the hinterlands of Colombia starting at Medellin and ending in Bogota. Part of the bike group below.

On  bike trip through the hinterlands of Colombia, every town I visited had a Catholic Church in the center of the city, town and or village.  Over 75% of the people identify themselves as Catholic. I was lucky to be able to go to church everyday I was there and give thanks and praise for all I have.  The Churches varied from large to small but they dominated the town center

We visited the third largest Cathedral in South America in the town of Manizales below that was 370 feet tall and it has a gargoyle out front (check out the demon face)

and the gargoyle above and below (checkout the demon face )

They celebrate Semana Santa and it is an awesome celebration.  Arden and I have gone to see the celebration in Antigua Guatemale and Puebla Mexico.  It is an incredible celebration and here are some photos from Colombia.  (Please visit Guatemala and Mexico to see the Semana Santa there) Below is Colombia

Wow the Colombians go all out for Semana Santa below

Wow they go all out above and below

Meanwhile inside the churches below I met some young adults just finishing a service

The young adults sang for me and it brought tears to my eyes. I love those kids

I met them inside and they sang to me outside

Inside the church there are some incredible statues and stained glass windows

Here is a prayer I wrote on Aconcagua carrying my brothers ashes below

Today in the wilderness and on this majestic mountain, I see Your greatness in all that surrounds us and the Heavens proclaim Your glory. The majestic white capped mountains beneath the clear blue skies with the sun’s streaming golden rays covering the earth in its warmth and with the twinkling of stars at night, they all display Your handiwork. The rolling hills and the green valley’s cut by gushing white water streams below us – they disclose Your awesome presence. The roaring wind that bites at my face let’s me know I am alive and of Your awesome power. Your divine voice sails on the wind through all of creation, and it is Your creation alone. You have given me the ability to hear the music of the world on this special day and it proclaims You are in my midst and I am most grateful and thankful for the opportunity to witness these incredible things.

Dear God almighty, You are the most gracious and merciful and all praises and thanks we give to You and it is You alone that reigns over all that exists. You alone are the owner and judge of the day of resurrection and it is You alone that we worship with our entire heart, mind and strength, there is nothing but You in our hearts, minds and strength, it is You alone that we owe our life to and we worship You in everything we do.

You that are all infinite and who was begotten and not made, who is the creator of all life, both seen and unseen, known and unknown, we humbly come before You on this most beautiful mountain top on this special day to ask You to bath those that have gone before us in Your warm light and grant them peace. In silent thoughts, we remember fondly and are thankful for the time we were able to share together . We also pray that You will guide, lead and teach us in Your ways so that we can better serve You each and every day by helping those that are sick, the poor and the those that are less fortunate than we. These things we pray and all praise and honor be Yours, Amen .

 

 

 

 

I am so grateful to have been able to go to church everyday . Our bike group below and what a great group of people