Life

Oh, where to begin... I do not know.  Life wearing on me right now.  Through it all though GOD has been so good.  He is pruning me.

Right after I arrived here in Bolivia, God started talking to Kelly and I telling us that he wants him in the mission field as well.  WE KNOW that he was not telling him that before I left and I would like to make that clear to my blog readers.  GOD gave us this time apart serving him for many reasons, he is growing us as husband and wife together (but in two physically different places).  He is also growing our faith in him like CRAZY.

Anyway, Kelly and I have been praying for God to show us his will in our lives.  One night (almost out of frustration) we prayed a very bold prayer telling him that he can have whatever he wants/do whatever he wants with our lives- we just needed an answer.  The next morning HE gave us a crystal clear answer that Kelly is not supposed to be in the military anymore and instead is preparing his heart for the mission field!

It is seriously insane the way God works sometimes.  Since this clear answer we have felt such intense excitement, confusion, frustration, and energy--- Sometimes all at the same time!

Like I said God has made is so clear that we are to prepare ourselves for the opportunity for him to use us in long term mission together.  We are not yet sure when that is or exactly how. 

On last Tuesday, my principal, two field directors here, a field director on furlough (over skype), Kelly (over Skype), and I all gathered together to pray and discuss options for the immediate future here.  Dan, the director over Skype, is going to contact the home office to start to get a process going talking about Kelly joining me here in a few months for a few months after he and I raise more support together.  In the time being, Kelly and I are just praying and waiting for answers from God through SAM's home office.

With all that being said there is the frustration and hardship of not only having Kelly so far away from me (I was prepared for that), but also having him at home living his normal life, but without me (I was NOT prepared for that).  We talk daily over skype and I get to see him through the wonders of video chat, but it does not make up for the fact that things are not going as planned- I am just trusting and leaning on God for his next step.

Another burden I have right now is the joy and frustration that comes with having a new family.  Right now I am living in a house with three other lovely ladies.  I love them so much and feel like I have bonded with them like sisters!  Their names are Rachel, Melissa, and Emily.  We have been getting along with each other surprisingly well, except for there are times- like with sisters where we have our quarrels.  I have learned over the years - and God has been teaching me to let some of the little things go!  There is one girl in the house though that has been snaping at me randomly for no aparent reason- which makes me break and hurt so bad.  Last night we tried to talk some of this out, with a little solution, and leaving the rest to GOD.  The hardest part is that I admire and LOVE this girl like crazy- so when she hurts me sometimes like she does, it leaves me very hurt.

Needless to say I could use some extra prayer on the weekends.  Pray that God protects my heart and fills my time with things to do to keep my mind off of my troubles.  Even if I completely fill my weekend I still feel like I have way to much down time!


God has given me a heart for this country!  When I first came down here, I was literally not impressed with the country.  For a while I thought this place was not for me.  But then I started learning about, living with, and talking to the beautiful Bolivian people!  I have such a place for them in my heart.  Some of the things I learn about the culture my students grow up in is almost too much to bear.  Knowing the statistic of how many kids are sexually abused at home and the government looks the other way just breaks my heart!  I have such a heart for the children of Bolivia.

Here is a little update on my week last week:
Wednesday night I had our regular SAM prayer meeting except for four of us new teachers shared our testimony!  I was not looking forward to it because my words in English right now are SOOO jumbled because of all of the Spanish zooming through my head!  It turned out to be a very nice time to talk so that everyone could have a chance to know my story and what led me to the mission field.  I also had really nice fellowship with the other SAM missionaries at our meal afterwards

Friday- I am so blessed to have become friends with another missionary named Martha Thomas.  She teaches English language learning (ELL) in the mornings here at SCCLC (which includes an hour everyday in my class helping my kindergarteners!).  In the afternoon she volunteers at the NACER girls and boys homes in and outside of Santa Cruz.  These homes are for girls and boys young and old who may or may not be orphans but know nothing else but the street. Two Fridays now I have had my schedule align in a way that I could go with Martha to the NACER boys homes which are about an 1.5 hour bus ride out of town.  Being there interacting with these boys and spending time with Martha has been one of the most exciting things I have done here!

On Friday we went right from the bus back to my house where we were having a ladies fellowship night.  We ate dinner, socialized and had a worship/prayer/sharing time.  It was very nice to have this time with these ladies, but was already very distracted by something my roomate had said to me earlier in the night - I JUST HATE HOW SATAN TRIES TO GRAB HOLD OF ME :(

God was about to give me great comfort though in Ephesians 4:1-6 which I am now trying to commit to memory
 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Saturday- I was able to go to a new market that is in walking distance with my roomie Rachel and Marth (who spent the night)- I bought a cucumber and beats!  I was very excited about this because I can't have the garden fresh ones that I miss and crave from home.  I also bought a 6x6 hand mirror for only 5 Bolivianos (less than a dollar)

I spent some time at school on Saturday working on my classroom and unpacking the NEW MATERIALS that were finally released from Bolivian customs on Friday!  I walked to school with my roomie Melissa who is an amazing woman and we had a great talk.

Saturday night we decided to pretend like we were Americans... we went to the Cine Center (a mall with a few stores huge foodcourt and a movie theatre)  We saw the only movie in English- The Green Lantern- it was a horrible movie..... But it was very fun spending time with all of the young ladies and the one single guy on the field.

Sunday- I walked to my new church, Renacer, all by myself.  It was a very nice service and was able to take good notes, but am still having a hard time finding the books that the pastor is saying.  I spent the longest time trying to figure out what book "Santiago" is and then once I remembered it was James, I had already forgotten the reference.... :) I am learning.

I had a good hour or so before the rest of my roomies got home from their various services alone at home which was nice.  I got some laundry done, did some dishes, and then set to work cooking my lunch.  I boiled some new baby potatoes I have never seen before (they are like bright yellow and red and the potatoe inside is yellow) anyone know what they are?  I also made a cucumber, tomato and cream cheese sandwich which was absolutely delicious- except it was missing my MOM who I love to eat those with :(

For dinner as well I made tomato soup with the noodles in it just like my dad makes for me (I must have been missing home) and gormet grilled cheese with my roomie Emily. 

I am sorry I have to go!  That was basically my weekend in a nutshell.  I appreciate your prayers!  Thank you!  God Bless. Peace.