Ten years ago, the pictures of missionaries captured my imagination. A week ago, I had the opportunity to join a group from St. Thomas Aquinas on a mission trip to Bolivia. Some will argue that the idea or the concept of something is somewhat different than the experience. When we experience something, we create memories of sights, sounds, scents, the emotions aroused by the event and the subsequent thoughts and reflections that emerge.
Today the pictures give us a clue as to what the trip was like. As I attempt to recollect the experience of Bolivia, I remember the cheerful sound of the children playing dodge ball at San Martin de Porres. I can see the dust rising in the air as the kids move about the field playing soccer. I recall the smell of dough and the sound of the radio, as we helped in the bakeshop. And I can feel the sadness that prevailed upon our departure. I remember the smiles of some of the kids at Santa Teresa de los Andes, as we took them out for a walk and their appreciation of the mere sight of sunlight and fresh air, despite all the challenges that they face daily.
As I recall the trip, I am filled with both joy and sadness. I am happy that we were able to make it to Bolivia. In the course of the mission trip, no miracles took place, we didn’t get to see firsthand the conversion of thousands of people or the opening up of the skies. What we did was much simpler, but no less profound. In this trip we visited, we shared, and in a very small way we participated in the daily routine of the kids in Bolivia.
A card on the mail can be a reminder that a family member or a friend is thinking about us and cares about our lives. But when we get a visit, it is an even more vivid reminder that we are remembered. If somehow we were able to make the kids in Bolivia know that they are remembered and feel that they are valued; our trip would have had purpose. If we able by our presence to convey to the kids that people care; then our mission would not be in vain.
I do feel somewhat sad after our trip. The kids at Cochabamba were extremely curious about our lives and the world outside of the city and the orphanage. How can such thirst to know and explore be met with such limited opportunity? How different would their life experience, cultural awareness, and perceptions life’s possibilities could be had these kids been raised in a middle upper class family in a developed country? I do not doubt that some of these kids will go out to the world do great things, but the must overcome more than the average person.
Throughout the course of my life, I have taken many risks with the objective of advancing my career. This time, I had a chance to take a risk for my faith. Some will argue that people don’t do anything truly selfish, as there is some benefit (albeit intrinsic) from the selfish act. I do not claim that I have not gained anything. On the contrary, I’d say that this trip has helped me grow in my faith. However, it is my hope that in the process more was done for the kids than for those of us that served them and that others in the future would feel motivated to do the same. It is my hope that through our presence and our actions, they were able to see even a slight glimmer of the light of Christ. And it is my hope that God will continue go guide and inspire us and help us use our talents and take advantage of the opportunities he places before us to serve his people.
Edwin
Friday, June 3, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Back to Reality
Hello dear friends in Christ! We are now back from our Bolivia Mission trip and it has been almost 2 days since our return. I must say that for me, these past two days have been a little numb. Numb because I am readjusting to the life that I lead before going on the trip. I am back to looking at really organized towns and cities which I must say was to some extent a shock for me. I remember feeling this when we flew over Miami coming back from Santa Cruz. From the sky, everything looked so organized, neat and proper. It was not all like that in different parts of Bolivia. I became so accustomed to looking at the scenery and the structure of the towns in Bolivia that when I saw Miami, I was surprised. Going through the motions of the day felt really numb too. I missed waking up for mass and morning prayer and being able to look forward to meeting the Ninos of San Martin De Porres or the children in Santa Theresa De Los Andes.
As I continue to ponder on the past 10 days in Bolivia being the face of Christ to the children in both the orphanages, I am amazed at how powerful our God is. I have been on various mission trips and doing missionary work in the past two years of my life. But this was a whole new experience for me. It was easy to rely on my strength to do the mission that was given to me on my previous mission works. However, during this trip, I was striped of the one thing that I do alot and best. It was talking. The very fact that I was in a country that spoke Spanish majority of the time, limited me to really simple conversations. This was hard for me to get over as I am a naturally talkative person. I love long conversations with people and it was hard for me to hold a conversation like that with the amount of Spanish that I knew. I thought that it would hinder me from bonding with the children in San Martin de Porres or with the Dominican Brothers in Cochabamba. This factor made me frustrated so many times. So, I cried out to God. I prayed. I surrendered everything to Him knowing that there was nothing more that I could have done.
