Right now it’s 11:48pm and I’m
looking out of the window of an airplane, somewhere in between Miami and
Cleveland. I, along with the rest of the
team, have become well-acquainted with this view over the past 24 hours. Our day of travel started at 2am, and when this
plane lands, we’ll have spent about 13 hours in the air today. Needless to say, we’re looking forward to
getting home.
One of the benefits of our long travel day was the chance to reflect on
the time we spent together over the past ten days. We talked (and laughed) today about the
highlights of the trip, flipped through and shared our favorite pictures, and
recollected our favorite Kep James stories.
If you haven’t read through any of the previous posts on the blog, I would
encourage you to do so. Each of the students
did a fantastic job of providing a taste of our experience day-by-day.
I’d like to provide a punctuation
mark to this blog and our trip with a few thoughts of my own. I’m simply going to limit those thoughts to a
list of 10 things I have been thankful for today as I reflect on our trip to
Bolivia.
1.
I’m thankful for Eric Bean.
If you want the full story, go back and read our first post. If it wasn’t for Eric flying to Washington, D.C. last week to commandeer our visas and passports, we wouldn’t have gone on this trip. Eric, you are the real MVP.
If you want the full story, go back and read our first post. If it wasn’t for Eric flying to Washington, D.C. last week to commandeer our visas and passports, we wouldn’t have gone on this trip. Eric, you are the real MVP.
2.
I’m thankful that I live somewhat close to
sea-level.
La Paz is the highest capital city in the world. At certain points in our trip we were at over 14,000 feet altitude. To give you some perspective on how high that is; Denver is less than a third of the altitude of La Paz.
As a result of the altitude, most of the team struggled through altitude sickness at some point during the trip. Except for Tim. Tim, who often reminded all of us that he was a ‘superhero’, stood tall and mighty among us mere mortals.
La Paz is the highest capital city in the world. At certain points in our trip we were at over 14,000 feet altitude. To give you some perspective on how high that is; Denver is less than a third of the altitude of La Paz.
As a result of the altitude, most of the team struggled through altitude sickness at some point during the trip. Except for Tim. Tim, who often reminded all of us that he was a ‘superhero’, stood tall and mighty among us mere mortals.
3.
I’m thankful for Bolivian coffee.
Before we had arrived, I’d heard rumors that Bolivia was the source of some of the best coffee in the world. Those rumors proved to be true.
Before we had arrived, I’d heard rumors that Bolivia was the source of some of the best coffee in the world. Those rumors proved to be true.
Kep and Debbie took good care of us and made sure that we were well-caffeinated throughout the week. Kep even introduced us to a special dark brew of coffee mixed with cow’s blood (!?). I’m still not quite sold on the blood coffee, but I did make sure to take a couple bags of Alexander’s Coffee beans home to cherish those little delicious beans of joy for as long as I can.
4.
I’m thankful for Buñuelos.
Buñuelos are basically fried donuts smothered in syrup. Need I say more?
Buñuelos are basically fried donuts smothered in syrup. Need I say more?
5.
I’m thankful for Creation.
On almost every day of the trip, I said to myself, “this is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.” And I meant it. From the breathtaking jungle mountains in Yungas, to the shining lights arrayed along the cliffs of La Paz, to the crystal clear waters of Lake Titicaca, I was absolutely overwhelmed by the scenery, an undeniable illustration of Psalm 19:
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.
On almost every day of the trip, I said to myself, “this is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.” And I meant it. From the breathtaking jungle mountains in Yungas, to the shining lights arrayed along the cliffs of La Paz, to the crystal clear waters of Lake Titicaca, I was absolutely overwhelmed by the scenery, an undeniable illustration of Psalm 19:
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.
6.
I’m thankful for Victor.
Victor was an incredible Bolivian man who drove us around in his mini-bus all week. Not only did he drive us around for hours upon hours, but simultaneously tolerated Connor’s songwriting and rapping in the backseat. I’m actually starting to think that he may have hit that one speedbump really hard on purpose.
Victor was an incredible Bolivian man who drove us around in his mini-bus all week. Not only did he drive us around for hours upon hours, but simultaneously tolerated Connor’s songwriting and rapping in the backseat. I’m actually starting to think that he may have hit that one speedbump really hard on purpose.
7.
I’m thankful for Patti.
Patti cooked food for our team for most of the trip and she crafted some absolutely amazing meals. There wasn’t a meal on our trip where we weren’t well-fed with more than enough delicious food. Patti also introduced us to Buñuelos. God bless you Patti, God bless you.
