2009 Short term BLC trip with Ruth and Mandy
Background
Three years ago in the summer of 2006 I traveled with my oldest daughter Anna on a short term mission’s trip to Bolivia. Lake Forest has partnered with CIN to work at the Bolivia Life Center in Sipe Sipe, Bolivia, a town outside of Cochabamba. It as a team of 50 that had enormous problems. But we survived. Part of the reason for the trip was to bond with Anna which did happen in spades. Still, it was a hard, hard trip
I promised my other daughter Ruth that I would take her. We decided that this was the year, and initially I was not going. In mid-Feb. I became convicted that I most go again with her, keeping my word. You see, I am part of the been-to-Cochabamba, have the t-shirt, not going back club. Seriously, not my thing. Like the last trip was really hard, and I was not so excited about this trip.
In addition, our adopted student, Mandy Halbersleben was planning to work at the BLC as a summer host for missions. This making going more attractive and more of an imperative.
So Ruth and I signed up. I took on the task of helping with the administrative work of the trip, with the official title of “Boy Friday”. We sent out support letters, raised monies, went to meetings, shopped at the discount store and generally got ready to go. Before we knew, the date to leave July 2nd had arrived, ready or not.
My prayers going in:
• Safety especially travel
• Ruth to find something to like
• Getting home
Again, I saw this trip as going from Point A to Point B. My friend Mitch White was taking his daughter Lindsey, and as he said – it is just a trip.
The trip proper
Travel this time was actually great getting down. No lost luggage, flights that were smooth (well at least for us going through Santa Cruz, for the five through La Paz not so hot). Algie Grubbs was the trip leader again with his whole family. Plus a buch of others I know. It really is a good crew. We get to work on a room dedicated to Elliott Brumm.
The first day, Friday, was spent recouping and playing with the kids. Saturday we got to go with the kids to a park. It had this really steep climb to this waterfall. I made it but Ruth did not. It was tough and my lungs were hurting. Very nice spot but I would love to see it in their rainy season because it is bone dry.
The weather all week – cold to cool at night , while sunny and windy (which means really dusty) during the day. Dust everywhere.
Saturday night we went into town to the Youth Service at the church. It was so loud my ears hurt for two days. Seriously it was just really, really loud. Did I mention it was loud. They had dancers as well which was neat.
Sunday morning was church followed by lunch at Buffalo’s Brazilian steakhouse. Very fun and elegant. Great steak and we had a chance to shop some as well. It was a nice relaxing Sunday.
We went back to play with the boys. By now most of were acclimated. We did get to call home Sunday and it was great to hear my wife’s voice.
Well except me – my GI track never really settled down the whole week. Part of the price of the trip. Ruth had some problems as well. I think I ended up losing like ten pounds on the trip.
Between the hard work, the reduced calories and the GI issues it is not surprising.
Monday brought on the real work – we would do construction in the AM and Sidewalk Sunday School in the PM.
Monday brought hard work – I tackled the Brummeria, helping sand and paint the room. I worked mainly on this all week.
Ruth worked on breaking ground for a sand volleyball pit. That ground was hard. She worked hard all week and amazed herself.
The paint is a special story. In Bolivia they cut the paint with gas. And the way you get the paint off is with gas. The fumes are so strong that we could only paint at times for 30 minutes. I smelled like gas a lot. A whole lot.
Monday’s sidewalk sunday school was way away. The joke at the BLC is that everything is 45 minutes. Every trip on the bus is 45 minutes. We took two 45 minute trips. It took two hours to get there and it was well dark when we got home. Part of this trip is just grueling long days.
Tuesday was more work, more paint. Ruth worked on the playground equipment, sanding. I painted more and helped with taking down a mural. By the end of the week I had 5 different colors on me, with black being the hardest to come off.
That afternoon, I went shopping in the La Cancha all afternoon into the evening. We went everywhere, well off the beaten path. It was an amazing experience, and rather surreal. The experience would come back to be very providential as well. I ended up hanging out with Cristobal, the bus driver. We bonded and I jokingly call us the Cristobal y Cristobal moving company. I got to move a bunch of furniture through La Cancha, with the Bolivians pointing out the Armicano. That night we went to a mall and a grocery store. First experience for me. We saw some of the Michael Jackson funeral – Surreal.
When I got home Ruth was under the weather and I sent her to bed. She was trooper but this trip can be really hard.
Wednesday would bring the first real challenge. In the morning, I headed up a crew that painted some furniture. I got to work with Ruth and Mandy. That was fun.
