catch up.

 

We're still working away at construction and preparing to start the new church/center with the kids. I don't have too much of an update on that area of things other than we're keeping on, keeping on. Instead I figured I'd just share with you some pictures of life here in Bolivia over the last couple months. These pictures are pretty random but I hope you enjoy them! :)



Bolivia's liberty house where they signed for their independence.

Love this scene.

 

These little rascals often times wake me up, fighting. Just had to laugh at the picture.

Mornings like these...Absolutely love them.

It's Christmas time in the city :) Out to see the Christmas lights!




 

This is Joe! He is another intern from the US who is living in our house. We're growing to be real good friends and it's just nice to have another mid-westerner to hangout with!

Toty, David, & I at a wedding in December!

Tranquil day in the market. I try to steer clear of that scene!

Congratulations to a good friend here on her wedding day! Absolutely beautiful bride.

Our whole household together for a family wedding over Christmas!



The little things mean the most; Christmas 2012



Sucre! Bolivia's capitol, pretty snazzy place!

Adopted Cousins ;)

Christmas Day in Bolivia!

Visiting a Dinosaur museum in Sucre.

A dear, dear blessing & friend here in Cochabamba, Salem!

Some of the family in Sucre during our trip!

Coooooookin! Wish I took a picture of the roses this kid made out of tomato skins.



After a 12 hour bus ride from Sucre back to Cochabamba, this is the sunrise I got :)

Soccer game from a while back!

Guess who officially has a visa? This girl. Guess who is no longer illegal? This girl. Guess who's excited? This girl.

 



The Start Of Something New.

Last weekend our church here in Cochabamba prayed over us and saw us all off. Why you might ask?
On Sunday, the 17th the center team is starting a new church! Up in the community of the center kids there is no christian churches, no one reaching out to those people. Our team feels very strongly that God is calling us to be His light to those people. Starting from scratch and looking at all the many responsibilities that need filled, it seems a tad overwhelming. We have all been in constant prayer about what God wants to do through each and every one of us. For me, I didn't feel God asking me to switch churches for some time. I liked the church body I had just gotten plugged into, I was growing there, and I didn't feel the call to go up to "Taquiña" (The name of the community). But one day I woke up and felt such a strong burden to reach out to the mothers, the fathers, the teens, the families. Since that morning I've been praying for this new start and this new endeavour. I really would love it if you would join us in prayer for this new church as well...

Pray for patience and peace in all our team starting the church (10 people in total).
Pray for the lives of the families, that they would be open and able to come.
Pray that the word would be preached and hearts would be opened!
Pray that God's will be completed through and in every person involved in this new church.
This week is crunch time as we work on finishing touches to a sanctuary and keep working on all the classrooms at the construction site. We hope to utilize this physical structure in showing the refuge of God's love and redemption. At times it's easy to get wrapped up in the eagerness to finish the construction in time, the plans that have to be made and completed, and the work we have to get done. I only hope to remember every day that this is an opportunity given by God and completed through Him. He is our cornerstone.

All I Need.

Last week another missionary, Devon, and I went on a mini trip to Tarija, Bolivia. Devon had a friend living there and a church she wanted to visit so I agreed to tag along! It sounded like it'd be fun adventure but I really had no motive or understanding of why I was going there. Well God did...

Tarija is a beautiful part of the country, known for it's grapes and loving people. We experienced both! The church's pastor and his family were incredible hosts to us. We volunteered to fix up some things in the church in the mornings with some of the youth group and then spent the afternoons visiting the country together from vineyards to lakes to circuses. We were shown such love from the body of Christ, I find it hard to explain. After 4 days the family was truly treating us like their children, the youth group like our sisters (coming to the bus terminal to see us off), and we had successfully made unforgettable friendships.

  

Before our trip Devon was a lovely girl. I knew her from a few missionary get togethers but didn't truly know her. By the end of our 4 days I had found a dear, dear sister in Christ. We shared so much of our hearts with one another. Every day and night we sang worships songs, prayed, and shared verses with each other that God had put on our heart. We found that we are two very different girls but that God is working in us in very similar ways. On the bus ride home (17 hours!!!!) we spent a majority of it chatting in English about trials and tests in our lives and the twists and turns that have brought us to where we are; amazement in God. We are both in love! We are in love with God and where He has us, serving Him in Bolivia. Our energy and joy and love just bounced off each other all week! What a breath of fresh air and a blessing Devon was to me!

