Wave your Flag, and than it goes Wag

I"M BACK!

We had a few days away to pray and meet and relax and see the direction the team here is headed.  I am very excited for what the future holds and will continue to research these next few weeks.

Since I've been here I haven't really felt in much danger per se - but there have been some funny things that afterwards makes you scratch your head and be like - oh - probably not the safest.

- like having one foot inside of a trufi/bus type thing and the rest of your body hanging outside as you hold on to the door panel...it was really crowded and I was the last one in.
- or riding in a taxi with a huge tank in the back.  "Alison, that's full of natural gas - do you know why we don't use natural gas like that in the States?"  "No...please tell me."  "because if you crash you're pretty much guaranteed to blow up."  "OH...ohhhhhhhh"  Um - with the crazy driving they have here - accidents are  almost a sure thing.  Supa cool. Livin' life on the edge!
- I'll also add getting barked at by gangs of dogs as you pass their territory - not really dangerous because I act all super tough and like DONT MESS.

Yesterday we were walking to the supermarket and there was a girl trying to remove a dead dog from the middle of the street.  It's buddies (dogs) were protecting it and so everytime she tried to pick it up they would growl and bark and go after her.  We tried to help her all we could - but the angry friend dog didn't have a collar indicating that it had it's rabbi shot - and I don't have that shot either so...I did what I could which was have my friend distract that dog.

I woke up this morning supa pumped up about life.  Blasted music - danced around - drank some water.  The usual.

This song pumps me up and the video just adds to it Wavin' Flag - K'naan (click it - it is a YOUTUBE video because yes we have it in this country *coughyouknowwhoyouare*)

Monday = funday

Alison Garza

This Broken World

Two entries so close together!?  What is this?!  I will tell you - it is Alison awake at 2 a.m. with some fellow hard workers - there is a lovely coffee sitting next to me right now - and my mind is wide awake.


Just what could my mind me going crazy for?  Earlier this evening the song "oh my God" by Jars of Clay began playing on my computer.  I posted it on a earlier blog post (something to ponder) and it started an evening reflecting on the pain I've seen others endure.  This world is so broken.  Just ask a stranger about their life – and you’ll most likely hear about a difficult trial they had to endure or about a worry or something that just needs a fixin’.  I know it sounds so cynical – but it’s the truth.

Photo from Yellowstone

I can add that positive spin – I can talk about all the things that are going right.  About this great life that we have been given – the reality is – we have been given so much, and have so much to be grateful for – But.  How do we make sense of all the pain in this world?  For all the injustices?  For all the people that are hurting?  For the abused..the hungry..the tired..the lonely…the abandoned..the widowed..the lost..the depressed?  I have friends of all different beliefs that might have different ways to explain it all.  However, I strongly believe that all this pain and suffering is a result of sin.  Sin that just goes deep – generations deep – millenials deep.  I am not saying that if someone is born with a physical or mental handicap that sin is a result – I am not educated enough to explain that – what I am saying is that we are broken people in a broken world.

So what?  So what the heck do we do with that?  As a nice American I have a choice.  I can choose to live a life immersed in the American culture – trying to attain a happy life by the world’s standards.  Happiness might mean different things for different people – it could mean a nice car, a nice house, a nice family, a nice job, a nice boyfriend/girlfriend, nice trips around the world, the list goes on.  OR.  I can seek to be a light in the darkness – to “seek Justice, Love Mercy, and to Walk Humbly with our God.”  I can choose to really…really follow Jesus.  Not just go to Church and talk about it – or read books about it – or memorize verses and understand that Jesus says to serve the poor or be a legit neighbor to someone.  No – I’ve been doing that.  It means sharing in the pain and suffering – it means letting myself be broken on the inside so that I can walk along side those in pain.  It means owning up to my own brokenness and leaving it at the feet of Jesus. 

