Frutillar & Villa Israel

FRUTILLAR
Viviana, Ariel, Dahlia, Maria, Johnny, Veronica, Frankie
VILLA ISRAEL
Anna, Erlon, Roberto, Brandon, Joel, Miguel, Samuel,

Camp UnLiMiTeD

That was the theme for the Cochabamba International Church summer camp.

We, five leaders and twenty-four 12-17 year olds, went to La Cabana hotel about an hour away from our home in Coch. The leaders and I spent a great deal of time planning fun, messy, wet, and competitive games to last four days. The four days is to take the students minds off of difficult lives as missionary kids (Although not all the youth were MK’s many were. This is a very difficult life to live).

Beyond that, Joe Holeman (one of my fav. Speakers) came each night to speak and challenge the faith of the youth. In my eyes, this is one of the few times that speakers spend time just with them. So much of their home life is focused on the community around them, that sometimes they are brushed aside. I took at whole ton of pictures and will post a couple soon as I get to a place with wireless internet.

We played games like Ultimate Frisbee with a raw chicken or Water-Balloon Volleyball with beach towels. It was a good time. I, along with the other four leaders, am completely exhausted. However, there was not a moment that was not worth it.

Not only did I really enjoy hearing Joe each night (He reminds me a great deal of Pastor Judy) but breaking out into smaller groups was very beneficial for the girls I was able to work with. Those who wanted to be stretched were stretched and convicted. Others were left behind –for now. It is my mission to carry those in need.

They had to build boats with materials we gave them. Each team built one boat and raced. It is pretty obvious which boat one.
The tree house and all of the youth group.
Alejandra and I at one of our lunches. I've since showered!

TUG-O-WAR!

Our Newest Member

Matt and Elsa have become an important part of my life here in Bolivia. Coincidentally, they both went to CBC and North Park. How funny is that. I move to Bolivia and meet people from a place I was not quite ready to leave. Recently they have a new addition to their family.

Meet beautiful, fun, lovable Lucca. She is easily in my top ten things I love about Bolivia.

Overflowing Blessings

Having Andrea was a huge blessing to me. Having her leave was a bit of a struggle. Since we arrived the same day I had a hard time understanding why she was able to leave, yet I was still in ministry. However, it seemed God was preparing me for this feeling. Although it was difficult to watch her leave, I am not ready. I have just gotten used to life in Bolivia. I have just gotten to know my ministries. I have just begun really looking into myself.

In the process of grieving the goodbyes of both Stephanie and Andrea Cochabamba was really embracing me knowing how hurt I was. Stephanie made me a wonderful scavenger hunt of goodbyes all over our home. Not only was it a blast, she had wonderful parting words. I laughed the whole time. Andrea wrote me a beautiful letter as well. I know that I have two wonderful friends at ‘home’ who are praying for me in a way that few can. Whether I like it or not, it is difficult for me to convey what I see in this blog. I thank you for being so faithful in reading it, but it is hardly able to convey my truest heartfelt feelings. They’ve seen it. They get it. God is good for brining me them.

The day that my sweet friends left Kristen and I stayed at a friends house. The Youngblood family works for the D.E.A. and attends the same church as us. The government is very grateful for the sacrifice they are willing to make by leaving home and moving to Bolivia; in turn the government is very generous to them. Mrs. Youngblood has taken it upon herself to make it her mission to take care of the missionaries. They take such wonderful care of us. They have a phone with Vonage, which means the cost is very cheap and the reception is excellent. I hope over the next few months to be able to call more. They practically beg us to use their phone and to take warm showers! I was able to talk to Lins and Lisa. It was wonderful. I took a wonderful shower and just about burned myself. It was great.

Kristen and I woke up to Mr. Youngblood’s famous chocolate chip pancakes. But I also must explain to you how rare and expensive chocolate chips are here in Bolivia. It was such a delightful treat. The Youngblood’s have six children. Three of them are back in the states and Rebecca (11), Thomas (5), and Eoin (2) live with them here in Coch. They are so wonderful and great to play with.

Not to even mention the fact that upon returning home from our little get away, Elsa and bought Sex and the City!!! I was so excited. (Obviously I hated the ending, but such is life). But it too was a wonderful blessing.

I have begun receiving mail from people. First, I thank you for your patience in waiting for it to arrive. It does take about 3 weeks. But Second, Thank you. Getting mail is such a simple concept, but I cannot express my pure and utter joy. If you get a free minute, drop a few lines in the mail. I will write back. Thank you so much for those who are taking such good care of me at home.

Having Steph and Rea leave was very difficult for me. But God is so faithful to me. Each day he is putting people in my life to continue to build me up and challenge me. I miss you both already, but thank you so much for all you have done for me and continue to do. I’ll see you in December.

Working with the Youth: The English Version

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 24^th-27^th. 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.

The Bread run while the NP team was here.
National Futbol games are all business.
Erlon all tuckered out.
Groundbreaking on the 5th site. (of 6! LEFT TO RIGHT and TOP TO BOTTOM
Kristen And Adrian
Me, Andrea, Jaclyn, Elaina, Kim

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!