"I have a beef with you" Doesn't Translate...

Last night was the farewell dinner, which is always one of the sweetest times on the trip, but also the hardest. It almost sneaks up on you, but for me, at that dinner I realize that we've built friendships with the FH staff that ought to take longer than 6 days to build, but that The Lord accelerates for His purpose. Based on the decibel levels, you'd think it was a group of old friends that go back a lifetime. It's difficult because we know the hasta luegos are coming soon. We also learned that when you tell someone in Bolivia that you have a beef with them (as a joke) it doesn't quite translate, and will take at least 15 minutes of explanation:) We talk a lot about the relationships with the community, the sponsored children, and FH, but I think maybe the most foundational relationship is between the people at MCC and the staff that works in Sucre. For a week or two per year we spend time "in the trenches" working together. Now, our efforts are so small compared to the long hours and complete dedication that the FH staff has to the families, churches, and communities they work in, but the relationship between us is one of the strongest any of us has ever experienced. It is a privilege for us to have the opportunity to spend time with this group, and they really teach us how to serve, love, and support each other. What makes the relationship so strong? A lot of it has to do with alignment to a common goal. Whether you speak English or Spanish there is no doubt what you are in Sucre for. We all have the same goal, the same vision, and The Lord uses that commonality to create an incredible bond. You can't leave here without really understanding how critical it is to have the same vision. Everyone can work in different ways, with different skills and passions, but when the destination is the same the results are powerful. Praise The Lord that he works this way! We are headed to the airport in a few minutes...get your tissues:)

I'm Glad I Ate Those Three Chickens

If you own a concrete factory don't try to close it in Sucre. If you do the truck drivers will close down the city by parking their trucks in every intersection. At least, that's what they do in Sucre. Because the city was shut down we hiked about 3 hours round trip to get to Horno CKasa. It was a long trip but we got to see the city in a different way. It really is beautiful here... Yesterday we got to spend a couple hours with the students that are on the "Wall of Success". These are kids in the neighborhood who's lives have truly been transformed. I remember 3 years ago there were only a few kids hat could have been on the wall if there was one. Now there are 10, and we met another 10 that haven't has their pictures put up. Most of them are on legitimate paths to being lawyers, social workers, accountants and doctors. Years ago these were just ideas, that maybe these kids could have a real future, but today it's real. Their involvement in Church and their relationship with The Lord has really transformed their lives. It was an honor to spend time with them. They all asked that we pass on thanks to MCC for all that has been done in the community. Speaking of changes, we've spent a lot of time in a new FH neighborhood, Villa Margarita, and we all have déjà vu. It's much like Horno CKasa was 5 years ago. We cleaned up the school, and provided equipment and books for a library. Tonight is the farewell dinner, then we're off to La Paz in the morning. Thanks for all the prayers this week. God has been faithful in a ton of ways. We can't wait to share more about next week. Love you guys. (I typed this on an iPhone and it won't let me go back and edit. Sorry for the typos)

German's Story (by Sami)

We grew up very very poor. I used to wish I had a different life. I used to think, "Why was I born in a region that has only mines? Why was I born so poor?" I worked in the mines from the time that I was six to eighteen. My father was an alcoholic. I had malnutrition very bad as a child, which is why I am so short. I would look at airplanes flying over in the sky and hope that a backpack or a bag would fall out and hopefully there would be some money in it. That was my poverty mindset. When I came home from Collegio (high school), I found that my mother had become an alcoholic as well. There were eleven of us kids. I used to wish that my father was dead so that I could be free of this house, this place, so I could be free of my family. I went to college to get a business degree. To pay for myself, I worked as a bartender. I would work in the bar from 8:00 PM to 2:00 in the morning. I also cleaned the bathroom of the bar and it was so dirty that I would stay cleaning it till 3:00. After that I would go home and rest. I had to be in class at 7:00 in the morning. My professor would tell me that this major is wrong for me. In Bolivia, a business degree was only considered to be for the wealthy. I went 3 months without eating anything at all. My hand would be shaking during exams. I was able to change my life and transform into a very different person, but only through seeking the will of God and his path in my life. German is the director of the Villa Margarita office of FH. It was in this neighborhood that we are working on our trip. German is the coordinator of our activities, and he has shared some of his vision for the neighborhood with us. He is now a visionary, he changes the lives of children who are living his story right now. He has been transformed, body and mind, through his love of Christ and his word. We pray that many will experience this same transformation, and that our team of Americans can be a catalyst for that change!