Photo from Grand Canyon

I have an inner struggle going on inside of me.  It has been going on since I was a little girl attending Bible Summer Camps.  I remember it well; that one week they focused on Surrender.  I hated the topic of surrender.  I hated it because I didn’t want to do it.  I knew what it meant.  I knew that it meant believing everything Jesus says and “taking up your cross” and quite frankly – I didn’t want to do that.  I wanted to be a comfortable Christian that just goes to church and doesn’t talk about it to her non-christian friends.  I was scared that if I were to surrender my life to Jesus – that he would ask for everything I hold dear –that there wouldn’t be comfort and that all those missionary stories I read full of trials, suffering, death and scary nights, etc. would all become a reality.  Those are fun to read and all – but to experience – I could not imagine, nor did I want to.  So my inner struggle is this:  Do I conform to this world – seek a comfortable job and every once in a while lend a helping hand to those in need, only once in a while.  OR do I give it all up – follow Jesus and risk losing it all to find it all?  What am I finding?  I think it might be the peace that passes understanding, I think it might be a relationship with God that brings Joy and redemption.  I think it might mean sharing Christ with others in the midst of their pain.  I think it might take a lot of refinement.  I think…It might hurt.  How far do we go?  How much are we asked to surrender?  What does a Christ centered life look like?  I don’t have the answers, nor do I pretend to, nor have I had the guts to surrender.  It’s pretty scarry.  That’s the hard part – trusting that what scriptures says is true, and really…truly…wholeheartedly seeking God (Jeremiah 19:13) – you don’t know until you do it.  

Photo from yellowstone

Perhaps because it’s late at night – perhaps that’s why my mind is churning out these thoughts.  For real – this might be the first time some of you (my amazing friends) read/hear something like this from me.  I tend to be introspective and keep these thoughts to myself.  But thoughts like these are also a part of my time here in Bolivia – so meh, what the heck, I’m trying this blog thing of pouring out your heart open for judgment.

Judge away!  J  It’s not easy.  Tomorrow we leave for a prayer retreat tucked away somewhere in a small town.  It is very important for the group here to pray and reflect as some BIG decisions are made this next month.  Decisions that impact families and potentially could have an impact on lives here in Bolivia depending on what is decided.  Have a GLOOOORIOUS rest of the week.  J

  

Alison Garza     CHASE THAT - Lecrae (holla - christian gangsta surrender)

Melissa Arnold - You made my morning with your comment :)  

Tell Mackenzie HI!

Good Morning,

Yesterday we took a trip hiking up the mountain with the kids from "The Hacienda," the orphanage here.  This time it was us 3 interns and the 9 kids from ages 5 to 14.  When we were all hanging out on Friday we saw a white church up somewhere on the mountain and resolved that we wanted to see it up close and personal.  For whatever reason, when we started our trek, we couldn't see the church.  That might have to do with the fact that we started in a different location.

We let the oldest boys lead us and find pathways.  They loved it.  Sometimes we would be on a trail and other times...nope...we'd be walking through weeds and thorns.  Honestly, I had no clue what we were doing or where we were going but often times they'd ask can we go this way, can we go that way and I'd have to say yes or no.  It reminded me of a time they put me in charge of a group of middle schoolers for a field trip in Chicago.  I had no clue what I was doing but learned to be stern on that trip.  We had extra time at the end to walk along Navy Pier so I had determined that our group would walk to the end and back within 20 minutes.  It was over 80 degrees out and the kids had no water.  I had just finished instructing "Children's Health Improvement Program" which was a summer camp that included work outs - so I think I was used to pushing kids to do something they didn't want to.  These kids complainnnnned and complainnned and were thiiiiirsty (with reason) but we made it.  With 13 kids trailing me, complaining about water, we entered this crowded public pavilian to fill up water bottles.  I would stand at the fountain and fill the bottles and like a sergeant be like, "DONE, go" "FULL, go" "NEXT, go."  I'm normally not that mean but we were on a time crunch and everyone had to get water.  Don't judge me - the kids in Chicago had fun. haha.  Anyways - the difference here was that the kids wanted to be hiking, had water, and there were more adults.  

