Running in La Paz

“Running in La Paz” sounds sort of epic, right? At the very least, a bit romantic, or nostalgic. You can just picture the runner bounding through the Andes Mountains, blazing through herds of llamas, legs pumping, lungs burning in the mystic South American air. Let me tell you…it’s not exactly like that.

Before I started running in La Paz I found the cracked sidewalks and the sometimes gaping holes in the pavement kind of a nuisance to be carefully avoided while walking to the local cafe. I found the constant stream of makeshift tiendas (little stores) convenient, and the street dogs, well, I just tried to stay out of their way. The erratic pattern of traffic and haphazard driving of the locals was just an amusing anecdote. The 11,000 feet altitude, something I only really noticed when my breath became a little short while walking up to the market.

Then, I became a runner in La Paz. And all the things I once thought of as “foreign charm” or simply a part of living in an under developed country began to take on a new meaning. Now, I am the tall, foreign girl, dodging cars, tripping over sidewalks, attempting to avoid running over “cholitas” working their tiendas or workman unloading trucks. I am the girl running with a rock in my hand, poised and prepared for a well aimed shot at any street dog that dares approach, sucking for air, willing my muscles to perform well despite the lack of oxygen they are receiving, mumbling broken Spanish as I pass pedestrians on the sidewalk. Ah, running in La Paz. Not quite as peaceful as running my well-beaten Idaho paths.

But in the midst of all this, something funny has happened. I have learned to adapt. When you exercise in high altitude, the sparse oxygen forces your body to increase its number of red blood cells, thus increasing the amount of oxygen delivered to muscles during exercise and improving performance. When you put stress on something it begins to change; it gets stronger. This is true physically, but also mentally and spiritually. God uses the difficult times to change us, to grow us, to make us weaker so we are stronger in Him.

“What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord,
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 

When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
 it will become a place of refreshing springs.
 The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
 They will continue to grow stronger,
and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.^”   

 

Psalm 84:5-7

 Don't get me wrong, it's not easy. I currently have a scraped up calf and elbow as evidence (a token from a recent spill on a broken up sidewalk)^.  And I would say many of us carry deeper, unseen wounds as a result of difficult things we have walked through. But may we take great comfort knowing that God is in it, God is using it and we are never alone.

^{On November 9th, I am registered to run a 10k that supports the treatment and care of children with congenital heart problems. Check out the video below to get a taste of a race in La Paz!}

 

Spring Update

      I really don't like to start blog posts with, “Well, it’s been awhile since you’ve heard from me”. But in this case, unfortunately, it’s REALLY true! I think my last post was in late May; a lot has happened since then. I returned to the United States for about 7 weeks over the summer for a wonderful time of reconnecting with friends and family. It was over all too fast and I returned to La Paz on July 26^th.

I thought saying goodbye might get easier as I became more accustomed to doing it, but I was wrong. Goodbyes to people you love are just plain hard no matter how many times you do them or how long the separation is. Sometimes I think they actually get harder as you know more of the realities of being apart.

Camp Trip in the Sawtooths

Airport Reunions!

Gabriel and Auntie "Bean"

Dad and me

With family in Spokane

Visiting family in Boise

Camping with Shelbi

Mesa Falls Scenic Byway-One of my favorite places

Tetons

An Auntie Jill date

Gettin' our hair did

That said, it was a huge blessing and comfort to return to La Paz knowing that there are now people and places here that I love. I arrived on a Sunday, by Monday I was at school (a little light headed and out of breath; thank you, high altitude) being welcomed by many friends who have become my family here. The moment I arrived home in La Paz I felt a huge sense of peace at returning and doing life here for another year. Through this, I felt God’s confirmation that I am exactly where he wants me to be.

Beautiful La Paz

Funny, though I’ve been back a little over 2 months, I feel like I am just begun settling into routine. Transitions are tough for me and it seems to take awhile to fall back into a rhythm; I’m praying that this will become more natural, as my life seems to be filled with many transitions now.

