Day 1: We all matter

First of all, before I begin this post I will be adding pictures either to a different album or back to the posts themselves. I cannot connect my phone to the hotel computer. I know that pictures can make a big difference in helping others experience the realities that I am experiencing in Bolivia.

Date: Tuesday 23 June

Upon arriving in Cochabomba, Bolivia we were greeted by some of the children from the project. Boys and girls ages 5-13 greeted us with flags and a live Mariachi band. I can certainly say that I have never been greeted by a Mariachi band upon arrival! Shortly after exiting the airport a dance party ensued in the parking lot. We danced with one another and with the children. We danced as if no one was watching though some were with quisical looks on their faces.

Later, after lunch, we went to one of the sites. There we were greeted by at least 80 kids. The kids spent months practicing their songs and dances. They did it for us. Some were very nervous. And it was quite a humbling experience to have such love lavished upon us. Love that transcends the traditional ties -  unabashed lavish love on total strangers. When have I had the capacity to do that? We do. <i know I do but perhaps there is the fear of getting hurt or betrayed. Could I love "just because" and not long for anything in return? God does and God did when roaming the Earth over 2,000 years ago. Awhile ago, a friend of mine sent me a link to a talk by Graham Cooke: The Language of Heaven. While there is much to say about that talk, Cooke brings up an interesting point about Zaccheus when he came down from the tree. Somewhere among the branches down to the ground Zaccheus, the despised tax collector, had a change of heart. He decided to reimburse everyone he ever cheated. Every single person! Something must have happened...something powerful. Jesus never scolded him. In fact, he bestowed honor on him by dining at his home. In being here in Bolivia, the answer finally came: unabashed, radical, pure, unadulterated love. The kind of love that draws us to the light and declares boldly "You are mine!" And there is nothing that will break that bond. Perhaps Zaccheus saw it in Jesus´ eyes that he loved "just because" and in and of itself was raw and transformative. Jesus is among these kids. They love because He loves. They love in spite of their conditions.

I learned from one of our interpreters that there are 7 highly polluted cities in Latin America. Cochabomba happens to be one of them. The combination of a high altitud, dust, and smog (which is so thick that you cannot through it) is quite toxic. I don´t even want to think about the health problems here. While we are here in Bolivia we will tour 3 sites: 2 Child Development Programs & 1 Child Survivor Program. Today´s site was #704. All of our sites are in the "rough side of town." At this particular site there are approximately 350 children that attend/receive care through Compassion. Each site has a church connected to it. The Pastor of this site explained that through Monterey Church´s partnership with Compassion they were able to build their kitchen and expand. At one point, he said that they were about to despair becausethey lacked funding for the expansion. It was at that moment that God connected this church with mine. I can´t help but think about the versus that speak of God´s intimacy in knowing us - the number of hairs on our heads...All of our needs matter. And the church(es) here boldly walk out on faith by praying over blueprints to continue the expansion - 2 floors above the kitchen. It´s as if God said to the Pastor "see I didn´t forget you. Watch what I can do." 

Then after seeing both of the rooms that we helpled fund, we received news that the wife of one of our group members was hospitalized back home. Her condition was fairly serious. The pastor remembered her from last year´s visit - but even if he didn´t I think his prayer would have been the same. He told us that when we pray for others, we ought to pray as if their suffering were happening in our own body because we, after all, are in one body, the body of Christ. I never heard it that way. Never have I experienced such a powerful prayer either. I never thought about interceding for someone in this manner. By the way, she was supposed to stay in the hospital overnight. She ended up leaving the hospital 3 hours later. Her husband said that her demeanor was completely restored. The pastor at this particular sight said "even though we can never re-pay you monetarily for what you have done, we have prayer. And our Father hears our prayers and answers them."