Feliz Navidad & a New Center Property!

First, I want to thank all of you who made Christmas truly feel like Christmas.  From waking up Christmas morning to a slight dusting of snow on the Andes, to a traditional North American Christmas dinner and games of charades and Scrabble with the families from The Center, it truly felt like Christmas.  The thoughtful cards, packages, and notes on the Christmas blog my dad and aunt made for me truly made me feel surrounded by love from everyone at home.  It's all of you that empower me to do what I'm doing, thousands of miles from home.

snowy Andes!

 (way more impressive in person, I promise)

I started Christmas Eve off by helping to make api and buñuelos (traditional hot corn drink with a deep fried pastry), trying desperately to keep up in Quechua with the Hermanas in the kitchen as we cooked.  The Christmas Eve service was my responsibility to run as worship leader (gulp!), but I was delightfully surprised by how smoothly it ran, and how much joy there was in sharing with our church community.  We sang Christmas carols in Quechua and Spanish, and I shared O Come O Come Emmanuel, both singing and on flute, in English.  Close to midnight, we ended the service singing Noche De Paz (Silent Night) while holding lit candles in the dark.

The new Center land  

Yesterday I got the news that we'd found land for the new Center, and that for only $1,000 more than the initial property we were looking at, we could purchase land twice the size!  (1,000 square meters).  Toty and I went to look at the property yesterday, and I felt like I was stepping into Psalm 23

 ¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
 ² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
 ³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
   for his name’s sake. 

The new property is in a rural area, literally at the foot of the Andes.  Right next to the property are fields FULL of flowers, cultivated to sell in the market.  Flocks of sheep graze in the green hills around, their shepherds young boys or girls from the neighborhood (and maybe one day soon, new children at The Center!).

The view

There's a lot that lies ahead of us.  We have land, and that's an incredible start, but we have much to build.  The first step is to build a wall around the property (an estimated $5,000) and then to work to get water and electricity connected.  Once we have the wall, we should be able to start building the actual Center building (an estimated $40,000-$60,000).  Sounds daunting when it's just numbers on paper, but we serve a God who provides with ABUNDANCE for His children, and in ways that seem impossible to the world.  Just a few months ago, we would have never even dreamed of owning land for The Center ministry!

the new land even comes with its own sheep!

The new Center land is in a neighborhood where there are lots of children, and even more need.  It appears that a good deal of the children live in adobe, one room houses, where the family's livelihood depends on the crops of flowers, corn, or other crops.  We hope to spend the next few months getting to know the kids and beginning basic programs at The Center, even as we begin to build at the same time.  Life in Bolivian is known to change daily, so I'm trying to hold lightly our plans for the next 6 months, and also trying to gear up for part-time or full-time construction work in the midst of establishing relationships with the kids, too.

We still have a long way to go in raising sufficient funds for the entire Center building.  We have a little seed money to start on the wall, but are praying that God will continue to provide for the rest of The Center building.  Please pray about if God is calling you to be a part of His work in Cochabamba, Bolivia.  I am confident that if we call on Him, He will answer!  Gifts for The Center are tax-deductible and can be given at www.iteams.org/give (designate for Katie Stewart-The Center).

The Parable of the Lost... Kitty?

 Shalom

A couple weeks ago, I was hanging out with a good friend of mine, playing chinese checkers, when I realized Shalom had disappeared.  My apartment is small enough that I quickly determined that she wasn't in my apartment.  I felt cold all over when I realized the only way out of my apartment was my bedroom window that was left slightly open, and that the only way off the narrow windowsill right outside was straight down three floors to the cement stairs below.  With a sinking heart, I got up the courage to look down, fully expecting to see her crumpled body below.  I was both relieved and worried when I saw nothing.  It was after 10pm, so I got my headlamp and searched for her until midnight, calling her name and straining my eyes to see into the shadows of the vacant lot next door.

where Shalom fell

my 3rd floor window barely visible at top

I gave up when I realized it was too dark for me to see anything well.  The next morning I woke at 5am and searched again in the early morning light.  I looked in the most absurd places, lifting lids to empty containers and searching in tiny crevices.  I was just about to give up when I saw a tiny patch of grey behind a flowerpot.  Shalom had spent the whole night huddled behind the flowerpot, completely hidden from sight.  As I scooped her up in my arms, I was overcome with emotion and wept for joy at finding my dear kitty who I thought was lost.

