Change in Blog

Disregard: www.journeysofaheart.blogspot.com

My new blog address is actually: www.fingerprintsofgod84.blogspot.com

New Blog

Dear Friends and "Blog Followers,"

I apologize for not updating my blog over the last few months. SO MUCH has happened since my last blog entry.

My brother's Steven's death took my whole family to Canada. I ended up staying in North America for three months. I did much traveling, enjoying the opportunity to see various relatives and friends. My travels took me up and down Vancouver Island, to Dallas, Vancouver, Calgary, and the midwestern United States for my brother Jonathan's wedding on the 4th of September. In the midst of my sorrow, God gave me many joys. Life is truly bittersweet!

On the 15th of September, my sister Elisa and I headed back down to Bolivia. We spent a couple of days in Santa Cruz on our way to La Paz. There Adolfo presented me with a ring. Once he talked to my dad and received his blessing, we were officially engaged!

I am currently back in La Paz serving as surrogate mom and homeschool teacher to Elisa until my parents return to Bolivia (Lord willing in November).

Suddenly my life is taking a new direction! Adolfo and I are talking about getting married in January, and it looks like God would have me serve Him as a wife and mother that glorifies Him. All this does not mean that I have completely laid aside my dreams of reaching the deaf in Bolivia. There is a large deaf community in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (the city where Adolfo and I plan to live), and who knows what doors He might open up.

In the meantime, I feel the time has come for this blog to come to a close, and I am starting up another blog: "Journeys of a Heart" (www.journeysofaheart.blogspot.com) where I hope to post irregular updates on my life and to share from my journey with the Lord and things He is teaching me.

Thank all those of you who have followed "Breaking the Silence"! And thank you to those of you who commented--you were an encouragement to me!

Celina

He Gives and Takes Away

Two weeks ago and a day, life was normal. How is it possible that in one split second everything can change, and our world, as we know it, can be shattered to pieces? That's what happened to me...

Monday, June 14, 2010,

6:00 a.m. - My cell phone alarm went off. I got up careful not wake my friend Janelle who was sleeping on a mattress in my room. I had my Bible reading, showered and ate some breakfast.

7:30 a.m. - Got a trufi (taxis that have a set route and take up to five people) up to downtown La Paz. Met our land lady's sister who gave me a manicure as part of her final exam to be a beautician. When I was done, I gave Elisa a call to join me and walked along the Prado (a main street in downtown La Paz). It was a beautiful crisp fall day. Met up with Elisa outside of Burger King. We went to the "Identifications" building to work on the paper work for renewing our Bolivian ID cards. The next few hours were very frustrating, standing in lines, discovering our birth certificates were no longer valid, trying to get directions to the place where we could get new birth certificates printed out, returning to "Identifications," getting an investigation going for some observations on my paperwork...I confess I did a lot of complaining about Bolivian beauracracy!

2:00 p.m. - Two hungry sisters got a trufi back home. As we stepped in the door, we saw our mother crying on the phone. My heart stopped, and I immediately remembered when we got the news of my grandfather's death. My mom got off the phone and told us that my brother Steven had been missing since the night before. I had something to eat and then walked over to the Rodriguez home to do some babysitting. I told my mom, "If there's bad news, please don't call me. I don't want to upset the kids I will be babysitting."

5:15 p.m. - I got home and was puzzled by all the people at the house. I didn't recognize most of them. My mom came out of the kitchen. She walked up to me and said, "It was bad news, Celina." She put her arms around me, and I immediately began to cry. I somehow knew that my brother was dead. The next few hours were a blur of activity as people poured in to the house to express their condolences. In the midst of it all, I tried to pack as I was told we were leaving for Canada early the next day. By the end of the evening, I didn't want people to leave. I didn't want to be left alone with my pain.

Two Weeks Later - I find myself in Victoria, B.C. The last couple of weeks have been hard, but I am amazed at how God's grace has sustained us. I have felt very blessed by all the people around the world that have been writing to us expressing their sympathy and loving prayer support. It has been good to be surrounded by family and to grieve together. The memorial service, a week ago Saturday, was a special time to remember Steven and let people know what special person he really was!

The grief still comes back in waves, but I am amazed at the joy we are experiencing in the midst of the pain. We are so happy for Steven as we know he is free from all his struggles and pain and is currently enjoying God's presence. We are so excited that one day we will see him again! We do not grieve as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). In the meantime, we miss Steven A LOT! Your continued prayers for me and my family would be greatly appreciated!

p.s. The above picture was taken two years ago on Pender Island during a small family vacation. It's one of my favourite memories with Steven. We went on a few family walks, and he and I always ended up walking and talking together. It was so special to have some grownup conversations with him and get to know him as a young man vs. as a little boy. I thank God for this memory!

God Doesn't Give Us a Map...

