[My oldest daughter, Mary, who is 18, spent ten days in La Paz, Bolivia, on a mission team this summer.  Here is one day from the journal that she kept for her team.]

 olors of beads symbolizing the gospel message: black for sin, red for Jesus’ blood, etc. After the lesson, the kids asked for our signatures like we were celebrities!

July 4

        July 4th marked the first day back to school for Bolivian students, and we returned to visit Colegio Vida y Verdad. This time, we met with specific grades in the Korean church nearby the school, for a brief message, testimonies and the Chair Skit. Since we were at a Christian school, we focused on the importance of a personal relationship with Christ as opposed to simply a hand-me-down faith received from their parents. Emily, Kipper and Ian shared their testimonies to show how God can work in the lives of students. The message seemed to resound with our audience, as several middle and high school students accepted Christ.

        After these sessions, we split the team into two groups, one to teach 3rd-5th grade and the other for 1st-2nd grade. With the older group, the team taught a lesson from the Biblical parable about the woman who lost her coin and searched everywhere for it. Then they made bracelets with five colors of beads symbolizing the gospel message: black for sin, red for Jesus’ blood, etc. After the lesson, the kids asked for our signatures like we were celebrities!

        With the younger children, we played outdoor games and made balloon animals. After many requests for elephant balloon animals at El Alto, we learned to restrict the balloon options to three: perro (dog), sombrero (hat), or espada (sword). Having released some of their energy, Debbie Cox taught this group a Bible lesson.

        That afternoon, some of the team went on a final shopping run, while others opted to rest. In my posse of jewelry-hunting women, we found a little girl wandering in the street. Probably younger than two years old, this little girl stood only yards away from oncoming traffic. We set out to find her mother in the nearby shops, and couldn’t track her down after asking several people. Finally, with some in our group contemplating adopting this child, we got a lead. Behind the storefronts, we wandered through a slum with sewage running in the narrow streets. Knocking on doors, we finally found someone who reluctantly claimed the child. That episode showed us that God would hand opportunities to us even while we were shopping! 

        At the youth meeting that night, we said many goodbyes. In only a week, we had forged friendships based on Christ. The Brañez family, the Dueris, the del Castillos, and so many others had become close to our hearts. “Meeting all the people here from the church was just one of the major highlights of the trip,” as Donovan said.  The church bathed us in prayer before sending us off. “As God brought you with peace, He will return you with peace,” Marcelo said that night.

        With the younger children, we played outdoor games and made balloon animals. After many requests for elephant balloon animals at El Alto, we learned to restrict the balloon options to three: perro (dog), sombrero (hat), or espada (sword). Having released some of their energy, Debbie Cox taught this group a Bible lesson.

        That afternoon, some of the team went on a final shopping run, while others opted to rest. In my posse of jewelry-hunting women, we found a little girl wandering in the street. Probably younger than two years old, this little girl stood only yards away from oncoming traffic. We set out to find her mother in the nearby shops, and couldn’t track her down after asking several people. Finally, with some in our group contemplating adopting this child, we got a lead. Behind the storefronts, we wandered through a slum with sewage running in the narrow streets. Knocking on doors, we finally found someone who reluctantly claimed the child. That episode showed us that God would hand opportunities to us even while we were shopping! 

        At the youth meeting that night, we said many goodbyes. In only a week, we had forged friendships based on Christ. The Brañez family, the Dueris, the del Castillos, and so many others had become close to our hearts. “Meeting all the people here from the church was just one of the major highlights of the trip,” as Donovan said.  The church bathed us in prayer before sending us off. “As God brought you with peace, He will return you with peace,” Marcelo said that night.