Patti cooked food for our team for most of the trip and she crafted some absolutely amazing meals. There wasn’t a meal on our trip where we weren’t well-fed with more than enough delicious food. Patti also introduced us to Buñuelos. God bless you Patti, God bless you.
8.
I’m thankful for our team.
Philip, Joe, Tim, Trevor, Connor, Noah, Brandon, Colleen, Melissa, Allie, Anna, and Whitney: You are a super-team in the truest sense of the word, the Golden State Warriors have nothing on you. Thank you for working so hard, for following your leaders, for getting along with each other, for loving your Bolivian neighbors, treating others as more significant than yourselves, and for taking ten days out of your summer to share the gospel with people who need to hear it.
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Phil. 3:3-6
Philip, Joe, Tim, Trevor, Connor, Noah, Brandon, Colleen, Melissa, Allie, Anna, and Whitney: You are a super-team in the truest sense of the word, the Golden State Warriors have nothing on you. Thank you for working so hard, for following your leaders, for getting along with each other, for loving your Bolivian neighbors, treating others as more significant than yourselves, and for taking ten days out of your summer to share the gospel with people who need to hear it.
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Phil. 3:3-6
9.
I’m thankful for Kep and Debbie.
I grew up at Parkside, so I had always heard about Kep and Debbie, prayed for them when I came across their names in the prayer calendar, and had interacted with Kep a few times. But on this trip I had the opportunity to really get to know both of them for the first time.
It was so clear, even in the few days that we spent with them, that Kep and Debbie’s lives are all about other people, and not about themselves. We talked a lot with the students about having a Philippians 2 mindset throughout the week, and it was very helpful to have Kep and Debbie with us as a living illustration of what that looks like.
Kep was our fearless leader, an endless fount of information, our all-time favorite storyteller, and a humble servant to our group and to everyone we encountered along our way. Debbie was our sweet, kind, loving, and hospitable caregiver. Thank you, Debbie, for helping so many of us weak Americans deal with our altitude sickness.
I grew up at Parkside, so I had always heard about Kep and Debbie, prayed for them when I came across their names in the prayer calendar, and had interacted with Kep a few times. But on this trip I had the opportunity to really get to know both of them for the first time.
It was so clear, even in the few days that we spent with them, that Kep and Debbie’s lives are all about other people, and not about themselves. We talked a lot with the students about having a Philippians 2 mindset throughout the week, and it was very helpful to have Kep and Debbie with us as a living illustration of what that looks like.
Kep was our fearless leader, an endless fount of information, our all-time favorite storyteller, and a humble servant to our group and to everyone we encountered along our way. Debbie was our sweet, kind, loving, and hospitable caregiver. Thank you, Debbie, for helping so many of us weak Americans deal with our altitude sickness.
It was sad to say goodbye to both of you,
but we are so thankful for the gospel partnership we have with you that was
strengthened and enjoyed over the past 10 days.
10. I’m
thankful for the Gospel.
Solo de Jesus la Sangre.
Those were words that we sang on Sunday morning as we worshipped at La Comunidad with our Bolivian brothers and sisters.
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.
How strange it is that there was a man beaten, humiliated, and crucified 2000 years ago in the middle east, and now, in places as vastly different as the United States and Bolivia, we sing of the blood that he shed?
How amazing is it, that the blood Jesus shed on that cross was poured out for Bolivians, Americans, Africans, Australians, Asians, of every tribe tongue and nation?
Solo de Jesus la Sangre.
Those were words that we sang on Sunday morning as we worshipped at La Comunidad with our Bolivian brothers and sisters.
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.
How strange it is that there was a man beaten, humiliated, and crucified 2000 years ago in the middle east, and now, in places as vastly different as the United States and Bolivia, we sing of the blood that he shed?
How amazing is it, that the blood Jesus shed on that cross was poured out for Bolivians, Americans, Africans, Australians, Asians, of every tribe tongue and nation?
I’ve been reminded in wonderful
ways this week that the good news of Jesus Christ, crucified, dead, buried, and
resurrected is a gospel that knows no borders.
The grace of God reaches out to
every sinner, regardless of race, nationality, and geography.
My prayer has been and will continue
to be for my students to be gripped by this reality and to live on mission,
telling others of this amazing grace, and to share the good news that all can
be saved Solo de Jesus la Sangre.
We
go to all the world
With
Kingdom hope unfurled
No
other name has power to save
But
Jesus Christ the Lord
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