Doing that, made the biggest difference. After praying, I felt such peace in myself and I felt the strength to continue to persevere and to not quit learning. God really did kept his promise as it is said in Isaiah 40:31 'But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.'
The Lord showed me, that there is absolutely no boundaries and limits that can hinder the work of the Lord from coming to past. He showed me that even with a language barrier, as long as we are open and sincere in our mission, He will provide a way. After all, we are merely empty vessels, instruments to be used by God for the fulfillment of His will. It may be a different culture or a different language but as long as we trust in Him, He will make the way.
Coming back from this trip, I feel like my faith level has been increased. It is always easy to say 'trust in God' or 'have faith in God' or 'there is nothing impossible to God' but experiencing it first hand brings a deeper meaning to those common phrases. With this experience that I have been blessed with, I know for sure that no matter where I am or what I do, God can use me to do His will. I learned first hand that it is God who equips us with the skills necessary to do His will. Some of us didn't or could not speak Spanish fluently, but were still able to communicate and even form close bonds with the people around us. Some of us felt uncomfortable carrying out some of the chores at Santa Theresa but in the end, were able to overcome it and did a far better job than what we expected. God provides us with all that we need. All we have to do is just be there and be open to allow God to work through us. Indeed, there is really nothing impossible to God.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed to this mission trip. You may have donated money or prayed for us every single day. I am here to tell you that every penny donated and every prayer prayed made this trip a BLESSING to all of us who went on it and definitely a blessing to those who encountered us. Your contributions made a way for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus and for us to be touched by the love of Jesus through the people whom we encountered. I pray that God will bless you abundantly and give you tenfold of what you gave us. Thank you and God bless !
As I continue to ponder on the past 10 days in Bolivia being the face of Christ to the children in both the orphanages, I am amazed at how powerful our God is. I have been on various mission trips and doing missionary work in the past two years of my life. But this was a whole new experience for me. It was easy to rely on my strength to do the mission that was given to me on my previous mission works. However, during this trip, I was striped of the one thing that I do alot and best. It was talking. The very fact that I was in a country that spoke Spanish majority of the time, limited me to really simple conversations. This was hard for me to get over as I am a naturally talkative person. I love long conversations with people and it was hard for me to hold a conversation like that with the amount of Spanish that I knew. I thought that it would hinder me from bonding with the children in San Martin de Porres or with the Dominican Brothers in Cochabamba. This factor made me frustrated so many times. So, I cried out to God. I prayed. I surrendered everything to Him knowing that there was nothing more that I could have done.
Doing that, made the biggest difference. After praying, I felt such peace in myself and I felt the strength to continue to persevere and to not quit learning. God really did kept his promise as it is said in Isaiah 40:31 'But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.'
The Lord showed me, that there is absolutely no boundaries and limits that can hinder the work of the Lord from coming to past. He showed me that even with a language barrier, as long as we are open and sincere in our mission, He will provide a way. After all, we are merely empty vessels, instruments to be used by God for the fulfillment of His will. It may be a different culture or a different language but as long as we trust in Him, He will make the way.
Coming back from this trip, I feel like my faith level has been increased. It is always easy to say 'trust in God' or 'have faith in God' or 'there is nothing impossible to God' but experiencing it first hand brings a deeper meaning to those common phrases. With this experience that I have been blessed with, I know for sure that no matter where I am or what I do, God can use me to do His will. I learned first hand that it is God who equips us with the skills necessary to do His will. Some of us didn't or could not speak Spanish fluently, but were still able to communicate and even form close bonds with the people around us. Some of us felt uncomfortable carrying out some of the chores at Santa Theresa but in the end, were able to overcome it and did a far better job than what we expected. God provides us with all that we need. All we have to do is just be there and be open to allow God to work through us. Indeed, there is really nothing impossible to God.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed to this mission trip. You may have donated money or prayed for us every single day. I am here to tell you that every penny donated and every prayer prayed made this trip a BLESSING to all of us who went on it and definitely a blessing to those who encountered us. Your contributions made a way for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus and for us to be touched by the love of Jesus through the people whom we encountered. I pray that God will bless you abundantly and give you tenfold of what you gave us. Thank you and God bless !
