Team Idaho!

The Idaho team comes to Bolivia!

For the 2nd year in a row ISU Chi Alpha spent their spring break in Bolivia, ministering in various ways. The trip started off a bit rocky, when upon boarding their plane, the team realized they were headed to La Paz, MEXICO! After some, well okay, A LOT, of fanangling the team was eventually back on course to La Paz, BOLIVIA.

Finding humor in the situation. :)

However, the change in the flight pattern delayed the team's arrival by two days and resulted in some changes in our agenda. Our original plan was to spend 4 days in the jungles of Northern Bolivia ministering with different tribal groups, but due to the shortened trip it was no longer feasible to make the long journey to the jungle. After some prayer, we decided to cancel this portion of the trip and we began praying God would put other opportunities to serve in our path. I began to feel discouraged as the few calls I made turned up nothing but dead ends. At school the next day, I began asking some co-workers for ideas. Within 2 hours, our entire agenda was planned! So thankful for the support and encouragement of my Bolivian family here. Here's a day to day break down of the team's time in La Paz.

Saturday:

The team spent the day recovering from 45+ hours spent in travel and getting acquainted to the city.

Getting a bird's eye view of the city from the Teleferico (gondola line).

Kenzie, Sara and Jessica on the Teleferico

Mi ciudad 

Sunday:

Fellowshipped with a local church body in La Paz and spent the evening encouraging YWAM La Paz King's Kids!

YWAM King's Kids

Getting Acquainted

Monday and Tuesday:

We were blessed to spend the day in Alpacoma with Pastor Raul. Pastor Raul is a 75 year old Bolivian man who runs a ministry for children in a small village outside of La Paz, with the most incredible views of the city I've ever seen. We spent two days being encouraged by this humble man and his heart to serve the Lord. He was currently working on a project to build a new room in his small church building; this required hours of hard labor and he didn't know how it was going to get done. Thankfully, a visiting team of 6 had some flight issues and needed a place to serve for a couple of days. :) God set that up perfectly!

Kenzie, transporting heavy bags of sand to the church (the sand was needed to mix for cement).

Sand Assembly Line

The boys brought down wheelbarrows full of sand and us ladies assembly lined the sand down.

Pretty heavy labor, at a very high altitude, but the team did AMAZING!

Local kiddos

Praying with Pastor Raul

Alpacoma

Pastor Raul's daughter, Claudia, runs an orphanage outside of La Paz called "Alalay". The team and myself were able to spend the afternoons playing with and loving on kiddos here.

This sweetie wasn't allowed to come play due to unfinished homework. :( Hugs and prayers through the window. 

Doing a little nail painting!

Helping with homework

With Pastor Raul and the Alalay staff

Wednesday:

The team joined me at Highlands International School. Bret, Missy and Jessica did an amazing job sharing with the high school students about their fields of study and how God has directed their lives and used their passions for Him.

After our time at HIS we bused up to El Alto, the neighboring city of La Paz. Here we partnered with a ministry called "Word Made Flesh" http://wordmadeflesh.org/bolivia/. WMF ministers to women and families affected by prostitution. It was eye opening and heartbreaking to learn about the realities of prostitution in this city. We spent the day in worship and prayer with the staff, helping with some office/paperwork duties and loving on some of the children who are a part of the ministry.

Thursday:

I returned back to HIS on Thursday to relieve my friend who was kind enough to sub for me, and the team returned to work with Word Made Flesh for the day and also met up with La Paz Chi Alpha. During their time with Chi Alpha, the team lead a group meeting, taught a group of students how to play American football and had the opportunity to share the gospel message to a gathered crowd.

Friday:

The team returned to HIS with me and spent the morning leading chapel, teaching lessons and getting to know my students. The kids were THRILLED to have them; they'd been waiting for weeks to meet the team and were ready with letters and banners!

Playing Games!

Leading chapel

My kiddos and me with the team

After a week that went all too quickly, the team said their goodbyes and headed back to Idaho. I'm so grateful for their willingness to spend their spring break serving in a place that is so dear to me. It was incredible to see God work through them and in them. Sometimes getting our of our own context for a bit is just what we need to catch more of God's heart and to let our hearts break for the things that break His heart. The team was a tremendous blessing in this nation and I believe they left a little bit changed by experiencing the ways God is at work here in La Paz.

The team was also a tremendous blessing to me. Through their difficulty arriving here, I once again learned the lesson that I am not in control, but God, in His sovereignty, is. Since moving to La Paz I feel as though I have learned this lesson over and over, and yet somehow I continue to be surprised that I'm not in control. But as I learn to trust in God's will, He shows me more and more of Himself, His goodness and His character. It was also so much fun being the team's contact and host! I grew a lot in my Spanish that week and fell more in love with this city as I saw it through the fresh eyes of my visiting friends.

Thank you for supporting this team through your support of me!

"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all people." 2 Chronicles 16:23