Task number one: take a 45-hour long bus ride from Trujillo, Peru to La Paz, Bolivia. In the process, go from sea level to an elevation of 13,000 ft. (a.k.a. drink LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER)
Task number two: try to not die from the most painful headache of your life from the altitude jump over such a short amount of time.
Task number three: board another 18-hour bus ride through the Andes Mountains, on the “Death Road” (google it, you’ll freak)…and arrive at dawn to the foothills of the Northeastern side of the Andes in the tiny town of Rurrenabaque, Bolivia.
Task number four: jump into a “taxi” (motorcycle with a covered truck bed attached)…with the rest of your team and all of your bags, and ride another 20 minutes to your host home for the month.
HOME.
We had arrived at Casa de los Niños (a daycare center) in Rurrenabaque, Bolivia. Our hosts, Franz and Daisy, greeted us with open arms, big smiles, and a huge pancake breakfast. Bleary-eyed and still a little unsettled from our crazy bus rides, we did our best to settle into our new home for the month. After taking some time to rest in the morning, we had lunch (which is the biggest meal of the day here) and met with our hosts to discuss what they would need from us this month.
And much to my surprise and delight…their principal need was for the beautification of their daycare, which would require lots of drawing and painting! My heart almost exploded. And the next morning, we jumped right in! Our first project is the outside wall of the first floor, where we put a fresh base coat down (it’s incredibly humid here)…and are drawing interactive and educational murals on the wall.
Side story…last month we had the chance to work on a Madagascar-themed mural in one of the classrooms at the school we worked at, and it was my favorite part of ministry thus far! I told my squadmates that if I had the chance to do painting all month it would be a dream come true. And BOOM! Just a few days later we arrived in Rurre, I’ve been given the opportunity to use my gifts in a way that furthers the Kingdom.
The Lord used this to remind me that He loves me. He has me. And He hears me when I pray.
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” -1 John 5:14
