Bolivia

(Warning...this is a long post...so go get a cuppa, sit down, and this could be some light reading before bed!)

Where do I even begin to tell you about the week I had in Bolivia. All I can say is, a part of my heart remains there, particularly with the beautiful children who blessed me beyond words. God has done and is doing amazing things in that part of the world, and El Alto, despite being the poorest and most dangerous city in Bolivia, is shining bright with the love of God.

There were 6 of us from our church who were on this mission/vision trip. Jared went to Bolivia last year with the intention of seeing if this is where God wants our church to get involved in. He was able to meet with a few local pastors and churches with various outreach ministeries. So, with Jared's prior knowledge and experience, we, as a team, followed his lead and visited and participated in the children's ministry program at Bethesda Church.

Our team: (top) Jared, Pastor Dave, David
(bottom) me, Sunny, Ed

Bethesda:
Bethesda sits right on the outskirts of El Alto. The location of the church is interesting. The only way I can try to describe it is that it's kind of like in a strip mall (minus the niceties) and the entrance to the church is like a store front. About 100 meters away is a row of blue tents. In each of these blue tent lives a family. These families consist mainly of the indigenous people, and they work right out of their tents. Their "work" is that of palm-reading, astrology, witchcraft, spells...you get the picture. So here you have an evangelical church right next to a row of darkness and evil. We had to drive by this row of blue tents every time we went to Bethesda, and there was a tangible feeling of oppression, darkness, weightiness. Can you imagine the activity in the heavenly realms over this area? The forces of Light and Evil raging a spiritual battle over the souls of the people of El Alto on a daily basis. And every time we drove to Bethesda, I would say a prayer of protection over the church and the children, and prayed in the name of Jesus for the souls that are being battled over.

Jared in front of the doors into Bethesda Church.

When I walked through the red steel doors of the church, I felt an indescribable sense of joy and peace which just overwhelmed me! It's as if I had stepped over a realm and into a place of light. And that's what Bethesda truly is - a city on a hill, a light in an incredibly dark place, a safe haven for the street children of El Alto.

Essentially, that's who the children are who come to Bethesda. One or both parents work, mostly as street vendors. No one is home to care for these kids. Sometimes the kids don't see their moms or dads at all because their parents get home so late at night after work. Most children go to school, but school is either in the morning or afternoon. When they are not in school, they typically roam the streets unless they find somewhere like Bethesda that will take them in.

The incredible children's ministry of Bethesda sees that lunch is provided for each child (often times, this is the only meal the kids get that day), before or after school care which includes homework help, the kids receive bible study lessons, and the teachers even use Gardner's Multiple Intelligence in their teaching curriculum! During our time at Bethesda, we heard testimonies from the older kids who have been in the program for years. They attested to how Bethesda's children's ministry has changed their lives - by introducing them to God and experiencing His love in powerful and tangible ways. They all said that Bethesda Church is like family - they feel loved, valued, and cared for.

When we arrived in Bolivia at 6am last Friday, we were greeted at the airport by some of the staff and children from Bethesda. They had a banner to welcome us, they sang songs, and even had coca tea prepared for us (coca tea is a staple drink in Bolivia. It helps with altitude sickness, so needless to say, I had coca tea every day...some days, up to 6 cups!).
 

They welcomed us with songs...

and made a banner.

Here's Jared and me with our first cup of coca tea!

Love and friendship were fostered very quickly. On Sunday, we were able to share some Sunday School teaching curriculum with the teachers, and we presented a gift of a Sunday School flannel board to them. After church, we spent some time over lunch getting to know the leaders of the church, and listening to their stories.
 

The flannel board gift which we gave to the Sunday School teachers.
 

Jared, Pastor Dave, and Ed gave a marriage seminar that evening, which really blessed the community. It's tough to preach mutual submission to a culture where spousal abuse is the norm. Nevertheless, the seminar was well-received, even among the young people.
 

Here's Jared teaching, and our friend, Mark, translated in Spanish.