A couple of weeks ago I got to travel with my dad to Cochabamba for a five-day course on radical discipleship. Dr. René Padilla, a renown Latin-American theologian, came all the way from Argentina to give the lectures. One night he shared something a missionary once told him: "God doesn't give us a map. He gives us His hand." I had to write that down...Lately I feel like I'm standing at some major crossroads in my life, and it would be so nice to have a map! But instead of a map, I have a relationship with the sovereign, all-wise, omniscient Creator and Lord of my life! In all my confusion, I am forced to draw closer to Him and depend on Him to get me where I'm supposed to go!

Things have started to change around here. Considering my life has been filled with change, I should be used to it by now. Instead, I find change very hard to process, and it really affects me emotionally. Next week my dad and sister are traveling to Canada to be with my brothers. My mom is waiting to finish some paperwork and hopes to follow them shortly. My Canadian friend, Janelle, got very sick with Salmonella for the second or third time since she's been in Bolivia and decided to move in with us, which means things are crowded in the apartment until people start to leave. On the positive side, this seems to be God's provision for a house-mate during my family's absence in Canada!

A few days ago we (my dad, mom, sister, Janelle and I) made a trip out to Urmiri (hot springs) with the Vargas family (a Bolivian-Canadian family who we are close friends with) and some other Canadian friends. It was a relaxing couple of days, and the place was beautiful! Pictured above is a natural pool of hot water with a waterfall coming down and flowers growing along the rock face. I felt like I had stepped into a travel magazine!!! The one night we spent in Urmiri, a group of us climbed up the hill to gaze at the stars. We were out in the middle of nowhere, and the sky seemed to be covered in stars! It was breathtaking! We even got to see some shooting stars! It was also special to spend time with Rachael (Canadian friend who has been living with the Vargas family). She is moving back to Canada next week, which is another one of the changes I am currently lamenting!

If you think of me, I would appreciate prayers for grace to go through this time of changes. Also pray that God could be providing some source of income to pay for my living expenses, etc., during this time. It's kind of hard to get a job right now because I will be traveling up to the US for my brother's wedding in August/September, but God could provide a job that would be flexible/short-term. My dad is also leaving me some projects to work on, which will help keep me busy.

A Relationship...

I have gotten REALLY bad at updating my blog lately...So sorry! It's about time I let you all know about something that has been going on since January...

I don't know if any of you remember me my blog entry back in January telling about my time in Santa Cruz...I mentioned spending some time with the Guzmán family. I am very good friends with Ruth (Mrs. Guzmán), but I can't say I really knew her three sons. During this visit I started getting to know Adolfo Jr. (the oldest son). I had always gotten the impression he was this very serious man, but, as I got to know him, I discovered he has quite the sense of humor, and I started to discover other qualities I really liked...

When I came back to La Paz, I didn't think it very likely anything could happen between us with us living so far away from each other (16 hour bus drive!) Well...he started calling me occasionally, and we would often chat.

Then Adolfo started talking about coming to La Paz to help my parents with some paperwork they have been having trouble with. He finally came at the end of March and ended up spending over two weeks! We got to hang out every day, and it was a good opportunity to get to know each other even more.

I went to see Adolfo off at the airport, and there, in the twenty minutes we had before he had to go through security, he told me that he was seriously interested in me. I told him I was interested too.

Since then he called to talk to my dad about us starting a serious relationship. He also made another trip out here to discuss some things with my dad in person, and now we've decided to go ahead and officially say we're "in a relationship."

This is my first time to be "in a relationship." Amazingly enough (especially considering he's 31), this is Adolfo's first time as well!!! Everything is very new to us, and sometimes I find myself frieking out. Things are a mixture of exciting and scary! I would greatly appreciate all your prayers for God's clear guidance in our relationship.

This is a time of big "firsts" for our family. My brother Jonathan just recently got engaged and the wedding is being planned for the 4th of September! This means I should be heading up to the Sates (Michigan) for the wedding!

Hearing Care Course and Visiting My Girls

I'm sorry it's been a while since I posted an update. I just got back home last night from a week in Cochabamba.

From Tuesday till Friday morning of last week I was attending a course on hearing care and deafness prevention. It was interesting and practical. The main expositor was Dr. Diego Santana, an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist who is a missionary from Spain and works in the department of Beni. Apparently about 50% of hearing deficit and deafness cases could be prevented! Although my interest mainly lies in working with those who already are deaf, it was interesting to learn more about the prevention side of things as well.

Friday afternoon I had the opportunity to briefly visit my girls at the deaf center in Vinto. I was very warmly received with lots of hugs! Seeing these precious girls made me realize how much I love and miss them! It was fun taking them some gifts that had been sent for them in a package from a dear friend in Canada (the girls say "Thank you!" Amanda)

Over the weekend I enjoyed seeing and spending some time with friends in Cochabamba.

