graduations and birthdays

Have you ever been to an event that made you so happy and yet so sad at the same time? This week was all leading up to such an event for me: the graduation of my kindergarten class at the Casa. I was blessed with such a wonderful week with the kids! Much of it was spent in preparation for the big event on Friday. The kids had learned some songs and some dances, some of them had speeches to read, and everyone needed to practice for the ceremony. When the day finally arrived, I don't think I knew what hit me! I wasn't expecting such a big celebration, but it really was! In the morning, all of the kids changed into costumes for the dance; the girls all wore skirts with flowers in their hair and the boys wore straw hats! For the next dance, the chicken dance, i made them all little beaks to wear! Then we all went back up to the room where it had been transformed into a fair complete with a bank full of fake money, a supermarket, a movie theater, and a restaurant! After lunch we helped the kids get ready for the ceremony ( They had the whole deal; grad gowns, sashes, graduation hats..) Any parents who weren't in jail came to participate. The ceremony was great and, in true Bolivian fashion, was followed by food! The whole thing, however was very bitter sweet because now the kids have gone on summer vacation and I will not see them again. I don't think I've quite been able to process this yet. I'm going to miss them all very much.
This weekend I was able to spend with the Whittles, a family who has come for a year to volunteer at the Casa. I had a wonderful time celebrating my 20th birthday with them and the rest of the missionaries!
This week and the rest of my time here is a bit of a question mark. With the kids at the Casa gone, I have the option of helping the teachers there prepare for the next year or to hook up with a different mission work for my last three weeks here. I will keep you updated on what happens!
Prayer requests:
wisdom for what I should be spending my last few weeks doing
homesickness
Praise reports:
Being able to spend as much time as I did building relationships with the kids at Casa
God providing me a family with all the missionaries to celebrate my birthday!
Here are some pictures!

The art of being still

This week has been another that has been filled with difficulties. In fact, there were many times this week I just wanted to come home. Don't worry, things have gotten better! Here is my story. Tuesday was looking up! I was starting to feel better and was sure I'd be over my cold by Monday and ready to get back to life as usual. My body had other plans. Wednesday morning I woke up with an terrible headache. When I tried to get up, I instantly felt nausious. I managed to get over to the couch and called Ivan to tell him I wasn't going to be able to go anywhere that day. I layed there unable to get up to get anything to eat until 3:00 when Ivan called me to see if I was feeling any better. When I told him my headache had only gotten worse, he said he'd be over in ten minutes. Ivan came a few minute later with a doctor who concluded I had a bad ear infection and precribed me some antibiotics. He wanted to take a better lok at my burn and get it cleaned up so he told me to come to the hospital that night. I went over to Rebecca's so I wouldn't have to be alone and spent the rest of the day puking and trying to lay as still as possible. This is the point at which I just wanted to go home! That night I went to the hospital, got my burn cleaned, picked up some more antibitotics, and got a shot of pain killer so I would be able to fall asleep.
I've been getting progressively better. I still have fluid in my ear which makes it hard to here, but there is no more pain. I am able to eat normally and function on a pretty normal level now! I am very thankful for how God took care of me over the whole sickness and can see His hand inmy recovery as well.
There are positives to this whole experience though; these past two weeks have forced me to stop and be still. When thrown into a new environment, it is easy to be overwhelmed by everything that is going on around you. I was pretty much focusing on surviving; learning the language, getting to know the people and the basics of the organisations I was working with, etc. I was failing to take time to slow down and contemplate what it was I was actually doing and how I fit into the big picture of what God is doing in Bolivia and even in my life. It has been good to be forced to slow down and get perspective. I am only here for a month more; then I go home to Canada. But there are people who will not leave, there are people who have dedicated thier lives to caring for the people of Bolivia. The kids at the Casa will still be here when I leave. They will stay here trying to survive in their devistating social situations; their only safe haven, the Casa, suffering budget cuts because of lack of funding. Life and ministry in Bolivia will continue once I leave. My burden to pray for and support the work going on here in Bolivia is growing heavier, I pray yours is as well.

The week I knew would come...

