Llama burgers anyone?
On the first leg of the journey from Argentina to Bolivia, my teammate decided to take orders for llama burgers to pick up at the next town. Options were light meat or dark. The message drifted downstairs to the lower level travelers and a few including myself were gullible enough to consider. After passing many a llama herd, it seemed reasonable that this town would serve llama burgers.
Corners and cliffs. Rolling cactus covered mountains. Countless steer and dogs in path. An occasional donkey or horse and even a large herd of pigs. This is Bolivia.
This roller coaster ride is unlike any other. Its duration is 56 hours, two layovers included. Such a bus trip is not for the fainthearted or weak in the stomach. Unfortunately, I fell into the last category which is quite unusual for me. But I feel like even a healthy stomach cannot smoothly tolerate such a full being tossing and turning coupled with the lurching insides and gasping that happens at every corner, for the wheels opposing gravity and the craft leaning over the edge as it speeds along.
Apparently there is such a thing as faster being safer and the guy at the wheel sure took that to heart. If you really think about driving along a rocky mountain ledge and crossing a dip on the very edge, for sure you’ve a greater chance of crossing if you do so quickly for going slower would give the bus time to actually settle into the dip on the edge and you guess the rest. Let me just make it clear that these were the kinds of cliffs that no bus would have come back out. Thrill is a valid emotion but also valid are thoughts of mom and flashbacks of my life.
I must say I have a new respect for any human who takes on the feat of driving one of these buses.
Before you judge this as some girl’s exaggeration, come to Bolivia and find out for yourself, which I can’t honestly recommend.
As all other stories that don’t turn out bad, this one ends well. We made it to the flat lands and are speeding towards our destination: Santa Cruz.
My team and I will be spending December, Christmas and New Year’s Day with a young missionary family there. Our ministry will likely be some teaching English, evangelism, and discipleship. I am so excited to see what God has for us this month.
Wrapping up our time in Argentina was bittersweet. Ywam was so kind to us and the experience there very rich. Tons of good friendships were made and hard to say goodbye to.
I remember before I left on the race someone asked me what I think will be the hardest thing about the race and I said the goodbyes at the end of each month. Besides about five other things, I was so right. That is very hard, but my overall expectation of the race pales in comparison to reality.
I don’t want to be painting a sad picture about the race, but I desire to depict it correctly. It is hard in a very good way. It reveals things about myself that aren’t always pleasant. It opens avenues for growth that I’ve overlooked before. It challenges me in an inviting way; fully knowing that embracing it will hurt, but disregarding it will hurt even more. It is a full on push for greater development of community, missions, and intimacy with Jesus.
All in all, it’s a beautiful experience.
Hello month three!
Let’s go!!
