The countryside of Quina, Bolivia from about 10,000 feet up.
Fresh air. Open fields. Cobblestone roads. Pick axes. Shovels. Dirt. This was how I spent last Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday…out in the middle of nowhere, Bolivia.
Actually the name of the town is Quina (pronounced Co-een-ya) and it is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The rolling mountains look like patchwork quilts due to their numerous potato fields. Each day the sky is a deep blue and filled with fluffy white clouds. The locals are dressed in their colorful native outfits and light up when they see some gringos in their small village.
"The Hole" after a day of digging. The two buildings in the background will soon house orphans.
For three days, my teammates and I worked construction on an orphanage about an hour and a half out of town. The orphanages here are run family style, meaning 10-12 children will live with a set of house parents in a home. The construction we were doing was in the area of plumbing…most specifically septic…even more specific- digging the hole for all the waste.
Yep, that’s right. I spent 3 days in a hole. When we started the process, the hole was knee deep. After 3 days of pick axing and shoveling, it’s up to my shoulders. We’ve still got 2 feet to go…not to worry; we’re headed back this week to finish the job.
The work is slow and monotonous, but there is something satisfying about working with your hands and being completely exhausted at the end of the day. And we were exhausted! So exhausted that we went to bed around 8pm every night, if not earlier.
Our kitchen in Quina…2 gas burners and a few pots.
Another thing that should be mentioned about staying at Quina, is that it’s just one step above camping. We had nice bunks to stay in at night but our “kitchen” consisted of two gas burners and 3 pots. Needless to say, it makes cooking a little more challenging!
Meals were eaten family style of the floor of our cabin. On the menu this night was spaghetti, meat sauce, veggies and bread.
The weather is a bit unpredictable. It’s mostly freezing cold (about 40 degrees F) but when the sun comes out it warms to a pleasant 65 but may quickly cloud over and turn to rain. Don’t let that sun fool you…it will burn your right through the clouds!
Though the physical labor was exhausting, the time away from the city was refreshing. It confirmed to me that I prefer the quiet country life to the hustle and bustle of the city. I meet best with the Lord when I’m in His creation and there is little to distract me. All in all, I enjoyed my time away from the busyness of Cochabamba. And I’m headed back tomorrow (Tuesday) for some more…
I know I’m just a small part of opening this orphanage but I’m excited for the orphans that will benefit from our labor. Their lives will be forever changed by the opportunity to be raised in a Christian home where they will be loved and cherished just as they are.
