Bolivia Reflections (post 1) : Worthiness

I am sorry that it has taken me a long time to simply sit my butt in the chair and write. In many ways, although nearly a month has gone by, I am still grappling with everything that I had experienced. I truly don't know how to process all of it. For those of you that know me (all too well), I am the type of person who appears organized but isn't. I tend to let things get cluttered beyond my control and then the cycle of frustration begins, followed by an attempt at cleaning and organizing. While others would see the clutter starting and act...I tend to wait. It's insanity. And the mental clutter in my mind about Bolivia is piling up which is why I am writing now.

Meeting my sponsored children: 

I met both girls in one of the parks in Bolivia. It's like a mini-theme park/public park. We exchanged gifts - which is very humbling. And both girls looked at me with wide eyes and said: How far was it to come here? How did you get here? I told them that we took airplanes to get here. They asked me how many planes did it take to get here? I told them 4. And you know what, it was worth it to spend one day with them. It took a lot of money and time but it was absolutely worth it. Thank you all so much for making it possible.

Camila: 

Camila (age 6), her mother and brother, Bruno (8 mos.)

When I left for Bolivia, I had one sponsored child. Her name is Camila. On sponsor day, she was fortunate enough to have her mother and brother with her for the day. Camila's mother is the youngest of 11 children. Due to the size of her family and the lack of emphasis on educating females, she is illiterate. Her father is ill and was unable to attend that day. I'm not sure if he is truly ill or if it's a euphemism for alcoholism which is rampant in Bolivia.

The children in Bolivia shoulder a lot of responsibility in their households. Sometimes death, illness or absence, of a parent causes them to do more than I would have ever been able to do. Her mother told me that when Camila was 4 years old she became quite ill. If you've ever been to Latin America, you know that the stoves do not have a pilot light; instead, the gas comes through and you have to light a match to light the stove. I freaked out when I had to do this living in Argentina. I was 27 at the time. And hear I am listening to her tell me that a 4 year old learned how to a) light the stove, b) cut up the ingredients to make an omelette, and c) cook the whole damn thing. Camila learned to cook for her family because she had to and that even as a 4 year old, she was perceptive enough to see that she needed to help her mother.

Camila's mother runs a home-based business where she sells hand-crafts, eggs and other goods to her neighbors. She, like all parents, wants more for her children. However, she feels powerless and worthless due to her lack of education. What would you say if you had a mother sobbing in your arms knowing that your lives are so different? In the back of my mind, I started to ask the eternal question of why: Why was I born in the U.S.? Why did I have a family that is (relatively) functional? Why do I have access to clean water, food, and sanitation when so many in our human family don't? And then a little nugget of wisdom pops in my mind before I wrap myself up in all the un-ending whys: Why is not a spiritual question.  I learned that from a beautiful soul in Argentina and have carried it with me ever since. I looked at Camila's mother and started crying with her. And then I reminded her - like so many on my path have reminded me - that she is worthy.  I acknowledged the reality of her situation and told her that in my country there are children who have everything they could ever want but they don't have the one thing that they need: parents to guide them, to challenge them, and to help them reach their potential. "Yes, you are struggling but please, please see that you are the source of change for your children. It is by your faith, your love, and your willingness to encourage your children to pursue an education." She would respond: "I am nothing." And I would respond: "You are somebody , you are something, you are her Mother. And who she is and who she will be is because of you and God."

Jasmin:

Jasmin's Father, Jasmin (age 4) and yours truly

I did not intend to sponsor another child. That was certainly not my plan. I walked into the Child Development Center in the Kaara-Kaara dump and felt that familiar whisper of the Holy Spirit or whatever you want to call it: you need to sponsor a child. Again, God was asking me to do something and I didn't know how it would work out. And in a rare moment, instead of arguing with God out of (financial) fear and selfishness I said "Ok, if there's a need here, I will fulfill it." And of course, there was a need for immediate sponsorship for a child. Her name is Jasmin. She is a rambunctious 4 year old who loves Jesus and loves her life. Her mother and father are working together toward a better future. It is rare for a man to still remain in the picture. I think it's hard because they want to provide for their families but the work simply isn't there. Please pray for him. He's a very quiet man who deeply loves his daughter and wife. Their dream is simple: to buy land and own a home. It's everyone's dream. And yet, it's quite a struggle for them.

Jasmin's Dad drives a taxi and her Mother works in the dump. Her Mother, by the way, is about 7-8 months pregnant. She is sifting through trash, sorting and lifting more than she should at this point in her pregnancy. She knows that she is exposed to toxins of all sorts. Yet this is what she can do right now to help her family. Typically, people earn about $1-2 US or $6.95 - 12.95 Bolivianos per day.

My Dad is a Dentist. A dentist who loves sweets as much as anyone else does. However, growing up - at least for me (not so much for my brothers) - my parents kept me from drinking soft drinks and cotton candy seemed to be this mysterious forbidden fruit. I remember brushing my teeth with Dad at night before bed. We built simple habits that stick with me today. I can't stand going to bed without brushing my teeth. Something so simple, I used to take it for granted until I met my sponsored child Jasmin. Upon meeting Jasmin, I could see that her teeth are rotting because there is a lack of water but an abundance of Coca-cola and other soft drinks. Yes, it really is cheaper to buy soda than water. What companies like Coca-cola do this: buy the water supply for production. As a result, water is limited and more expensive. So, this is one factor in rotting teeth and the other is access to dental hygiene. Upon my return, I contacted Compassion and we will be working together to help her with her teeth so that she can build good, lifelong habits, that will help her with her overall dental health.

Activities with the girls:

Like I said, that day was so much fun. It is an unforgettable memory for all three of us. Camila, Jasmin, and I sang songs. As a matter of fact, they taught me one:

Camila and I rode the rollercoaster which is quite small but she had never been on one. She screamed the whole way. The girls and I  fed the Koi fish in the pond. And we rode the train together. Jasmin and Camila rode the carousel. Jasmin wanted to ride the Tiger and Camila rode one of the horses. You know it's presence. It's simply being present. God is found in the present. Time was all that mattered to these girls. And it is a day that will be etched in our minds. The girls asked: ¿Madrina, vas a volver? ¿Cuándo? Are you coming back? When? I told them that I don't know when I'll come back, but I will come back!