The descent, we hiked through those trees (see photo below)

Going down the hill was steep at times so the little ones liked to hold a hand while going down - which really makes it more difficult.  At one point I had the smallest boy holding my hand as he walked ahead of me - slipping every which way and using my hand above as balance - is it bad that I was slipping to?  All I could think was - these kids trust us so much - I barely trust myself sometimes - fake confidence in hiking - fake it!  At another point a little girl had to go to the bathroom so I took her to a remote area and let her do her thing and to get back we had to pass through thorns that were pretty tall, so I put her on my back (she wasn't small) and I would trip and jump over the thorn bushes.  "WEEEEE" is what I would hear as we'd be flying in the air down hill.  It is a good thing she couldn't see my face.

The trek started at 10:15 a.m. and ended at around 1 p.m.  Afterwards we watched Lion King by strong request from two of the little ones - that movie is awesome.  The kids loved the scene where Mufasa was talking to Simba alone about the stars at night.  At that moment it dawned on me that Simba, just like these kids, would become an Orphan.  Crazy.

I"m about to get ready for the day - at 10 we will be picking the kids up to visit a slide park - it's a surprise!  I hope that all of you are doing well.

Alison Garza

This morning I'm listening to This Day - Audio Adrenaline

Ok so it is cheesy - but I used to listen to it as a youngin' in the morning time before my feet hit the ground.  Fitting no?

The Group at the Top

More Water for the dogs?  They were so concerned about the dogs getting water

Double Seven!

I'm not superstitious or anything - but check it out...today is 7 -7- 12....double seven!

I've been listening to David Crowder Band this morning - about to start on more research.  I don't have anything super profound or interesting to write about this morning, but I felt like sharing this song - because it is so cool.

After All - David Crowder

Failed trip to the waterfalls

These missionary families are dangerous.

Makeshift tollway (see shes holding the string)

This morning we left for a trip to the waterfalls up in the mountains.  45 minutes into the drive and our car dies.  It died in the middle of no where - somewhere up in the mountains.  The men (2 of them) worked on the engine for quite some time before deciding to tie the two cars together with a rope and drag the dead car to the top of a hill so we could coast and find a nearby town.  So we were dragged, untied, and than began our descent down the mountain.  We were free rolling!  We ended up in a small town where these two ladies had created their own toll system.  They tied a small string to a pole and would raise the rope anytime a car would come to pass and charge 1 Boliviano fee for entering their town.  There was a real tollway less than a mile down the road, this was just a way to make some money.  To make a long story short - we found out that the engine is frozen/broken/no good..super expensive to repair.  We were also told it would cost 800 dollars to toll us back to Cochabamba.  I don't know how true that is - as foreigners - we tend to be lied to a lot.  And as missionary foreigners - they tend to be pretty cheap and resourceful.

The small car towed the big black ford

So - the decision was made to tie the cars together with a rope and be towed (by the smaller car) back up the mountain until we reached the top and than coast back down to Cochabamba - and than be tied back up again.  Does that make sense?  Basically it means..."Dangerous situation".

The ascent wasn't too bad because we were going slow and cars would just pass us.  The descent though - oh. my. goodness.  The descent wouldn't have been so bad if there weren't semis going super slow down the mountains, or windy turns that made it difficult to see oncoming traffic...and maybe...if the car was working, than we could at least step on the gas should a dangerous situation arise.  So all that to say - we flew down and passed semis on turns..and I winced and closed my eyes, and held on..and distracted my brain and laughed..and did I mention we were stuffed with 10 people in the car and all the windows were rolled up?  So I also held the door open at some points to give the kids some air - my measly muscles almost had the entire door fly open and I could have just popped out (sorry no seatbelts).  Once we finally got to Cochabamba we all got dragged up the mountain to our home.  To push the car back into the garage we had to put a mattress between the two vehicles and push it back in.  Crazy gringos.  An entire bus full of Bolivians were watching us.

After that. I slept for a long time.  I don't normally nap but I think because I haven't been taking care of my body and drinking water - I was able to sleep for a long time.  Than we went to a house for a bonfire and firework party.

Electricity went out at one of the missionaries house

Fireworks aren't illegal here.  They go off at random times and to celebrate pretty much everything.  We set off a lot...and they were really close to us.  We had to run for cover more than once because they shot off in all different directions.  I wish my camera hadn't died because it was priceless seeing the fireworks go off on the ground and seeing everyone scream and run.  I now know why fireworks like those are illegal in the States.  My fear of fireworks has also vanished.

