Since arriving I have been hoping and praying that an English ministry will need me as much as I felt I needed them. I am aware that I did not come all the way to Bolivia to do English ministry, but let me explain. I am working seven days a week in Spanish ministries and I love it! However, in order for me to truly connect I feel like speaking my first language and explain my thoughts and feelings in my language, is easiest. So this ministry is above and beyond our ministries here.
Now that I have justified my actions: Youth Group! I attend the International Church of Cochabamba and I enjoy it very much. The Youth Pastor and the youth group as a whole was very much in need of help. Although nearly all of the seventy youth are missionary kids, that does not mean that their needs are met. In fact, it nearly means quite the opposite. Monte (the Youth Pastor) finds that often many shy away from helping with the youth of the church while here because of the liability of leaving. Yes, I leave in December, but I have come to believe that change happens in moments.
Although I will see great change over my eight months here, it will be in moments, not necessarily in the eight months in entirety. Until December I will give the youth all I can and assume that others will pick up where I left off.
Bible Study is on Wednesday nights and actual Youth Group is on Friday nights. It is wonderful and the students have already taken to me very well. It is very easy for me because I am young and just arrived from the states (a place they miss very much).
Youth Camp is June 24th-27th. Youth will be attending to take a break from the ministries they do day in and day out and be able to relax and have fun. Of course, ministry of a different sort will occur while we are away at camp, but the focus is on the youth and on their needs. Finally. Because the Church is a missionary church, there is zero budget. There are six leaders, including myself, and we each have to pay our own way through camp. The cost is $450 Bs (about $70). This is not something I planned on doing or budgeted for, but if you would like to support this, please email me and let me know.
It is odd almost how quickly the youth have taken to having me as a mentor, but I adore this time. I love being a person who has undivided attention to them, with even the smallest issue, and I love building close relationships here in Bolivia. As I watched several of the interns leave, very upset to say goodbye, I prayed that come December I, too, would struggle when it came to leave. Each day reminds me how difficult it will be.
No comments:
Post a Comment