This week has been intereting to say the least; a few really good things, a lot of really bad things! The week started out with a Holiday! Last Monday was the day of the dead. Everything shuts down and everyone filters through the street fairs to the cemetary to put flowers on the graves of their loved ones. I went with the McBeths and the Guthries to Tiquipaya, a small town a few minutes out of Coch to witness the festivities. After checking out the cemetary, we succeeded in driving to the top of one of the surrounding mountains ( a terrifying expedition for a prairie girl such as myself!) The day was a hit, but getting home at the end of it, I could feel sickness coming on. The next day I woke up with a nasty cold. Pushing through, I went about my day as usual. After Spanish lessons, Ivan picked me up to get my Visa renewed (yay for not being illegal!) However, in the process of scooting around on his motorcycle, I gave myself an impressive 2nd degree burn on my leg from the exhaust. The next two days I spent in bed trying to recover from my cold.
Friday I felt well enough to go back to the casa for a communal birthday party! The kids dressed up in Halloween costumes, the was a clown and cake...so much fun! After casa, I headed over to Rebecca's for the weekend. This Sunday, I went to church in Sacaba which was a great experience!
I came out of the weekend on a high note, feeling much better. Today, however, I woke up at 2 in the morning after breaking the blister on my burn in my sleep. I found that I have no hot water in my shower and no drinking water in my kitchen. Not to mention the internet keeps cutting in and out. I am not too proud to admit that today, I am feeling quite defeated. With my time in Bolivia half over, I am finding myself missing home, missing the comforts of Canada and missing Tim. Please pray that tomorrow I might wake up feeling strong enough to tackle the challenges that will meet me!

"Because I Live in Bolivia"

The missionaries here often hold up their hand and put up all five fingers one at a time; this is a recognized symbol signifying five words "Because I live in Bolivia". When things are taking a long time or aren't working out as they are supposed to, simply raise your five fingers and everyone is able to sympathize. I had a "because I live in Bolivia" experience this week! I was supposed to move into the apartment at the Seminary on Sunday, but when we arrived, we didn't have a key to get in the gate. After driving back to the Baptist center to get the key, we made it through the gate, but the lock to the main building had been changed. We decided to come back the next day. In the meantime, I moved into the apartment at the Baptist center. On returning the next day, we realized they still hadn’t managed to get the water working in my seminary apartment. At this point, we realized maybe it wasn’t the best choice to move into the seminary. So after all this, I am now staying in the apartment at the Baptist center. Although it was frustrating to get the run-around, I think it is best I’m staying here. I still get my own space and my own kitchen, but it is much safer and much more central.
Other than my apartment fiasco, my week has been really good! Casa and Spanish lessons every day. On Friday, the teachers were having a meeting and I was left to take care of 22 kids between the ages of 3-6 with only one other teacher. I discovered I really need to learn how to say “sit down”, “stop hitting”, “don’t climb that”, “what’s wrong?”, and “don’t climb out the window” in Spanish!
I’ve also been getting a chance to know the other missionaries with CBM here and am starting to grasp the bigger vision for Bolivia. There is so much need here but so much potential! When on a short term mission trip, it’s easy to only see the positive aspects of a different culture and become frustrated at how church back home doesn’t function in the same way. After being here for a month now, I’m starting to see that every church in every culture has it’s short comings and that the church in Bolivia can take positive models of how we do things in Canada just as much as the church in Canada can learn a lesson from the churches down here. We are all imperfect humans trying to be transformed into the image of a perfect God. Thankfully, grace and love seem to wash over all of our mistakes.
Highlights:
Moving into my own place
Getting to know the missionaries
Prayer requests:
That I will be useful to the Bolivian Church and it’s missions in the short time that I am here.
Continued health