That afternoon , we tried to get to town. But the town between us and Cochabamba had a blockade. It had started the day before and grew each day. We actually tried to go around but the bus broke down. Very surreal so back to the BLC. The blockade became a major issue.
Thursday was the last day and full of work – we tied dyed shirts for all of the boys and staff plus use. And we finished up the room. It was a strange day – part of the brummeria was to have three PS2s. and one had walked off during the week – still not sure what happened to it. Kind of sad but not untypical.
Ruth was sick this morning; and in fact was in bed all day. I was very worried but not much I could do. She was better by lunch. I think she was just exhausted.
Again we tried to go to sidewalk Sunday school but the blockade meant no gas. We were worried about leaving the next day so we decided to come back to BLC, again another 45 minutes on the Bus.
That night was our final night, with pizza and we finally complete the room. Lots of amazing hard work. A massive mural and tied dyed sheets, carpet, light fixtures (the only ones at BLC) and couches really made this room so special. Great effort and I was very proud to sign my name on the wall. I also have my big paw prints on a wall as well. A legacy until someone else paints over it.
We got news that night that the blockade was down; they sent some folks into town for gas and confirmed that all was well. Praise the Lord. And they threw the mayor out of office. Part of a revolution in south america. Part of going to Bolivia is living with change.
Friday, we headed home. We got to play tourist. We went to the Christ Statue, which was really amazing. I climbed to the top (as far as we go). Very cool. Lunch was at the Beaver restaurant. Saltanas which I ate and ruth had some. Not our favorites. Ruth did great with the food plus we had snack food. Snack food was really important. The food ath the BLC was good, but not enough and a little repeative.
The next stop was La Cancha where Ruth and I went shopping. We found some really cool stuff, with Ruth getting these great shoes and soccer stuff. Here is the really scary part – we got really really lost. We ended way back in the La Cancha, lost of the beaten path. Like back were the locals go. Not the touristas. I got really scared, while Ruth was great. We had gotten really turned around. BUT, I found a street corner I remembered from Tuesday night, deep in the La Cancha. From there, we made our way back and were actually the second ones to bus.
We went to the pastors house for dinner and then to the airport. Here is the one really, and only hiccup on the trip. Our flight on AeroSur from Santa Cruz to Miami was cancelled as the plane was broke. We scrambled and all got on the American flight from Santa Cruz to Miami. We had five on the plane originally and now all 25. Great job Algie.
I had a long talk with Mandy at the airport – It was bittersweat to saw goodbye. She is doing so awesome.
We made home to Miami, with a long layover. Part of our team caught an earlier flight but Ruth and I just waited. We made it home, to the family. A trip complete.
As Mitch said – got the second t-shirt. This was much easier than the first.
Some reflections
This trip was really fun – the team was great, amazing spirit and hard working. Great leadership and every one just got it.
Ruth
• She grew up some – she expanded her vision of the world and her vision of herself. One morning I had to miss the team devotion as I was moving soccer goals. Mitch was leading and later told she was on fire. She is our deep thinker.
• She grew up in my eyes – I was looking at last night across the dinner table and she looked older –
• She was a delight to others, making them laugh
Mandy
• It was simply a deep pleasure to watch a young woman be so happy. She is in her element, speaking Spanish working hard, loving the boys and leading as a host. It was really cool to see someone take a step out as an adult, fins something they are really goo at and just enjoy
• She is so awesome – if anything she is more beautiful with her hair down, in jeans at work - some guy is getting an amazing guy
• I got to spend amazing time with her one on one, loving on her. Within hours being there, she grabbed me and it was so clear that I was meant to be there. Being her “family” and getting to share it was so a delight
• It was awesome to see her interact with other and watch her lead. God is doing some cool stuff with her.
• She released the hounds – and the hounds pounced.
Me
• I went with some narrow goals and they were exceeded. I did not come away with some amazing connection to a boy nor a spiritual revelation. Instead, I came away with a deep peace. A peace from fulfilling my word to my daughter. A peace from loving on Mandy. A peace in spending time with AJ and re-affirming my desire to do college ministry and disciple young men, in collegiate and the post-collegiate ages.
• The time away from work was welcome
• Being fully engaged was very important. First time I was along for the ride; this time I was fully engaged. That made a huge difference.
• I counted just about every hour until we got home. Not that I was home sick but this is an act of true sacrifice for me. I was often physically miserable, exhausted and at times quite sick. I came home with a real nasty sinus infection that affected me for a week.
• I did not miss technology as much as I missed my connections. I did not miss home as much this time, as I was very consciously not thinking about it. But I was quite excited to come home.
Never say never but I want to be done with Bolivia for a while. But God may have other plans.
