Hello everyone!!!!
I apologize for the time that has passed since I last posted a blog. This year already has been and will continue to be filled with a lot of transition and I temporarily slipped into a lot of inward processing and neglected the outward processing that allows all of you at home to process and follow along with me! So here we go!
It’s nearing the end of week one for my team in Bolivia. The drive from the airport into La Paz, which is where we stayed for a couple of hours to get breakfast and to change buses, was enough for me to begin gaining a special appreciation for this place. We instantly were surrounded by huge mountains and winding, narrow roads as we drove into the city. Then in the city we began seeing a lot of the beautiful local people, some of which were dressed in the traditional clothing such as colorful, layered long skirts for the women with layered sweaters topped off with a black felt bowler hat under which rests one or two waste length or longer braids of long black hair. The culture here is so interesting and so different from that of the United States.
Before I get into any further details about this month though let me first share with you about our adventure to get here.
February was all squad month which means that all seven of the Y-squad teams served together at the same location for the entire month. We partnered with H.O.P.E. Dominican Republic, a ministry located in the city of Lajas. Being able to share life with each other for the month was such a gift. I loved getting to know our other squad members, the ones who are not on my team of six. I loved serving with them and getting to know our host family together. I loved laughing, teaching, talking, hiking, water fall showering, eating, swimming, digging, bucket passing, playing, learning and worshiping –in English– together. The month was incredible. Even our host family, the Dominguez’s, and the men who help out there were a gift in themselves. (Thank you Vicky, Ruben, Junior, Jojo, Star, and Solymar…Hose, Blanco, Miguel, and David — we love you. Our God is so incredible for letting our paths cross.)
On our last day there the family turned off the electricity for the day so we adjusted and went about our day. At dinner we found out why. They had to shut off the electricity in order to conserve it for our surprise at dinner time — fresh fruit smoothies made with papaya, mango, bananas, fresh milk, ice and sugar. They were so excited to make them for us and I was so blessed by their excitement and by the surprise. Little things like that are like treasures in the midst of this incredible journey.
The following morning, Thursday, February 27th, we all had to rise and shine early. Our set time to be prepared with all of our stuff packed and ready for the four hour bus ride to the airport was 5 a.m. So, into a bus that would normally seat around 24 people comfortably, 26 people, 23- 50 to 70 liter hiking packs, 23 day packs, at least 2 guitars and 2 mandolins, and a purse here and a draw string backpack there, piled in, got comfortable as best as we could, and off we went.
After two very long travel days, my team of six arrived at our ministry location — Casa de Esperanza (House of Hope) in the mountains of Caranavi, Bolivia. It’s an orphanage for children who either come from abusive families or from family members who can no longer properly take care of them. The children stay here until their 16th birthdays, after which they graduate. The females continue their education at a college or university and the boys are required to join the military but all with a certain amount of financial aid from the orphanage.
And so here we are now, Team Fire Starters in the jungle of Bolivia. When we walk out of the school room in which we are staying, we walk out onto a wrap around porch that over looks jungle covered mountains, a distant town, and two rivers that converge into one.
We will be staying here for the month as the women on our team help with the chores like cleaning, folding clothes, and cooking and the men help with the grounds work, like cutting the grass and weeds back with machetes, digging, and whatever else that looks like. Then of course, we also get to play with the kids.
Father, I thank you for this incredible opportunity we have to love on some more of your children. Please, please may we be a light that proves to them the glory of your goodness and that makes them desire you with their whole hearts. May we also give up our own rights in order to love outrageously and when you call us higher may we be courageous enough to go there with You.
“Empty my hands, fill up my heart, capture my mind with You.” – Tenth Avenue North