Shalom after the vet

As I carried Shalom back upstairs, I thought about the passage in Luke 15 I had just read the night before.  I was desperate to find my cat, looking everywhere and doing whatever it took to find her.  When I finally found her, I felt incredible joy.  It gave me a deeper understanding of how persistent Jesus is in looking for His lost sheep, and what inexplicable joy He feels and shares with all of Heaven when He finds just one.  It gave me a lot of hope for my friend, who was still sleeping upstairs, who is definitely a lost sheep.  She's been wandering around in the dark, choosing paths that are only taking her father away from her Shepherd, but how much more is our Father beating the bushes, looking for her and calling her name!  What a powerful illustration of how our Father loves us and what He's willing to do to find us.

 

 P.S. I took Shalom straight to the vet and she just had a small fracture in one of her front paws.  Miraculous!

Luke 15

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Watermelon Pumpkins and T'antawawas

We're headed into our last week of raising $ through Navidad En Bolivia to buy a Christmas gift for each kid at The Center.  Because we have to move by the 6th, the 4th is our Christmas party with the kids.  If you are interested in sponsoring a Christmas gift for a child at The Center, please visit:

http://www.navidadenbolivia.info/  A gift is $18/per child and you can go on the website to see the faces of each of the kids at The Center.  We only have 12 of the 60 kids sponsored so far.  Help us reach our goal of giving each kid a special gift for Christmas!

Laura & Reyna

two girls who need sponsors for Christmas

Fall and the holidays, traditions and customs that normally go with it in the States usually go by the wayside in Bolivia.  As a way of coping with the homesickness, I've looked for ways to celebrate some of the traditions as normal.  I've made homemade apple cider and applesauce, and figured out how to get the ingredients for the recipe of pumpkin bread that my mom always makes.  Plus, I've enjoyed the gifts of dried fall leaves that I received in a care package from my Gramma:)

my watermelon jack-o-lantern

Halloween, though, happens to coincide with its equally pagan equivalent, Todos Santos, in Bolivia.  Todos Santos is celebrated on the 2nd of November, and is a national holiday.  Halloween was never a big deal in my family, but some of my favorite memories growing up come from carving the family pumpkin out on our porch.  So, this year I decided to carve a watermelon as a way to remember all the special family times together.  Pumpkins in Bolivia are about the size of a stove top and are green, so that was hardly a practical choice for me to carve:)  I will say that carving a watermelon was quite the undertaking...  I ended up making watermelon juice, watermelon cubes and putting watermelon in everything I made that week.  Even my tiny little watermelon had a LOT of watermelon fruit!!

me w/ my watermelon jack-o-lantern 

Todos Santos ended up being another treat.  Completely on their own, my friends initiated a get-together with all our old group of friends.  The last time we all hung out was when my parents were here in January!  I've seen them all individually, but some are in college and others have tricky work schedules, so it wasn't until last Tuesday that we all finally were together again.  The boys prepared the meal (pollo al horno, a traditional Bolivian dish of oven-roasted chicken, plantains, potatoes, sweet potatoes and salad) and the girls helped with the details:)

 cooking pollo al horno

After eating a wonderful meal on the roof of my apartment building, we sat around the table telling stories, catching up, and talking about all that we missed.  Then we went back to the kitchen to make t'antawawas (bread babies, in quechua).  T'antawawas are a traditional sweet treat during Todos Santos.  Normally they're made as a crispy, flat cookie in the shape of a person, but we got creative and made just about every shape there is!  I was so grateful for the chance to spend time with all my friends all together, grateful for God's provision through their initiation and intentionality, not mine, and for the fullness I felt seeing my house full of people.

some of my favorite people
Alejandro, Daniel (little brothers of Briseyda and Reynaldo)
Briseyda, Andreina, Reynaldo, Humberto & Rosalia

Thank you for your continued prayers for The Center.  We still don't have a place lined up, but are waiting on the Lord and trying to put Philippians 4:6 into practice.  I'll keep you posted!

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 

Philippians 4:6

Big changes at The Center

Center kiddos

A few weeks ago, The Center staff found out that on December 6th, we need to move out of the building the Center is currently in.  Our prayer is to find a building or property in the same neighborhood so that we can continue working with the same kids, but after weeks of looking, we haven't found anything yet.  After 7 years of working in the same neighborhood with the same kids, we are just now beginning to gain the kids' trust and see transformations in the lives of the kids.  I'm convinced that Satan is capitalizing on the situation and he'll do everything he can to keep The Center from staying in the same neighborhood.  We have until November 12th to find a place in the same neighborhood before we'll have to look elsewhere.