Tonight I met a very nice Bolivian girl- her name is Elisabeth.  She is in High School but came up to us during the firework chaos and started talking and telling me about the family that used to live there.  I stood outside and talked with her for a while.  At one point she started to tell me about a friend of hers from Canada and tears just started rolling down her face as she described how close they had become and how difficult it has been since her friend returned to Canada.  She said it is so difficult when you make friends and they leave.  BUT now I am going to be her friend! (and leave...I know...rude..but at least for 6 months)  She showed me where she lives...and I'm going to knock on her door someday to get her phone number.  Tomorrow I am buying a cell phone!

Trying to figure out the problem

Found a Mechanic - I went to the bathroom here...in a hole in the ground.  Gross.

Trying to push the car into the driveway

  

See the mattress in between the cars?  It worked!

Random Cow - between two roads...random...

Cochabamba is under that cloud.  It is FINALLY raining tonight

 I hope all of your Celebrations were great.  Lisie (my younger sister) sent me a photo of her celebration watching fireworks on tv with my dad.  hahaha sorry lisie!  I mean, she had an AWESOME celebration watching AMAZING fireworks.  No - they had a good excuse - they needed rest to go to six flags the next day.  I smell popcorn - that's my cue to go. The rains sounds so awesome!  It has been so dry here - I literally walked through a dust cloud earlier today.  

Let us Love - LIKE WE WERE CHILDREN! (link to song I'm listening to)

Alison Garza

So begins week three.  Two days ago I moved across Cochabamba to a house in the mountain.  I am now living with a missionary family that has 7 kids - 5 boys and 2 girls.  Another intern (Devon - a girl) and I are sharing a bed in the empleada room in the back of the house.  It's a little cold at night and I've been sleeping with a sweatshirt.  There are a ton of street dogs that take over the town at night and bark like crazy - they're my new sleep music.  WOOF WOOF!  Speaking of animals - I have seen a lot of dogs.  I used to be so scared of dogs but being around animals more has stifled that fear.  Just today I was at a house with baby puppies - the smallest I've ever seen!  I was told that the momma dog doesn't like having puppies - last time she had three...she ate them. NO JOKE.

This past weekend I spent a lot of time with the missionary families.  On Friday we escaped to a little camp in the mountains and just hung out, played soccer, and visited a remote village somewhere yonder - far away.  It was a much needed trip for the families here.  These past few weeks have been filled with uncertainty for many of us here.  Just one week prior to my arrival in Bolivia an investigation was led and as a result Iteams had to make the difficult decision to separate  from the orphanage ministry (IOU Bolivia) based on some financial and liability issues.  I arrived a short three days after the decision was made known to everyone on the team.  Since that time I have witnessed people who have dedicated so much of their lives to this ministry process some heartbreaking things.  The team is in a time of transition and healing.  I knew that there would be uncertainty in coming abroad - but I could not have foreseen all that is happening here now.  

A lot of my time, as mentioned in earlier blogs, is dedicated to learning from other South American/Central American orphanages through interviews.  This research is almost complete!  I will also be working on a community based assessment which will measure the gifts and needs of Cochabamba.



Enough boring explanations.  I just took a hiatus from blogging to hang with Gabby - one of the Ross kids.  She has been with the Ross family since birth and is in the process of adoption.  As an American, you have to live IN Bolivia for two years before you can adopt.  The Ross family will have been here for two years in December.  Gabby is a little bundle of joy - as you can see.





Currently, five of the kids sitting here and listening to Home by Phillip Phillips. (click it!)  Fitting.  I like it a lot. :)  


I hope you are all well. Enjoy the photos.

photo from the small town we visited

Gabby - picking her nose. 

We visited a slide park on Sunday - BIG SLIDE

Some of the interns with some of the missionary fam going down the slide

The lake we took a vacation to for a day.. supa clean no?

New room with Devon

Old room with Devon

  

ALISON GARZA

Tired but Awake

Have you ever been so tired physically, with your eyes dropping and body failing, but so awake at the same time, with your mind racing and music glaring through your brain cells?  That's pretty much exactly how I am right now.

