Hot, Cold or Caramel?

I never know how to start these posts but I guess I'll just start with where Phil left off. Saturday morning the three of us met Pat and Terry at their house for a Canadian-style breakfast and to go over some administrative stuff. This week and the next we will be visiting various ministries around Cochabamba to choose which one we would like to get involved in. It is always nice to see Pat and Terry because, for me at least, they provide a sense of family and a sense of Canada. Anyways, after breakfast Pat took us to one of her favorite Saturday markets to show us where to get the good stuff. It was really neat there. Lots of people and energy, and lots of fresh and cheap fruits and vegetables. Later in the afternoon we stopped by what is known as the baby washing ministry. Every Saturday the ministry sets up an entire stashion in one of the downtown squares to wash babies, children and women who do not have access to running water. We wern't there for long before we had to leave but I am not going to lie it was hard to do. The children there instantly latched onto us. It opened our eyes to some of the realities of Bolivia and I am sure we will be returning in the future. Afterwards we went to the youth group at Calama church.

On Sunday we helped lead worhip at the English service with Ally, Julio and Boris. Ally is another missionary from the states and Julio and Boris are from Cochambamba. (Julio if you ever read this I sincerly apologize for potentially butchering the spelling of your name). After Church we went over to Allison's house, the Scottish lady I mentioned before, for a pot luck BBQ. It was a lot of fun. It had been pouring all morning so Phil and I prayed that it would stop raining for the potluck and it did. It was warm and sunny. I am amazed at how God chooses to show us the power of prayer and His provision in the simplest of circumstances.

Sunday evening we went to an evening service at another church called Muyarina. (Ask me in three months what that means). After the service we went out to a restaurant with a bunch of the young adults we have been getting to know. One thing that I was not expecting here, but which as been a huge blessing is the community of young adults that have instantly befriended us. They are a lot of fun and super patient with our linguistic limitations. You always know when you've made a mistake when they start laughing though. When aksed if the drink I ordered was cold or hot I answered "It's caramel". Let's just say I have 'sorry' in Spanish down pat.

This week we are going to be doing our last full week of Spanish lessons, some ministry touring and maybe some maintence work at the Seminary. However, I am sure one of us will write soon to let you know. Thanks for reading and for your prayers.

-Tarryn

Free Hands

Hello again faithful blogreaders,

Today after 3 hours of intense spanish Dave, Tarryn and I visited a ministry just down the street from our house called Free Hands. We were able to spend several hours with the women and their children at Free Hands and we were given the opportunity to see what their unique ministry is all about. 

Free Hands is a ministry that works with female prisoners in San Sebastian Jail and those who are on probation.  These women are, for the most part, trapped by terrible poverty without much hope of change in their circumstances and for reasons related to this are, or were, imprisoned. When in prison the women need to buy clothes, food and water for themselves and their children who are forced to live in prison with them. When they leave the prison the bonds of debt and poverty remain. Debts accumulated in prison need to be repaid and living accommodation costs need to be met. Free Hands works alongside these women developing their craft talents creating goods so that they may earn an honest wage, break the chains of debt and support their children. 

While at Free Hands we were able to see the women hard at work, making beautiful things from furnishings to handbags to kitchenware. I am posting a link to the Free Hands website so that you can take a look for yourself at some of the awesome goods. The online store delivers around the world, and I promise that if you purchase merchandise from the store not only will you love your hand-made Bolivian keepsake but all profits go directly to the women, giving them back their dignity and confidence in their self worth. 

Final Thought: When looking into the eyes of another who is unlike you in appearance, personality or life-experience, is it not easier to see how you are dissimilar than to notice what you have in common? ... I ask you, in the end does not every eye cry? Does not every voice laugh? Does not every heart break? And does not every soul need a Saviour? 