I made the trip home on Monday. On the way I saw a couple of major accidents. One accident looked like it was a head-on collision between two buses. I thought about the fact it could have been MY bus in that accident! I praise God for His protection over my life! I had just been reading Psalm 139. In verse 16 it says: "All the days ordained for me were written in your book." How wonderful as Christians to know that nothing can touch us until our work here on earth is done!

Closing a Chapter, Tour Guide, Small Accident

I spent last week in my hometown--Potosí. My week was full catching up with old friends. One of the things I love about being from a small city is that you are constantly bumping into people you know! It's lovely! Since being back in Bolivia, I hadn't yet been to the city of Sucre to see friends there, so I I also took advantage of being only a couple of hours away to make a quick trip there.

My parents are in the process of selling our home in Potosi, so it was a bittersweet time to enjoy being in our apartment one last time. One of my favourite things about the apartment is the hammock up on the roof, so I spent some time reading up there. I also spent some time sorting through some of our stuff. The selling of our home kind of feels like the closing of a chapter in our lives. I spent almost 18 years of my life in Potosi, and it will always have a special place in my heart!

Early Friday morning, Janelle, Rachael, Katie (Horton) and Matt (Shannon)--four Canadian friends--arrived. For the next two days I greatly enjoyed being a tour guide. Friday's highlight was a trip to the "laguna," a natural pool of hot water in an old volcano crater. My family used to go there every Monday, and there I learnt to swim! Lots of memories!

On Saturday my dad's friend, Wilson, came by and picked us up. He took us to a place where we got all geared up and then headed up the Cerro Rico ("Rich Mountain") to have a tour of one of the many mines. It was quite the intense experience walking through damp narrow tunnels. At one point we really jumped at an explosion, which it turned out came from well below us.

This last week back in La Paz, I have been taking care of Elisa while my parents are in Potosi finalizing things with the sale of the house. I have also been hanging out with a friend visiting from Santa Cruz, and a couple of times we got to hang out with Rachael, Katie and Matt. On Tuesday we went out to Mallasa (on the outskirts of La Paz) and visited the zoo. After that we rented and had fun on three quads. I was riding on the back of a quad, and we were on our way back to the rental place, when all of a sudden we hit a bump. Suddenly I found myself falling backwards and next thing I knew I was on the ground! Kind of embarassing! I just laughed and got back on the quad (my friend who was driving felt pretty bad!) Thankfully I escaped from the incident with only some scrapes and a little sore. :-)

Prayer Scarf and Precious Sister

It's a bright sunny Sunday afternoon in San Miguel, La Paz, Bolivia. The sunshine is welcome after a long rainy season.

Last night I was asked if I would be willing to help out with Sunday School this morning. I warned the pastor's wife that I am not good with children, but if they needed help, I was willing to do what I could. Let me just say, I admire all those of you who love working with children and do such an amazing job of it! This morning wasn't too bad, but working with children definitely doesn't come naturally to me!

Last Sunday my mom shared a story with me that blessed and encouraged me, reminding me of the power of prayer. Let me share it with you as an encouragement that God does hear our prayers! A few years ago I was a student at Emmaus Bible College. I had a friend who taught me how to crochet. I decided to crochet a scarf and send it down to Bolivia with my brother Caleb, who was going down for Christmas. I told my mom I wanted her to give it to one of the prisoners at the prison where she did ministry. I sent a letter with the scarf talking about God's love and saying I was praying for whoever got the scarf. My mom prayed about who to give the scarf to and ended up giving the scarf to Boris, a hardened criminal who was in solitary confinement at the time--he was surprised. This was in the prison in Potosi. Now, a few years later, my mom is ministering at a prison outside of La Paz. It turns out that at some point Boris was transfered here, and he has been coming to the meetings! A week ago Saturday he talked to my mom and told her that he is being transfered to a different prison again, but that he knows God goes with him. After talking to Boris, my mom felt confident that he now has a relationship with God! How exciting to realize that those prayers for an unknown man, recipient of the scarf I made, were answered by God!

During this time I continue keeping busy as "secretary," "cook" and "chauffeur." I am trying to really appreciate and take advantage of this time with my family. Who knows if I will ever have a time like this again! I am also trying to take advantage of the time with my precious, not so little sister! I hope this may be a time where I can really invest in her life and in our relationship! She keeps very busy with two hours of gymnastics every day (Monday-Friday) and with her various church activities and many friends! But we have started trying to keep Tuesdays as our day to do things together. The pictures above are from the other week when we made Lemon Zuchinni Cookies.

I just want to say, I appreciate all those of you who take an interest!

Celina

Weekend in Arica

Here in Bolivia it's the fourth day of the long "Carnaval" weekend. It's a very pagan holiday with lots of drinking, dancing and immorality going on. You could say it's people's last fling at fun before "lent." 

Some friends and I decided to go away to Arica, Chile, for the weekend and enjoy the beach! Pictured above from left to right: Fabiola (Bolivian friend from La Paz), me =), Rachael (Canadian friend) and Janelle (Canadian friend). 