Santa Teresa de los Andes
After returning from Concepcion, we spent two days at Santa Teresa de los Andes. This is a center that takes care of people with serious disabilities. This is the part of the trip that I consider the hardest, as it stretched me beyond my zone of comfort. It was truly moving to see the challenges faced by the people at this center, but equally moving to see how the staff took care of its residents. Some of us were more comfortable at performing the tasks necessary to help than others, however, even those of us who weren't that comfortable, steeped up to the plate. The afternoons were spent with the priests at Cotoca, which were very gracious hosts in showing us the area.
A break at Concepcion
After leaving the San Martin de Porres Orphanage, we spent two days getting to know Bolivia a bit better. Our journey, again, involved some travel. We first took an overnight bus from Cochabamba to Santa Cruz. Although the seats were prety comfortable, it was still a very long ride. After arriving at Santa Cruz, our guide took us away from the city towards visiting the smaller towns of Concepcion, San Javier and Santa Rita. Many of these towns were founded by Jesuit priests who came on missions during the period of colonization of Bolivia. The towns still conserve some of the original buildings and churches built by the Jesuits. It was interesting to see the mix of religion and local traditions displayed in the artwork. The two days we spent were fun in that they typically ended with a night of kareokee.
San Martin de Porres - Part II
It has been a while since I write on this blog. However, there is much to tell about the remaining days at San Martin de Pores near the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia. During our second day at this center, some of us spent some time in the library with the kids. First, some of us learned how to play "uno diez" - a game literally translated to one ten. Later, a kid asked if I could sing. Not knowing what was ahead of me, I said yes. All of a sudden he gave me some lyrics, played some music in the background and had me sing. It did not help that other people in the room including Alfredo encouraged it. I think its possibly some of the worst singing, I've done, but they seemed to like it (or at the very least be amused by it). After we left the orphanage, we visited the sanctuary to the virgin of urkupina.
Our last day at the orphanage, began with a game of "quemado" or dodge ball. The kids continued to be curious about the different hobbies or abilities we, missionaries, had. Lindsay and I gave a quick lesson on Latin dance and others showed their respective talents. At last, departure time came. It was as you'd expect, a sad goodbye. Later that day, we visited the market at Cochabamba, which was made up of multiple small booths containing almost everything you can expect to see in a department store.
Our last day at the orphanage, began with a game of "quemado" or dodge ball. The kids continued to be curious about the different hobbies or abilities we, missionaries, had. Lindsay and I gave a quick lesson on Latin dance and others showed their respective talents. At last, departure time came. It was as you'd expect, a sad goodbye. Later that day, we visited the market at Cochabamba, which was made up of multiple small booths containing almost everything you can expect to see in a department store.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Part 3- Santa Cruz
Friends and family,
Hope all is well in the states, we´ll be back tomorrow! The past few days we have been working at an orphanage for children with special needs called Santa Theresa de Los Andes. It has been a moving experience and I´m so amazed by the people that work at the orphanage. There are 147 children and adults with special needs there and they are one of three centers in Bolivia that accepts children with special needs. The children here are completely dependent on the care of others and the majority can not preform basic tasks that we take for granted. Over the past few days, we have been taking them on walks, bathing them, dressing them, and feeding them, all of which have been both rewarding and fun. Once I got to know a few of them personally, it became easier to relate and spend time with them. One of the girls, Felicidad (literally translated into English is happiness), smiled at every opportunity for human interaction. I was so touched by her light hearted spirit and she reminded me of the importance of simply being there for other people and helping them when they need it. I know I learned a great lesson in dependency and am better able to realize the love and support that is constantly present.
