Bolivia was a beautiful month where I was finally reunited with my partner in culinary crime, Leah Nestor, and team Eucharesteo. Residing in the highest metropolis in the world, El Alto, Bolivia, we were hit hard from the beginning to the end of the month with sickness of all kinds: altitude, infections and physical exhaustion. It was a time that tested our endurance, perseverance, spirit and humility. No one likes to be sick for more than a few days, not to mention an entire month.
We served at a rehabilitation center made up of three homes, one for teenage boys, women and couples. I stayed within the women’s home to help prepare meals, clean and play games with the girls and women who lived there. I expected a physical challenge due to the significant change in altitude. What I didn’t expect was rejection and how the Lord would challenge my walk in humility as an individual and as a team.
In months past working with children and teens in the countries we served in, more often than not, we would be welcomed in with giant hugs, kisses on the cheeks and air thick with excitement. This month we were faced with a different response: hesitation, doubt and a little rejection. We tried making conversation with the women we saw on a daily basis, cooked with and cleaned with. Much to our surprise our questions went unanswered and our small talk ignored.
Our team talked about this throughout the month: rejection; how we came to serve and seemed to be unwanted by many. How can fruit come from that? As I processed and brought the hardness of the situation to my Father I first had to do a heart check. Was I serving for my own glory? Out of pride?
Or was I doing it for my Father’s glory? Going to every part of the world, doing the dirty things few volunteer to (i.e. scrubbing toilets and washing countless dishes) and still choosing joy in every moment, in sickness and in health, praying over those we serve with and for and to bring Kingdom on earth? It’s so easy to get caught up in the warm welcome and feeling as though you are making a difference. In all actuality, it’s God doing work through you. He doesn’t need me. But, He extends an invitation to me to join in the work He’s doing to change hearts. And sometimes it comes through the washing of countless dishes, the scrubbing of many doors and being rejected.
I’m joyful to share that as the weeks progressed hearts softened and those who were first hesitant exchanged hugs and the latino cheek-kiss with us as our month came to a close. And as I look back on our time in El Alto, all the sick days, gasps for air, exhaustion, disappointment, sorrow and frustrations, I see that it was a hard month that challenged us as a team and individually. Pride is a nasty thing that sneaks up and blinds us. But praises to my Dad who called me out of blindness. And the fruit is visible today.