The adventures started on the way to Arica. The eight hour bus trip turned into a twelve hour trip because of long waits at the Bolivian and Chilean border. We had finally crossed the border and were well on our way into Chile, when we had to stop because of engine trouble and wait for another bus to come and take us the rest of the way! 

I had a neat experience of God taking care of me. Arriving at Chilean immigrations, I realized that somehow I had left my Bolivian ID card way back at Bolivian immigrations. I was tempted to feel quite upset, but I decided to rest in God and trust that He would work everything out--and He did! Thankfully I had decided to travel with both my Bolivian ID card as well as my Bolivian passport! I was able to use my Bolivian passport to get into Chile, and then on our way back into Bolivia, I was able to recover my Bolivian ID card! It was just a little reminder to me that when we run into unexpected "problems" God is still in control and taking care of things. There is nothing too big or too small for Him to handle. 

Living in a landlocked country, it was a real treat to enjoy the beach! It was also fun to see Fabiola experience the ocean for the first time! We spent long hours at the beach on Saturday. The result was some terribly painful burns! My worst burns were on the back of my legs, and I was walking around like an old lady the next day! 

We four girls shared a condo with three of Janelle's girlfriends. On Sunday night we seven girls had a lot of fun going out to eat and celebrate Valentine's Day. We found a cute little eating place all decorated with hearts on a little side street in downtown Arica.  I think we had more fun being all girls than most of the couples there! :-) 

Our last night, Rachael, Fabiola and I walked down to the beach with our towels. We laid on the beach, gazed up at the stars and enjoyed listening to the crashing of the waves. It was such a special time to meditate on the greatness of God's creation! I thought of how insignificant we are, and yet the fact that God notices and pours out His love on each individual makes each life so significant and special!

Childhood Friend and Seminar

Last week I was excited to get a phone call from Tatiana, a childhood friend from Potosí who now lives in the city of Sucre. She told me she was coming to La Paz to do some paperwork, and right away I invited her to come and stay with us. It was special to have her here for five days, and we did a fair bit of catching up. In the past, when I have visited Sucre, Tati and her family have always been very good to me, so I was happy for the chance to be good to her during her stay in La Paz. 

Over the weekend there was a seminar called "Ancient Paths" (on Biblical principles for family life) being held at the church I am currently attending. My mom and I were both going, and I signed Tati up to go with us. We were all blessed by the seminar. 

Summer Holidays Are Over

Monday morning, February 1st, kids could be seen in their school uniforms heading back to school. I must say I don't miss those days of being a student! Even so, summer holidays are over for me too, and I am currently filling three positions!

I am currently working as my dad's "secretary." He has a bunch of projects he's too busy for that he has passed on to me. This semester he is teaching the Christology class at the seminary. He has a full class of 70+ students, so as things pick up, he probably will have me help him with some grading, etc.

I am also filling in as "cook" these days. As my mom is sometimes busy homeschooling my sister Elisa, off to the prison doing ministry or, these days, going up to town to do paperwork (my parents have been trying to become Bolivian citizens for the last 5 1/2 years, and the bureaucracy here is ridiculous!) I have been making lunch, which is the main meal here in Bolivia. It's a great opportunity to practice and perfect my cooking skills! Some days meals turn out alright, and others not so good. Yesterday I thought I had turned off the rice, when in fact I had turned it on "high." Needless to say, the rice was quite burnt (I'm grateful for a patient and understanding family when meals aren't so great!)

My third position is that of "chauffeur." Elisa is quite a busy individual (I don't see much of her!) when she's not here at the house doing school, she's off to gymnastics or off to her church for some activity. My mom has been relieved to have me take over driving her to her different activities. Driving in Bolivia is definitely a different experience altogether. Just yesterday I had a couple of not so pleasant experiences. First, I got pulled over by a police officer who told me I was missing some sort of "inspection" sticker and wanted to see my license. I had no idea what he was talking about (for all I knew he only wanted to get money out of me!), but thankfully I was able to get away with telling him I didn't know anything about it, but I would inform my dad, the owner of the car. Second, I ended up going the wrong way on a one-way street! Two guards from the French Embassy saw me, but thankfully they were very gracious, and told me to wait till a car was past and then to cautiously keep going down the street (there wasn't much room to turn around).

Some of you may be wondering what my plans are for this year. At this point, I really feel like God wants me to take advantage of this time with my family and be a support to them (my wonderful parents are the couple in the above picture). In the meantime, it is also a time for me to wait on God for future plans. Please join me in prayer for clear guidance!

Exotic Locations

It's already late January and this is my first blog post of the year! It's summer here in the southern hemisphere, and I decided to get some traveling in before commitments started tying me down to La Paz.

