Month 1 is officially over and I’m sitting in a Dunkin Donuts in Trujillo, Peru on our day off before we begin ministry this week! I’d like to say a disclaimer that this month wifi is scarce so I won’t be online much.
My time in Bolivia was absolutely invaluable and incredible, and I don’t think I could have asked for a better first month. Sure it had its challenges, but those made it so I learned more; stepped out of my comfort zone, and started trusting God more and more. Our ministry hosts were absolutely fantastic. They not only educated us on the sex trade epidemic, but they also shared their insights on doing missions where they live, and they became more of our friends than our “bosses”. Getting to work for Word Made Flesh was a real privilege and I loved getting to meet women who had changed their lives around for God and their precious children who were just so full of joy and light. I also could not have asked for a better host family who really taught me so much without even intending to.
Here are some things I learned this past month:
– Try to say yes whenever you get the chance (use judgement that what you are saying yes to is safe) even when you are nervous, insecure, tired, lazy, etc… My favorite experiences happened because I just said yes to going, such as playing “wallyball” (volleyball/racquetball) with the locals on a Friday night, and going to celebrate La Paz day with some locals from our ministry, where I got to learn Bolivian dancing.
- With this said, don’t be too shy just to ask someone what they are up to, those conversations could lead to something really cool!
– The race (and life) is what you make it. It all comes down to your outlook and attitude. You can turn the worst seeming situations into an experience worth remembering, just stay positive.
– Joy and happiness come from within. All you need is faith, family, and friends, and you will be mighty rich. I know people have heard this before, including myself, but it’s so very true.
“Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud”- Proverbs 16:9
“We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall”- Proverbs 16:33
