Maestra and a Tiny Peach

After 3 days of travel my team and I crowded around a wobbly table in a tiny, cluttered kitchen and listened to our new ministry assignment.

For our main form of ministry, we were going to be teachers and offer classes to the community free of charge. We got to discuss any gifts we had with our hosts and it was decided there would be a music, biology, construction, math, English, and art (my class) class. We would prepare the class and teach it 4 times a week with a translator. I was so excited to get to use one of my life-long passions- art- again in ministry and could not wait to get started.

The world race is a funny place where if you even have a tiny bit of interest or experience in something, then you must be a full-blown professional. You’re a missionary so therefore your a preacher and called up at any moment with no warning or preparation, you’re a woman so therefore you’re a singer, and you took a first aid class so therefore you’re a doctor. You get used to doing things that you just aren’t good at or experienced in at all or remotely comfortable with. You learn to shrug your shoulders, laugh with your teammates about it, and then try your best with a smile.

I certainly didn’t feel equipped to teach this class. My art class was the same time as the music class, so that meant that I had a translator for less than half the class. The ages ranged from 5-45 years and I had no clue what to teach or what they already knew in this culture. I felt self conscious in front of all the curious stares and was annoyed with my broken Spanish that confused then more than helped.

But I just kept going. I prayed over the lessons and employed art therapy techniques to help then learn to express their feelings and dream big dreams. I sat with the students and tried to talk with then even if the conversations consisted of the most basic questions and them cracking up at my failed Spanish. I shared who I was and who God was through my artwork and to tried to respond in gentleness even to the most rowdy.

And it seemed to make no difference. The projects that I gave them were often lost in translation and no longer had a deeper meaning. My students were quiet and would hardly respond to my questions. They mostly stared at me or laughed at my foreign-ness. I was exhausted from being so busy and not having much time to myself with the classes, the prep, meetings, church services, and other responsibilities that often led to 12 hour days.

All that it took to encourage me again was a tiny peach.

One day after class a little girl stayed behind. She seemed to struggle socially with the other kids and was particularity shy. Her name was Jacobeth and she always had her homework ready and would become bashful when I complimented her work. This sweet girl worked up the courage to come up to me after class. Without making eye contact, she haltingly shoving a tiny peach in my hand and then dashed away.

It was that little girl and fuzzy peach that God chose to use to show me that I am exactly where I need to be.

It’s so easy to get discouraged and tell yourself that there is no way that you can make a difference in only two weeks. In fact, I never wanted to be a short term missionary for that very reason. However, God showed me that all things are possible when we are obedient to His plan. This month held some of the most beautiful relationships I have ever made and I was utterly humbled as I watched the Bolivian youth turn to God.

I may have only been there for a few weeks, but the changes that happened in the hearts of the Bolivians in Uyuni hold eternal value.

Sometimes we get to see the fruit of all the work we are putting in and other times you just scatter the seeds. Even when we were getting on the bus to leave, there were many hugs waiting for us. I have sweet notes and gifts from my students and many pictures and journal entries to remember all that God did this month. It was wonderful to get those obvious reminders that it’s all worth it- the discomfort, the constant changes, the exhaustion- but even if I hadn’t seen that fruit, nothing would have changed.

Nothing would have changed because I have a powerful, sovereign God who loves people so much more than I ever could- I can trust Him fully.