Please pray that God will provide the right spot so we can continue His work with the same kids and build on the foundation we already have.  Also pray that He will provide the financial means to purchase a building if we find one.  If you are interested in giving to The Center, go to www.iteams.org/give and give to Katie Stewart with a note that the money is for The Center.  If you have any more questions, please contact me.

Here's a little snapshot of what the current Center looks like.  Our hope is to find something with enough space to continue to provide for the kids in the same way.

grassy play area

downstairs classrooms
(the same amount upstairs as well)

Thanks for your prayers!

Katie

P.S. If you're interested in making Christmas special at The Center, check out Navidad En Bolivia at: www.navidadenbolivia.info

An Answered Prayer

 

                              my new kitty, Shalom

I have a roommate!! Ok, so it's not exactly the roommate I was picturing.  She's gray with black stripes, curls up in my lap when I read, and loves to purr.  On Sunday, I got a kitty, and she has been perfect company ever since.  I named her Shalom because she has brought me so much peace.  It's amazing the difference it's made already to have something to care for and something waiting for me when I come home.  Shalom certainly isn't an adequate replacement for a human companion, but she'll certainly help the wait!

me and the jóvenes who came over

Earlier this week, I was really blessed to have about 15 youth over to my house to grill hamburgers and play games.  It was a holiday, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Cochabamba, so we had the whole day to enjoy each other's company.  We spent the early afternoon grilling and eating hamburgers, and then played a game called 60 Segundos (which is a mix of charades and pictionary) until evening.  It was the first time I was able to use my house to facilitate community, and it was really great to finally use my house for something other than myself.  The youth group hasn't been very cohesive lately, so it was really encouraging to see so many people come, and to see them really enjoy each other.  Plus, it definitely helped me feel like I'm not alone here:)

Laguna Alaláy (translation: Lake Brrr!)

Bolivia's got it figured out.  Every year, on the first Sunday of September, the streets shut down and the citizens celebrate Pedestrian Day.  It's just what it sounds like!  No cars are allowed, and for the whole day, Bolivians take to the streets on bicycles, skateboards, tricycles...  I went with the pastor and another friend from church.  We left early in the morning and rode to the lake, then rode through the normally bustling streets, stopping for a traditional hot corn drink and deep-fried pastry.  It was such a peaceful day, and neat to see families out together, enjoying the freedom of empty streets.

me, Pastora Charito & Gary

the normally traffic-congested market

You Know You're In Bolivia When...

1. Scorpions lurk in the most unexpected corners (official scorpion count: 6)

2. Taking out the trash requires listening every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning for the trash truck bell, then dashing down 3 flights of stairs and halfway down the block to hand the trash truck my trash

3. Buying groceries requires a couple mile trek around the largest open air market in the Western Hemisphere, haggling for prices and lugging produce in colorful bags

4. Public transportation suddenly makes a pit stop for the driver to buy a water, check remaining 3 tires after one pops to see if the bus is still driveable, or to fill up on gas

5. Your milk comes in a bag

6. Complete strangers jump to your rescue when drunk, homeless men harass you (this happened just the other day, and even though I felt confident in handling the situation, I was so grateful when two other women standing next to me on the street told him to get lost and pulled me next to them so I wasn't alone anymore.  THAT is the true heart of the Bolivian people)

Mi llajta en Bolivia

A Tour around my house...

my bedroom

a second view of my room

my kitchen

 

my dining room

 

 my living room

 

my bathroom & shower

As you can see, although my apartment is still a little bare, it hardly looks like I live in a third world country.  I have the basic necessities like hot, running water (at least most of the time), a fridge, and even an oven.  I still struggle with the tension of having so much, when most of the people in my church don't have any of those.  But God has been generous with me, and has given me in abundance.  I can only hope that I can be a good steward of His resources and share what He has given me with others.

my apartment building

(I live on the top floor)

Many of you have been asking what kinds of things you can send to me in Coch.  I'm certainly not homesick yet, but I know that there will definitely come a time when I feel the tension of being away from my birth home more strongly.  Especially once fall is in full swing the mountains in Colorado!!  So, if you'd like to send a package, here are some ideas.  The first few are things I can use in my ministry at The Center

Package Ideas: need to be under 4.4lbs!!!
-old magazines (especially National Geographic, Times, Newsweek, etc.)
-easy English picture books
-Spanish picture books (easy and hard)
-pictures
-novels
-movies(DVDs)... the only way to watch movies here is to go to the theater or buy pirated copies:(
-granola bars
-gum
-tea (decaf anything, especially Celestial seasonings!)
-trail mix

celebrating Rosalia's 15th birthday

with some of the church 

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.