After Christmas I made a two-day trip to Copacabana with Rachael and Janelle (my two Canadian girlfriends). Copacabana is a small town on Lake Titicaca (the highest navigable lake in the world). Our hostel was this place with a Mediterranean feel to it overlooking the beautiful lake! We enjoyed some good reading time in the hammocks.

On the 3rd of January my parents, Elisa (my sister) and I traveled to the city of Santa Cruz for a few days of family vacation. Santa Cruz is the city where I was born and is located in the lowlands of Bolivia. The climate is very hot and humid (definitely tropical). With the heat, Elisa and I very much enjoyed the hotel pools!

After four days, my parents headed back to La Paz, and I stayed on to visit different friends. I enjoyed spending several days with the Ojeda family, close family friends who know me since I was a baby. There was lots of reminiscing. From there I went and spent some days with a friend who I actually met at college in Iowa. The remainder of my time I spent with the Guzmán family. Ruth, Mrs. Guzmán, owns a hotel. Her ministry involves having missionaries or other full-time workers stay at her hotel for free whenever they go through Santa Cruz (that is how my family first met her about six years ago). Her and I often dreamed about me going and working with her and learning about hotel management (as I enjoy hospitality). I took advantage of these days with Ruth to learn a little bit about what it entails to run a hotel. I had fun manning reception a few times.

Let me share the most exciting thing that happened while I was in Santa Cruz! One day I ended up having a conversation with Janet, a young woman who is working cleaning rooms at the hotel over summer break. Somehow we ended up talking about spiritual things. I asked her something about where she would go if she were to die. She told me she would go to hell. I asked her if she wasn't afraid to die. She said she actually would like to die--that life seemed purposeless. My heart lifted up a prayer for God to help me, and I proceeded to share the beautiful gospel message. When I was done talking, there was a brief silence. Then Janet told me, "You know what? When you were talking right now--it wasn't you that was talking!" Could it be that God spoke through me?! I felt so excited, honored and humbled at the same time! Janet didn't make a decision that day, but I can tell she is really searching. Right then she had to go home, but she told me that she would really like to talk to me about some things. Sadly, there wasn't enough time left for me to get together with her before returning to La Paz. I promised her I would try to get a certain book for her (which I will have to try to send to her in the mail). I would appreciate it if you would please pray with me for Janet's salvation.

I'll sign off for now, but hopefully my updates will be a little more regular again!

Celebrating the Miracle of the Incarnation

As it does every year, Christmas has come and gone. It has been a very special season here in San Miguel.

I spent the weekend before Christmas with my friend Rachael (from B.C.) up in Llojeta (another part of La Paz). She had planned a gingerbread house party with her youth group, and we spent the weekend watching a seven hour movie (Little Dorrit), baking and cutting up gingerbread, doing other things in preparation for the party, and hosting the actual party.

At the party I met a girl who had taken sign language courses here in La Paz, and she was able to give me the name of an institute that offers these courses. I was surprised, because I had been told that there was only courses in the cities of Cochabamba and Santa Cruz. It also appears that signs in La Paz are slightly different from the signs used in the rest of the country. I believe God may want me to work with the deaf in La Paz, and it would probably be a good idea to take the courses offered here (vs. elsewhere).

For Christmas Eve and Christmas day, it was very special to have Rachael and Janelle (two Canadian girlfriends) with us, since my three brothers are in Canada with our relatives for the holidays. My poor dad was the only man in a house of five women! Last year my mom had a really rough Christmas, so this year I determined to take over a lot of the preparatives and give her a break. I had a lot of fun making my first Christmas dinner!

On Boxing Day (the 26th, for all my American friends), my dad, mom, Mario (a Bolivian Christian who sometimes does ministry with my mom at the prison), Rachael, Janelle and I went to Chonchocoro--a maximum security prison about an hours drive outside of La Paz. We sang Christmas carols (among other songs) and gave out Christmas bread and hot chocolate. My dad also shared a brief message, and we had time to visit with some of the interns. It was a special opportunity to share God's love with people who have experienced a lot of rejection and who don't often get a lot of visitors from the outside world.

A belated merry Christmas to you all! And as each of us heads into a new year, my desire is that God would root and establish us in His love (Ephesians 3:17-18), that we would be filled with inexpressible and glorious joy (1 Peter 1:8), and that God’s peace, which surpasses human understanding, would guard our hearts (Philippians 4:7)!

With love and appreciation for you all!

Celina

Quiero entregarte mis sueños...

PICTURE: Thought some of you might like to picture where I'm living right now...Here's a picture of my current home (my mom is standing on the corner). My parents rent the bright and sunny apartment on the top floor. It's located in the "Zona Sur" (The part of La Paz located lower down in the valley. Thus the climate is VERY pleasant, and it's an area where many diplomats and the more wealthy Bolivians choose to live.) I have to confess I feel a little like "a fish out of water" living surrounded by such affluence and people belonging to the "upper-class"! It's definitely a completely different world from the poor forgotten little city of Potosi where I grew up.

