I do not have favorites. But if I did..... Christian, Jed, David, and Will
Andy, Me, Virginia, and Tim. Often times wondering if we were loving camp more than the students
Camp.
What is camp without marshmellows?
CHICKEN FIGHTS!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
CAMP! These photos are worth more than my words
I do not have favorites. But if I did..... Christian, Jed, David, and Will
Andy, Me, Virginia, and Tim. Often times wondering if we were loving camp more than the studentsCamp.What is camp without marshmellows?CHICKEN FIGHTS!
Virginia (Miss Krukeburg) and I. We joined the students in a game of ghost in the graveyard. Needless to say, we were unable to be found. So perhaps were a little competitive.
Some of our 6th grade cabin girls rapping a little tune for us. My abdominal muscles are still sore from the amount of laughter that took place that night.
Everyone has to get through the force field... What are you going to do?
Campfire love.
Beautiful girls.
Isabella creating a friendship bracelet
Sardines!
Valentina, Carolina, and Paulina. Very sweet girls.
Blindfolded puzzle for teambuilding. Each team was given strict restrictions and a set amount of time to complete the puzzle. It was very challenging, but the teams did great!
Orlando doing what he can, without words, to guide is blind friend.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Three life changing letters
HIV
Ana Maria turned two years old on Saturday. The orphanage that she lives in here in Bolivia, Casa de Amor, threw her a grand birthday party.
Ana Maria is incredibly sweet and very loving.
Although we are all dieing, she may not make it to three. She has HIV. Which is what made this 2nd birthday a little extra special.
One of Ana Maria's friends stealing some food :)
Ana Maria in her birthday dress. Princess for the day.
Bolivia is the poorest country in South America. Yet, has the lowest rate of HIV in South America. Less than one percent of Bolivian adults have HIV (However, this number is a bit off with the understanding that much of the population is unreachable and untestable). These numbers are wonderfully low. Sadly, 3.5 percent of the street youth are HIV positive. The number is on the increase. With more and more youth contracting HIV the number of adults will likely also increase.
Bolivia is blessed to not have yet experienced the devastation that HIV/AIDS can take on a country. Ana Maria is so sweet.
Spend a few minutes in prayer about HIV/AIDS. Bolivia. US. Africa. Australia. An international prayer.
Ana Maria turned two years old on Saturday. The orphanage that she lives in here in Bolivia, Casa de Amor, threw her a grand birthday party.
Ana Maria is incredibly sweet and very loving.
Although we are all dieing, she may not make it to three. She has HIV. Which is what made this 2nd birthday a little extra special.
One of Ana Maria's friends stealing some food :)
Ana Maria in her birthday dress. Princess for the day.Bolivia is the poorest country in South America. Yet, has the lowest rate of HIV in South America. Less than one percent of Bolivian adults have HIV (However, this number is a bit off with the understanding that much of the population is unreachable and untestable). These numbers are wonderfully low. Sadly, 3.5 percent of the street youth are HIV positive. The number is on the increase. With more and more youth contracting HIV the number of adults will likely also increase.
Bolivia is blessed to not have yet experienced the devastation that HIV/AIDS can take on a country. Ana Maria is so sweet.
Spend a few minutes in prayer about HIV/AIDS. Bolivia. US. Africa. Australia. An international prayer.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Off to Camp!
This week at Carchipampa Christian School is CAMPS WEEK! Since the first day of school we, the teachers, have been planning camps for each of the grade levels. Something that is challenging in many ways, but also a wonderfully fun time. It has been a TON of work, but the week is here and I couldn't be more excited!
High School - The high school is split into two camps. One is going on a week long hiking trip. They are very excited. Pray for the 40 teens and 8 adults. We ask for prayer in safety and that everyone would seek and find growth along this trip. The second camp offered to high schoolers is Habitat for Humanity. Our high schoolers are building two homes in five days for local needy families. Again, we pray for safety in using equipment and for relational building. We pray for all of our high schoolers that they would build relationships with themselves, teachers, classmates, and of course our Father.
Elementary- We are broken up into three camps. Kinder and pre-kinder are having a bbq/swimming day on Friday. We pray for safety and a good time. It is very important for this age group to begin to build relationships together. The second camp is grades -1-3. Thursday night the students will camp out in tents here at the school. They will play games and have activities on Thursday and on Friday. They are all very excited about the campfire on Thursday night. We pray that these grades will adjust well to a night away from home and truly embrace the opportunity to spend time with friends. The final CCS camp is the one I'll be attending. Grades 4-6 will be going to a local campground. We leave Wednesday morning and will arrive back on Friday afternoon. While we are away we will be staying in cabins, listening to a speaker, playing games, team building, and enjoying some worship around the campfire. My prayer for camp is that things will go smoothly. Maybe not as planned, but a good time none the less.
