Standing in front of a room of indigenous men and woman, pouring my heart out in two languages as my words were translated into a third the only word that consumed me was family.
Let me rewind. This weekend my coworker Laura, her husband Sergio, my friend Jorge Luis, and I headed out for Tiraque, Bolivia. Tiraque is a town in the green, luscious hills of Bolivia about 2 hours out of Cochabamba, filled to the brim with peace and quiet. As I walked the streets I wasn't sure if I should feel uncomfortable from the ghost-town-ish feel or calmed by the home-sweet-home atmosphere. Regardless, spending our morning exploring the forests, waterfalls, and pathways in the back grounds of this town was such a breath of fresh air.
At midday we headed back into the town for the purpose of our little trip, a celebration. Here in Bolivia churches celebrate the church's anniversary EVERY YEAR. How cool, no? They put so much importance into the house & family of God.
We spent the afternoon in a little, white room with people we had just met. I was served plates upon plates of food to the point where I wanted to cry from fullness. We laughed and told stories and truly shared the afternoon together. As a prepared to give my testimony and speak in front of the church I couldn't help but look back on all the churches I have come into contact with here.
My Bolivian Home Church in Cochabamba.
A room full of laughter and love in a church, New Year's Eve in Sucre.
A weekend spent with a youth group and pastor's family in Tarija.
A new church body branching off from The Center in Cochabamba.
And now this...lovely, welcoming people in Tiraque.
Every church body I have come to know here has truly treated me as a part of their family. And they are just that, a family!!! They greet one another "Hermano" or "Hermana" (Brother/Sister) and then proceed to treat them like their very own siblings. The church is not just a place they meet to grow in the Lord but a home to seek God with your family, with your brothers and sisters in Christ.
At the end of the day Sergio preached. Ending his preaching with a prayer, he invited anyone who is seeking God, who wants to be washed in His blood...to come forward. As I opened my eyes I saw a beautiful site. 30+ of my brothers and sisters in Christ completely knelt before Him in prayer. With their intricate skirts being dirtied by the floor and their long braids rolling down their backs. In that moment I wanted to hug everyone. I wanted to thank them for their faith, for their welcoming spirits, and for their desire to pursue Christ which has so quickly encouraged me.
I envy the churches here and desire so deeply that churches in the states would embrace this command of brotherly love within the church. I long to see myself being more Bolivian in my behavior towards my hermanos and hermanas in Christ whether here or state-side. So I encourage you, love you brothers in Christ. Truly. Embrace the family of Christ that you have been put into and every person that walks into the house of God. Embrace it! :)
My Bolivian Home Church in Cochabamba.
A room full of laughter and love in a church, New Year's Eve in Sucre.
A weekend spent with a youth group and pastor's family in Tarija.
A new church body branching off from The Center in Cochabamba.
And now this...lovely, welcoming people in Tiraque.
Every church body I have come to know here has truly treated me as a part of their family. And they are just that, a family!!! They greet one another "Hermano" or "Hermana" (Brother/Sister) and then proceed to treat them like their very own siblings. The church is not just a place they meet to grow in the Lord but a home to seek God with your family, with your brothers and sisters in Christ.
At the end of the day Sergio preached. Ending his preaching with a prayer, he invited anyone who is seeking God, who wants to be washed in His blood...to come forward. As I opened my eyes I saw a beautiful site. 30+ of my brothers and sisters in Christ completely knelt before Him in prayer. With their intricate skirts being dirtied by the floor and their long braids rolling down their backs. In that moment I wanted to hug everyone. I wanted to thank them for their faith, for their welcoming spirits, and for their desire to pursue Christ which has so quickly encouraged me.
I envy the churches here and desire so deeply that churches in the states would embrace this command of brotherly love within the church. I long to see myself being more Bolivian in my behavior towards my hermanos and hermanas in Christ whether here or state-side. So I encourage you, love you brothers in Christ. Truly. Embrace the family of Christ that you have been put into and every person that walks into the house of God. Embrace it! :)
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