Bolivia in My Heart

Bolivia will live in my heart forever.

How can one go somewhere and experience what I did, and not be changed forever? Can anyone see and do what I did and not feel that you are leaving a part of yourself behind? Or after meeting and hearing the hearts of others, not feel they are now family?

I struggle with even beginning to put my words together to share this trip with you, as I feel that it would be breath that is not giving the life it was meant to give. So, I pray, that maybe you would catch a glimpse of my heart and therefore an echo of what an incredible journey this was, not only for myself, but for my family and the others who were woven into the tapestry of this experience.

Jason, Trinity, Eden, and I left for Santa Cruz, Bolivia on October 3^rd. After 2 days of travel, we arrived late at night in a small airport to be exported by taxi into the city to our hotel. Our first experience of Bolivian road travel was one of surprise and intensity. Speed limits don’t apply, neither road signs, lights, or lines. After arriving at our hotel, we had a miscommunication with our driver on the cost of our trip. After giving him an exceedingly large tip without knowing it (or believing we were being completely ripped off), we headed to our room. Within minutes the front desk called us to say our driver was back and wanted to speak to us. He realized the mistake we made and came back to give us back our money. This first experience with a Bolivian was one of great appreciation and admiration.

Our group (minus Mary, Carol, and Isabella)

The next morning, we met our follow Canadians who arrived in the middle of the night. Along with them, we were 20 in total (2 in which were Compassion Canada staff). Like ourselves, these Canadians all sponsored children Bolivia and were here to see what Compassion is doing in Bolivia to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.

Our beloved leaders from Compassion Canada, Jen and Steph

 We met our Bolivian hosts and translators who were with us throughout the week. Some of these people are and were sponsor children and are now leaders in their communities. Their love for their country and for their follow Bolivians is so evident that it just shakes your heart. 

Keila, one of our translators and now heart friend. She is a GAP student.

Our host, Fabricio. One of the most amazing men we have ever met.

 Our first day out in the field, we attended one of the evangelical churches that Compassion has partnered with to help families in the area. Although the whole service was translated from Spanish, I was surprised how alike their service was to ours back home. Music, sermon, child dedication, the Lord’s supper.

The next couple of days we spent at a Compassion child center and learned more about the Child Survival Program, which is a program that works with mothers and babies from prenatal until 1 year of age, which is when the child then can enter the Child Development Program and become sponsored.

We met mothers with difficult stories of raising many children on next to nothing and not knowing how to care for their family as many fathers are not a part of the picture any longer. They shared what the Survival Program has done for them. How they have learned that their baby is a special gift from God and has a purpose. They are taught to identify lies they are believing and replace these lies with the Truth. And in this, they pass this down to their children. They not only learn about nutrition, but are given healthy foods to learn to cook with. They are taught skills to be able to make an income for themselves. But most importantly, they learn they are loved and are precious to God. That they too have a purpose and have value.

Baby Abigail, who is in the Survival Program - she's sure doing well!

The director and tutors at this center and all the other centers were people with such a passion for God and His people. The love they have for these mothers and children was so real and alive, you could feel it in the air. In a concrete building, not even finished, with no indoor plumbing or water, love was transforming it into a mansion. The intentional curriculum they teach mothers to foster mental, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being in their children was amazing. I had no idea that Compassion created curriculum made specifically to the culture and needs of the people.

Tutors at one of the centers.

They taught us how to make some traditional Bolvian foods.

Then we taught them how to make pancakes!

Over and over we were thanked by the in-country staff. I couldn’t help but cry. My measly dollars each month is NOTHING compared to the dedicated efforts these tutors put into serving, supporting, guiding, loving, and teaching mothers and children. They are truly the hands and feet of Christ.

We had the opportunity to visit mothers and their children in their homes to spend time with them and ask questions. Even in one room homes that housed 5 or more family members, these women opened their doors to us, offering us food or drink, the only chairs they owned to sit on, and made us feel at home.

Jason and Eden's home visit to baby Eduard's home.