For each of the camps, we pray for safety as the children greatly out number the staff. We pray for relational building and growth in many ways.
I'll be back on Friday with some fabulous photos I bet!
It is good to realize that if love and peace can prevail on earth, and if we can teach our children to honor nature's gifts, the joys and beauties of the outdoors will be here forever.
-Jimmy Carter
High School - The high school is split into two camps. One is going on a week long hiking trip. They are very excited. Pray for the 40 teens and 8 adults. We ask for prayer in safety and that everyone would seek and find growth along this trip. The second camp offered to high schoolers is Habitat for Humanity. Our high schoolers are building two homes in five days for local needy families. Again, we pray for safety in using equipment and for relational building. We pray for all of our high schoolers that they would build relationships with themselves, teachers, classmates, and of course our Father.
Elementary- We are broken up into three camps. Kinder and pre-kinder are having a bbq/swimming day on Friday. We pray for safety and a good time. It is very important for this age group to begin to build relationships together. The second camp is grades -1-3. Thursday night the students will camp out in tents here at the school. They will play games and have activities on Thursday and on Friday. They are all very excited about the campfire on Thursday night. We pray that these grades will adjust well to a night away from home and truly embrace the opportunity to spend time with friends. The final CCS camp is the one I'll be attending. Grades 4-6 will be going to a local campground. We leave Wednesday morning and will arrive back on Friday afternoon. While we are away we will be staying in cabins, listening to a speaker, playing games, team building, and enjoying some worship around the campfire. My prayer for camp is that things will go smoothly. Maybe not as planned, but a good time none the less.
For each of the camps, we pray for safety as the children greatly out number the staff. We pray for relational building and growth in many ways.
I'll be back on Friday with some fabulous photos I bet!
It is good to realize that if love and peace can prevail on earth, and if we can teach our children to honor nature's gifts, the joys and beauties of the outdoors will be here forever.
-Jimmy Carter
Bolivian Documentary
The other night I watched an incredible movie. I don't want to give away too much what it is about, but it was fantastic and I highly recommend viewing it. THE DEVILS MINER is about children miners who live in Potosi and work in one of the most dangerous mines in the world. Potosi is not far at all from where I live, thus making the film an interesting look for others into the world I live in.
The movie is in Spanish, but also has English subtitles. Try to get it, it will be well worth your time. If it can't be found in the states, please let me know and I'll mail a few copies home.
The movie is in Spanish, but also has English subtitles. Try to get it, it will be well worth your time. If it can't be found in the states, please let me know and I'll mail a few copies home.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Servant to the Servants
I've come across this concept before here in Bolivia. But not until recently did I really decide that this was my place in Bolivia.
No longer being a part of Iteams meant that I spend a lot less time at our Orphanages. Although this is sad on many fronts, I needed to find new ministries. God was calling me somewhere and I needed to find where. This story ends with me and God finding Carchipampa and being the Art and PE teacher. I couldn't be happier.
But those around me are less convinced. Recently, I have decided that the opinion of those around me matters much less than before. Esspecially here. I'm here away from my life not necessarily to have fun (Although I have found that to be an added bonus), I am here to be a servant. However, humanly, it is hard to ignore many of the things that are said. Along the lines of being "less of a missionary." No longer do I live in community, just one roomate. And we have Bolivian cable. How much of a missionary could I be? I teach in an English speaking school (Although for most of my students, English is their second or third language). How much of a missionary could I be?
However, I teach missionary children. Missionaries who are able to serve knowing that their children are being cared for and educated. Those missionaries would literally not be able to be here if their children were not able to be educated. It is as simple as that.
Normally, I do not use my blog to vent, but there are politics here -even on the mission field. Very interesting to me. Very unexpected. Good thing I'm just a servant & don't get caught up in that. :)
No longer being a part of Iteams meant that I spend a lot less time at our Orphanages. Although this is sad on many fronts, I needed to find new ministries. God was calling me somewhere and I needed to find where. This story ends with me and God finding Carchipampa and being the Art and PE teacher. I couldn't be happier.
But those around me are less convinced. Recently, I have decided that the opinion of those around me matters much less than before. Esspecially here. I'm here away from my life not necessarily to have fun (Although I have found that to be an added bonus), I am here to be a servant. However, humanly, it is hard to ignore many of the things that are said. Along the lines of being "less of a missionary." No longer do I live in community, just one roomate. And we have Bolivian cable. How much of a missionary could I be? I teach in an English speaking school (Although for most of my students, English is their second or third language). How much of a missionary could I be?
However, I teach missionary children. Missionaries who are able to serve knowing that their children are being cared for and educated. Those missionaries would literally not be able to be here if their children were not able to be educated. It is as simple as that.
Normally, I do not use my blog to vent, but there are politics here -even on the mission field. Very interesting to me. Very unexpected. Good thing I'm just a servant & don't get caught up in that. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)