On Monday, we were able to spend time with the kids that attend the Bethesda program (some of whom do not go to the church on Sundays because they have to help their parents in the markets). I got a chance to teach and do a craft with the kids. And one of the highlights of my trip is getting to play soccer with the kids (and boy, are they good!).
 

I was teaching a quick lesson, and Mark translated.

Doing a craft.

Getting ready to play a game with the kids.

David came up with a cool game to explain a lesson on Christian living - the blue line representing our walk with Christ, but we can be distracted along the way (hence the blindfold, and we had other fun ways of getting the kids off the line...well, not fun...but a lesson in worldly distractions!)
 

The more time I spent with the kids, the more I grew to love them. Even though I couldn't speak Spanish, and had to rely heavily on my fellow teammates to help translate, the kids were so gracious and were not deterred at all by my lack of Spanish. Not to sound cheesy, but when love abounds, it truly becomes a language of the heart. And by the grace of God, I was able to show them how much I loved them, through hugs, smiles, and just being present with them.
 

Me with Nadya and Daniella at lunch.

 

Jared and I with the girls at lunch.

 

There was a 9-year-old girl who captured my heart. Her name is Nadya, and almost from the start, she gravitated towards me. It started off with a simple hug, and then we became inseparable. She hung out with me all morning, through lunch, and then it was time for her to go to school. Typically, the kids walk out the doors by themselves. There is no accountability, no check-out system like we have here in the States, no adult to pick them up. They just walk out those steel red doors into the open public area, and we trust that they make it to school, and trust that we will see them again the next day. I wanted to walk Nadya out that day, so when it was time to go, she started crying. Because I couldn't speak Spanish, I couldn't ask her why. At the entrance of the church, I stood and held her as she cried. I cupped her little face in my hand and looked her in the eye and told her in my broken Spanish "God bless you". And she had this anxious look on her face and asked me if I would be coming back tomorrow (I understood what manana meant), and I said "si". And she asked me again, as if needing confirmation. And again, I said yes. Her furrowed brow slowly disappeared and she smiled.  She gave me a final hug and then walked away. I stood there just watching her go towards those blue tents (remember those unholy blue tents?), and I prayed out loud a prayer of protection over her. She kept looking back to see if I was still there, and every time she looked back, she would wave at me. I waved back. I think I was ready to sprint to her if something should happen to her. My maternal instincts were kicking in. So, I watched and waited, until she disappeared from my line of vision. I found out later that she had a sister who recently died. And when Nadya talked about her, she'd get teary-eyed. I don't know her family situation, but losing her sister must be devastating. And if my being there was a small source of comfort for her, then my trip to Bolivia was worth it! The kids in the program called us "hermano" (brother) and "hermana" (sister), and maybe that just brought things a little close to home for my Nadya.

 

Me and Nadya

Jared and I with Nadya on our last day at Bethesda

Huypaca (pronounced whi-pa-ca):

Huypaca is a remote village about 45 minutes away from Bethesda Church.  It is there that Bethesda has a church plant, and Pastor Pablo is the pastor.  Huypaca is a small community and it has taken a long time for this community to receive and accept an evangelical church to be in its midst.  Pastor Pablo has an amazing story, and he remains faithful to wherever God leads him, and in this season of his life, God has led him to pastor the small community of Huypaca.  There is a small group of children there who are benefiting from the the presence of the church, much like the kids at Bethesda.  As you will see from the pictures below, they have very little.  When we asked Pastor Pablo what would be some of the immediate needs of the church, he mentioned practical things like 12 chairs, a table.  What?!?!  They just need 12 chairs?  A table?  My heart was heavy that they couldn't even afford basic items like that, and I wished there was a Target nearby that I could just run to purchase a couple of dozen chairs and tables.  But even in dire needs and circumstances, Pastor Pablo exudes so much joy and hope.  He knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this is where God has called him to be.  He has such faith that God will provide, for him and for the people of Huypaca.  Despite the common practice of witchcraft in the community and those kinds of evil arts, Pastor Pablo has deep faith and knows that God will redeem this land, and He has already begun to do so.