Overwhelming goodness

My heart is overflowing.  I get it now.  I get what David meant when he wrote in Psalm 23 that his "cup overflows".  David continues, saying "surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life."  These words have become rich, deep truth in my life as I finish support raising and prepare to return to Bolivia.

Before sharing anything more, I need to say THANK YOU.  Thank you to all of you who have made it possible for me to get to this point because.... drumroll please... I AM AT FULL SUPPORT AND HAVE MY PLANE TICKETS TO BOLIVIA!!!  God's faithfulness never ceases to blow me out of the water.  He never stops surprising me with His goodness, and amazing me with His abundant provision.  I'm excited to share that I leave Colorado on August 10th, and return to my home in Cochabamba sometime on the 12th.

My full support was made possible in large part by the incredible, tireless work of so many people in both the churches I grew up in.  The Church at Redstone, the church where I was dedicated in 25 years ago, planned, organized and executed a couple fundraisers, one of which was a benefit concert, held last Sunday night.  Church at Carbondale, the other church I call home, provided the beautiful space for the concert.  Many people from both churches volunteered their time for the event.  The benefit featured the bluegrass band of dear family friends, the Werdens, and was a mix of the gifts and skills of SO many other friends and family.

Just a few slices of the yummy 40 pies baked

In addition to the music, the benefit featured around 40 homemade pies, donated by bakers up and down the valley I live in, sold by the slice or auctioned off.  The picture above is just a small taste (hah!) of what was offered, from brumbleberry to shoofly, classic apple pie to peach pecan...  the choices were endless, and people who came for the benefit ate freely!  All told, the benefit itself raised almost $3,000 in donations, and that evening I also reached full support in monthly pledges.  In less than 3 months, God has provided all my one time set-up costs and commitments of over $1,400 in monthly pledges with more coming in.  If that isn't a miracle, I don't know what is.

Sharing my heart for The Center

My prayer all summer has been that I would be able to raise more than I personally need, so that ALL the extra support can go towards meeting the great financial needs of The Center's ministry.  The majority of the team at The Center are Bolivians, and they have limited connections to the resources in the States.  Up until now, there has not been a lot of money to fund the heart and vision of The Center, and to respond to the deep needs of the surrounding neighborhood.  Since many of you have responded so generously to God's call to give, I am now able to pass on to The Center's ministry out of the overflowing abundance.

Alternate Route

the fantastic band that played for the event

I'm so encouraged by the response of my two churches, my friends, my community, to the needs of the Bolivian people.  There is so much hope in what The Center is doing, and hope in the way people want to come alongside the oppressed of Bolivia to bring about powerful change.

I leave in less than 3 weeks, but plan to send e-newsletter updates, as well as updating my blog.  If you are reading this, but didn't get an e-mail alert about my latest post and want to be on my update list, please shoot me an e-mail at kata.stewart@gmail.com.

I leave you with this:

Psalm 145 

 ³ Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;

       his greatness no one can fathom.

 ⁴ One generation will commend your works to another;

       they will tell of your mighty acts.

 ⁵ They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,

       and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

 ⁶ They will tell of the power of your awesome works,

       and I will proclaim your great deeds.

 ⁷ They will celebrate your abundant goodness

       and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

training and support

 mi mamá y yo

According to my "Countdown", I'm only at about half my support, but I have several potential supporter pledges, I am actually closer to 2/3 of the way there!!  I have raised all my one time expenses, and just need to raise $300-$400/mo more in monthly pledges.  I'm very hopeful that I will get the support I need to be able to return to Bolivia in time to keep my visa.  I believe I need to be back to Bolivia by August 12th in order to keep my visa.   It's been incredible to see the ways that God has provided for me so far, and I have so much hope that He will continue to provide what I need to be able to return.  So, a big THANK YOU to all of you who have been a part of that.