The city of Tarija in the background!

Giant versions of Tarijan instruments.

One thing we found ourselves going back to in our conversation was the thought ..
All I Need Is Jesus. At the beginning of our trip I was expressing to Devon that I'm not sure about my next step in life and that it is a subject of much frustration. She advised to fix my eyes on Jesus, to leave the worrying, surrender myself and seek Him first. Later on we started hearing lots of songs with the lyrics of letting go of everything but Jesus, He's all we need, all we should want. I admitted to her that I don't treat Jesus like my prized possession like I should. We decided to make that a prayer for our lives as we fixed our eyes only on Him. The amount of spiritual encouragement I received throughout the week was incredible.

 

 


The crabs & fish we ate near the lake. DELICIOUS.

We've got the joy, joy, joy, joy, joy down in our hearts!

The last couple months I have been praying that God makes the desire of my heart, His desires! He did just that! This week I surrendered my worry about the future and truly was seeking after Him first and foremost. As I sanded down a church door in southern Bolivia this week, wrapped up in silent prayer I received confirmation for my next step in life. That is why I went to Tarija. To clear my mind of my every day thoughts and to really spend some time in worship with God. Time to submit myself and look to Him.

 
 I realized that God isn't taking me somewhere that I'll feel comfortable and can live a casual life. He isn't keeping me here where I am in love with everything around me. But He is putting His desires in my heart, no matter how difficult it may be for me to follow after them. He is calling me to stretch myself more than I ever have and to continue only looking on Him.
Right now I am beyond excited that God has given me the answer to my prayers and the direction of my future. I am also scared out of my mind. I am scared to dedicate more years away from my family and friends. I am scared to step out in my faith even when others may not support me. I am scared. And for that reason I am completely sure this is what God is asking of me...

The things of this world will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
You can have all this world, give me Jesus.

I call her friend.

Katie is overflowing with kindness and love.
I "met" Katie via email, months before my journey, as she walked me through processes of getting to Bolivia. Since I arrived she has been by my side helping me with any questions I have, supporting me through trials she too went through, and just being a great friend.

Katie has lived in Bolivia since 2008 through a couple stories in which God continued to call her back to Cochabamba to serve. Her hard work and positive attitude shows through as she teaches a 2nd grade classroom at The Center (in which I worked when I arrived in August), organizes more ways to bring support for the children, continually works at the construction site, disciples others, serves in her church in many ways, and dedicates her life to others.

When she is with the children it is easy to see her passion. Her already happy, joyful face fills with a beaming smile. She pours everything she has into their homework, into Bible time, into praise & worship, and simply into showing them love. It's terribly common to hear a squealed "PROFEEEEEE" whenever you are near her.
Currently Katie is working on a new portion to The Center that gets others more spiritually & emotionally involved. She hopes to find prayer partners for every child in our program. Someone who is investing time in their lives to pray over them, learn more about them & their situations, sending them letters, and possibly even something as big as a Christmas present.
((More news on this to come!))

 

I can't count the conversations we've had full of laughter and support. She does a far better job with the support, always there to listen. Whether it's a conversation about something strong on our hearts, translation of Spanish phrases, how our weekend went, or simply rambling to pass time at construction we always end up laughing and joking by the end.

We sing. We laugh. We tell stories. We reminisce about our homes over yonder in the USA. We quote our favorite movies. We share scripture we've been reading. We try not to hit each other with our shovels while digging holes. We encourage each other keep going...
 We don't seeing each other much outside of work but in the list above, we have created a beautiful friendship.



Katie has become such an inspiration and role model for me. In the 5 months that I've known her she has displayed an incredible amount of attributes that I strive for in my life. Her love for God and love for her work here has run over into my life more than she will ever know.

They call her Profe, I call her friend.

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.."
-Ephesians 5:1-2

Teach me to eat.

I've had a long break from The Center and the kids, giving me lots of time to think and filling me with all kinds of emotions, including;
Missing the kids, missing home, being so content with my Cochabamba life, feeling a little worthless therefore looking for more ministry opportunities, joy of meeting new friends, stressed about planning my near future, loving where God has put me right now, frustrated with the language, and still culturally confused at times.
Yes, a mix of MANY emotions.

In the midst of these feelings and desire to serve more I was introduced this week to The Nutrition Center. Way across the city from my zone is a center for malnourished children. I went twice this week to visit them; feed them, play with them, and just show then some love. They live there, someone of them visited by parents, some of them not. Some have more serious problems than others but all of them with significant sickness in some way.