This is the only building in the town square, and the church meets in one of the rooms.

The children of Huypaca!

Praying before lunch.

 

One of the members of Bethesda Church is a dentist.  Here she's giving an oral hygiene lesson to the children, and handing out free toothbrushes.

 

Ed, from our team, is an opthamologist, and many people from the community came to have him check their eyes.  He came with eye-glasses, drops, etc. to give to the people.

 A view of the mountains from the town center.

Jared playing soccer with a couple of the boys.  What a gorgeous backdrop!

 

Jared and the boys!

 

Me with Roberto...he's such a cutey!

One of the highlights of my trip to Bolivia is that our team got to sit under a canopy on top of this picturesque mountaintop, break bread with both Pastor Gabriel and Pastor Pablo, and just sit and listen to their incredible stories.  This is how I picture heaven to be like...having a picnic lunch with one of the biblical greats and just listen to how they played a part in history.  That afternoon in Huypaca was special...holy moments on holy ground...and when we prayed over Pastor Pablo, I sensed the protection of angels all around us, and we prayed and claimed this land for Jesus. 

Our team having lunch with Pastor Gabriel and Pastor Pablo.

 

Our team with the 2 amazing pastors!

 

I said a pray and blessing over the children before we left.

Compassion International:
We were so blessed to be able to spend an entire day with our Compassion Child.  First, we visited the project where Kevin is from, which is part of the Salvation Army Church (3 of us had kids in the same project.  So, it was nice that we got to go together as a group, and then take the kids out on a group-outing later that afternoon!).  When we got to the project, we were ushered into a small room where we sat and waited to see Kevin and the rest of the Compassion kids.  I was nervous and excited at the same time.  When he walked in, I saw his cute little face with his big brown eyes looking anticipatingly, wondering who his sponsor was, in the sea of faces that welcomed him.  Tears immediately welled up in my eyes as I opened my arms and reached out for him, and called his name.  Something happened the moment he walked into my arms and gave me a hug - even though I didn't physically bear this child, I had such a love for him.  If this was my experience with my Compassion child, I can't imagine what my friends who went through adoption must've felt.  It was an amazing connection of the heart!

Jared and me with Jael and Kevin. (Jael is my mother-in-law's Compassion child)

 

With Kevin's mom and little sister

 

Kevin opening his presents from us.

After spending some time with Kevn and showering him with gifts that we brought from home.  We got to meet his mother.  We brought her gifts as well, but she was just so appreciative of our sponsorship.  After getting to know her a little bit, I asked her if she would teach me how to use the blanket to make it into a baby carrier.  I had seen so many Bolivian women carry children that way, and if I was given the chance, I wanted to learn.  She graciously taught me, and yeah, Kevin's little sister was not too happy!

The right way...

The wrong way...the kid should not be freaking out!  :)

 

Kevin's sweet momma and me!

After lunch, we were able to take all the Compassion kids in our group for an outing to the zoo.  For most of them, this may be the one and only time they'll get to visit the zoo.  So, it was a priviledge to be able to take them there.  Both Kevin and Jael are a hoot!  They obviously have a good relationship, and they talked the whole time.  I just wish I knew what they were saying!  They had so much fun at the zoo, and it was a joy to see how happy they were.

Kevin and Jael on the bus ride to the zoo.

 

Enjoying the zoo!

 

Us and our Bolivian "children"

After the zoo, we bought the kids ice-cream, which they loved!  I had some wet wipes with me, and honestly, I used 7 wipes to wipe Kevin up after he ate.  As I did that, I noticed that the wipes were not only wiping away ice-cream, but I noticed that it was covered in dirt and grime too.  It dawned on me that he probably doesn't get a chance to take a bath or shower every day like my own kids do.  And with the limited toys that he has, he probably plays outside a lot more.  Also, my roommate, Sunny, shared with me that her Compassion child wanted to keep the used wet wipe!

Saying goodbye to Kevin and his mom at the end of the day was sad.  But I know that we'll forever be connected in spirit and by love.  I hope to be able to go back to Bolivia to visit him again in the future.  It'll be neat to bring my own children to meet Kevin! 

