I try to hold plans loosely. Sometimes when things don’t work out, it’s because God is doing something much better. I’m quite used to watching doors of opportunity be closed before my very eyes. I never imagined He’d close the literal door to Bolivia.
“You’ve officially been deported”, are words that we’ll never forget. I was traveling the team Brushed with Glory. We made it to the border with our documents and money in hand. There, we came across a second team named Cookie and Creams also ready to cross into Bolivian territory. We were ready to start month 10, but month 10 wasn’t ready for us.
In Front of our teams were two exchange students also from the US. They were completely unaware of the strict visa requirements. The immigration officer was clearly very frustrated. “The USA would never let anyone into their country for even a minute if they were missing even just one item. You SHOULD have everything, especially if you’re from the US,” he’d say for all of us to hear, unknowingly lumping all three groups together.
One of our teammate tried to reason with him. She explained how most of us had all our paperwork and money with us. Things kept escalating until we ended up being escorted out of the immigration office into the cool Desert. We heard the metallic doors shut behind us. We stood in the middle of neutral territory staring out at the vast dirt. As if out of movie, the door’s locks clanked together almost comically loud. Some were frustrated with the whole situation. Others, almost laughing because their, “I wish I could stay in Chile forever”, were now a plausible reality. Lost for words, I clutched my paperwork in my hands as it loudly flapped in the wind. I stood there, in complete peace despite being denied access to Bolivia.
The Bus took us back to the Border, where we sat for five hours waiting. KT(Brushed with Glory’s Team Leader), and Marilyn ended up contacting their former host. We had nowhere to stay, no place to sleep, and no way of knowing what the future held. In those five hours we waited in uncertainty, their host and his friend, Marcos, put everything together for us behind the scenes. When we arrived in Calama it was almost midnight. As we unboarded the bus, Marcos was waiting for us. He took our bags, and brought us into his home. He gave us a place to stay, a heater to keep us warm, food to eat, and fresh water to drink. All Free. He assured us we could stay as long as we needed.
“We are all Family in Christ”, He told us.
I can’t help but wonder, would I show the same hospitality? if a friend I hadn’t seen in three years called me, would I do what Marcos did? Go to pick up seven strangers from a foreign nation. Meet them in the middle of the night at a bus station on an hours notice. Treat them like my own children. Welcome them into my home, and assure them everything will be OK.
Honestly, I am not sure.
Although, I hope one day, my answer will be “Yes”.
Yes, without hesitation. Yes, without reservation.
Yes, I choose to love those who need my help because I love them, and I love them because God loves them. If he thinks they are worthy of helping then, so do I.
If I’m being honest, I am sill not sure I could do it where I am at right now, but Marco’s unconditional love and hospitality, convicts me to be a better person.
Next blog, I will explain what staying with Marcos was like, whether or not we got into Bolivia(we didn’t) and what we are doing now!
I mentioned and links some teammates above, but below I will provide the blogs of everyone else involved in case you’re interested in hearing some different perspectives on the same story.
(Krispy Chicken) Brushed with Glory:
– KT
– Jessie
– Marilyn
– Olivia
– DJ
– Morgan
I am still around $2,000 away from being fully funded, and less than 50 days left on the race. Please considering supporting me in the last leg of the Race.
