Last weekend I put on my tourist pants for the first time. I went right ahead and shot for a real touristy day!
The most famous thing about this city is The Cristo de la Concordia, without a doubt. This is the largest statue of Christ (Yes, larger than the one in Rio) in the world. Towering over this city you can see The Cristo from any location in Cochabamba. It is nice and symbolic to think that Jesus Christ is watching over this city or that it is especially blessed because of the statue but that's all rubbish.
For the first time in my months of being here I saw it up close and personal last Saturday! We rode a cable car/ski lift sort of thing to the top of the hill and there it was. Wow. I've seen many pictures of this statue but standing at the feet is something pictures can't do justice of. We even got a chance to walk inside the statue (10 stories of the 12) and look out at the city of Cochabamba. And that is where my story for today starts....
This is Cochabamba, Bolivia everybody! Beautiful, no? When I stood there looking out on this city my heart was so stirred. I didn't feel like a tourist at all, like I had planned for the day. Immediately this verse came to my mind;
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed." Luke 4:18
Before coming here I studied this verse with International Teams. Many times you will find in the Bible the emphasis on poor, slave, blind, oppressed (Isaiah 61:1, 35:3-6, 42:7, Luke 7:22). The Bible repeats a calling to bring them the gospel, the hope of forgiveness, food, and freedom, both spiritually and physically. The Lord has put such a strong desire on my heart to serve Him here. This city is full of people who are spiritually oppressed, physically poor, and mentally captive to false preaching and idolatry.
So as I stood up there under the feet of one of the most famous tourist attractions in the world I was not phased at all. What I was moved by was the site of this breath taking city I was looking out on. A city that I have been brought to for a purpose. I could have gone anywhere but Christ brought me here. I know more and more each day that there is a purpose for me and my life here.
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed." Luke 4:18
Before coming here I studied this verse with International Teams. Many times you will find in the Bible the emphasis on poor, slave, blind, oppressed (Isaiah 61:1, 35:3-6, 42:7, Luke 7:22). The Bible repeats a calling to bring them the gospel, the hope of forgiveness, food, and freedom, both spiritually and physically. The Lord has put such a strong desire on my heart to serve Him here. This city is full of people who are spiritually oppressed, physically poor, and mentally captive to false preaching and idolatry.
So as I stood up there under the feet of one of the most famous tourist attractions in the world I was not phased at all. What I was moved by was the site of this breath taking city I was looking out on. A city that I have been brought to for a purpose. I could have gone anywhere but Christ brought me here. I know more and more each day that there is a purpose for me and my life here.
Please Pray that God would continue to show me His plan for me here.
That he would open even more doors for evangelizing and relationship building.
Most importantly, pray that God would do great things in this city and that He would soften their hearts to receive Him!
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