Glory a Dios- Plans Change

With now 3 weeks behind me, I am now starting to feel settled...

Last Friday, I was just wandering around the city not too far from Plaza de San Pedro and I found a Christian book store. I was looking at the children´s books and attempting to speak with the sales people. With the little Spanish I know, I was able to communicate my purpose for traveling Bolivia and Peru, and I was very excited to discover they could understand me. I also met a pastor of a nearby church who invited me to visit on Sunday.

Sunday I visted the church, Iglesia Evangelica Rey De Reyes. The Pastor approached the front with some announcements which is when I recognized my name. He introduced me as Ariel from Boston and asked me to stand and say something. I stood up, turned around and saw 20 or so faces starring at me. I could feel my face turning red as I started to speak. I said that I speak only a little Spanish, that I am happy to be here, and concluded with Glory a Dios (which got a group response).

A projector displayed the words to the songs that played on a stereo. Although I could only make out some of the words, by the 3rd song, I was struggling to hold back tears. My teary eyes and I were not alone in this small space.

As a band set up, a man came over to sit beside me. He introduced himself as Ron (in English). It turns out that Ron and his wife, Ronda are missionaries who moved to La Paz 10 months ago with their son after visiting in 2008. After meeting the pastor during their visit, they kept in touch and the church was started on the first day of Ron and his family´s arrival back to La Paz in September of 2009. It also turns out that when Ron and his family first came to La Paz in 2008, they stayed with the same family that I am currently staying with. Now if that is not the providence of God then I dont know what is!

The band was amazing. A group of 6 talented guys singing folk music with a Christian twist. They had a CD for sale, and yes I did purchase it for a whole 10 Bolivianos ($1.50). After the music, one of the head Pastors approached the front to give a message. I attemped to follow along with my English Bible, but I would be lying if I said I understood everything he was saying. Thankfully, Ron leaned over a few times to clue me in. There is a great lack of education around the Bible in Bolivia. The best Seminary is in Ecuador which is much too far for the vas majority of Bolivians to travel to.

3 hours later, the church service ended. I am looking forward to meeting with Ron and his family later in the week.

FORK IN THE ROAD

It has become crystal clear to me how I am part of something so much larger and that my plans may not align with what God has planned for me.

All this time I was planning on leaving Bolivia and heading for Peru August 8th, after visiting Amistad Orphanage in Cochabamba. Well... after re-assessing my budget and purpose for this trip... I have decided to return to La Paz on the 8th and stay.

I had always been questioning my intinerary to Peru, mostly because I never actually had one... Yeah, it turns out I was a lot less planned and scheduled for coming to a foreign country for the first time then I am duing my daily life in Seattle- Go figure! Then after meeting Don and the amazing people who make up the small but mighty church I stumbled upon, more questions started swarming in my head. This morning, I emailed the orphanage in Trujillo, Peru briefly stating my uncertainty about traveling there.

An hour ago, I checked my email not before briefing myself first... I said to my roommate next to me, ¨I dont even know what I am hoping to see in my email... a message from God, Ariel do this...¨ I proceeded to enter my password and enter my email page to see a response from the orphanage. The email read that my cancelation may have worked out for the best because the onsite volunteer coordinator has to return to the US in August, but to keep in touch and they would love to have me another time.

So that is it! I am sticking around here in Bolivia and I believe it is for the best. I am excited to speak more with Ron and find out how I can help be a part of some of the projects he is doing.