TITLE: I've titled this blog entry: "Quiero entregarte mis sueños" ("I want to give You my dreams"). Let me explain. Last week I started getting up early each day and walking up to "La Casa de Oración" ("The House of Prayer" A place at my sister's church designated specifically for prayer and which is open from 6 am to 10 pm every day). I find it's a wonderful place to meet with and spend time with God each morning away from all the distractions I have at home. The other day a song by one of my favourite Christian singers (Jesús Adrian Romero) was played while I was at "La Casa de Oración." The first line says, "Quiero entregarte mis sueños..." God spoke to me through that song confirming a message I have been receiving from multiple sources. During my time at the deaf centre, I went through the study "Experiencing God" by Blackaby where I learnt that God wants us to join HIM in what HE'S doing. This past week I have been spending a lot of time over at the Benavides (family friends) home helping the son work on a translation of his father's book into English. There is a part in Uncle Yecid's book where he talks about no longer asking God for what "I want" but seeking His heart and what He wants--His desires, dreams and plans.

I really feel like this is a time to rest, recharge and wait on the Lord. Please be praying with me that I would be sensitive to God's voice and calling, and that He would give me clear guidance on what HE WANTS for me in 2010.

What's Next?

In my last blog I was going to share my plans for next year, but I put it off for this week.

As I get older, the more and more I realize that we cannot know the future. Our plans and speculations fall far short of the materialized future. In a world full of surprises, it is a comfort to know that our futures are in God's hands. I am a planner--big time! I continually need to learn to "let go" and "let God".

Right now my future is a big blank. I have no commitments and no concrete plans. As I spend this time in La Paz with my family, I want to seek the Lord and wait on Him to guide my steps.

Though I have no concrete plans, let me share what I am tentatively thinking...

I just got back from a week spent in Potosi with my dad where I was able to renew my Bolivian driver's license and catch up with lots of old friends. I hope to stay in La Paz for the month of December. During this time I hope to serve and be a blessing to my family and friends and get my batteries recharged for whatever comes next. In January I would like to do some traveling around Bolivia and see some friends I have not yet been able to see. By February I hope to have made some decisions and be settling down to something. I am considering taking some courses and becoming a certified sign language interpreter. There are some courses in Cochabamba that would take me several months. There are also intensive week long courses I could take that would not require me to actually move to Cochabamba (which my sister Elisa really doesn't want).

Another option I have begun to consider is to study gastronomy here in La Paz (I could do this and also take the intensive sign language courses). I do not regret having gotten my degree in Bible and Theology, but it would be nice to have a degree that is a little more practical and useful in terms of secular employment. Studies in gastronomy would also be very helpful if God were to allow my dreams of starting bakeries/cafes/restaurants to materialize down the road. My dream is to start small businesses and generate employment for deaf individuals.

Deaf Friends

During my time in Potosi, it was special to reconnect with some of my deaf friends. Wilma (in the first picture) is a deaf teacher who works at the deaf institute in Potosi (where I volunteered for many years). She came to know Christ through a Bible study we did together in her home.

My deaf friend Paty and her deaf husband, Jairo, are the couple in the second picture. Jairo is from the city of Tarija (southern Bolivia) where he and Paty are now living. They happened to be visiting Potosi, and it was special for me to see Paty and meet her husband (they are newly married).

Blessings

-A safe trip to and from Potosi (This in spite of the fact that I did some of the driving! Bolivian highways have only two lanes, and if you get stuck behind a slow moving vehicle and want to pass, it can be quite the hair raising experience!)

-Getting to see and reconnect with old friends in Potosi.

-The whole process of renewing my license went smoothly (doing any sort of paperwork in Bolivia can be quite the ordeal sometimes!)

Prayer Requests

-Wilma's continued spiritual growth.

-Paty and Jairo's spiritual salvation.

-Clear guidance for next year.

No Place Like Home!

Last week I ended my time at the centre, and my parents and Elisa were able to help transport me and my stuff to their apartment in La Paz. It has been wonderful to be with my family, and I feel like God brought me home at this time to be a support to my parents. My dad was swamped with work, and put me to work as his "secretary" preparing some outlines for a series on Romans he is doing this week, working on power point presentations, and grading his seminary students' exams. My mom is especially stressed right now with her sister in a coma back in Canada and really serious problems in the prison where she does ministry. I think she has enjoyed having a listening ear and someone who can prepare meals when she is away for the day at the prison.

This past weekend my dad and I made the 7-8 hour trip to Potosi (the city where I grew up). We are spending the week here. My dad is giving a series on the book of Romans. I am renewing my Bolivian driver's license and catching up with old friends.

I cannot come back to Potosi without feeling a lot of nostalgia! I always love being at home in our little apartment, tucked away in the corner of a plaza in the middle of downtown. The orange building on the right (in the above picture) is the Christian bookstore, and our apartment is on the second floor.

