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