My focus now is to get a larger base of monthly supporters.  If I want to stay in Bolivia longer than 2 years with Iteams, then I need to have more sustainable, consistent support.  If you are still praying about supporting me, please consider making it monthly support.  Even $10/mo helps!  If you are interested, it's really easy to set up support online at www.iteams.org/give.  The best way is to set up automatic monthly withdrawal, since my monthly paycheck depends on people remembering their monthly support:)

Jen, Kristen, me

I'm also in the thick of training in Elgin (Chicago) with International Teams.  I got to see several good friends from Bolivia when I got in to Chicago, and it was such an encouragement to be around people who are behind what I'm doing and who have even more faith than I do that God will provide all my support on time.  Training itself has been really great.  Lots of introspective activities that aim to help me understand myself better so I know how I'll fit in on a team, how to flex and be adaptable with others who are different from me, and to know what my strengths are so I can be more effective on a team.  We've learned a lot, too, about the full-fledged spiritual battle we're about to enter into, strategies to keep us looking to the Lord in the midst of it all, and what kinds of attacks we might experience.

Elsa, me, Kristen, Jen

God is good.  His faithfulness is so steady in my life.  I am grateful for every morning I wake up and have the grace I need to keep serving Him.

Prayer requests:

1. more monthly supporters
2. roommate in Bolivia
3. details and final support to fall into place for a timely return to Bolivia (August 11th or 12th)

moving... and HOME again!

party w/ the youth at my new house

I moved for the first real time since coming to Bolivia, and it was one of the easiest things I've ever done.  I was really only moving about 8 blocks down the road, but a good portion of the church offered to come over my second to last night in Coch to help me move everything.  They brought over their aguayos, the traditional blankets, and carried all my boxes on their backs.  When we got to my new house, we ate snacks and they prayed for me, my journey, and my new house.

carrying my boxes w/ aguayos

A few days later, I got on a plane (unbenownst to my family) and flew to Spokane to be at my brother Collin's graduation.  I wasn't supposed to come home until the beginning of June, but my boss gave me special permission to leave school 2 weeks early to be able to go to Collin's graduation from Whitworth.  I pulled up to Whitworth right when my parents were walking across the parking lot and ran to give them both big hugs as they just looked at me open-mouthed.  When I saw Collin, he was so surprised he just froze, unsure of what to do with himself or me.   It was really special to spend unexpected time with my family during graduation.  We just soaked in time together over blueberry pie, a worship service together at Collin and my church in Spokane, and hugs and pictures together after graduation.

 the fam

Granddad, Grandmom, Grampy, Gramma

me, Collin, mom, dad

My trip home brought several realizations.  When going through immigration, I was told that if I wanted to keep my residential visa of one year, I could only be out of the country for 90 days.  If I leave Bolivia for longer than 90 days, I will lose my visa and have to start all over again from scratch, beginning with ANOTHER objeto determinado, more long days of waiting in lines at immigration, and possibly another long journey before I can get a one year visa again.  So, long story short, I need to raise all my support before August 14th so that I can return to Bolivia and keep my visa.

goodbyes with 2nd grade
(they threw me the sweetest surprise going-away party EVER)

I must really need a lot more lessons in patience, because it seems like the visa process is NEVER over, and there’s almost another twist that thickens the plot.  But, as of yet, I've never been kicked out, arrested, or had any permanent repercussions, so for that I am grateful.  I have lots of Ebeneezers, lots of memories of God's faithfulness in the past.  It's the Ebeneezers that give me the confidence to keep moving forward in faith.

 saying goodbye to my housemates

My second realization came when I was getting on a plane for one of my connections to Spokane and the lady next to me asked me if I was leaving home or coming home.  I didn’t know what to tell her.  Where is home for me?  According to the Bolivian government, Bolivia is now home.  According to my family and half of my heart, Colorado is still home.  It's just the beginning of the tensions I'm going to feel living in Bolivia two more years as a missionary.

So, 79 days and about $25,000 left (or only $900/mo) to raise.  Thank you to all of you who have already come alongside me in prayer and financial support.  If you are planning to support me before I return to Bolivia, make it sooner rather than later!  I can't buy my return ticket until I have 100% support raised or raised in monthly pledges.

P.S. I leave soon for over 2 weeks of training in Chicago with International Teams.  If you want to write me, my address at training in Chicago from June 10th -June 25th is:
  Katie Stewart
  c/o International Teams 
  411 West River Road
  Elgin, IL  60123-1570

otherwise, I'm just at home in Carbondale, CO:
745 Sebree Place
Carbondale, CO 81623 

trust.

Psalm 139

  O LORD, you have searched me

       and you know me.

 You know when I sit and when I rise;
       you perceive my thoughts from afar.

