Dave Roberts: The Saga

Hello again blogreaders, 

I will be reporting to you our adventures with Dave Roberts.  The Following events took place between February 23 and March 2 (the time overlaps the last post but the story details will be different). This blogpost will also be slightly different from usual - I will be giving you a play by-play of our week here with Dave Roberts. 

0200hrs 23/02/08 - Dave R. Arrived in Bolivia 

1900hrs 23/02/08 - We took Dave R. out for his first Bolivian dinner followed by some good ol' Bolivian fellowship at the Calama church where he was able to meet some of our friends

0900hrs 24/02/08 - English church at Calama immediately followed by more fellowship and another church service in Spanish 

1230hrs 24/02/08 - We joined the Jankes and the Gutierrezes  for a BBQ at another local missionary's house

0900hrs 25/02/08 - Our first class with Dave R. (on the topic of cross-cultural communication)

1830hrs 25/02/08 - Dave R. joined our ESL classes for the evening 

2000hrs 25/02/08 - Dave R. kicked our butts at volleyball and impressed all of our Bolivian friends (up until that point we had told them that Canadians just don't play volleyball very well... looks like we'll need a new cover)

o900hrs 26/02/08 - Our second class with Dave R. (on the topic of cross-cultural conflict)

2100hrs 26/02/08 - We took Dave R. out for some Bolivian style bowling.  We were able to introduce Dave R. to more of our friends, and yet again, he schooled us at another sport (I don't want to talk about it, it's still a sensitive area...)

0900hrs 27/02/08 - Our third class with Dave R. (on the topic of culture shock)

1500hrs 27/02/08 - Together, the four of us, braved the stairway to the Christo.  We were able to show Dave R. our beautiful city from one of the highest vantage points... and then decided to take the ski-lift back down because we were afraid Dave R. might have a heart attack trying the stairs (... ok, not really, I'm just trying to tarnish his image because we are jealous that he's more athletic than us...)

1730hrs 27/02/08 - We went out to a lovely restaurant/cafe to talk about and process the trip so far.  We were able to talk freely and personally, and once again we were all blessed by Dave R.'s wisdom and experience.

0900hrs 28/02/08 - Our fourth class with Dave R. (on the topic of communication dynamics)

2000hrs 28/02/08 - We were invited into one of our friend's houses for a birthday celebration, and Dave R. was able to see a traditional Bolivian birthday celebration with the birthday blessing, and the cake in the face, and all!  It was amazing to see Dave R. adapt and relate to the culture on so many levels so quickly... it really inspired us that we have a long way to go.

0900hrs 29/02/08 - Our final class with Dave R. (on the topic of contextualizing the message)

1600hrs 29/02/08 - We took Dave R. on a shopping adventure through the Cancha.  We explored the largest marketplace in the city for several hours and once again we were able to experience the culture with Dave R. first hand.

1200hrs 01/03/08 - Dave R. met with some of his S.I.M. colleagues here in Bolivia

1530hrs 01/03/08 - Tarryn and I took Dave R. on one more trip to the Cancha to pick up a few more things for him to take back to Canada (at this point in the week the sadness of thinking about Dave R. leaving is beginning to set in)

1700hrs 01/03/08 - Dave R. came over to our apartment for dinner.  It was spicy and... umm... well ask Tarryn how it went, I'm sure her "descriptors" are better suited for painting an image in your mind.

0900hrs 02/03/08 - Dave R. preached at the Calama English Service and we lead worship (his message on prayer was a great finish to the spiritual insight he had given us this week).  The service was followed immediately by... you guessed it, more fellowship and another church service in Spanish! (We go to a LOT of church... it is so cool). 

1300hrs 02/03/08 - The Jankes took the four of us out to lunch where we were able to hear amazing stories about the missionfield.  Stories about 7ft deadly snakes, killer hippos, poisonous bugs and other amazing stories that you really need to hear first hand. Between Dave R. and the Jankes there is so much knowledge and missional experience to learn from it is such a blessing.

1900hrs 02/03/08 - Sadly, Dave R. headed to the airport for his flight back to Canada.  

Final thought: In a world that is so big that most of us will never get to see it... How many times have we missed an opportunity to take in the experience of another?  To be able to simply sit and listen to another tell their story is perhaps one of the most profound ways to soak in wisdom far beyond our own years.  Every person you meet has a story, will you take the time to hear it?

- Phil