Bolivian meal provided for us by Devon(awesome roommate)
while we were making phone calls.  That snot looking stuff is SO GOOD

These past two days have been a whirlwind.  We've continued research on International Orphanages and even made some phone calls to Columbia, Ecuador, Belize, Mexico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Paraguay to gain some wisdom on how they run their orphanages and also for any advice they might have in working in the field.  Some places were friendly and willing to share information and others were reluctant or even...not very nice.


Tuesday night was my first time attending a homeless ministry in the main plaza.  Every Tuesday a few homeless people meet Adrian and a couple volunteers in the plaza for a message from scripture and a meal.  I don't quite know how to give an accurate depiction of what it was like - it is the most Christ centered ministry I have seen thus far.

Adrian is a 20 year old Bolivian studying to be a pastor and social worker.  He speaks with passion and enthusiasm and uses hand motions to illustrate stories.  Adrian sat on his knees facing a line of 7 homeless people and used a small booklet for everyone to follow.  His message this Tuesday was about giving - no matter how much you have.  He spoke about being thankful for everything you have and would say - who gave you the clothes on your back?  And the people would respond - God.  Who gave you the health that you Have? God.  Who gave you the air you breathe and the life you have?  God.  He than beautifully illustrated the story in Luke 20:45 about a poor widow who gives all she has.

After the message Adrian paired each volunteer with a homeless individual.  We were told to ask what the need that week was and to pray for them.  I was paired up with soft spoken man.  When I asked what he needed - he began by saying how he has all he needs and everything has been great and he has kids and continued to list things.  I repeated what he said and than asked if I could pray for him and looked down to see his hands clasped together.  I looked at him awkwardly and said "and can i hold your hand?"  I held his hand and we bowed our heads and I prayed.  I don't remember everything that I said but I do remember feeling love for this man and so I prayed that he feel love this week.  After saying Amen - I realized that this man may have greater faith than I do and that perhaps he could pray for me so I asked him to pray in return.  I told him about being far from family and friends and about not really knowing all that I am doing here in Bolivia and so we bowed our heads, held hands, and he prayed for me.  Now I don't remember all he said - but it was so sincere.  After our prayer he than started to tell me about his needs - he said he has the flu and hasn't been able to get better.  I worry about getting the flu here and I have accommodations and medicine - this man has very little.

Once our prayers were done we passed out bread and oatmeal and just talked for a while.  I sat down next to a man who was quite and just sat for a while in silence.  He was looking away as I spoke with another volunteer and I wondered if he was uncomfortable with this whole situation and what was going through his mind.  I gingerly tapped him on the shoulder and asked "What are you thinking?"  He smiled some and than said,
"I'm trying to figure out where I am going to sleep tonight, the plaza is taken with protesters"
Me:  "Is that where you usually sleep?"
Him:  "yes, maybe I can sleep at (random place)"
Me:  "And the police here...do they uh.....
Him:  "no they don't bother us"
Me:  And is there a homeless shelter here in Bolivia that you could stay at?
Him:  "no, they don't have that, they should, but they don't."

Wow - how far off I was with what he was thinking.  Afterwards Adrian asked if anyone had any questions.  One by one they each started asking questions.  One man asked what it means to believe in Jesus.  Adrian said that anyone can believe in Jesus - he quoted the scripture where it says that even the Devil and his angels believe in God - the difference - is accepting Jesus Christ.  I can not remember the last time I have seen someone preach God's word so boldly and genuinely.  Eventually, we all said our goodbyes and said see you next Tuesday.  I can't wait until next Tuesday.

Listening to the webinar today

This blog entry is longer than it should be.  I also wanted to share about a webinar we had today with HOPE International on micro finance and orphanages.  Perhaps I'll leave that for another day.

Tonight the stars were shining bright and this song popped in my head ...enjoy Yellow - Cold Play

Backyard.  I might be moving next week.  Decision will be made tomorrow.   I will also be doing laundry early tomorrow morning.  Now you have a visual of where I will be.

 Goodnight.  :)