BLESSINGS:
-Time with family.
-A safe trip to Potosi.
-Getting to see and spend time with old friends.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
-Please pray that God would restore peace to the Prison of Chonchocoro where my mom does ministry and pray that my mom would rest in the Lord during this stressful time. There has already been some bloodshed and there is talk of more.
-Please pray for my Auntie Jewel who has had a stroke and is now in a coma.
-Last week I meant to mention the opportunity I had to share the gospel with the sister of one of my girls at the centre (Marianela's sister, Anaelia). She seems to be disillusioned with the Catholic church and seeking. She has been getting together with Jehovah Witnesses. Please pray that she would not be deceived by the enemy and that the seed, which was planted would bear fruit in her life and that Anaelia would come to have a personal relationship with Jesus.
-Please pray for clear guidance for next year.

Birthdays n' Goodbyes

So much has happened in the last week, it is hard to process!!! Last Tuesday was Jhesica's 11th birthday. I went into Quillacollo and managed to find a cake with red (Jhesica's favourite colour) icing! It was quite the ordeal carrying a cake on the crowded "mini bus" (more like a van). I was praying the whole way that I would get the cake safely to the centre! Thankfully I got away with only a small bit of icing being brushed off by the lady next to me.

In the afternoon there was much excitement as we set the table and brought out the cake, coke (a favourite drink with the girls), and "rollo de queso" (a kind of cheese roll). We enjoyed our birthday "feast," and, most importantly of all, Jhesica seemed very happy! (Can you tell by the smile on her face in the first picture?)

On Saturday we had the closing ceremony where there were awards given and everything was wrapped up for the school year. The centre was a busy place with parents arriving for the ceremony and then preparing to take their children home. Of the girls, Jhesica was the only one to leave that day with her family.

Sunday was a cold rainy day, so the girls spent the day indoors, and I started working on my packing after our Sunday morning meeting.

On Monday my parents and sister, Elisa, arrived from La Paz around midday. We took the three orphans (Anahi, Manuela, and Sonia) as well as Mercedes into town to Burger King. We were celebrating Sonia's 17th birthday. It was quite the experience! Sonia didn't even seem to know how to eat a burger or an ice cream cone. I ended up juggling a melting ice cream cone (which I was trying to feed Sonia), napkins (to wipe away the ice cream that kept getting on her face), and toilet paper (to wipe her runny nose). What a mess! Then there was Manuela, sitting on my other side, barely able to eat her burger because of laughing so hard! She always laughs when she is extremely happy!

From Burger King we took the girls back to the centre and picked up my stuff. Then it was time to say some heartbreaking goodbyes. There was tears and there was a lot of bawling on Manuela's part. It was heart-wrenching to hear Manuela's wails as I headed out the door. It was overcast and raining, adding to the melancholy of the moment. As we drove away, I lifted up Manuela in prayer, asking God to somehow put His arms around her and comfort her.

BLESSINGS:

-God answered my prayers and my time at the centre ended well.

-Special birthday celebrations!

-My parents and sister were able and willing to come and help me pick up my stuff!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

-That God would be comforting the girls--especially Manuela and Sonia who have no family and will be staying at the centre for the whole summer vacation (remember we are in the southern hemisphere!)

-That I would be using my time wisely.

-For clear guidance for plans for next year (more on that in my next blog entry).

Check out the Centre

I thought it was about time I put up some pictures of the actual centre, so you all can picture where it is I have been living for the last few months. I was just showing these pictures to some friends this past weekend, and they were surprised at how nice the centre seems. Although it' s true that we have beautiful large grounds, etc., pictures can be deceiving, and sadly on closer inspection things are very run down and dirty.

Picture # 1: The entrance to the "Centro Cristiano Para Sordos" (The Christian Centre for the Deaf).
Picture # 2: A picture of the dining hall. The palm tree reminds me that I am living in a semi-tropical location.
Picture # 3: Looking out from the dining hall towards the class rooms (building far left), the offices (straight ahead), and another random building (on the right).
Picture # 4: The girls' dorm building and the park.
Picture # 5: The common area inside the dorm. This is a typical picture of what it looks like in the afternoons. Anahi is sitting on the couch knitting and talking to Mercedes. Manuela is sitting in the armchair grinning. Jhesica is walking around with the cat from upstairs, "Dukesa," and Irlanda, Marianela, and Melvi are at the table working on homework.

The Final Stretch

It's hard to believe that by this time next week my time at the centre should be over. Things are picking up speed as the end draws near. Today is Jhesica's 11th birthday, and I plan on going into Quillacollo to buy her a cake for a little tea party this afternoon, which will be a nice break from all the busyness of homework and exams.

On Saturday we have the closing ceremony and parents will be coming to pick up their children and get a report on this past year.

Blessings:

-The girls are getting better from their colds and God has kept me healthy in the midst of all the sickness.
-A special weekend with friends in Cochabamba.
-E-mails and facebook messages from friends!
-Time is not dragging by as much.
-The girls from the lower grades have been doing well in their exams.

