A few "kid-bits"

I often worry that the kids aren't adjusting well or that they will never learn Spanish. I really am wasting my time. God has a great way of gifting children with resilience, and ours are no exception. Although there are many aspects of Bolivia they do not like, it's "not as bad" as they first thought. With every new friend, every successful communication, every sunny day to play, they really are establishing a home here. "We have two homes, right mom?" Canyon likes to ask. It's true. We are actually becoming a cross-cultural family. Here's a glimpse of their life in Bolivia:

Glacier loves excursions -- something that breaks up the routine. He looks for adventure like his dad and always is wondering what we are doing next. While our language classes don't allow us to take huge breaks at this point, we try to fit in small day-trips on the weekends to a park, a tourist site, or simply the market. When I ask the kids what they liked best about the outing, it's ironically not the spectacular view or the fun at the park. Glacier always recalls if Coca-Cola was part of the trip or not. If so, then it was a successful trip!

Canyon is feeling proud lately due to meeting some important milestones for a four-year-old. He's making great progress learning to swim and has recently removed the training wheels from his bike for good. He gets this trademark smirk on his face when he hears our cheers. But when visitors come, Canyon doesn't care to show them his new abilities...he'd rather show off the sirens on his bike which sound as if a police car is right outside your door. I'm sure our neighbors simply love this feature. ;)

Coral is probably the one experiencing the least cultural adjustment. She just continues on with life, picking up both English phrases and Spanish alike. "Mom, espina (pricker) in my foot," she'll say, or "Buenos Dias" to anyone who comes her way. Unfortunately, English and Spanish are not the only languages she's learning. Sibling influence is high in our house, and the boys find great amusement in creating their own words for Coral to repeat. Now Coral says "antmeal" instead of "oatmeal," "Happy doe-day" for "Happy Birthday," and "Hit-Boomie" if she falls down. Of course the boys find this all delightful and Coral loves their attention. I have tried to correct her, but the new vocab (along with giggling brothers) has stuck. The boys win this time.

Into the Andes

Into the heart of the Andes

              

Recently we invited some of our Bolivian friends over for dinner at our house.  They, in turn, invited us to their house the following week.  We had a great time learning to barbecue Bolivian-style and checking out their impressive home that he built.

Chris and friend Reuben (the main
Quechua speaker on our trip)

During our time with them we learned that when he had never tasted Coca-Cola until he was ten.  This was not because Coke didn’t exist here; rather, his family was so poor that they could only afford vegetables.  In fact, he would get to taste meat (chicken included) only once per year. 

This is a section of the road during the
dry season

He shared with us that he was adopted as a Compassion Child through the organization Compassion International.  Both he and the rest of his family came to know Christ and their lives changed drastically for the better. 

An adobe home in Calera Grande

Today God is using him to reach the Quechua in some of the remotest parts of Bolivia.  He visited a remote village called Calera Grande, over 7 hours away in a 4-wheel drive vehicle.  He was so overwhelmed by the poverty he saw that he approached his church and asked for permission to start a church there.  With their approval, he began a relationship with Calera Grande that has continued to this day.  

Choclo - Quechua corn

This village had a trained pastor leading the congregation and met weekly in the church building.  Quechua believers were growing in their faith, but unfortunately, due to the level of poverty there, the pastor decided he could not continue to minister at in this location.  Instead, he moved to another village.  Several weeks ago, almost a year after their pastor left, a member of the village called the Carachipampa Church (our Spanish-speaking church) asking for help. 

Quechua silo for Corn

               Within a couple weeks, we had a team ready to make the trek all the way to their village.  (My friend Josue and I were the only ones who could not speak Quechua.)  Our purpose was to provide some relief and encouragement during this difficult time in their lives.  We spent 2 days in the heart of the Andes with them. 

Chris playing soccer with the Quechua

 I even had the unique opportunity to play soccer with the men of the village.  (The concrete court along with a solar powered well and small holding tank was built for them by the government.) 

Quechua sleeping pad

They were as hospitable as possible, offering us goat skins to sleep on and as much choclo (boiled corn) as we wanted.  

The woman who accepted Christ
Saturday night and her baby

We enjoyed three meals with them using supplies we brought along with us and held two church services.  After showing the Jesus film for kids at the evening service on Saturday night, one woman decided to publicly accept Christ into her life.  What an awesome thing to experience!  

Adobe Oven in progress

The service continued late into the night. We finally served some deliciously sweet citrus tea (very helpful as their mountainous diet lacks vitamin C) and sent everybody home.  

Quechua man whose home is barely
visible on the next mountain over. He
travels over an hour on foot to church. 

For most of them, this meant a mountaintop trek of more than an hour.  For some of the younger kids, we laid out a blanket and let them sleep with us on the church’s dirt floor. 

Chris met Elmer playing soccer. He
followed Chris all weekend.

The next morning, we had a typical Quechua church service where the children went to the soccer court for their own meeting while the adults stayed in the church building.

Spigot for the govt.-built well. 

The kids loved the attention and fun that the Spanish-speaking church had to offer them.

A traditional soup with goat ribs and
llajwa (Quechua Salsa - crazy hot!)

 We shared one last meal and said our goodbyes.

Land Cruiser broke down twice on
the return trip. Our driver fixed the car
with some string and a couple rocks.

God-willing, I plan to visit again in October when we check in with them next.

Chris shares Choclo with a couple
experienced Quechua women

We are praying for God to provide a Quechua-speaking pastor who can “rough-it” in the hard conditions that exist in Calera Grande.  We are also praying for God to provide a way for them to have enough resources to support their own pastor, giving him time to study the Word of God and shepherd the believers there.

God’s vision is full of multiplication.  Perhaps someday this church will plant more churches even deeper into the remote parts of the Bolivian Andes.