Arrival in Cochabamba, Bolivia

I am here safely!
"For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Psalm 91:11 And how true this is.

I arrived in Cochabamba yesterday (Friday) morning. Before I left Charlotte and leading up to the date of my departure I found myself  a bit anxious. I had decided I was going to say "see you in April" instead of "good bye"! Leaving family and friends was more difficult this time..Why? Not sure although as I walked down the terminal I had that  unsurpassing Peace come upon me and  I was reminded of the scripture "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ, Jesus." Philippians 4:7

After leaving Miami the start of the overnight flight to La Paz, Bolivia was experiencing much turbulence. My initial thought was what my life was without Jesus very bumpy and unpredictable.  Saying thank you Jesus for saving me will never be enough. I continually remember the source of my Strength and my Provider in ALL things that I do.  My faith must transcend the boundaries of what I see, hear and feel.  

I must say day two here has been great. I feel rested, refreshed and so healthly!!! PTL  I am so looking forward to what God has in store for me. Monday myself and Adam, a year volunteer, will start working with young children at a day school ....not exactly sure of all the ins and outs but I do know that I can't wait to meet, make bonds and share some Jesus with these kiddos even with the language barrier. I will be here for three months so I plan on taking full advantage of all the opportunities that I am presented with or ones I present myself with!

                                                 The Sunrise as my flight is approaching La Paz, Bolivia

                                                        My first view of Cochabamba from the plane

 The Andes Mountains

My roommate Cara! She will be serving for a year here in a clinic as a nurse

 Adam, Shirley, Cara & Myself. We are brother and sisters in Christ.Willing Servants ready to serve Him who gets ALL the Glory!!!
                                               

Words

 I don't think I had ever really thought about the right to eat, the right to clean water, the right to adequate health care nor the write to learn until I actually left the states and initially arrived in Colombia and now in El Salvador. People in neither place do not take the basic rights I stated above for granted.

Our world is connected today and we can read what is happening in Asia, Africa, South America, North America by a click of a mouse. We know that children are being deprived of the basic human rights Right Now. Human beings are valuable. They are made in God's image. They are His creation. Yet great injustices are happening. Children are going hungry and live in situations where they cannot grow and play like many ways of a 'normal' child. Some children are forced into prostitution, gangs, crime and others have no access to adequate healthcare and clean water because of factors outside their control.

God cares about these children who aren't receiving Mercy and Justice in their lives. He cares about their physical suffering and He cares deeply for their spiritual suffering. He wants to use us to serve a world that is in need of knowing Him....body and soul.

As a follower of Christ, I am thankful to be part of Being Him to the world.... that looks different for each of us but it is possible. No person is off limits to bringing God's Mercy and Justice to the world.

A number given so this child may receive lunch that we as group were preparing

A quick line formed for those with their 'numbered cards'

'Cards' ran out..these boys are hoping we have left over food

Portion of the path that lead to fresh clean water

                                                                  
                                                               

             After a 50 minute walk TO the natural fresh spring water

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

          

 

 

 

Oncology floor of El Salvador's Children's Hospital

 

Children at one of the schools

First day of a new soccer program started in a gang community. Children's first time ever experiencing an organized sport

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just a look at some of the housing in El Salvador

                                                

Permanent Mark on My Heart

A world of poverty unlike I have ever seen before. All the basic needs that have been met in my life take on a new meaning.
This journey is being so much more than I ever bargained for and so grateful to have been given the opportunity.
This is an experience that is leaving a permanent mark on my heart. I can't help but think of how Gods people, the people of El Salvador, are full of hope when things seem so hopeless. They are full of Love and Grace, even when faced with adversity.
How often have I found myself praying for safety? For smooth travels or for quick healing? I can’t even count how many times I’ve heard people pray for good health, or for protection. Myself so included.
Is this really what I should be praying for?
What if my prayers became more about wanting to know God in every situation, and less about seeking personal safety? How many people in the Bible lived in safety? How many had good health? Not many! Instead we see wars, lion’s dens, and crosses on the pages of Scripture. Shouldn’t this be a wake-up call to me?
What if I spent my prayer time asking God to take me into the most dangerous, and the deepest, darkest places to bring light in His name? What if my desire to obey Him overshadowed any desire to “play it safe” in my own life...whether physically, financially or emotionally? What if I asked Him to use every painful moment in my life to give me a platform to share His Gospel with the world? I do know I have ask Him to do this. What if I answered the call to suffering with joy because I know that will bring Him glory?
“Fearing” God. This word “fear” in reference to God has the idea of living and walking in an understanding of the bigness, the greatness, the holiness of God. When I fear God I have a deep, life-changing respect for who He is that trumps anything this world could throw at me. I found this following quote by the writer Oswald Chambers:

“The remarkable thing about God is when your fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you don’t fear God, you fear everything else.”

When I am walking with the living God, the Great and Holy God, then the things of the earth don’t matter the way they used to. But if I am spending my life trying to figure out how to “stay safe” then I are missing out on the freedom that comes from knowing God. Obviously, God wants me to make wise choices and I am not called to be idiot, and He does want me to bring my requests to Him, BUT I am also called to dangerous places. I am called to the urban cities, the rough neighborhoods, to foreign lands to make His name known. It will cost me.... It may even hurt me...but it is worth it.
What if every prayer for protection became a prayer for courage? What if every prayer for safety became a prayer for faith to go farther, and do more for the cause of Jesus?