Earthquakes and Fireworks

 My soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.  Psalm 130:6

this is what I left behind...

A few days after arriving, I sat at the kitchen table of the Quirogas, my teammates and leaders of The Center. We talked over tea and fresh bread (the typical Bolivian dinner) about my expectations and hopes working at The Center. The Quirogas shared more of their heart and vision for The Center, reaffirming in my heart that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. They see past all the rough edges of the kids, the fights, the lies, the harsh words, and see what Christ sees in all of us: the image of our Creator.

 this is what I came home to!

(the view from my balcony, looking east)

After talking some about my role, which may be shifting and changing, at least in the next few months, to meet needs as they arise, Joana and Toty shared a powerful story of a 11 or 12 year old boy at the Center named Jose Armando. During the fair at the Center a few weeks ago, where the kids get to buy things with points earned thru good behavior the previous quarter, Jose Armando had taken points from 3 other younger kids and had spent them as his own. When Toty confronted him, he admitted what he’d done, and was told there would be serious consequences for his behavior. The next day, in Toty’s language class, she told the kids to write a story about whatever they wanted. Jose Armando wrote about how he was a bad boy, often made bad choices, and hurt others. But he finished his story by saying, “But I want to change. Now that I have God in my heart, I want to change, and I know that I can.”

 The Center

It’s stories like these that remind me how what I’m doing at the Center, what we’re doing at the Center, is simply sharing the truth of Jesus Christ with the kiddos, and trusting the Holy Spirit to do the rest.

Then there's the typically Bolivian snippets of my life that delight me and keep my life interesting.  I walked out my gate the other day and two donkeys were just hanging out right next to my door.  I handwash my clothes on the roof of my four-story apartment building, looking out over the whole city and drying my clothes on a clothesline.  Friday night, fireworks went off every few minutes a few houses down, for no apparent purpose that I could figure out.  Saturday afternoon was interrupted by loud noisemakers, a mariachi band, and a formal procession carrying an altar with some sort of religious symbol inside.  The procession stopped right across the street from me, and the people (mainly indigenous men and women) threw confetti and poured out a little of their beer on the ground, honoring Pachamama, the indigenous earth goddess.

the video I took of the procession

while trying to hide on my balcony

Last Friday, I was on a trufi headed to the market, and everyone was talking about the earthquake that morning in Cochabamba, a 7.5 quake with an epicenter just a mile from my house.  I was so confused!  I couldn't figure out where I had been or what I had been doing that I'd missed an earthquake that HUGE!  It wasn't until I read the paper, looking for more information and I read the word "simulacro", which means "simulation" or "drill".  Good grief.  It was just an earthquake drill, but with real people pretending to be hurt in the "earthquake zone" and real emergency personnel responding.  I'm not sure whether I should feel reassured that Bolivia is prepared for the real deal, or nervous that there's enough of a possibility to be prepared for.  My understanding is that there are small earthquakes, or tremors, almost daily in the city, but they're so small, most go undetected.  I've been told there's nothing to worry about; the fault lines apparently are not major enough or close enough to affect the city.

reuniting with Andreina

one of the girls from my church who I disciple

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement.  Keep it up.  I'm still struggling with the isolation of living alone, but I also know that there are invaluable lessons to be learned in the stillness and quiet my living situation has forced me into.  Sounds good when I put it that way, but it really has been a battle, and I know it will continue to be.

I hope to send a newletter update in the next couple weeks with more detailed stories about what The Center is doing and what my part of the ministry looks like.  If you don't think you're on my list to receive my e-newsletter, be sure to let me know!  But until then, suffice it to say that I am overflowing (seems to be a lot of that in my life lately!) with how much I love my job at The Center and how perfect it is for me.