Speaking of love, I became friends with the altar server children at the church that played in the evenings. They were very fun and we played a lot of soccer and basketball. They loved the fact that we were from America and we seemed to be the gateway to a million and one questions about America. I love those kids and I think everyone should get at least one opportunity in their lives to feel as popular as Justin Beber, as I have felt the past few nights.
So after our last group reflection, I wanted to leave with a few ending thoughts. I´m so grateful for this experience and for all of the people that have supported me along the way. One of the lessons that will remain with me is how lucky I really am. I have a loving family, an awesome group of friends, and opportunities to impact my community on a daily basis. I don´t want to forget these opportunities to live in the light of God and serve his people to the best of my abilities. Also, I´m healthy and fully able to serve others around me. I hope to channel my opportunities and efforts to help some of the main problems in Bolivia and around the world, such as sanitation, political stability, poverty, and injustice. These issues require massive support groups to make change and I plan on extending an encouraging influence to those who need it. I know I won´t ever forget Bolivia. I am so content with this trip and the amazing experiences we have had as a group. Thanks to everyone who helped and prayed for us and God bless.
Much love,
Lindsay
Hope all is well in the states, we´ll be back tomorrow! The past few days we have been working at an orphanage for children with special needs called Santa Theresa de Los Andes. It has been a moving experience and I´m so amazed by the people that work at the orphanage. There are 147 children and adults with special needs there and they are one of three centers in Bolivia that accepts children with special needs. The children here are completely dependent on the care of others and the majority can not preform basic tasks that we take for granted. Over the past few days, we have been taking them on walks, bathing them, dressing them, and feeding them, all of which have been both rewarding and fun. Once I got to know a few of them personally, it became easier to relate and spend time with them. One of the girls, Felicidad (literally translated into English is happiness), smiled at every opportunity for human interaction. I was so touched by her light hearted spirit and she reminded me of the importance of simply being there for other people and helping them when they need it. I know I learned a great lesson in dependency and am better able to realize the love and support that is constantly present.
Speaking of love, I became friends with the altar server children at the church that played in the evenings. They were very fun and we played a lot of soccer and basketball. They loved the fact that we were from America and we seemed to be the gateway to a million and one questions about America. I love those kids and I think everyone should get at least one opportunity in their lives to feel as popular as Justin Beber, as I have felt the past few nights.
So after our last group reflection, I wanted to leave with a few ending thoughts. I´m so grateful for this experience and for all of the people that have supported me along the way. One of the lessons that will remain with me is how lucky I really am. I have a loving family, an awesome group of friends, and opportunities to impact my community on a daily basis. I don´t want to forget these opportunities to live in the light of God and serve his people to the best of my abilities. Also, I´m healthy and fully able to serve others around me. I hope to channel my opportunities and efforts to help some of the main problems in Bolivia and around the world, such as sanitation, political stability, poverty, and injustice. These issues require massive support groups to make change and I plan on extending an encouraging influence to those who need it. I know I won´t ever forget Bolivia. I am so content with this trip and the amazing experiences we have had as a group. Thanks to everyone who helped and prayed for us and God bless.
Much love,
Lindsay
...near the end
Tomorrow we leave for the Santa Cruz airport at 5:30AM and will be arriving in Lafayette IN, after a layover in Miami, late at night.
Our experience in Bolivia has certainy been diverse for all of us. On one end, from the seven of us students, I was the most comfortable one with the transportation, language, food, and general culture. On another extreme, some of us felt like in a completely different world; not only that but they were much more sensitive to the differences of way of life in Cochabamba and Santa Cruz / Cotoca.
Yesterday we toured the facilities in Santa Teresa de los Andes in the morning. This is a home for the physically and mentally disabled, mostly abandoned by their families. Often, newborns are left at the steps of the gate because their parents know that they cannot provide for them. Within the compound there are several smaller houses (buildings) where people with different dissabilities are housed. They range from the highly functioning autistic individuals who have full motor cotroll of their bodies to those who are moved from crib, to mat, to wheelchair, back to a mat and then a crib all day, everyday for the rest of their lives.
