All I can say right now

"This is all that I can say right now - know it's not much
This is all that I can give
That's my everything"
David Crowder Band - All I Can Say

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7

Tonight I am holding onto faith.  I am grateful for a God who loves us.

Spiderman

  No one there with him - just being a kid - saving the world one punch at a time.

This song is on repeat as I write sentences, delete, and rewrite.  All I Can Say - DCB

Energy drink, Yes Please

My heart is racing.

I gave in today, and I bought an energy drink.  You see - for the remaining hours of the day, I have to be productive.

Today we had the bible study at the prison, and I was so tired that I was yawning as a very nice woman was telling me more of her story.  HOW RUDE.  I apologized a lot and on the way home bought an energy drink.  :)

So now my heart is racing and I am ready to begin graduate school applications.

Lets see if this energy drink gets the creative juice flowing!!!!

Don't know where I'll be next year, but I do know Where I Belong - Switchfoot

Dia de Los Muertos is this upcoming Friday - it is when they bring food to the dead.  Should be interesting to see....and eat.  Just kidding!

Alison Garza

needtobreathe

I can’t sleep tonight.  4 a.m.

Today was busy.  Today was non stop talking and meeting and thinking.  Today was exhausting.

I wish I had something more profound to say about today.  But I am left empty minded.  

Today Devon and I were walking around the city – reflecting on much of what we have experienced during our time here.  We could have never predicted any of this.  We both came down to Bolivia with minimal expectations but with an IDEA of what we would be doing – or so we thought.  

We are learning so much more about what it means to trust God and have patience in the unfolding of his plan.  Some days, like today, are harder than others, but it is a daily battle I face to put my confidence in God and his plan.

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.  Psalm 118:8

Keep your eyes open - needtobreathe

I think I have a cavity.

Alison Garza

Random Photos

Update Time - these photos are overdue.

Our friend graduated from the military here so we went to watch it

The kids invited us to see their artwork at school

Caught eating Ice cream on duty! shame shame

The cat big this bird, and it died.

Devon at the art exhibit

Gabby :)

i don't know this people - but I do know she has HIGH heels

They kiss the flag when they graduate

MwaaH!

march march Bolivia

Miguel after he kissed the flag

The momma waiting for it to start

kids meal!  The drink is underneath the food

I took this photo after I puked.  To remind myself how great it is to be healthy - don't take health for granted

I killed that spider - with this toxic spray.  It hung there for 3 weeks till I finally took it down.  I liked to think it served as a warning for any other spiders nearby

My sisters away from home - Tee and Gaby

hombres: DON"T MESS

This is what some Bolivian woman look like.  Not as big though.

Accountability

Good Monday Mornin'

I'm currently preparing today's Bible Study that I am NOT going to avoid.  And to make sure I do not avoid it; I am writing this on my blog - internet accountability.

This guy knows some pretty ridiculous soccer tricks, just saying. Soccer Tricks

Alright, have to be productive.  HAVE to be productive.  Busy week.

Alison Garza

P.S.  I cleaned my sheets and don't get bitten by bugs anymore.

When fear beats you up - it's time to look up

These past two days I’ve been obsessed with my handwritten calendar.  I look at it over and over and count the weeks – 9 weeks.  9 short weeks.  That’s all I have left until my time here in Bolivia comes to a close.  I can hardly believe it.  I like being here - I think the goodbye will be hard.

Devon got her necklace stolen in the Concha this past Sunday.  It was ripped off her neck by a man who came running by super fast.  It was pretty shocking.  I've also witnessed a guy escape from the police - he just jumped out of the car and started sprinting down the street - they didn't catch him.  That's all interesting I suppose.  What else?  

I'm going to blog about something I am ashamed of. 

This past Monday at precisely 2:30 I was supposed to be at the prison leading a woman's bible study.  The key word here is leading.  Another key word (s):  Supposed to be.  Those are key word because - I didn't go.  I called 30 minutes before the study started and said - "I can't make it."  In other words, I balied.  I chickened out and I didn't have a good reason.

You see my blogger friends, I was scared to lead.  I was scared to lead the bible study in Spanish - I was scared they would judge me for my lack of experience, my age, my bad Spanish.  I was just all out scared and so I bailed.  I was supposed to go and I didn't.