Trinity and I visited little Moises.

Over the week we visited two other child centers and had wonderful opportunities to witness how children are cared for in their classes. Trinity spent the morning with students her age, Eden spent her morning with children a bit younger than she, while Jason and I got to enjoy the 3-5-year-old class! Language barriers are no longer barriers with children. Even though we did not know the songs, we could do the actions and had many kids laughing. We served them lunch and watched them line up to brush their teeth. We played blocks with them. We giggled with them. We held hands with them. My heart grows. 

Eden trying a special peach drink, while her new little friends peek through the window to watch.

The kids learning to brush their teeth. There was no sink, so they spat on the ground into a drain hole. This tutor is a single mother of 6 children, who dedicates her life serving these little ones.

Trinity making books with the older class. The topic was on why we take care of our bodies, because they are the temple of God.

Play time with my little peeps!

 The second center is where we chose to newly sponsor a little 3-year-old boy, named Miguel. With only 2 days’ notice, Compassion arranged for us to go to his home and meet him and his mother. He was very shy but loved the bear and Hot Wheel we brought him. I hope he somehow remembers that encounter in the future, when he understands the concept of being sponsored by us.

Meeting Miguel and his mother.

We learned about the GAP program in Bolivia, which is for sponsored children who show leadership skills in their church, academic strength, and have plans for the future. They are supported through University courses to achieve what they want to do. We met these young adults who are working towards careers such as engineering and accounting. Many of them plan to serve in Compassion to give back to the next generation. These youths are passionate for God and are rising up to be strong leaders in their communities. We learned through this that one of our sponsored children, Damaris, is in the GAP program. She is taking courses in sciences in hopes to become a pharmacist to help her mother financially. Only some students are selected to enter the GAP program, so we are so proud of her for her achievements.

The GAP presentation

Thursday was the big day to meet our sponsored children. First we met Silvano and his mother. Our first encounter, Silvano just hugged and hugged Jason. He wouldn’t let him go. He was quite shy and didn’t talk much, but his translator was very clear that Silvano was so grateful and just didn’t really know what to say. It was his first time in a pool (as we met at an outdoor resort), but he sure had fun trying to swim. Trinity made a good effort to teach him! Silvano’s mother made us beautiful gifts. I was in awe.

Meeting Silvano and his mother.

With our gifts she made us.

 Damaris then showed up and she was so outgoing, talkative, and loved her “little sisters”. She hugged and hugged us. Eden latched on to her right away and didn’t want to let her go. What fun she is and such a hard worker at school. I am so proud of her. She didn’t know how to swim either, but had lots of fun in the pool and seeing the different animals around the resort. We were able to share lots with each other about our lives.

The waterfall at the resort (me, Trinity, Eden, Damaris, and Keila)

Meeting Damaris and her mother the first time.

Of course, the time to say good bye came much too quickly. How do you say good bye, knowing you probably won’t ever see that person again, when now they truly feel like family and your heart is so full of love for them?

We’ve sponsored many children through Compassion for the last 16 years, and we have known what Compassion does. But now, I have SEEN what they do. It works. Because of Christ, children have hope for their futures. They have enthusiasm for life. They are making a difference. They are breaking the cycle of poverty.

Children at the center about to sing a song for us.

Coming home was an internal battle. We didn’t want to leave. How do you come home and carry on with life as it was? You can’t. I don’t want to either. I never want to be the same again.

How is it that I see these people as treasures, when I don’t even see my own as treasures? I want to see everyone through the eyes of Christ, as I did when in Bolivia. I loved them without knowing them. I want to love people here at home without knowing them. I want to love them so much that I do want to know them. My heart is raw. Fill me up, Lord, with your love for others. For all people.

I can’t help but think of the song “Albertine” by Brooke Fraser. She writes after visiting an orphaned child in Rwanda, “Now that I have seen, I am responsible…”

I have seen. I am responsible. I will do what I can. But we can do more together.

God is bigger than I ever imagined. He is alive and He is at work.

Bolivia will be in my heart forever.