This week was rather different in regards to my routine. Instead of going to the casa and to spanish lessons everyday, I joined the team from Kitimat on their adventures! On tuesday morning, we went to visit the family of a previous pastor. He was pastoring one of the most active churches in Cochabamba when his wife gave birth to triplets, two of which were blind. She went to Spain to work and send home money and he needed to quit as a pastor to take care of his family. It was a short but very impacting and emotional visit.
Wednesday morning, we went back to Chipare, the jungle area. We met again with the pastor who coordinated the churches of the area together with his Protogé, Jaun. Jaun is from a tribe located deep in the jungle, he makes the 8 hour walk to the city every month to be trained.
The Kitimat team went back to Canada this past friday and now things will start to change a bit! for starters, I should be moving into my new apartment today! ( although you never know in Bolivia, the move may be postponed again!) I also got the chance to stay with Rebecca Alward at her house the weekend- a much needed and apreciated rest!
This is the beggining of my fourth week in Bolivia and there is some definite culture shock that it setting in. I am learning that things move at a slower pace here, which is something that has been difficult to adjust too! The heat, the food, the trafic... all things that are very different here than in Canada! I still have a lot to learn!
highlights:
Being able to build relationships with the Kitimat team
getting to spend some time relaxing at Rebecca's house
Prayer requests:
adjustment to culture shock
moving out on my own
internet connections!!
Continued good comunication with Tim

Altitude

Another week gone by! Time seems to be going so fast! This week I teamed up a little more with the group from Kitimat BC. They have been wonderful to tag along with! Paul and Linda, the pastors who are leading he group were missionaries here in Bolivia inthe 80's and again in the 90's so they have been such a great source of information and advice. They joined me working at the Casa this week and we helped paint their back courtyard/dining room/ playground as well as work with the kids.
Working with the kids has been so wonderful! I taught one little girl named Jhessel how to do simple math on here fingers and she was so excited she went around showing all the other teachers. Then she went and got her work book and took me through every page teaching me the spanish words for everything! I can't help feeling they are leaving a bigger impact on me than I could ever hope to leave on them! They are truely amazing kids who have come out of such a cruel environment.
This weekend I had the chance to go up and visit La Paz. The ride there was an adventure in it's own; swirving through the Andes Mountains! La Paz is about 12 000 feet about sea level and the altitude makes you feel like you can never ctach your breath-this made for an interesting few days! The city of La Paz sits in a bowl in the mountain; it seems as if there are no flat surfaces at all: everything is either up or down hill! On Sunday, we drove about an hour out of town to a Baptist church on lake Titicaca who were celebrating their 82nd aniversary! After this, we went to a completely different environment about two hours away to visit the pre-incan ruins. The ruins are of ancient temples and places of worship. The place was filled with Idols, alters and places for sacrifices (human sacrifices). It gave an erie look into the lives of people who tried so desprately to communicate to lifeless gods; it made me thankful that I know the God who is alive and who provides.
Highlights:
taking the kids from the casa to play inthe park
gettin the chance to see the pre-incan ruins
being able to breath again when I got back to Cochabamba!
Prayer requests:
That my spanish will continue to improve
That I will be able to connect more with the kids at the casa
That I will be able to ge the academic aspect of my internship finished ( I have a paper due on friday!
God Bless!

no snow and lots of sunshine!

Well I've been here for just over a week now but in many ways it feels like much longer; I have exprienced so many things! The day after I arrived I went with Ivan (the CBM contact here), Saloni (my CBM contact in Canada who was here for a visit) and Carolanne (a psychotherapist who is here for two weeks teaching counselling at the seminary) to a region called Chiparte. Chiparte is the jungle area of Bolivia. It was amazing to see the country side change from dry mountains to green rainforest in a matter of minutes! While we were there, we visited a pastors conference and saw the building they were trying to repair to use as a satelite for the seminary. I learnt alot that day about Bolivian culture (and their crazy driving!)
Back in Cochabama, I've started working at Casa de la Amistad which is a place that brings children who have gone to prison with their mothers out of jail during the days. I've been working the the kindergarten class! I think they are teaching me as much spanish I am teaching them english! The kids are great and have been wonderful to get to know! It is hard to picture them leaving the casa and walking back into the prison. It is easy to try to think of them as kids who go home to a loving family every night where all their needs are provided for, but this is not the case; these kids come from the epidome of a broken home. I am contantly humbled by their joy and love for each other.
Other than Spanish lessons (I'm getting better!), I have been spending most of my time at the Casa. A few days ago, a group from Kinemat, BC came so I've been tagging along with them, going to visit some churches.
Some highights from the past week:
-Getting accustomed to the altitude and avoiding sickness
-riding on Ivan's motorcycle
-30 degree weather!!
I'll post another update soon!