My days have been filled with students, grading papers, students, lesson planning, restructuring my classroom and students. :)  I have 17 students this year, 9 boys and 8 girls. They come from many different parts of the World: India, Venezuela, Germany, Israel, America and Bolivia. It’s really amazing to have such a diverse group of students. They are a creative, fun and sweet bunch. I have really been enjoying them. I am currently looking for prayer sponsors for my students. If you would like to commit to praying for one of my students please let me know and I will send you their photo and a brief bio.

Here we are!

Miss J.

Zion

John

Jorge

Amelia

Maria Renee

Monica

Martina

Luke

Dennis

Nati

Maura

Manuela

Sanjay

Michelle

Parker

Dana

Natalia

In my last post, I spoke about Marina, my Japanese/Brazilian student who would soon be moving back to Japan. She left about two weeks ago. I would like to say she had a great goodbye with all her friends and got on the road smoothly, but unfortunately that wasn’t what happened. Her last day of school I was vigilantly waiting near her bus, anxious to say goodbye. After about 10 minutes, worried I had missed her; I went back to the middle school area. I found her, surrounded in a puddle of tears and disheveled books and papers. She had misplaced her iphone, filled with pictures of her friends and her life in Bolivia. After frantically searching for 15 minutes or so with no luck, we eventually had to run for her bus (it had started pulling away) and had a quick, tear filled hug. My heart hurt for her; it might just be a phone, but when you are 12 years old and your saying goodbye to all your friends and a country you’ve called home for the past several years, those little things can hurt the worst. I was so glad I could be there for her. When she first saw me come back to the Middle School area, she wrapped her arms around my waist, dug her head in my shoulder and just cried; I fought back the tears, as I wanted to be strong for her. I know we will stay in touch and I pray I can continue to support her in her relationship with Christ. Please pray for Marina in her transition back to life in Japan.

Marina and me at graduation last May

In other news, our Tuesday night Bible study is continuing to grow strong. We have lost many people who have moved back to their home countries, but we also gained some incredible new people. My roommate and I now host the study at our place, which is great because I don’t have to go anywhere and I love having people over! We are beginning a new tradition of sharing a meal together once a month. Last week was waffles and pancakes. I am very grateful for this community here. We are a motley crew of people from different cultures, in different lines of work, and of different ages, but one thing we all have in common is that we love Jesus and we love Bolivia-it’s a good common ground to have. :)

Tuesday Gathering

In addition to this group, I am privileged to continue to lead a small “discipleship group” for 2 of our high school girls from Highlands. These are the two girls I met with last year and it’s wonderful to be able to continue to build on these relationships. I am excited to see how God moves in their lives this year!

I resumed Spanish lessons this past week with a new tutor. I am very excited about this. I desperately want to learn Spanish, however I’ve found it challenging to find/make the time to really practice. I’ve recently found a Spanish speaking community to be a part of, however, which I’m hoping will help me grow in leaps and bounds! I’ve become involved in “King’s Kids”, a YWAM ministry to youth. Our group consists of 11 teenagers, ages 13-19. They are a really fun bunch and I love being a part of YWAM again, even in a small way.

YWAM King's Kids

"Thank you" is not a strong enough phrase to truly express my gratitude for you, my friends and family who offer so  much support and love. The journey is all the more richer with you along.

Double Rainbow outside our school gates

The ladies of HIS- Carolyn and Paula's baby shower

With Juan Valdez at the new Juan Valdez cafe! Ali and I unwittingly crashed the grand opening party! :)

HIS Staff

Enjoying a hike on a "strike day" (school closed due to transportation strikes)

Prayer Requests:

·      Growth in Spanish

·      Wisdom and Guidance concerning my decision of whether of not to continue serving in Bolivia next year (Ideally I need to make a decision by Thanksgiving)

·      That my students would grow and flourish in the Lord

·      Upcoming Parent Teacher Conferences-that God would allow me to be a blessing to the families He has put in my life

·      Upcoming Bolivian Presidential Elections - that God's will would prevail concerning who is voted into office