We are officially in Bolivia! We arrived here on the 4th of July bright and early at 5am. This month, my team—Bold Radiance—along with team Open Arms are working with a ministry called Word Made Flesh that focuses on abundant life for those affected by prostitution. Coming into this month I was full of excitement to be working with this ministry: doing prayer walks through the red light district, helping out in the workshop that employs women formerly involved in prostitution, and assisting at the VBS held for children of the women formerly involved in prostitution.
The Word Made Flesh ministry site for this country is located in El Alto, Bolivia (elevation 13,300ft). Before flying into Bolivia, our squad was briefed on the potential dangers of altitude sickness due to the drastic change in elevation upon our arrival. Symptoms of altitude sickness include: headaches, light-headedness, dizziness, fainting, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. The entire plane ride here I hardly slept because I was so terrified I would get sick as soon as they opened the airplane door. Praise the Lord I did not get sick! Unfortunately, the same was not true for all my squad mates.
Within our two weeks here in Bolivia, at least three people on my squad have gone to clinics or hospitals due to the effects of the altitude, and two others for a couple other illnesses. Praise the Lord they’re all fine though. However, the first week of my stay here was not quite what I had expected. I didn’t come into the Race with a lot of expectations, but I will say that I did at least expect to do ministry at our ministry site.
My first week was spent with my teammate Courtney Tuttle, who, unfortunately, endured many of the symptoms associated with altitude sickness. I assisted her to three different clinics and stayed the night in two different homes with her. In that time I shared my testimony with an entire family, I translated to and from Spanish speaking doctors, failed at getting a hold of insurance, sat for long periods in waiting rooms, made empanada runs, and did a whole lot of praying over Courtney and my other squad-mate, Amy, who later joined us at a clinic for [somewhat] similar reasons.
While all this was happening, there was a part of me that felt guilty and jealous that I was missing out on our amazing opportunity to do ministry with Word Made Flesh. After all, that was the ministry I came for. That was where I was supposed to grow. But God gave the reminder to:
Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Matthew 6:33 (MSG)
Who says ministry has to carry the title ‘ministry’, or has to be associated with an organization or church? Ministry doesn’t have to be in a building; ministry is where you make it. Sometimes that can be easy to forget if we’re not thinking about it; but being there for my sick squad-mates and sharing testimonies with friends are incredible ministries, and I’m so blessed that those are the ministries God chose to steep me into my first week of the World Race.
Please be praying for Courtney and Amy. Due to the effects of the elevation, today they are being moved to a lower altitude with another team from my squad. Please pray for a safe 40 minute flight and for their health to be restored due to the low elevation. Also, Derek is hopefully being released from the hospital today after a kidney infection, so please also be praying for total restoration of health for him as well.
