News from Bolivia.. for real this time!

Hola and greetings from Bolivia. I have been here a little over a week now and I am really starting to fall in love. I am still living in the city at the Hacienda, I think it might be a little while before I move out to the Chapare to work on the new orphanage. There was one day last week that me and a few interns were able to take a daytrip to the Chapare to deliver some bunk beds for one of the orphanages out there. We road down in the back of a large fruit truck loaded up with all the beds and a large cabinet set. It was really cool because the orphanage we delivered the beds to was one of the orphanages that the BCC team and I helped out at a year and a half ago while it was still in its early stage of building. It is still not totally finished because they are waiting on funding. (I'll try and post a few pictures of it.)

            Every day of the week we do something different. On a couple of days out of the week we visit with the two orphanages, (Villa Fruitiar, which is like a five minute walk from the Hacienda, and Villa Israel, which is on the other side of the city.) We do tutoring with the kids, day trips, or sometimes just play days. One thing I find so amazing is the love these kids have. They are all orphans and have had horrible experiences in their past and yet they are so happy and grateful for everything. Immediately when you arrive, they come and jump in your arms and start chattering away.

Yesterday, Nov. 25, we celebrated one of the older boys at Fruitiars' birthday. He is either ten or eleven, we are not sure. It is just the day that has been picked out for him. Another exciting thing yesterday was that Viviana got to come home. Viviana's story is quite incredible. When she was quite little, she was pushed into a fire by one of the village kids. Thankfully she lived, but parts of her body where quite badly burned. Under her arms, there was a sort of web of skin which constricted the range of motion she had with her arms. Recently though, funding was raised so that she could have an operation to help fix that and other burned parts of her body. It was quite a long process that she was in the hospital, almost a month. But she took it like a champ and was well known around the hospital for her high spirits and excellent attitude. Yesterday was my first day meeting her, but it didn't take her longer than two seconds to come over, jump in my lap, and start playing with my watch. Little kids are so amazing!

On Wednesday's, we take the morning and help out at a woodshop of a missionary here who builds the bunk beds and some of the other necessities that the orphanages need. He does this for free, which is really incredible because he builds really nice stuff! There is actually the possibility that I might be able to work a little extra with him. But we will see how that works out. In the Afternoon, we go over to the "Center", which is a kind of after school program for kids. One of the interns here, Katie T. works at the center full time. It is a really cool place because it gives kids who have pretty rough home/social life, a place to come hang out that constant secular pressure. Some of them can be a little rough around the edges sometimes, but they just need Christ's love to be shown to them, and I really think they are getting that at the center. My first time there was a blast, because even though my Spanish kinda stinks, I was able to connect with a bunch of the guys in an intense game of football (soccer)! After, one of the interns told me that the guys had asked if I would be able to come back everyday; made me feel pretty good inside!

Well before I go I just want to share a scripture I read this morning that really touched me... "Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1" and, "I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. Psalm 116:1-2" The whole chapter of Psalm 116 was really encouraging to me, so if you get a chance check it out.

 

Love you guys, Craig

 

P.S. I would like to make a public appoligy to Jen for forgetting to mention her as one of the interns here!! Jen, if you can find it in your heart to forgive me it would be much appreciated!! Everyone, meet JenJ

 

Here at last!!

Hello every one. I have finally made it to Bolivia, it took a little longer than I expected, but I´m here and loving it! Right now I´m living in a hacienda with five other interns, who at the moment all happen to be girls. There are two Katie´s, a Kristen, and a Bethany. They are all super nice and have been taking really good care of me showing me around and just helping me get accustomed to the living here. On my first day here in Coachabamba Bolivia, we went to Sydney´s (one of Mike timmers daughters) highschool soccer game. We took the Fruitiar kids with us. The Villa fruitiar is the one of the orphanages and is just a few blocks from the hacienda where we live. The kids loved it and we even got to play some futboll (soccer) ourselves on one of the open fields. The boys had a blast and it was just a lot of fun playing with them.

      It has been a little overwhelming with trying to take every thing in. First of all my Spanish vocab right now is ¨UN pequito¨, very small! So that is kind of a bummer and is totally my fault since I could have been practicing before I left, but just always found a way out! Also I´m trying to learn my way around the city and the new mode of transportation that is used here when you don´t have your own car. The two main ways to travel here other than walking are, Troufii´´s and taxi´s.Troufii´s are like buses and cost a boliviano and a half;which is a Bolivian dollar and a half. * One American dollar is seven Bolivian dollars*.These troufii´s have letters on the front which is a key to their route. For instance, the ¨O¨, ܨ, and ¨M¨all come up to the somewhat close to the hacienda and go different places throughout the city. Its a little confusing still, but the girls are teaching me.

       I am writing this in a local Internet cafe. This morning, which is Tuesday morning I think, I went with Katie and Kristen to meet their Spanish teach,Tina who is a favorite among the interns and Timmers. She is especially for her grandmotherly character and love for her students. Once I figure a schedule for my time here.I hope to start taking Spanish lessons with her.

      Mike has said that for a few weeks at least I will be here in coach working at the orphanages with the kids. But I think at some point I will be heading to the chapàre (jungle) to work with Romberto who is one of Mike´s Bolivian builders. Actually tomorrow morning me and some of the interns are taking a day trip out there to deliver some bunk beds for the orphanages. I´m big time looking foreword to going out and seeing Romberto and the progress on the orphanage he is currently working on.

      I real quick just want to say thank you for your prayers. I had a real good trip here. On both flights I met someone who spoke English, and were able to help me with any questions. Both happened to be missionaries; one was a Bolivian from LA Paz who was a missionary in Japan, the other was a women from the states who was a missionary in coach. So God´s watching out for me! A few prayer request would just be that I would be able to learn Spanish quickly, I am normally a slow learner when it comes to things like that. But, I know that can change with God´s help, and plus I´ll be putting more effort into it, not like I did in school! A good overall prayer would just be that I adjust well and learn quick.

                                                               Love you all Lots and God Bless, Craig, ( or as the kids here say it,Grag!!)