HAPPY ONE MONTH ANNIVERSARY!

Thursday June 12^th, 2008

It’s our One Month Anniversary (Bolivia and I). Although one month is only thirty days, this journey is anything, but ‘only.’

Being here has been an absolutely wonderful journey, yet I hardly know where to begin. I have learned so much about this country and of course about myself. Everything in Bolivia is late. Absolutely everything. I wish I were exaggerating.

My biggest pet peeve of course is: being late. However, I love it here. I love that everything from transportation to checking-out at the local supermarket takes thirty more minutes than you planned. Everyone knows everything is late, so grace is given and expected. Although it was difficult at first coming from the culture we do, surrounded by fast-paced life and at the very least a cell phone –now I wonder the disaster I’ll be at my first job interview post college.

Post college huh? Well, that has not really sunk in yet. I imagine that it will not until December, but I of course I think it’s pretty great to not be going to classes everyday (for now)

As for me, I’ve learned a ton and grown even more. I know that this process is never done, but I greatly appreciate where I am at right now and the person I am today. Wonderful feeling really. Furthering this kingdom does not, should not, and will not always look like what you expect. Day in and day out I am shocked by things I see that are positive and truly making a difference in the world. Ministries that take place here are not always organized and never are perfect, but change is being done.

I am simply a worker bee, not the queen bee.

Happy One Month Anniversary!

Prayer Requests

Faithful followers,
Yesterday at our International Teams BBQ one of our interns, Stephanie was burned with a chemical while trying to light a lantern. Thankfully Andrea and I took Chemistry (years ago) and knew to throw her eyes and face under running water.

When we got to the hospital our prayers were answered in the fact that the burns on her retinas and cheeks were only temporary. Her eyes were covered for the next tweleve hours which were very painful for her (and for us to watch).

Every 3 hours and again every 6 hours Andrea and I put in painful creams into her eyes to help moisturize the dry burns.

As of now, her vision is only blurry and we are very grateful. Although we expect a full recovery, I ask you to keep her in your thoughts and prayers this week.

Stephanie has had such a wonderful spirit the entire trip, esspecially now. She is light hearted and just a joy to have gotten to know. She sees this as a learning experience in depending on others and on God. Please know what a rock she has been to both me and to the team as a whole. She leaves on Saturday so we pray that the most difficult of this process will be over and she will have safe travels.


ALSO:
Tomorrow Kristen is having her last three wisdom teeth taken out. We have stocked up on movies and ice cream to aid this process. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers as well because she will be under a deep anthistic and is very nervous.

Thank you very much for your continued love and support.

I plan on updating about my last week early this week and about my One Month Anniversary with Bolivia (which was Thursday) soon.
Its been a busy week.

So there´s this guy and he´s dark and handsome

Only kidding. Sort of. My last blogs have been about life here in Bolivia. I imagine many are wondering how the ministry is going. On Tuesdays and Fridays I ride an hour and a half (minimum) to Villa Israel, one of our two orphanages that are complete. I tutor there for at least an hour, but hopefully more. Tutoring is just what it sounds like. Villa Israel is in a very poor area, so each child gets one on one attention with different basic concepts.

Anna was working on her multiplication tables with Jaclyn and now is working on them with Andrea. Samuel is working on memorizing Bible verses with Kristen. Each child is working on something in particular with one of us. The children LOVE this time. They love getting to spend time where they are the center of attention and they love to learn. This is such a privilege to them (and of course to me).

Currently in Villa Israel I am working with Erlon. He happens to be the orphanage heart throb. Erlon is five years old and will melt your heart upon first meeting. He is so kind, so sweet, and very energetic. In order to even get one solid hour of attention I like to have things planned out before I get there. These last few weeks we have been working very hard on writing the numbers 1-5 and his name. Literally each week I see improvement. As we learn how to write the numbers we are also learning how to say them in English. We always are hoping that the children become bilingual. Not because we think they should be able to speak English to communcate with us, but because speaking English is very much a sign of status. We are always encouraging each of the children to grow to their full potential, which we hope is something strong within the town.

Because Erlon is five years old, he continually gives me such grace. I know that often the sentences I am saying to him are not grammatically correct, but we play charades and get things done. Usually I come with a few ‘worksheets’ made to begin with our numbers. Then we like to play Uno. Uno is a perfect came of colors and numbers. It is so wonderful for all the children! Then we like to relax, he is still very young, and read a story. This of course is in Spanish. Generally, I practice the book and figure it out before I get there. But sometimes he laughs. And I laugh. Its wonderful.

Your winter has nothing on my Chicago winter

As life begins to fall into a routine things become less chaotic, but that does not mean that things are less noticeable or in reality less humorous. Each day, at least once a day, I do something that reminds me that I am American.

-It is Winter in Bolivia. The mornings are very chilly, I will you give you that. But there is not a day that I do not come home sweaty after a long day of work and travel. Bolivians are currently wearing sweaters and mittens. I think they are doing this because they want to know what winter feels like. They have no idea.

-My ant bites still itch over a week later.

-Andrea and I are beginning to get better at cooking. Fruits and veggies are absolutely delightful to eat here in Bolivia so that is a staple. It just seems to take hours upon hours to cook. There is nothing quick at all here. I think we are getting the hang of this slowly but surely.

-Everything is an hour late. Having this knowledge is helpful. Having patience is better.

-Cheese is incredibly expensive. For those who know how much I love cheese, this is an issue. Wish I would have added that to the budget.

