Lucho Leche, Week 6

Luis Fernando has managed to become one of my favorite boys. I know that I say that about most if not all of the boys, but Lucho has maintained this title more steadily than most. This week I have watched him bond very tightly to one of the team members. I have to confess to a smidge of jealousy, but one glance of that mischievous smile chases it away. Lucho is a natural leader. He is the best mediano dancer of Vida Vida and he calls out the steps to anyone falling behind. The other day he rode in the front of the bus and talked to Richard, our driver, most of the way. Even though Richard has driven us the same routes for several weeks now, Lucho gave him directions as we drove, pointing out which traffic lights didn't work, when it was clear, where to turn, and drilling Richard on anything he did outside of his explicit directions. It was adorable.

Young Missionary, Week 5

My organized, task-oriented side thinks that having children on a missions team must be a nightmare. Special airfare, picky eaters, early bed times, messy work projects, walking slow…and then I stand here looking down at all of the paint dripped on the sidewalk by the adults, and I look up at the 4 year old running tirelessly with his Bolivian peers, I watch the older boys sit on the stairs and read him books in Spanish, I watch all of the boys with their eyes glued on him as he runs to his father's side after being called for. Will this 4 year old ever know the example he set by befriending these boys, giving away his Hot Wheels, and completely trusting and loving his father? That rational part of me never would have expected a 4 year old to be such a life changing missionary to so many. But now I've seen it with my own eyes.

Joy in Service, Week 4

What a fun week! This is the first "repeat" team that I have ever experienced. This group was here last year with me too. It was so nice to pick up familiar faces at the airport. And as much as I love new Bolivia stories, it was a nice change to have stories that we had shared. This group has the most servant oriented spirit that I have ever seen. At the same time they have enough drive to immediately meet the needs that they identify. The next group is from their church as well and they are daily calling home with lists of things to bring to meet needs and finish projects. What a beautiful example of how the body of Christ ought to work!! "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it" (1 Corinthians 12:26). If the mouth needs a napkin, and the hand is sitting in the lap holding one, wouldn't you expect it to move and give what it had? If it didn't, wouldn't you know that something was wrong?