A Month?!?!!....A Long Road Ahead

The drive from the gate to my house in the compound

That is right...I have been in Bolivia for 1 month.  Four weeks ago today I flew into Santa Cruz, Bolivia having no clue what God had in store for me here.  I have made new friends, taught new students, taught subjects I have never taught before, and I am still trying to get used to it all!  I am falling in love with the people and school here.  I already know who will take care of me, who can make me laugh, who will give me wise direction, who will let me cry in their arms when I miss home, who will get me meds in the middle of the night, and who will love me for me!  God told me that He would provide a community and the things I need.  Even though it doesn't look the way I thought it would, it is for sure a blessing to know that the Lord will provide.  It is nice to know that I can trust Him in this journey.   I believe in faith that He will continue to do so!!

Here are some of the things I have experienced in this first month here in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia!

A new home

My front door

Living room

Kitchen

A new school

 A new classroom

A walk to school with cows

Faculty Retreat

Late night cards

Cabin mates

 Meals and coffee with new friends

First cooked meal in my apartment

Coffee somewhat like Starbucks

A rainy birthday

  

  







Bleaching my fruits and veggies so I don't get sick...They are good and cheap though!!  

Less than $4 for all of this!!

Making coffee in more than just the push of a button.

Marching in a Bolivian parade

Our seniors led the staff in the parade

Lining up

Cooking

BBQ chicken

Mopping and sweeping my floors weekly...ok maybe just sweeping

Gross floors...I hardly ever take my shoes off!

Worshiping with amazing high school students

Youth minister is in the middle...we meet every Monday night! I LOVE it!

Skyping with my parents

Aren't they cute?

Critters in my house..ugh!

Cramming 13 people into one car


















Santa Cruz Day Celebration at school

Most of my 6th grade girls

Some great high school girls that I adore!

Most of my 6th grade boys

My time here in Santa Cruz has had its ups and downs, and I have been taught so much about myself in this month!  He is taking care of me and letting me take care of others!  I praise Him for the journey thus far and continue to look for his presence in every situation!  

Wading in Rivers of Healing

Two days ago I celebrated another birthday!  I have not been looking forward to it because of being away from my friends and family.  The 18th I posted on facebook that all I wanted for my birthday was a Dunkin Donuts coffee, a doughnut, a rainy day on a comfy couch watching a movie, but I guess I would have to settle for high winds, dirt, school, and meetings.  Well, boy was I wrong...I woke up yesterday morning to thunderstorms and heavy rain.  As I was getting ready to face the rainy walk to school, there was a knock on my door.  It was Laura, Rachel, and Danielle, neighbors of mine who came bearing coffee and waffles.  The first great surprise of the day!

After enjoying our breakfast together, we were joined by Kaitlyn, another neighbor, for our trek to school.  Little did we know of the lake of water that waited for us between home and school.  As we started the wading process through the water, the water was near our ankles, but as we moved further down the path the water was up to our knees and water was spilling over into our rainboots.  Every now and then we stopped and laughed at the fact we were actually wading to school.  When we arrived at school the playgrounds were covered in water and the side walks to our classrooms were slowly being covered by water. 

Usually by 7:45 many students would already be at school, but we were noticing that very few students were at school.  Come to find out many of the dirt roads were covered with water.  Taxis were not picking people up and buses were getting stuck.  The only students that were getting to school were those that had a ride from parents.  There were also teachers that were having a hard time getting to school.  With a lot of thought and debating, the board and administration decided to close school for the day...I had the day OFF from school on my birthday for the first time ever!! Yippee!!  I still got cards and gifts from some students and teachers as well...doubly blessed!

After sitting around and talking with most of the single ladies here at school, we decided to venture to Danielle and Rachel's apartment (across the yard from mine) to enjoy some girl time and a movie.  We found a different route home with less water, but with 9 ladies traveling together you can imagine the laughter that comminced when a few girls tried carrying one girl over puddles because she did not have rainboots on.  We finally made it home, dried off, put on warm clothes, talked, and enjoyed some painting of fingernails.  I am not usually a fingernail painting kind of girl, but I joined in on the fun!  Throughout our time together, we watched a movie, had birthday muffins, and a great pasta concoction that Danielle threw together. Later in the afternoon, we headed out for our weekly meeting and afterward went out for dessert.

 It was so nice to be surrounded by these amazing girls all day.  I have been continually blessed by their presence since I got here.  To know that I am loved and cared about even in this new place has been a blessing from the beginning!  They have been a comfort and healing place to go to and share my feelings, to cry on a shoulder, to laugh with, and eat with.

As I reflected on my birthday and these past weeks here, I am reminded of Ezekiel 47: 1-12. (The River of Healing)  I not only waded through a "river" of water the morning of my birthday, I also have been wading through a river of healing and love as I am surrounded by these and other women and men of God here in Bolivia.  I have been prayed over and prayed for since before I arrived, and the healing waters continue to deepen!

"Everything that touches the water of this river will live." Ezekiel 47: 9a NLT  I am praying circles around this verse to become truth for the SCCLC students and staff, that everyone that enters those gates and our presence will be shown the reason for living and the true living water bubble up inside them.