Thanks for our supporters - we really appreciate the help
Three years ago in the summer of 2006 I traveled with my oldest daughter Anna on a short term mission’s trip to Bolivia. Lake Forest has partnered with CIN to work at the Bolivia Life Center in Sipe Sipe, Bolivia, a town outside of Cochabamba. It as a team of 50 that had enormous problems. But we survived. Part of the reason for the trip was to bond with Anna which did happen in spades. Still, it was a hard, hard trip
I promised my other daughter Ruth that I would take her. We decided that this was the year, and initially I was not going. In mid-Feb. I became convicted that I most go again with her, keeping my word. You see, I am part of the been-to-Cochabamba, have the t-shirt, not going back club. Seriously, not my thing. Like the last trip was really hard, and I was not so excited about this trip.
In addition, our adopted student, Mandy Halbersleben was planning to work at the BLC as a summer host for missions. This making going more attractive and more of an imperative.
So Ruth and I signed up. I took on the task of helping with the administrative work of the trip, with the official title of “Boy Friday”. We sent out support letters, raised monies, went to meetings, shopped at the discount store and generally got ready to go. Before we knew, the date to leave July 2nd had arrived, ready or not.
My prayers going in:
• Safety especially travel
• Ruth to find something to like
• Getting home
Again, I saw this trip as going from Point A to Point B. My friend Mitch White was taking his daughter Lindsey, and as he said – it is just a trip.
The trip proper
Travel this time was actually great getting down. No lost luggage, flights that were smooth (well at least for us going through Santa Cruz, for the five through La Paz not so hot). Algie Grubbs was the trip leader again with his whole family. Plus a buch of others I know. It really is a good crew. We get to work on a room dedicated to Elliott Brumm.
The first day, Friday, was spent recouping and playing with the kids. Saturday we got to go with the kids to a park. It had this really steep climb to this waterfall. I made it but Ruth did not. It was tough and my lungs were hurting. Very nice spot but I would love to see it in their rainy season because it is bone dry.
The weather all week – cold to cool at night , while sunny and windy (which means really dusty) during the day. Dust everywhere.
Saturday night we went into town to the Youth Service at the church. It was so loud my ears hurt for two days. Seriously it was just really, really loud. Did I mention it was loud. They had dancers as well which was neat.
Sunday morning was church followed by lunch at Buffalo’s Brazilian steakhouse. Very fun and elegant. Great steak and we had a chance to shop some as well. It was a nice relaxing Sunday.
We went back to play with the boys. By now most of were acclimated. We did get to call home Sunday and it was great to hear my wife’s voice.
Well except me – my GI track never really settled down the whole week. Part of the price of the trip. Ruth had some problems as well. I think I ended up losing like ten pounds on the trip.
Between the hard work, the reduced calories and the GI issues it is not surprising.
Monday brought on the real work – we would do construction in the AM and Sidewalk Sunday School in the PM.
Monday brought hard work – I tackled the Brummeria, helping sand and paint the room. I worked mainly on this all week.
Ruth worked on breaking ground for a sand volleyball pit. That ground was hard. She worked hard all week and amazed herself.
The paint is a special story. In Bolivia they cut the paint with gas. And the way you get the paint off is with gas. The fumes are so strong that we could only paint at times for 30 minutes. I smelled like gas a lot. A whole lot.
Monday’s sidewalk sunday school was way away. The joke at the BLC is that everything is 45 minutes. Every trip on the bus is 45 minutes. We took two 45 minute trips. It took two hours to get there and it was well dark when we got home. Part of this trip is just grueling long days.
Tuesday was more work, more paint. Ruth worked on the playground equipment, sanding. I painted more and helped with taking down a mural. By the end of the week I had 5 different colors on me, with black being the hardest to come off.
That afternoon, I went shopping in the La Cancha all afternoon into the evening. We went everywhere, well off the beaten path. It was an amazing experience, and rather surreal. The experience would come back to be very providential as well. I ended up hanging out with Cristobal, the bus driver. We bonded and I jokingly call us the Cristobal y Cristobal moving company. I got to move a bunch of furniture through La Cancha, with the Bolivians pointing out the Armicano. That night we went to a mall and a grocery store. First experience for me. We saw some of the Michael Jackson funeral – Surreal.
When I got home Ruth was under the weather and I sent her to bed. She was trooper but this trip can be really hard.
Wednesday would bring the first real challenge. In the morning, I headed up a crew that painted some furniture. I got to work with Ruth and Mandy. That was fun.
That afternoon , we tried to get to town. But the town between us and Cochabamba had a blockade. It had started the day before and grew each day. We actually tried to go around but the bus broke down. Very surreal so back to the BLC. The blockade became a major issue.
