Totally tranquillo in Bolivia...

Well I arrived safely in Santa Cruz, Bolivia last tuesday, and despite everything the media says about the violence in Bolvia, it's calm in Santa Cruz right now, and I didn't have any trouble entering the country or in the country so far. :)

What am I doing in Bolivia, you might be wondering- I'm supposed to be in Paraguay this year right? Well, since MCC doesn't have an office in Paraguay, I'm apart of the Bolivian MCC team. So this Wednesday-Friday we had a 3 day retreat right outside of Santa Cruz. I'm not going to lie, it was hard to pay attention during the seminars, because if you are, or ever have learned another language, you know that it takes some extra energy to pay attention! :) But here's a story that I thought was worth telling again, and it kind of expresses some of my struggles in Paraguay as well.

Once there was a village in the countryside inhabited by wells. All of these wells filled themselves with different things: one filled itself with technology, another with books and knowledge, and yet another with paintings and sculptures. Whenever the wells would add to their collections, they would grow outwardly, instead of in depth. So they continued filling themselves unti one day one of the wells realized that he was thirsty and wanted a drink. But in order to get to the water, the well had to empty itself first. So the well emptied itself of everything that was inside of it; everything that was keeping itself from the water. And the well kept emptying and emptying, and digging and digging unti he finally found
water.

But I think what hit me the most is when afterwards is that the person who told the story added that yes, it's important that we dig for spiritual water, but also that we shouldn've just be digging for ourselves, but be a spiritual fountain to those around us. If you're reading this blog, and you've had the experience of learning another language abroad, you know that it's incredibly hard at times, and sometimes, you know, it's hard to dig for your own spiritual water, let alone be a fountain! But it's also during times like these, that we rely on God more, and see God in the small things. It's incredible how often you can see God when you make the concious effort. So that's my profound thought of the day, take from it what you will.

I'll be in Bolvia until thursday, visiting the different places where MCC Bolvia sucunds workers. Today I visited the PRONATS program, where low income children, who have jobs on the side, are able to come and get help with their school homework. PRONATS also has bible studies and "charlas" or little talks with the kids, educating them on sex, drugs, etc. All around, it seemed like a good, safe place for the kids of that neighborhood, who really have a need for a place like that.

I also visited a libray in Santa Cruz. The past two years at Hesston, I've worked in the library, so it was particularly interesting (in a librarian sort of way! haha) to see the differences. For example, did you know that (contrary to libraries in North America), most libraries in South America don't allow you to take books home? They have no way of making sure that they will get the books back, so why let them be taken out of the library? Also, some libraries have such few books, that if 20 would be checked out of the library, it would take away a pretty good percentage of the books in the library.

One of the things that I noticed, almost as soon as I walked into MCC Bolvia, was the close community here. That is defintely one of the things I miss the most- besides family and friends- a community and a place to belong. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot to be thankful. And it's been absolutly wonderful in Bolvia, but I think, come thursday, I'll be ready to get back to Paraguay. I'm even missing the lack of tereré. :)