 You discern my going out and my lying down;
       you are familiar with all my ways.

 Before a word is on my tongue
       you know it completely, O LORD.

 You hem me in—behind and before;
       you have laid your hand upon me.

traditional folkloric dance

most of the youth group

at a special event

So, here's where push really comes to shove.  My time in Bolivia is coming to a close and I have a LOT of support raising left.  I am grateful to those of you who have already committed to support me.  I know I said I want to learn to trust, and to trust God's timing, but TRUSTING IS HARD!!

the Lopez family

dedicating their new baby

I also get ready to say goodbye to the city I love for an undetermined time. The ambiguity of it is painful: a tightness in my chest, an ache deep within me. I know I will return, but not knowing when is just plain ¡DIFICIL!  Things with some of the youth are still in a hard, tense place, and it's difficult to leave them behind, knowing I will have little to no contact with them until I return.  But, at the same time, maybe it's a good thing.  Pulling away may be the reminder I need that it's not in my hands, but completely in His.

the neighborhood the Center is in

A few bullet points to pray for:

1. future housemate to live with me in my new apartment when I return.  I've never lived alone and it's a very frightening, hard prospect for me.

2. Someone to live in my apartment while I'm away.  I had to rent my apartment starting in June in order to have a place to store my things and a place to live in my neighborhood.  The longer I'm away, the more rent I have to pay while I'm not there.  I'd love to be able to bless someone in need, or find someone to offset the costs of my rent.

3. Support raising.  Like I said, it's a lesson in trust, but the longer it takes me, the longer I'm away from ministries I've deeply invested in, as well as close friends.

4. The Center.  It's going thru a lot of changes (good ones), but also is going thru some financial strain as they try to figure out where they will be located long-term, as the lease on their building is almost up.

Thanks for your prayers!

Yay for the Bolivian Government!

I HAVE MY VISA!!!  I can't believe it, but I actually have it in my hand.  Some serious celebrating is in order.  The bummer is that the government changed the way they do things, and my one year visa was stamped in December of 2009.  I didn't technically have a visa until this Monday (or actually, the 31st of March, when it was finalized), but the Bolivian government doesn't see it that way.  So, the good news is, it's possible to get a visa!  When my visa expires December 2010, I'll be able to re-apply for a 2 year visa without as much hassle.  Thanks for your almost 2 years of prayers for my visa troubles.  God is faithful, just in His own timing:)

Joana, Jen, me

I also had the tremendous blessing of another visit.  One of my dear friends, Jen, who I used to live and work with as an intern with Iteams, came to visit me (and Bolivia) for a couple weeks.  It was perfect timing, especially since I was going through a series of major changes and big decisions for the future.  God truly knows our needs and responds in His perfect timing.  We were also able to spend a lot of time with my old ministries, including the Center, which continued to confirm my future here.  My favorite was visiting some of the boys from the Villa Israel orphanage, who I have been unable to see in over a year.  They remembered us both, and were thrilled to see us.  What a gift.

Erland (Villa Israel boy), me and Jen

me and the Villa Israel boys

Brandon, Jhoel, Samuel

A few weeks ago, we had a surprise wedding at our house.  Who would've thought that would've been one of the uses of our house when we decided to open it up for church use?!

 the wedding ceremony

me, Daniel (groom), Irma (bride), Oliver

It certainly wasn't the typical wedding, thrown together at the last minute in my living room, with my dining room table serving as the official table for the ceremony and signing of the marriage license.  The beautiful part was the symbol it was for the couple of reconciliation with God, and for recognizing their mistake and choosing to make it right.  They were supposed to get married a long time ago, but cultural norms of just living together as their commitment had kept them from taking the final step.  It was really beautiful to see the gentle ways in which God prompted them to be different, to take the big step of commitment through marriage.  Good stuff.

fun on a motorcycle:)

I'd really appreciate prayers for my heart.  The time I have left before I leave is going to fly by, and there are so many unresolved relational things.  I have no idea when I will be able to return, since I have no way of knowing how long it will take to raise my support.  Church life is getting very difficult.  I suppose it's really no different than the average church, but there are so many grudges, so many broken relationships, so many secrets of hidden sins, and I feel caught in the middle.  Pray for wisdom, pray for hope, and pray for strength and courage to do what needs to be done.  Our Lord is faithful, I just need to practice keeping my eyes fixed on Him.

But as for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.

Psalm 71:14