Bendiciones de Bolivia! Blessings from Bolivia!
So much has happened in the last month, I feel as though I
could almost write a novel, however I will try to keep it somewhat concise. :)
As I wrote about in the previous blog, with March came the
arrival of four of my friends from Idaho and Montana. Sara Good, a campus
pastor with a college ministry at ISU brought 3 college students to serve in
Bolivia over their spring break. From the moment I picked them up at the
airport at 3 AM to the moment I dropped them off a week later at 4 AM they
brought nothing but joy and love to this beautiful nation and to my heart.
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| Sara and Jen are in Bolivia! |
We began our travels almost immediately after the team
arrived; the group was going on about 4 hours of sleep over a 48 hour period,
yet I heard not one word of complaint. The morning the team arrived we met
Phil, our host and team coordinator, at the bus station and began on our way to
Caranavi to work with a Christian school and an orphanage. Rainy season was
particularly intense this year, causing much flooding and devastation
throughout the country. As a result, many of the roads in Bolivia have been
difficult, if not impossible, to pass. Due to landslides along the rode we were
traveling we had an unexpected layover in the small town of Coroico which is about half way
to Caranavi. This turned out to be a blessing as we were able to spend the
evening with Phil’s son who lives in Coroico. It was great to meet him, share a
meal together and stay up late playing cards. This also provided some much needed
time for the team to rest and you can’t beat the views in Coroico; think lush,
green jungle.
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| View from our hotel |
The next morning we left for Caranavi; we ended up spending
quite a bit of time stuck on the road due to landslides, but we made the best
of it by eating Chex mix and cookies sent by friends in the States (shout out
to Kristy and Bobbette!), chatting with folks on the road and getting to know
each other a little better. After some time we arrived in Caranavi and shared a
meal with the Hillers, a missionary family who have served in Caranavi as the
directors of a Christian school for 22 years. They are closely connected with
Casa de Esperanaza (House of Hope), an orphanage located in the gorgeous hills
about 1 km above Caranavi. I cringe to use the word “orphanage” in describing
Casa de Esperanza because this place is truly a home and a haven for the 67
children who live there. The home was founded years ago by a Dutch couple who
funded the project and left it in the hands of local believers after they
returned to Holland (shout out to the amazing Dutchies!) All of the children
from Casa de Esperanza attend Vida y Verdad School (Life and Truth)
where the Hillers serve. After meeting the Hiller family when arriving in Caranavi, we headed up the
mountain to Casa de Esperanza. This was an experience in itself; when Phil
said, “I’ve helped with 18 different accidents on this road”, we all got a
little nervous. :) But we arrived without incident and spent an evening playing with and loving on
kiddos and talking over coffee and treats with the directors of Casa de
Esperanaza. What a blessing to be in their home and hear them share their heart
and vision for their 67 kiddos. Our time at Casa de Esperanza was brief, but
I’m confident I can speak for the whole team when I say the hope and goodness
of God we experienced in this place left a huge impression on our hearts. What
a joy to meet believers around the World who have given their lives to follow
the vision of God’s heart and what a delight to hug and play with God's treasured children. *Side note-I just returned from a week at Casa de Esperanza with a group from my church! Blog post to come soon!*
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| Jen, Peniela and myself |
Our plan for the next morning was to leave for Rurrenebaque,
a town northwest of Caranavi. Unfortunately, the roads were so bad that our
bus driver, along with many others, cancelled the trip to Rurre. However, Phil
in his determination and perseverance, was able to find a taxi driver who would
take us to Rurre for 3 times the normal amount. We agreed, not really knowing
what we were in for. :)
Long story short, after some heart pounding moments on winding, mountain dirt
roads, a little bit of walking and some time spent helping dig others out, we
ended up spending the night on the road with dozens of other stranded
passengers. By morning time, we were muddy, sweaty, tired and glowing with the
excitement of spending the night in the Amazon jungle. :) 26 hours after our departure
from Caranavi we made it to Rurre (it is usually an 8 hour ride) and were
greeted by the wonderful Uncle Jack.
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| We drove through this in a double decker bus! |
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The car the 6 of us and the driver spent the night in.
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Jack Spears moved to Bolivia when he was 62; he is now 75
and runs a home for 9 boys aged 13-19. All of his boys are from tribal groups
along the Rio Beni that flows through Rurre and were either abandoned or
orphaned. The love Jack has for his boys is so apparent and it’s clear to see
they share the same affection for him.
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| Uncle Jack's sweet boys cooking us pancakes |
Along with spending time talking, laughing,
cooking and eating with Jack and the boys, we also traveled to a tribal village
up river to meet with the Ese Eja people, a community of around 100 people.
What an incredible experience. Milton, a man who met Jesus through Jack sharing
the gospel with him, is now the pastor in this community; there are currently 6
other believers in the tribe. I wept as we left the village with the verse from
Revelation running through my mind “
There before me was a great multitude
that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,
standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” What a wonderful day this will
be. I can’t wait to see Milton there along with all the others he has
introduced to Jesus. Perhaps if Jack had not answered Jesus’ call to Bolivia,
Milton may never have heard the good news of the gospel message.
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| Uncle Jack |
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| Our team before leaving Rurre |
Our travels around Bolivia ended with a
peaceful flight back to La Paz. It was nice to come back home, but I think each
of our hearts were saddened to say goodbye to the places and people we had met
and to end our time traveling with Phil; we so enjoyed learning about Bolivia
and it’s people through him and adventuring through the jungles with the
“Bolivian Indiana Jones” as we have taken to calling him. :)
Our time in La Paz was rich and
wonderful. While I went to work with my kiddos at school, the team worked with
Phil in a drug and alcohol rehab center in El Alto (the poorest area of La Paz)
and spent time preparing for some presentations they would be making at
Highlands (the school I teach at). On the team’s last day in Bolivia, they
joined me at Highlands! So amazing and so surreal to have my friends from home
in my classroom in La Paz. My kids LOVED them and the team worked so hard
leading chapel, teaching classes, facilitating activities, praying with my kids
and simply loving on them.
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The team with my kiddos
The team outside my classroom |
While in La Paz, the team also got to meet and spend
time with many of my friends here, as well as lead a Bible study I am a part
of.
The week went all too fast, but the
richness and fullness that we experienced in the goodness of our Lord is
something that will stay with each of us forever and that will become a part of
us as we live our lives out with Jesus. I suspect most, if not all, of the team
will at some point in the near future find themselves back in Bolivia.
If you made it this far in the post,
you are either my Mom or you just really love me! :) Thank you for
reading and for your prayers, your support and your love. You make all of this
possible and I am deeply grateful. Wherever I go, I carry each of you in my
heart.
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| With Phil and his wife Sara in their home |
And just for fun:
Things you never want to hear your Outreach
Leader (Phil) say:
Before getting on a boat: “Do you all
know how to swim?”
While walking on a dirt road late at
night: “Do you have a good flashlight? My friend ran into an 8 foot boa right
here.”
While trying to pass a nearly
impassable road in a small taxi: “The driver said we can keep going got but he
said, ‘Your passengers will suffer.’’’
While sleeping in a car on a jungle
road: “Phil, what kinds of animals are out here?” “Well, let’s start with the
most feared: the jaguar...”
And THIS is why we call Phil the
Bolivian Indiana Jones. :)
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23