-Playing futbol (American Soccer) at the Center is all business. The Center is a little bit like a YMCA, but much different. I think Andrea sprained her toe yesterday.

-I wear flip flops everyday. My feet are black.

-Bolivia is pronounced Bolibia.

These are the people in my neighborhood... Just like Mr. Rogers

Finally, I am able to function nearly on my own here in Cochabamba, Bolivia. It feels so liberating to run to the grocery store or to Spanish class on my own. I think I have even made some friends. Let me tell you about them:

(Please give me grace as I still have not yet gotten names, but am beginning to build relationships)

Woman at the Internet:

Generally speaking, I like to go to the same internet place. Now, please know that what little Spanish I do speak, although I am learning everyday, does not include computer technical problems. She has given me such wonderful grace. We have begun to chat as I come in and when I see her through out the town.

Money Changer:

We try to go to the same person to exchange our money. He is always in the same place and I pass him on my way to nearly anything. He is always warm and kind. He asked about being missionaries in Bolivia. And he gives us a good rate. J

Locker Guy at IC Norte:

IC Norte is our grocery store. When you walk in you have to check your purse into a locker. I have no idea what to say to him except thank you. Or when I forget my list in my purse which is now in my locker. Its always a good time.

Lady who Sells Art on Corner:

I do not know her. At all. But she smiles every morning I pass her.

Alright well I think that about covers it. And, I know at this point you maybe thinking that I have wasted your time. But when you are in a country that you do not know a single soul, when people begin to recognize you, it is wonderful. I love walking through our part of town into people I know.

Just a quick thought

“It helps now and then to step back and take the long view. The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work. Nthing to we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us:

No statement says all that could be said

No prayer fully expresses our faith

No confession brings perfection

No pastoral visit brings wholeness

No program accomplishes the churches mission

No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about:

We plant seeds that one day will grow.

We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise

We lay foundations that will need further development

We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capability

We cannot do everything there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something and to do it very well! It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way and opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are the workers, not the master builder; ministers, no the messiah;. We are prophets of a future not our own. Amen”

Arch Bishop Oscar Romerou

Hola Mis Amigos y Mi Familia

Somedays, it seems a struggle to completely understand the work that I am doing. Somedays, the tasks seem so little or so huge that I wonder the difference that I am making. Somedays, it is plain frustrating to watch destruction as I work to build up this country. But it’s bigger than that.

Hannah sent me this quote last week and I have really enjoyed reading it each morning. I thought that I would share it with you, my supporters, to begin to understand the enormity of the little or big things that are done to further the kingdom.

I counted the Stars......

Where can words even begin with today? The Timmer’s decided we deserved a much needed day off and for that, they treated us to white water rafting in the Chapare jungle. Our day started at 7am and is just now ending at 10p. But what a day it was.

Our tour guide, James Bond, drove us 4 hours into the Chapare jungle where we would begin our adventure. After long travels and an early morning we were ready to hit the water. We carried the boat down, exactly what you are picturing a yellow raft, through an ant hill –where we were then given instructions (in Spanish) on what to do once we were in the water.

It was amazing. Well, that hardly covers it. We started in category 3 (out of 6) waves and we almost lost Jacklyn. Okay, not really, but it was the most difficult part of our journey. For the next 3 hours we battle some rapids while we also enjoyed smooth glass like water. At one point, our tour guide allowed us to jump out of the boat. Picture this: floating down a river between huge mountains that are lush with forest and filled with colorful wild life. The sun was shinning and the water felt wonderful. I could not even believe the things I was seeing. I was determined not to allow this day to go by to quickly. I took it all in.

I felt the sand between my toes. The water on my skin. The sun was in my eyes. I heard the roar of the water and the calm of the forest. I took note of the beautifully fresh air I was breathing. The trees, bushes, and flowers went on for miles and miles. It was a scene out of my dreams. Again, words hardly will express the beauty, but I was truly living my dream.

We even took a break for some ‘pi pok a’ (popcorn) and coca cola (sorry Karen Pepsi is unheard of down here). During our break our guide showed us a cliff we could jump from into the rapids (don’t worry Grandma I had on a life vest and a helmet) –it was so much fun!

A heavy note for the day: As we took the break we saw much of the poverished culture that we were invading. It was not that I was unaware, for we have seen this before, but gosh did it strike me. Here I am, enjoying the beauty of God’s country all around me, when there were a number of naked children coming to the river just to watch us play. It was surreal. I wanted so much to speak my bit of Spanish to them, but it was so much more than that. Much of this, I imagine I am still processing.

After lunch, we began our long journey home. Andrea and I cuddled and watched a few office episodes J It felt so good for both of us to just laugh and enjoy our day and finally feel less homesick then we have in the last few weeks. Once the dark came it was the high point of my night came. Through out the day I made sure to touch, hear, see, feel, taste, and notice everything as this is an adventure I likely will not do again here in Bolivia. Okay one more image for you:

All seven of us are in this van, loving life and headed back to our home. A few are sleeping, others listening to Ipods, but each of us enjoying the beauty we have seen. I was gazing out the window loving the mountains that surrounded us looking into the beautiful skies. Loving life and enjoying the music on my Ipod when the Chris Tomlin version of “Indescribable” came on. For those of you unfamiliar: “You placed the stars in the sky and you know them by name. You are amazing God. All powerful.” I really do enjoy the whole song, but as this lyric came on I was noticing the 6 billion stars filling the sky. Hair blowing in the wind, good friends to my side, awesome scenes of nature, and a wonderfully powerful God.

That’s it. That’s why I am here. It seemed so clear in that moment.