Holidays in Bolivia

Hola everyone, Como estas?!

I have now officially experienced Christmas in Bolivia and New years as well. Don't worry though; I'm still partial to Christmas in the states! It was a bummer not being able to spend those special days with my family, but God was good and I got to experience Christmas at 'BCM' which is the orphanage that Adrian works at. At BCM, they take in badly abused and abandoned children. On Christmas morning, Peter (the Australian man who started BCM with his English wife about twelve years ago) went around the table at breakfast time sharing with me the brutal stories and backgrounds of each of the children. Each one of these precious little kids all have been through such awful things that NO ONE in the world should have to go through. It was hard to hold back tears as he told me about different ones whose father, mother, or family member had hurt these little children. One boys "dad"(he doesn't deserve that name) had taken a shovel to his son's head and left an indent an inch deep into his skull. Another one had taken a burning hot knife to a little boys arm just because he felt like it. Story after horrible story I heard about how these little kids had gone through hell from people who are supposed to love them, protect them, hold them close when they are scared! I just sat, listened and looked at all these beautiful kids around me and it was evident that God had His healing hands upon these kids. They were laughing, smiling, teasing, chasing me around with ice water trying to spill it down my back, and just being kids like they are supposed to be! It's no wonder Jesus loves the little kids so much! I learned a lot that day and it has helped me with putting things into perspective when I think I have it bad or am going through a rough time. I am so blessed and have it so good, and I just don't appreciate it a lot of the time.

           

For New Years, Adrian and I just kicked back at the hacienda, did some burgers over the fire and watched a movie. It was really relaxed and for the most part pretty quite, but we had fun! The next night, we went back to BCM and launched some fireworks for the kids. I think Adrian and I had more fun than they did though. We almost blew our selves up a few times, seriously we did, but nobody was injured and we got some super sweet footage that may or may not make it for public viewing sometime in the future.

           

Over the past couple weeks I have been working a lot with Mike, (Timmer) running errands, delivering presents, taking care of maintenance around the orphanages, and lots of other fun stuff. A few days before Christmas, we had the opportunity to take both orphanages, Villa Israel and Fruitiallar, for airplane rides. Mano a Mano is an organization down here that has a jungle mission which they use little sesnas planes to get to their remote locations. The pilot offered to take the kids up for rides above the city and so we made a day of it. It was a blast and the kids loved it. I got to go up with some of the kids from Fruitiallar and Veronica who was a little nervous, clung onto my arm as we toured over the city. It was a sweet experience and an incredible view. While the kids were waiting there turn, we decided to make little paper airplanes and fly them around in the hanger! I think a few of the kids enjoyed that more than the real thing, but we won't tell Mano a Mano that.

 

Another exciting thing happened right on Christmas Eve day that was a real blessing. We were delivering presents out to Villa Israel orphanage and on our way home we got a call from the Malnutrition center. About a month before, Franz, one of the boys from V. Israel, had to be admitted to the malnutrition center. When he came to us, he had some bad malnutrition problems and he wasn't getting any better. After about a month of recovery time, we got the ok to pick him up and bring him home! When we got him back to the house, his brothers and sister there started chanting his name when they saw him from over the fence! As awesome as it was to deliver all the presents that day, bringing Franz home, I think was the BEST present of all!

 

This week, Jen returned to the hacienda, which Adrian and I were super pumped for! It has been sweet having her back after her vaca to the states for Christmas, but I'm sure it's going to be rough for her not having her other girl interns here who she lived with loved and lived with for so long. I miss them all and I was only living with them for three and a half weeks, so be sure to keep that transition in your prayers. Thank you

 

Today we are going to be picking up the Bedford team around 7 from the airport. I am pretty excited about this, because my dad is on this trip and it will be really cool to hang with him down here in Bolivia. Some things you can be praying for during there stay here:

-That God will be working in each one of their lives and that their hearts would be open for his teaching and leading

-For protection against sickness, as the food can sometimes be a little rough on the stomach! (I don't think any details are necessary!!)

-That there lives would be blessed as much and more as they are blessing others here

-And that over all… it would be a life changing experience where they can grow there relationship with God that much closer!

 

I miss you all,

God bless and thanks so much for your love and prayers.

Craig