- Phil

Church, School and a Party

Things are continuing to go well here in Cochabamba. Sunday morning, after returning from the youth retreat the night before, the three of us helped lead worship for the English service at the church we have been attending. As some of you may know, I have never been on a worship team before nor do I usually sing in front of large groups of people. Ivan has a funny way of getting us to do things, such as singing solos, which I will apparently be doing in the near future. It makes me laugh though because he is so nice and I have to remember that it is God we are doing this for. 

 

So far this week we have been continuing our Spanish lessons which we got to use at Paola's birthday party last night. Paola is one of the seminary students that we have become friends with. The three of us joined about eight of her friends for dinner last night. I conformed to group pressure and ordered, along with everyone else, about two pounds of the cheesiest lasagna I have ever seen. I could have fed my family with it! They didn't think I could eat but I showed them. I downed it all. Ok, that may be lie. I only ate about an 8th of it. I am no match for the Bolivians. 

 

Thursday night we are going to attend for the second time, a English bible study hosted by a lady with the thickest Scottish accent and who we have each fallen in love with. Last time she served scones and English tea. The bible study consisted of Americans, Canadians, British and of course a Scott. It has been really interesting how Bolivia has provided a little taste of many different cultures. I have to end this post here because we have some friends coming over soon. Now hopefully this post will bring in a lot of views to the site because Phil is all about that. Just kidding. However, it is true that all of you have done a great job of finding a way to encourage us and show your support all the way from Canada whether that be visiting the site or sending an e-mail. Thank-you.

-Tarryn

Camping in the Rainforest

So, as promised, this post is our most exciting yet. We just got back from helping at a weekend youth retreat in the Bolivian Rainforest, and believe you me, do we have some amazing stories!

Friday afternoon we packed our bags and headed for a camp in the Bolivian Jungle. The three of us, along with Ivan Gutierrez (one of our missionaries) and a new Bolivian friend 

Jhaki began the 4 hour journey, by Jeep, down the mountainside. The climate drastically changed very quickly to hot and humid as we descended from 3100 meters to less than 300 meters in under 4 hours. Upon arriving at the campgrounds we were greeted by more than 100 youth and lots of camp leaders and let's just say the adventure had only just begun!The theme for the weekend was "Transformados" (you know... "Transformers Robots in Disguise") and the theme verse was Romans 12:2 which reads, "do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind". Terry Janke (our other main missionary contact) gave a sermon on what it meant to conform to the world and how in youth it is easy to conform, but that we are called to transformation in Christ. In response, Dave was given an opportunity to share his testimony with the kids about his own life transformation (Terry translated). There was also a great worship band who led us in inspirational worship (in spanish of course) and the three of us even got to sing for them in English.

We had so much fun playing with the youth and hands-down our favourite part of Saturday was the swim time. Originally the three of us had not planned (or prepared) to swim with the group, however, our new Bolivian friends were quite adamant that we swam. So much so, that we ALL ended up in the pool, fully clothed (the Bolivians never expected that little Tarryn could put up such a fight)! The water was refreshing on such a hot and sticky day, and the company couldn't have been better.

After changing into some dry clothes, we were ready for some more camp fun. I wish I had the time to write about all the amazing experiences of this weekend, but it is the Sabbath and siesta comes earlier on Sundays. So, sadly this blog comes to an end. 

Final thought: In the extravagant complexity of creation... in the amazing sights and sounds of a rainforest... in the simplicity of a smile when words are not understood... in the realization that in the end, we are all the same... There is love.

-Phil

Heads-Up...

I am just leaving you all a short "heads-up" for the next couple of days. Our team will be participating in a youth camp this weekend about 4 hours from the city of Cochabamba. We ask that you pray: for us as we travel through the countryside, as we get to know kids at the camp, and also for the campers that they would receive well the Gospel message.

This post is short, but we promise that the next will be filled with amazing camp stories of God's faithfulness yet again!

Until next time,
Phil

Getting Adjusted

Hola amigos y familia!

