Columbia, South America visit

[LeslieDean]

My nonbelieving husband is wanting me to reconsider a family vacation to Columbia from USA over the school winter break in December. It would be an opportunity to reconnect with each other and my son and his family. My son is wanting to buy our tickets RT air fare. Maybe at a different time I would have agreed. 

I am concerned over the pandemic, airfare and not being able to have a KH open to go to or know any friends in the area. The appeal I guess is been a long time since we have traveled. Over 10 years. The low air fare. The idea of spending some family time with my son, DIL and granddaughters which we have never done before. I dont know whether to stick to my gut or take the opportunity.  What do you think?

[Brandon]

it probably really depends what part(s) of colombia

[LoneWanderer]

Is your son a Witness? I really miss the possibility to travel because of Covid. Seeing new countries and traveling abroad gives new perspectives on life. Especially great would be to go to a congregation meeting or participate in the ministry when abroad. Of course during Covid you are really limited what you can do and where you can go. Some countries do not even want their citizens living abroad to visit the country because of high infection rates. If you do end up going, take into account that you might need to quarantine for two weeks when you enter a foreign country as well as for two weeks when you return home.

 

This is the US Department of State travel advisory for Colombia: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/colombia-travel-advisory.html

 

This is the jw.org page for contact details for the Colombia branch: https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/bethel-tours/colombia/

[LeslieDean]

This was what I was hoping for. I looked on jw.org site but I guess I did not know how to correctly search. Thank you.

No, my son is not a witness. 

[Brandon]

19 minutes ago, LeslieDean said:

This was what I was hoping for. I looked on jw.org site but I guess I did not know how to correctly search.

oh, well if that’s all you wanted you should have just said so 😂

 

keep in mind that tours are closed, but there is an address, office hours, etc here:

https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/contact/colombia/

 

 

38 minutes ago, LoneWanderer said:

This is the jw.org page for contact details for the Colombia branch...

actually that’s the bethel tours page. the phone number is the same, but the actual contact info is at the link i added

[Miss Bea]

In a week or so...who knows what the scenario may be. 
Plus our campaign coming next month. I’m in, “high anxiety”, the good kind. I’m wondering if that will be an event we talk about for many years ahead. What will be the result.
Point is, this system is tottering, and we know it will fall. Could be an adventure if you were not home. 
If you put the decision off for a week or so, it may be already made. 
I know, maybe not. 
Pray, my dear sister, pray. I shall too.

[carlos]

The good part is that, no matter where you go in the world, you can still attend your meetings by Zoom. You do not depend on locating a KH, obtaining the meetings schedule and finding transportation. That is a blessing and a curse, depending on how you look at it.

 

Last month we had some free days and took advantage of the low prices to spend a few days in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands. They are some tropical islands off the African coast that are part of Spain. Staying in our hotel room was not different, safety-wise, from staying at home. There were few tourists (where usually it would have been crowded) so you could sit down at the outside of restaurants and didn't have anyone close. And we mostly stayed outdoors, visiting beaches, mountains, cliffs... And everything was dirt cheap due to the lack of tourists. If your plans for Colombia are mostly outdoors and you carry your masks and wash your hands often it shouldn't be more dangerous than staying in the US and going to work.

 

One important thing to take into account is that some countries do not allow visitors from countries where the pandemic is hitting hard. Others will let you in but will require you to stay in quarantine for two weeks. Make sure that is not the case with Colombia, because a quarantine would ruin your vacation. You can call the Colombian embassy to make sure.

Edited October 28, 2020 by carlos

[Manny2186]

41 minutes ago, carlos said:

The good part is that, no matter where you go in the world, you can still attend your meetings by Zoom. You do not depend on locating a KH, obtaining the meetings schedule and finding transportation. That is a blessing and a curse, depending on how you look at it.

 

Last month we had some free days and took advantage of the low prices to spend a few days in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands. They are some tropical islands off the African coast that are part of Spain. Staying in our hotel room was not different, safety-wise, from staying at home. There were few tourists (where usually it would have been crowded) so you could sit down at the outside of restaurants and didn't have anyone close. And we mostly stayed outdoors, visiting beaches, mountains, cliffs... And everything was dirt cheap due to the lack of tourists. If your plans for Colombia are mostly outdoors and you carry your masks and wash your hands often it shouldn't be more dangerous than staying in the US and going to work.

 

One important thing to take into account is that some countries do not allow visitors from countries where the pandemic is hitting hard. Others will let you in but will require you to stay in quarantine for two weeks. Make sure that is not the case with Colombia, because a quarantine would ruin your vacation. You can call the Colombian embassy to make sure.

 

The other "good part" think about the possibility of a "Bible study"  Paradise right there in the home with granddaughters and son! 🙂

Edited October 28, 2020 by carlos

[ReadYourBible]

I would put the matter before Jehovah, I feel like we are being tested like never before as to obedience and the tests are very, very subtle. Our halls remain closed for a reason. 

 

I feel for you in this situation Leslie, I really do. I haven't even met my grandson who was born last November. It will be a year Nov 5, and I haven't even hugged his little self. 

 

https://www.jw.org/en/news/jw/region/global/jw-coronavirus-update-and-response/