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.

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

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.

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. :)

Vivo Bolivia!

My room. Mid-day was a bit dark. You get the idea
Living room
Kitchen
View out our front door.

As I settle into my new apartment with Rehanna, I thought you would enjoy some photos. Our new apartment is right now in the heart of Cochabamba. Very close to many friends, church, grocery store, and one of the main roads which makes catching public transportation very convienent. Thank you for the continued support.

New Address:

Mision Andina Evaugelica
Tiffany Du Mez
Cassilla 736
Cochabamba BOLIVIA

Sud America

Prayers for a dear friend

My friend Eryn-May found out recently that she has a severe intestinal infection. She is in an incredible amount of pain, nauseated, headaches, feverish, and a number of other quite unpleasant symptoms. We have been taking good care of her, but it is very difficult to be away from home and sick. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Eryn-May is the 3rd grade teacher and Carchipampa and hoping to go back to school on Monday. After four days of bed rest she is feeling much better, but still quite sick. She also has not been eating very much, for obvious reasons, and is lacking in energy. Not the best combination for her very energetic 3rd graders.

Keep her health, and each of our well-beings, in your thoughts and prayers.

PICTURES of new apartment: tomorrow!

My Schedule

Sunday: 8a Help set-up at church
10.15 Church
Relax J

Monday: 7.40a Morning staff devotionals
8.40 Planning Period
9.25 Help with 2nd Grade ESL reading
10.30 Help with Kinder and Pre-Kinder classes
11.15 Help with 3rd Grade reading and literacy groups
12.00 LUNCH
12.45 3rd Grade PE
1.30 4th Grade PE
2.15 3rd Grade ART
3.00 School is out! Usually home by 5p. I-Teams Bible study is in the evenings

Tuesday: 7.40a Devo’s
8.40 3rd Grade RLG
9.25 PreKinder and Kinder
10.30 Planning Period
11.15 6th Grade ART
12.00 Lunch
12.45 6th Grade PE
1.30 5th Grade PE
2.15 1st Grade PE
3.15 Staff Meeting

Wednesday: 7.40a Devo’s
8.40 High School Chapel
9.25 2nd Grade Reading
10.30 3rd Grade RLG
11.15 5th Grade PE
12.00 Lunch
12.45 Planning Period
1.30 6th Grade PE
2.15 2nd Grade PE

Usually I meet Katie at a local bakery and catch up. It’s a wonderful time that Katie and I chat and hardly find time to breathe. Then we head to Bible study together at the Johnsons’s.

Thursday: 7.40a Devo’s
8.40 Elementary Chapel (Each week one of the elementary classes prepares a skit for the rest of the elementary classes to share a message. Its adorable!)
9.25 3rd Grade RLG
10.30 PreK and Kinder
11.15 Planning period
12.00 Lunch
12.45 4th Grade PE
1.30 1st Grade PE
2.15 2nd Grade ART

Friday: 7.40a Devo’s
8.40 Planning period
9.25 PreKinder and Kinder
10.30 2nd Grade PE
11.15 3rd Grade PE
12.00 Lunch
12.45 4th Grade ART
1.30 5th Grade ART
2.15 1st Grade ART

4.30 Centro de Amistad (Friendship Center) A drop-in Center for street kids
7.00p Dinner with friends

Saturday:
Market
Grocery shopping
Laundry
Planning for week
Babywashing