I told some of you that I would not be living in the jungle eating bugs while in Bolivia, but only half of that statement turned out to be true. Upon arriving in Apolo, Bolivia at midnight our team of seven was given the opportunity to join another group on an expedition to a remote village which would be leaving at 4 AM. The hike to Mojo took three days but was totally worth it as none of us could have dreamed of the beautiful scenery we encountered on the way. The people of Mojo were surprised but excited to see us. They could not believe that we would hike so far into the jungle as there is no road into Mojo. Mojo is the most remote village in all of Bolivia. Our combined teams included a doctor, dentist, optometrist, and numerous interpreters. We came bearing gifts of all kinds including bibles, crafts, balls, hygiene items, and even a generator. The locals also received advanced dental care due to a portable dental unit that was brought along. We witnessed the extreme joy of a woman who tried on a pair of glasses and was able to see clearly for the first time in who knows how long. God was moving in a very physical way which is always encouraging because you can almost always quantify the results.
As for me, I spent most of my time playing with the kids or playing guitar with some of the older men. I’m pretty excited about the next 4 months in South America because I know I will at least get better at two things… soccer and Spanish. It is a truly humbling experience when an 8 year old has better ball skills than you. The Spanish is coming along about as well as my soccer skills, slow. Since we have been in Bolivia, out of necessity I have felt a huge desire to learn the language. As I tried to engage with the children of Mojo, I got extremely frustrated with myself. I wanted so badly to ask them about their lives and tell them about mine. I wanted to verbally communicate with them about Jesus and the wonderful news of the gospel but I felt helpless. And then it occurred to me. Why is it that I must travel 31 miles by foot to a remote viliage in the middle of the Bolivian jungle in order to feel an intense need to share about Jesus with a stranger. So I write this to you today in hope that it sparks the realization of two things. First, don’t wait until there is some obstacle between you and the unreached such as distance or a language barrier. There are so many divine appointments that God has orchestrated between you and unbelievers that it would make your head spin. So I challenge you as Paul did with Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 4 to be prepared to share your faith no matter what the circumstance or consequence. The second, is that God’s love can and should be communicated through more than just words. John 13: 35 says “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” It turns out that the best way to love someone you don’t know or can’t talk to, is to do with them what they enjoy a.k.a. soccer.
