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