Prayer Requests:

-I have to teach the lesson at the Thursday evening meeting. Please pray that God would give me a lesson to share and that He would speak through me despite my limitations in sign language.
-Please pray for the love, joy, strength, patience, and wisdom to finish off my time well.
-Please pray for the girls in the higher grades who still have exams that they would be diligent in their studies, do well, and pass.

Meet Monica...

This week I have a temporary addition to my family. Monica is 18 years old. She lives in the nearby town of Quillacollo with her mom (I understand her parents are separated). At one point she lived at the centre, but because of lack of funds she had to go live with her mom. Monica is in seventh grade. The threesome I have previously mentioned is actually a foursome, with Monica being the fourth member. Every day she meets Irlanda, Melvi, Marianela, and their interpreter at the nearby public school they attend. She then joins us for lunch at the centre (which is how I know her), spends the afternoon doing homework with Cecilia (the interpreter), and then goes home. Monica's mom is away on a trip this week, so she is living temporarily in the dorm, and my family of nine girls has gone up to ten!

Because I haven't spent much time with Monica, I can't tell you a lot about her but that she is very sweet. She always greets me in the dining hall and then comes to give me a kiss goodbye before leaving.

Pleasant Plazas

In addition to a picture with Monica, I have included some other pictures. As I have free time in the mornings while the girls are in school, I have found different ways to keep myself busy. One feature I love about cities/towns in Latin America is the plazas. Several weeks ago, I discovered the nearby plaza here in Vinto. I love the walk to get there, which is along the train tracks (second picture). One of the aspects I love about this particular plaza (third picture) is that it is usually quite quiet with few people milling about, so I can always find an empty bench (fourth picture) on which to sit for a good while with a good book and chocolate (utter bliss!).

Blessings:

-Monica's life.

-Vinto's plaza.

-We just had a long weekend for all-saints day (Boliva is a Catholic country), and I had to work. On the Monday I was able to take the few girls who stayed for the weekend out for the day to my friend's grandma's house in the nearby town of Quillacollo. We had a very special day, and I think it did the girls good to be able to get away from the centre for a bit.

Prayer Requests:

-Please pray for the spiritual salvation of Monica's family and for extra grace for her with the pain of her parents separation, etc.

-I have less than two weeks left here at the centre. Please pray for extra grace, love, patience, and wisdom to finish off my time well.

-Please pray for the girls as they are entering exams to be able to finish off the school year well.

Meet Jhesica...

Last, but definitely not least, let me introduce Jhesica, the "baby" of our "family." Jhesica is 10 years old but will be turning 11 next month. Her favourite colour is red. She is from the city of Oruro (the capital of the department of Oruro) about three hours away from here. I previously said that Marianela was one of the only girls from a Christian family. I was mistaken. It turns out Marianela's family is not Christian. It is Jhesica who is the only girl with a Christian family. She is the oldest of three children, and her brother Max (8 years old) is also deaf and a student at the centre. Jhesica is in second grade and is quite bright. She picks things up very fast.

Because of living with all older girls in their teens, Jhesica often acts more like a teenager than the little girl she still is. The director of the centre thinks it is a good idea if Jhesica spends time with the girls who live upstairs, and that way she can have time to "be" and play like a little girl. It doesn't always work out, because Jhesica has a strong personality and so does one of the girls from upstairs, so that often results in clashes.

Jhesica is very strong-willed, and I have had some obedience issues, but for the most part she cooperates and tries to respect my authority. Sometimes, when I ask her to do something, she likes to salute like a soldier and then carry out my order. She also likes to serve me. She often doesn't allow me to wash my own dishes but takes them from me and washes them herself.

Jhesica loves to tease me. She sometimes will grab me by the arm and tell me, "Hurry, hurry! You have to go and meet with your boyfriend!" Both Irlanda and Jhesica have created an imaginary boyfriend for me, "David." David has his own sign name and everything. They love to tease me with him. Jhesica once saw a tv show where a woman had octuplets. For some reason she likes to tease me that I'm pregnant with octuplets (this despite the fact that, if anything, I have lost weight since coming here).

There is something about Jhesica that is very attractive and draws you to her. My mom came and spent a weekend with me, and I was interested to hear her make the same comment about Jhesica. It's hard to explain, but she is delightful to be around.

BLESSINGS:
-Jhesica's life!
-A weekend spent with my family in La Paz.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
-The director talked to me last week and said that the girls' grades have really gone down since I arrived (which really makes me look bad!) and some of the girls could be in danger of failing the year. Please pray that the girls would work hard, pick up their grades, and finish the school year well.
-Please pray that I would know how to be firm and keep better discipline in the dorm.
-Please continue praying that God would give me His eyes and His love for each girl.
-Please pray for joy to be my strength each day.