Apolo, Bolivia. Population 2,123 (including the stray dogs on the streets).
I have never lived in a small town. My hometown has a population of 392,772. It is a place where street lights, traffic, sirens, horns, coffee shops, and skylines are normal. But this month, all that changed. Apolo just recently constructed a paved road that connected them to the outside world. There are no street lights, no traffic, no coffee shops with WiFi. Besides the scenery of bustling green hills surrounding the town, the next best thing is the main square located at the center of this all.
But my favorite thing about living in a small town, are the faces that become familiar. As soon as you step out of your door, you are waving to someone you know. Yeah, I may have only lived there two weeks, but I have made some friends in the process.
This is Bertha. She owns a little store at the end of Market Road. Whenever we need anything, we can always count on Bertha to have it… and if she doesn’t, she will try her hardest to get it when she goes into “town” to restock (into “town” means taking a 14 hour bus ride to La Paz).
This is Gonzolo. He is one of the few people that speak English in Apolo. We randomly met him one day while trying to find marshmallows. He spent the next hour trying to help us find them in town. We joke and say he is like the guy who narrates movies… he kind of just pops up out of no where, exchanges a few words, and then disappears.
This is Olga. I have adopted her as my little Bolivian grandma. She goes to the local church we attend. She is faithfully there every time the doors are open, rain or shine (which is a big deal because if it rains they usually shut down everything). You will see her hands out, praising our Savior in the second row of the pews.
This is Belen. She goes to the preschool next door. We are practically besties. She greets me every morning with a huge grin and hug. Every time I walk by her classroom, you hear “Hola, mi amiga!” She brings many laughs not only to me but everyone around her.
This is Sarita. She has become like a sister to us. Her English is superb, and she has helped us tremendously while staying in Apolo. If we have a question or need help finding something, Sarita is there to save the day.
This is Gloria. Gloria is an angel straight from heaven. She owns one of the few “hotels” in town. She is Sarita’s momma. She has welcomed us into her family as it we were her own. We have cooked together, played cards together, and have chatted about the Lord’s goodness in our lives while sitting around the table.
I am so thankful that this city girl has met these small town people because they have impacted my life in such a huge way. They have been my constant community this past month, and have loved me well.
It is humbling to know that you have “family” all across the world. And if I were ever in Bolivia and needed anything, these folks would be right there to help (minus the little nugget).
It gets me excited to return home, because I get the opportunity to build that kind of community in my neighborhood. A community where my door is always open and a smile is always waiting… just like these people have taught me.