Thursday was the last day and full of work – we tied dyed shirts for all of the boys and staff plus use. And we finished up the room. It was a strange day – part of the brummeria was to have three PS2s. and one had walked off during the week – still not sure what happened to it. Kind of sad but not untypical.
Ruth was sick this morning; and in fact was in bed all day. I was very worried but not much I could do. She was better by lunch. I think she was just exhausted.
Again we tried to go to sidewalk Sunday school but the blockade meant no gas. We were worried about leaving the next day so we decided to come back to BLC, again another 45 minutes on the Bus.
That night was our final night, with pizza and we finally complete the room. Lots of amazing hard work. A massive mural and tied dyed sheets, carpet, light fixtures (the only ones at BLC) and couches really made this room so special. Great effort and I was very proud to sign my name on the wall. I also have my big paw prints on a wall as well. A legacy until someone else paints over it.
We got news that night that the blockade was down; they sent some folks into town for gas and confirmed that all was well. Praise the Lord. And they threw the mayor out of office. Part of a revolution in south america. Part of going to Bolivia is living with change.
Friday, we headed home. We got to play tourist. We went to the Christ Statue, which was really amazing. I climbed to the top (as far as we go). Very cool. Lunch was at the Beaver restaurant. Saltanas which I ate and ruth had some. Not our favorites. Ruth did great with the food plus we had snack food. Snack food was really important. The food ath the BLC was good, but not enough and a little repeative.
The next stop was La Cancha where Ruth and I went shopping. We found some really cool stuff, with Ruth getting these great shoes and soccer stuff. Here is the really scary part – we got really really lost. We ended way back in the La Cancha, lost of the beaten path. Like back were the locals go. Not the touristas. I got really scared, while Ruth was great. We had gotten really turned around. BUT, I found a street corner I remembered from Tuesday night, deep in the La Cancha. From there, we made our way back and were actually the second ones to bus.
We went to the pastors house for dinner and then to the airport. Here is the one really, and only hiccup on the trip. Our flight on AeroSur from Santa Cruz to Miami was cancelled as the plane was broke. We scrambled and all got on the American flight from Santa Cruz to Miami. We had five on the plane originally and now all 25. Great job Algie.
I had a long talk with Mandy at the airport – It was bittersweat to saw goodbye. She is doing so awesome.
We made home to Miami, with a long layover. Part of our team caught an earlier flight but Ruth and I just waited. We made it home, to the family. A trip complete.
As Mitch said – got the second t-shirt. This was much easier than the first.
Some reflections
This trip was really fun – the team was great, amazing spirit and hard working. Great leadership and every one just got it.
Ruth
• She grew up some – she expanded her vision of the world and her vision of herself. One morning I had to miss the team devotion as I was moving soccer goals. Mitch was leading and later told she was on fire. She is our deep thinker.
• She grew up in my eyes – I was looking at last night across the dinner table and she looked older –
• She was a delight to others, making them laugh
Mandy
• It was simply a deep pleasure to watch a young woman be so happy. She is in her element, speaking Spanish working hard, loving the boys and leading as a host. It was really cool to see someone take a step out as an adult, fins something they are really goo at and just enjoy
• She is so awesome – if anything she is more beautiful with her hair down, in jeans at work - some guy is getting an amazing guy
• I got to spend amazing time with her one on one, loving on her. Within hours being there, she grabbed me and it was so clear that I was meant to be there. Being her “family” and getting to share it was so a delight
• It was awesome to see her interact with other and watch her lead. God is doing some cool stuff with her.
• She released the hounds – and the hounds pounced.
Me
• I went with some narrow goals and they were exceeded. I did not come away with some amazing connection to a boy nor a spiritual revelation. Instead, I came away with a deep peace. A peace from fulfilling my word to my daughter. A peace from loving on Mandy. A peace in spending time with AJ and re-affirming my desire to do college ministry and disciple young men, in collegiate and the post-collegiate ages.
• The time away from work was welcome
• Being fully engaged was very important. First time I was along for the ride; this time I was fully engaged. That made a huge difference.
• I counted just about every hour until we got home. Not that I was home sick but this is an act of true sacrifice for me. I was often physically miserable, exhausted and at times quite sick. I came home with a real nasty sinus infection that affected me for a week.
• I did not miss technology as much as I missed my connections. I did not miss home as much this time, as I was very consciously not thinking about it. But I was quite excited to come home.
Never say never but I want to be done with Bolivia for a while. But God may have other plans.
Thanks for our supporters - we really appreciate the help
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