The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. From seeing my mom in Africa to 5 days of non-stop travel to South Africa, Brazil, Chile, to Bolivia! When we got to South America we were met with a 21 hour bus ride to our ministry site in Santa Cruz.
This month we were partnered with YWAM. Youth With a Mission has been in the Santa Cruz area for over 20 years and has established many ministry contacts throughout the area. The YWAM base partnered us with different ministries during our time at the base.
The first ministry we were apart of was an outreach to a school with students from pre-k to senior high. The YWAM team put on a show of skits and dances that gripped the kids as they also shared the Gospel. We didn’t know the dances yet so we were crowd control and hung out with the students.
The second ministry I sadly was not able to be apart of. My first (I pray only) sickness on the World Race hit and kept me out of ministry a couple days. I guess the 5 days travel and non-stop ministry takes its toll. The ministry we were partnered with was a children’s home for special needs and HIV positive youngsters. My team got to love on them and take care of them for a couple days. I got to live through their stories and from what I heard, it was a very special place.
Next, we went to a girls home for girls 8-18 who leave the streets. Kids living on the street is a common sight here in Bolivia. Many get hooked on drugs and gang life because they don’t have a safe home to go to. This home for girls is one of the only ministries in the country focused on the rehabilitation of girls and boys living on the streets. We had the honor to serve the girls that currently live there. We worked in the garden, helped with chores, and even held a beauty for ashes event to share the love of Christ with these beautiful ladies. We got to build a friendship with each girl. With thousands of children on the streets there are only 4 at the home. Not because they can’t take more on, but because it is so hard to rehabilitate and keep kids there when the harsh streets and drug addictions are all they know. Currently the girls range from 14 to 18. One has a beautiful baby boy and another has a baby on the way. Many struggle with believing there is a God that loves them and wants a relationship with them. Most have been hurt by men and rejected by their families. Please pray for these girls as they have a long road ahead of rehabilitation and bear many scars from the past.
The next ministry we were apart of was in a Christian school. We were able to teach English lessons a pre-k and kindergarten class and lead moral classes for students from 2nd grade to senior high. We played games, shared testimonies, and did activities that sparked great discussion about God. In the afternoon we would do outreach for the church the school was housed at. We walked the streets with church invitations in our hands and talked to as many people as our little Spanish skills will allow. We also helped lead youth group!
This month has flown by and I have a feeling the next 3 months will as well. God has been so good to us here and we have been able to build strong relationships with the people of Bolivia. Goodbyes are always difficult and they are becoming more and more so. Now we have started our trek to Peru! With a stop at the Bolivian Salt Flats. Pictures soon to follow.
