Stirrings

Crossing the street in Cochabamba requires intuition, eagle-eyes, and perfect judgment. Pedestrians do NOT have the right of way, crosswalks are afterthoughts, and red lights function more like yield signs. Manuvering the Round-About is another skill in itself; one that I am quickly learning because it is literally a matter of life and death.

However, once each year, Cochabamaba closes its streets to cars and busses, and declares a "pedestrian day". This is a phenomenon to behold; and one has to be on the guard not to be run over by bicycles as the city takes to the streets!

This year, nine evangelical churches took this opportunity to reach out to the city in creative ways of service and evangelism.
Hundreds of young people spread out down the main avenue armed with enthusiasm, boldness, servant-hearts, and matching yellow shirts.

I've included a few pictures of the day below; but for me, the most impacting was seeing the youth of the church step out in boldness as a witness of a faith that is alive and passionate and life-changing. Bolivia is so in need of revival among the young people. It was a privilege and a blessing to see the stirrings of the Holy Spirit work among them.

I got to practice my Spanish on the kids by inviting them to see the puppet shows,
admire profusely all the things they made, and pray for the hundreds of people who were touched in some way by the love of Christ.

God is doing some awesome things in Bolivia. I'm so glad that I can be part of it, and a support to the many missionaries who are working here.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and emails!

3 THINGS that have become habit in the six weeks I've been here:
1) Disinfecting all my fruits and vegetables after coming home from the grocery store.
2) Throwing my toilet paper in the garbage, NOT in the toilet.
3) Greeting people by kissing them on the cheek.

Prayer and Praise - September 13

Prayer for...

• Language acquisition (I have begun Spanish classes two nights a week).
• Opportunities and friendships to grow where I can practice Spanish.
• Please continue to pray for insight into the lives of my second graders that I might draw them nearer to the heart of Christ.
  

Praise for...

• Continued good health and stamina as I work long days.
• Our computer teacher has taken over elementary PE classes! Hooray (thank you David!).
• Deepening friendships.
  

"What other people is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near to us whenever we pray to him?" Deuteronomy 4:7

Devotion

As I slowly learn to navigate through the culture and the city, I can rejoice over small victories: single-handedly buying food at the market, vastly improving my Wally Ball skills (that's the popular sport here), getting a taxi, or baking brownies in my temperature-challenged oven.

. . . but then, I did tell the man on the phone last night that he didn't speak Spanish, instead of telling him that I don't speak Spanish. Oops!

Besides spending lots of my time at school each day, I have had opportunities to experience and explore Cochabamba. August 14 - 17, Cochabamba celebrated Urkupenia, a festival on behalf of the Virgin Mary.
During these few days, thousands of people walk to the shrine of Mary. They parade and dance and eat and buy miniature homes and cars, or money or diplomas to offer to Mary in hopes of being blessed in that way.
Watching the parades and dances and seeing the extravagant costumes was a highlight for me so far, but in the midst of the celebrations I saw the church where Jesus is still laying in a tomb, and lines of people waiting to touch a doll, and many more paying money to take a "blessed" rock home with them.

As I sat at the little shrine on the hill where Mary supposedly appeared, I was overcome with a sadness for so many who are trying and trying to get on God's "good side".

Myself, and the people I was with, spent some time praying for those who are consumed by the outward marks of devotion and miss out on the reality of our God, whose mercies are new every morning, and who made the way for us to freely enter his presence.

As you think of Bolivia, pray for a greater spiritual hunger to know the God of freedom and grace.

THANK YOU to so many for your emails and prayers. I am praying for you, please let me know how specifically.

Blessings and Grace, Kelly















In this church, there is a figure of Jesus laying in this glass coffin.














These people paid to be blessed by the priest.