A Reverse Mission Trip?

I think Nathaniel was right when he said "We came down here to serve them, but it seems like everywhere we go we're the ones that are being served." That's not an easy thing to deal with. Whether it's at Chloe's sponsor child's house, where she got more gifts than she gave, or at my sponsor kid's who decorated her 15x15 house with balloons, gave us hats, and bought me a birthday cake...it's true. Every where we go we feel like we're the ones getting blessed. For 5 years I've heard about this whole "mutual transformation" that FH talks about. It's made sense in my mind, but this trip, more than ever before, I'm seeing first hand what it means for the community here to be changed, and for me to be changed. I know we are a blessing to the families here, I know God is using us (despite ourselves) to encourage the staff here in Sucre, but yet each night I'm overwhelmed with the idea that it's really me who gets the blessing. Writing about this seems so inadequate. If I were reading this, I'd think this was all a really neat set of ideas. I'd probably even smile, but it's still not enough. Not enough to really understand what it's like to sit in the house of someone who has nothing, but still gives from the heart. God has been good. Nobody is sick, and the team is getting along like family. Thank you for the prayers and support you've provided for this trip. We love you guys....

Bolivia Time = Busy, Busy, Busy

They say Bolivian time moves slower. That must be true because in the past couple of days we have: > Inaugurated a new competitive club team at the Soccer Academy. > Judged a drawing contest. The winners drawings are sent to Japan for the next level. > Made home visits to sponsored children. > Visited a new jewelry making micro enterprise led by teenagers. > Visited the Dance Academy where we wowed them with our dancing skills. > Visited the Sewing Enterprise and learned of a new phase in their business. > Inaugurated the new Virtual Computer Library MCC sponsored. > Participated in World View Workshops. > Eaten something about every two hours. > Worshipped with Spanish and English songs. > Prayed for a local Pastor who is experiencing very difficult circumstances. > Heard three separate devotions by MCC team members, they were awesome. > Listened to a radio interview with Luke. > Played with neighborhood children. > Planted vegetables in a community garden. The list goes on and on. Though the schedule has kept us running and we have participated in many worthwhile activities, the best, and most powerful part of the trip is experiencing incarnational ministry. Coming, as He did, to a culture not His own and demonstrating the love and character of the Father. He has called His church to this task, to live with those who's lives are so much different than our own to live Christ before them. Why would He choose such earthen containers for His Life? I don't know. We are to just obey. Tonight is the farewell dinner, the schedule says....many hugs. There will be tears too.

El Dia De Amistad

Today is El Dia De Amistad in Bolivia, Friendship Day. Picture Mothers Day but you are honoring your friends. There was a celebration with the staff and some of their families tonight. Lots of pizza and gifts. Bolivians use sweet corn as a pizza topping, try it, it's incredible. Marv is officially addicted to Dulce De Leche. The team made a number of home visits to sponsored children today. It is good to see God working in families as He is here. We saw real evidence of transformation at the Parent Retreat yesterday. This is the second one MCC has participated in. There were many more men attending. The men were engaged and affectionate to their wives, another significant change. A community leader was there who we see each trip. He recently committed his life to Christ, you could see the change through the glow on his face. It is a privilege to visit here and see how God is redeeming Horno Ckasa B. Your prayers, sponsorship of children and support of the teams makes no small contribution to this transformation. May He continue the work He is doing here.

Made It Safe And Sound

I know many of you have been looking for a post from us, sorry for being late on this update. We have been busy as these trips tend to be. It took exactly 24hrs to get here gate to gate. As soon as we arrived the fun started, so, the team slept about two hours in the first 40. That schedule separates the young and the old. Today was spent at a youth retreat in a nearby town called Yatolla. It was a great time of teaching and fun. Josh and Luke showed the Bolivian students how Americans play Futball. The team brought a few Frisbees, I think Sucre will now be the Frisbee capital of South America. Marv tried to teach them how to play Ninja, let's just say they weren't impressed. I really needed some MCC students here to show them how to do it right. Tomorrow we speak at a parent retreat. Please pray God will heal the families in Horno Ckasa B. The community sends its love to the MCC family, thank you for praying for and supporting us. Hasta proxima.