And that’s a wrap, month 10. Here we are packing up and getting ready to leave Bolivia. As I sit here and reflect on the month, we’ve had a variety of ministry experience this month partnering with YWAM in Santa Cruz.
Week 1, we started off at Los Preciosos which is a home for children with special needs. These children were abandoned by their families or have parents unable to care for them fully. Each day we came and lived life with them. The days were filled with playing with toys, meals and snacks, laughter and smiles, and cleaning up around the house. One day we had a birthday celebration for one of the boys which includes games, music, and dessert. We ended the week going to a park in the neighborhood. The Lord’s joy filled each room and child.
Week 2, we partnered with a local church and Christian school. We taught classes to students anywhere from early elementary to high school. We taught bible lessons, shared testimonies, played interactive games, and answered questions about the Lord and our relationships with him. This week we taught the story of Daniel and the lions den, about who God is, and who we are in Christ. As I listened to team #GetPsalm share the stories and testimonies, I was so encouraged by the truths and promises of the Lord. He spoke through each woman on this team to share His abundant love and the value we have as children of God. His love was so evident here.
Week 3, we visited a home called the Potter’s House. This home was a place for young girls and teenagers to come live, learn, and love. These teens came from living off the streets, abusive relationships, unsafe families, and broken hard situations. The doors here are open to the girls to come and learn about the love of Jesus. They are given the choice to come and the choice to stay. Here we lived life with six girls who were full of life and laughter. Our week looked like playing volleyball, eating meals, doing crafts, sharing testimonies and scripture, and joining them in their normal day routines. The Potter’s house is a refuge; the peace of God dwells in this place. Here within a few days, the Lord brought community and family. His presence was so evident.
We finished up our time here at the base helping with a wedding and a fundraiser for some missionaries. Yes! We were able to attend and help at a local wedding right in our backyard at the YWAM base! For the wedding, we served plates during dinner and afterwords cleared off all the tables and put away all the chairs and tables from 11pm-1am. As we joined the guests for the ceremony, I looked out and saw the beauty of two people’s lives and communities joining together. Many languages and backgrounds were represented: Bolivians, Brazilians, Canadians, Germans, Americans. We were invited to became part of something special – a day that would start the rest of the couple’s lives together. Thanks God!
Up next we head to the Salt Flats in Uyuni, Bolivia and then to Peru for mini debrief with the whole squad in Cusco, Peru. Here we will break off into our new month 11 teams and head to our final month on the field. Wow! About 40 days or so until I’m back in the States; it has been a wild ride, but God’s not done yet!
