After a week of recovering from the altitude change we are getting into daily life in Bolivia. Ministry has finally begun, and it is different then expected. Mision Adulam is an organization dedicated to helping teens and young adults recover from addiction. They have a fourteen month program to get them back on their feet. We thought we would be helping with their program and building relationships.
Our team was split into boys and girls. The guys went to the boys home and the girls go to the girls home every day. The first day we(guys) showed up to a stack of aluminum chairs. We were to take the cushions off and sand all the rust off the chairs. These chairs were obviously stored outside, because they were covered in rust. It took us a week to get the ten or so chairs done. Then they brought out another dozen. We thought we would never finish. Finally we finished and were about to put the cushions back on. Nope, we are now painting them black. Hopefully this is it for the chairs.
The sanding is only done for a few hours every morning, then we have a huge lunch. I have only finished one meal the entire time we have been eating at the home. The boys however can put it down. We start with a bowl of soup then they have a couple heaping platefuls of rice and whatever meat we have for the day. Everything has been very good so far.
After lunch we go home for a few hour break then we come back around three. The afternoons are my favorite. We get to do all sorts of fun activities with the kids. We play soccer, basketball, cards, and board games. It is fun to play with them and try and communicate with them. It is when I get to test my Spanish skills. The kids each have their own personalities. We are trying to bring out the personalities of the shy ones. Other than lack of oxygen when playing soccer or basketball, the afternoons are super fun.
We are looking forward to what ministry we will be doing after the chairs. I cannot believe we are half way through Bolivia. There is so much I want to share about daily life here. That will have to be a separate blog.
Please pray for continued battles to altitude sickness and illness in general. Derek has a kidney infection and will hopefully be out of the hospital by the time i post this.
I will try to get photos uploaded before the end of the month. Connection is too slow to upload photos.