So as it turns out, we were all unable to elude the infamous travelers’ sickness. For each of us it consisted of tiredness, a bit of a fever and of course…Incan’s revenge. I was sick over the weekend and Phil and Tarryn got it a little bit later. Phil is still a little sick but he’s taking antibiotics and getting better. Your prayers would be appreciated.
Besides the sickness there are a few exciting and important updates. On Sunday we attended a Spanish church service at First Baptist Church. Tarryn and I couldn’t understand much but it was fun to hear some classic worship songs in Spanish (e.g. Santo, Santo, Santo…otherwise known as Holy, Holy, Holy). We also got to meet a bunch of Bolivian Baptists and a few English speaking x-patriots. Later we went to the awards ceremony for the Bolivian Baptist Olympics, which Cochabamba won this year. It was fun. It ended with a hilarious (but unbelievably skilful) choreographed dance.
On Monday we started our Spanish lessons. Classes are 9:00-10:30 and 11:00-12:30 for Tarryn and I, and 10:30-12:00 and 12:30-2:00 for Phil. They will be five days a week for the first five weeks. So far they have been really fun.
So after studying Spanish under the hot Cochabamban sun, I’m a little tired. I think I’ll go have a siesta.

Hasta luego, (Until later)

Dave

Hola!

Hola blogreaders,
This is my first time blogging (Phil is forcing me to write something. No, literally, he is breathing down my neck as I type this). So, today is our fourth day here in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Already we have met the Jankes, Terry and Pat and their children, and Ivan Gutierrez. Ivan, Pat and Terry are the missionaries we are going to be working with. They are lovely. Wednesday night we went over to Pat and Terry´s house for dinner and fireworks. Thursday we met some of the students from the Seminary. We taught them how to play Dutch Blitz and I learned how to count in Spanish. Friday, we got a head start on our homework for the semester and went downtown for dinner all by ourselves! It was a big deal. Today, Pat took us shopping at the grocery store to teach us how to shop in Bolivia (or for Dave and Phil who have obviously never been shopping, to teach them how to shop at all). Tonight we are planning on going to the young adult group at The First Baptist Church. And who knows what tomorrow will bring. Probably a little rain and some travelers´sickness.
-tarryn

WE´RE HERE!

So, after flying for about 10 hours and sitting in airports for about 9... we have arrived! The three of us stepped onto the tarmac a little earlier this morning and were greeted by the bright morning sun, a little rain and some (new) friends. Ivan, Emigdio, Paola and Laura all came to the airport to welcome us to the country and to bring us to our new appartment.

As of right now there is not much to report about... which is probably a good thing! Our connecting flights were hardly delayed, we all arrived safe and sound, and we all still have all our luggage! Thank you for all of your prayers and blessings for travelling mercies. I guess the only thing that is dissapointing is the fact that we all look like we havn´t slept in weeks (Tarryn most of all... but don´t tell her that I told you... hahaha)!

Thanks for reading! We will post again before the week is up!
Signing off for now... Felipe.

Tomorrow, WE FLY!

Hello blogreaders,

We are one day away from leaving the beautiful nation that we call home.

Just to let you all know our flight itinerary (in case you want to know roughly where we are) We are driving to the airport tomorrow to check in for 1 o'clock p.m., and our flight leaves Toronto at 4 p.m.. We will be layovering in Miami from 7 p.m.-10:20 p.m. Then flying from Miami to Santa Cruz (Bolivia), arriving at 6 a.m. Then finally flying from Santa Cruz to Cochabamba (Bolvia), arriving at 8 a.m.

We also have a few prayer requests for before we leave. The first is for traveling mercies (from the car, to the airport, to passing through foreign customs, to flight safety, and finally to arriving in the country). The second is for physical health (from altitude sickness, to digestive problems, to anxiety). The third is for the missions and the field staff in Bolivia (from the seminary, to "Casa de La Amistad", to "Free Hands", to the baby washing program, and the missionaries that keep them running).

Thank you for all your support and prayers... our next post will be from Bolivia!