We may think that all we do is give $30-some dollars a month, and send a few letters every year.  But you'll never know the huge impact you have on one child and their family until you meet them face-to-face; until you see your worn-out picture that you sent in one of your letters, worn-out because the child has been holding on to it every day, carrying it with him wherever he goes, knowing that someone is thinking of them; until you see the ecstatic look on her face because her prayers have been answered when you present her with a new backpack, because the one she has is torn and tattered, and only threads are holding the books and papers in its place; until you feel the tears and strong hugs from his mother, so grateful that she keeps thanking you every chance she can.  So, no matter how little you think you'd be doing, what is being received...tangibly, emotionally, and spiritually, is ten-fold.  I encourage those of you who haven't had the priviledge to sponsor a Compassion Child, to do so.  You truly will be making a difference in the life of a child!  For more information, go to www.compassion.com

Our team with our Compassion children.

Other fun stuff we did:
We had time to do some fun things, like try the local cuisine.  We had llama (yes, llama.  Someone on our team made a joke that now we know where the baby llama's mama went...), and we had a dish called "anticucho" (which means cow heart...yes, you heard me!).  My favorite, though, are the saltenas, which is a mid-morning snack.  It's a pastry with meat or veggie-filling in it.  It is soooo good!  In Bolivia, meat and potatoes are the staple.

They BBQ the anticucho.

 

The end product...anticucho with some potatoes.

 

Saltenas!

 

The inside of a saltena!  Yum!!

 

Chicharron (fried pork)

 

Pique (meat, hot dogs, potatoes, veggies)

 

On Tuesday, the city workers had a strike, so we were told that roads would be blocked off and there would be no public transportation available.  Since we couldn't get up to Bethesda, we decided to spend the day walking around the city of La Paz, enjoying some sights, and doing some shopping.  Walking around was a work-out in itself!  It is very hilly, and the city reminds me of San Francisco on steroids!  Either I was completely out of shape or the thin air just got to me.  Here are some pics for you to enjoy...

Looking up towards El Alto...La Paz is in the valley.

 

Gorgeous view of the peak.

 

This toddler just got his diaper changed at the side of the road.  I guess, when in Rome (or Bolivia)...

 

I LOVE the outfit of these women!  So colorful, and love the bowler hat!

 

Walking up hill!

 

This is where the President's office is.

The square across from the President's building.

 

A statue in the square...sorry, wish I could read Spanish...I'm sure it's someone important!

 

Pastor Dave and the flock of pigeons in the square!

 

The San Francisco Museum

 

While shopping, we found this Bolivian top for Jared to try on!

After 9 days in Bolivia, my heart came home full and changed.  Even though I went to serve, I feel like I was the one who was blessed beyond measure.  And the lessons that I've learned over the last week will remain with me for a long time - to live each day with gratitude; be an instrument of God's love and an extension of hope; to be prayerful at all times; to listen and be present; and to continue to love people deeply for this is the heartbeat of God.

I have no doubt that God is using Bethesda Church.  It is a beacon of hope for the hopeless, a sanctuary of peace for those who are troubled, a faithful stronghold that welcomes all in, and a place of love, God's love, for those who crave it!  The children's ministry is an integral part of the church.  It is what draws the children in, and gives them hope, and introduces them to the one who IS hope.  Lives are being transformed, and the impact for the kingdom is great.  Unfortunately, the children's ministry is in jeopardy because, come July 2013, they will be losing their funding and the inevitable may happen.  Our church, Harvest Community, believes so much in what Bethesda is doing that we are going to try and raise funds to keep the children's ministry alive.  If your heart has been touched by what I've shared, I urge you to please pray and see if God is leading you to partner with me and my church to help Bethesda.  If anything, may I covet your prayers for our brothers and sisters at Bethesda? 

Thank you for reading this.  And if you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear them!  I believe with all my heart that "greater things are yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this city (of El Alto)"...thanks, Chris Tomlin!

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor 13:13)

Dios te bendiga!