Though being cared for, many are still physically in terrible condition. Hot and sweaty, many are running fevers and underweight, some don't even know how to eat. Too young to talk I was only able to react to their emotions. Which got me thinking... One second they are smiling, giggling, and happy but before you know it they are crying and giving me looks of discomfort. The babies I fed were usually refusing the food I was spoon feeding them. Either because they didn't know how to eat or they didn't realize this gooey thing we call "baby food" would soon bring them back to health. I suddenly realized how alike I am to the children...

I get frustrated and I get really, really happy. I laugh, throwing my head back and letting my cheeks turn bright red but later on I put my head in my hands in frustration, rubbing my eyes. I'm just like them...
God is feeding me.
He is giving me exactly what I need to be strengthened in my future. Every thing that comes into my life is sent from God for my benefit; blessings, trials, people, places, lessons. I'm constantly being given "food" for my spiritual and emotional advantage.

"Whoever humbles himself as a child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 18:4

I am the baby that doesn't know how to eat. I'm too caught up in my own mind and way of functioning to take a break and just ask God to show me.
Teach me to eat, Lord.
I am the baby that is refusing her one shot at health. I'm trying to find my own ways of strengthening myself which are nothing compared to His encouragement, trials, love, and patience.
Teach me to eat, Lord.
I am the baby that doesn't realize the food being given her. I'm too human, too set in my ways, too self-consumed to see what God is handing me.
Teach me to eat Your food, Lord.


"Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you surely I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous, right hand."
Isaiah 41:10


Sorry if I went over-board with the food analogy. Made sense to me, hope it does to you too!
Oh & this is just a random picture of me & some of the new Bolivian food I'm trying.

 

How Great.

This week two friends and I took a hike up to the mountains in Cochabamba. What we planned on being a nearly 3 day trip ended up being a full day of climbing, a bonfire, camping, and a quick walk down the next morning. Someone had the clever idea to make this little trip amidst the rainy season...Yeah, it was my idea. We found ourselves soaked and freezing all night which had the potential to put a bad taste in our mouth for the whole experience. But the view from our campsite and the amazing walk up will forever stay in my mind. I couldn't help but smile as I wheezed my way up every step that lifted the altitude. I couldn't help but be content as the rain made me shiver and my legs trembled. I was looking at so many amazing things. From the view, to the woods, to the plants, I was overwhelmed. The more I see of this earth the more in awe I am of God. Not only that He created this, He controls this, and He cares for this but that He would take the time to care for me as well. Little ole me. When I see a sliver of the beauty which is His earth I become more and more in love with in and in absolute awe of His glory.

 

The crew; Walking down, cold and soaked as it continued to rain the morning after a chilly camping night.

This song is a small attempt at trying to express this feeling of awe. And what a great feeling it is. Wow. Oh & it's just as good in Spanish! Now that I know both versions I think I may even like the Spanish one more so give them both a listen! :)

Going through changes.

Journal Entry- Saturday December 16th, 2012

"I've been a tad behind on entries. I'm not writing this to catch up but instead to talk about some of the changes I've been going through. Being away from the kids, on break, and working so much construction is putting things into perspective for me. Just how vain EVERYTHING is. And with that I am feeling like such a hypocrite. There are so many things that I am in love with here and I am SO content with where God put me but I also really miss home, family, friends, and memories. But I don't miss my life before.
God has been showing me how fleeting everything is. Any kind of love or attachment that I have that isn't based on loving God, loving His people, or living an abundantly joyful life of service to bring Him glory is vain. I want to serve God here, there, anywhere. But I want to be sold out and always tell Him "Yes, Lord. Here am I; Send me!"
My entire time in Bolivia the Psalms repetition of us calling out to Christ and Him answering us has stuck out to me. I kept thinking He has put that on my heart for desperately homesick times or scary culturally confusing moments. But lately I've started to be able to see...
My call to the Lord is a call for change. I'm calling out;

I am the clay, you are the potter! Mold me!
Change my heart and make it more like You!
Rescue me from myself, my past, my sin!
Have mercy because You are gracious.
Because You see me as precious in Your sight.
Remove my own plans and desires.
Let my deepest satisfaction come from the fulfillment of Your plans for me.
Renew in me a clean heart and right spirit.
Use me, my Redeemer.
That you would shine.
Change me.
Use me.
Here am I Lord; Send me."