Once again, our responce was very diverse. Some of us were very comfortable interacting the people housed in these homes while others were not. I must admit that I was initially uncomfortable with the sight of human souls trapped in their disabled bodies. It was hard for me and a few others to rid ourselves of discomfort and even fear of the unknown but I think we did very well.
Today we arrived at Santa Teresa de los Andes around 8:30AM after they had been fed. They were ready to be bathed and changed. Kenny, Edwin and I went to the house where the disabled individuals (I say individuals because not all of them were children) had a condition that affected the full development of their cognitive abilities as well as bend their joints (I don´t remember the name of this condition).
It was quite a daunting task for me but seeing Kenny dive into the task encouraged me to do the same. Edwin followed as well. We learned quickly how to dry them off and put their clothes on. The women running the home suggested we should stay the rest of the year in order to help! I think we did a great job and I´m happy I was there.
More importantly, something dawned on me while one of them (Pedrito) and I went for a walk on his wheelchair. At first I was nervous and concerned: what will he do? what should I do? how do I interact with him? what would he like me to do? Those concernes melted away once I realized I was in the presence of someone who was guaranteed a seat at the Lord´s banquet.
I had heard before that I would encounter saints but those words didn´t mean much to me until that moment. Suddenly I could imagine myself, if reaching paradise, a conversation with Pedrito about that very moment. What would he say then? What would I say then? And the questions that were making me nervous and unsure became the same questions that lifted my spirit and eagerness to continue our encounter.
Tonight we rest from a simple yet good day of work at Santa Teresa de los Andes. It rained intensely for a few hours and that has prevented us from doing some last minute touring as we had planned. Neverthless we leave Bolivia having learned much from our many encounters and diverse experiences.
Our experience in Bolivia has certainy been diverse for all of us. On one end, from the seven of us students, I was the most comfortable one with the transportation, language, food, and general culture. On another extreme, some of us felt like in a completely different world; not only that but they were much more sensitive to the differences of way of life in Cochabamba and Santa Cruz / Cotoca.
Yesterday we toured the facilities in Santa Teresa de los Andes in the morning. This is a home for the physically and mentally disabled, mostly abandoned by their families. Often, newborns are left at the steps of the gate because their parents know that they cannot provide for them. Within the compound there are several smaller houses (buildings) where people with different dissabilities are housed. They range from the highly functioning autistic individuals who have full motor cotroll of their bodies to those who are moved from crib, to mat, to wheelchair, back to a mat and then a crib all day, everyday for the rest of their lives.
Once again, our responce was very diverse. Some of us were very comfortable interacting the people housed in these homes while others were not. I must admit that I was initially uncomfortable with the sight of human souls trapped in their disabled bodies. It was hard for me and a few others to rid ourselves of discomfort and even fear of the unknown but I think we did very well.
Today we arrived at Santa Teresa de los Andes around 8:30AM after they had been fed. They were ready to be bathed and changed. Kenny, Edwin and I went to the house where the disabled individuals (I say individuals because not all of them were children) had a condition that affected the full development of their cognitive abilities as well as bend their joints (I don´t remember the name of this condition).
It was quite a daunting task for me but seeing Kenny dive into the task encouraged me to do the same. Edwin followed as well. We learned quickly how to dry them off and put their clothes on. The women running the home suggested we should stay the rest of the year in order to help! I think we did a great job and I´m happy I was there.
More importantly, something dawned on me while one of them (Pedrito) and I went for a walk on his wheelchair. At first I was nervous and concerned: what will he do? what should I do? how do I interact with him? what would he like me to do? Those concernes melted away once I realized I was in the presence of someone who was guaranteed a seat at the Lord´s banquet.
I had heard before that I would encounter saints but those words didn´t mean much to me until that moment. Suddenly I could imagine myself, if reaching paradise, a conversation with Pedrito about that very moment. What would he say then? What would I say then? And the questions that were making me nervous and unsure became the same questions that lifted my spirit and eagerness to continue our encounter.
Tonight we rest from a simple yet good day of work at Santa Teresa de los Andes. It rained intensely for a few hours and that has prevented us from doing some last minute touring as we had planned. Neverthless we leave Bolivia having learned much from our many encounters and diverse experiences.
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