Looking back - 3 days later - I see this as a defining moment in my life.  I let fear get the best of me - and it doesn't feel so great.  So I have learned a valuable lesson - God is bigger than my fears.  Or I can rephrase it to say I am in the midst of learning that valuable lesson.  In the midst, because, today when I was at the jail - I committed to leading this bible study once again.  I gave the woman my word that I will see them this upcoming Monday for bible study (they don't know that I"m leading it yet).  I am still scared.  I still don't know what we will talk about.  But a friend of mine reminded me that it is not by my strength that it will be done, and that God can speak through me - it's not going to be just ME.  So.  I"m going to pray like crazy.  

Tomorrow morning I have another nerve racking, fear defining, experience.  I was asked to coach two girl soccer teams for a tournament on November 10th.  The girls on the team live in the prison with their parents but go to Casa de Amistad during the day.  With fear, I agreed.  So tomorrow is the first practice.  I have written down a list of what we'll do, running, drills, and more running, but I need the strength to be firm and confident.  

In Conclusion:  I am ashamed that I did not go this past Monday.  I have learned that I need to rely on God and not let these fears overcome me - so I am going to do it.  I am going to do these things that are asked of me with full assurance that God is who he said he is and will work through me - giving me the strength and courage I need.  

Something shameful, can turn into something beautiful - at least that is what I hope.  :)

Tomorrow night we'll also be painting the church I go to - cool.

Alison

Carry me Through - Dave Barnes - some good ole fashioned tune

p.s. I dread going to bed because I wake up everyday with bug bites that itch.  small PAIN!

Order in disorder

Good bright and early morning,

I often have blogging on the forefront of my mind, and think "oh!  I should blog about this!" but than when I sit down at the computer and try to put together a few sentences, it just doesn't turn out.  Today I am determined to post.  Here it goes.

clouds last evening

Last night was the Tuesday night homeless ministry.  A couple weeks back we had a conversation with a Bolivian sociologist who is an atheist   He asked some tough questions about what we are doing in the main plaza and why we believe in Jesus and how this is making any difference.  We hadn't talked with him since than, but last night he showed up and brought two new homeless people to the ministry and left.  I was in the middle of a conversation with one of our friends, who was crying about how people treat him, when the sociologist interrupted and presented his friend and said "he needs to become a Christian" - shoved him over, and left.  I really don't know what to think, if it was sarcasm or what his intentions were, but it was almost unbelievable.

Perhaps some of you might remember the proverb I referenced in the support letter "we can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps."  This verse continues to prove true throughout my time here in Bolivia.  My steps have been led to seemingly random ministries and I do not have a 9-5 ministry to invest in due to seemingly random circumstances.  But our God is a God of order (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40).  In Exodus 23, God tells his people, the Israelites, that he will send an angel ahead of them to prepare the way -

"I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter.  I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run.  I will send the hornet ahead of you and drive the Hittites out of your way.  But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you.  Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land."  Exodus 23:27-30

What if God had not told them the reasons for this entire process?  I'm sure the Israelite's might question why it was taking so long and why the God of power didn't just do things quickly and "efficiently" and get it all over with.  However, God is a God of order and uses wisdom in the present context to complete his decision.  Often times I can't see God's reasons for how my time here in Bolivia is unfolding.  I continue to be involved in random ministries - Tuesday nights in the main plaza - Friday and Saturday with the kids - and other days are spent with Casa de Amistad visiting woman in the jail system.  Other seemingly random events or opportunities take place that develop or strengthen relationships.  It is not the type of order that I had imagined coming in - but I am confident that God is present during my time here and guiding my steps along the way.  So folks, that is all for today.  A quick update (or longer).

Alison Garza

Spending some time with the kids before swimming

Franx doing sit ups at the park - strongest little kid I know

They likes to spin around on this.  I did it once, let go early and flew off and almost hit that bench.  Never again.

Bible Puppets

Tee who I live with - pray for our friendship as it continues to grow.  We will be training together for a race up a mountain these next few months.

Gabby

random.  Just like this entry.  But these are my keys

THIS CAT.  will not leave me alone.  Two nights ago he got into a fight and was crying for a half hour at 3 a.m.  The next day there was a patch of blood on his side.  Ever since than he has been way too (demasiado) cuddly

Cochabamba is full of palm trees

Fireworks and Lukewarm

This is the firework that set our neighbors yard on fire a couple weeks ago....BIG

Also:  I am currently watching this by Francis Chan - I am not sure if it is 100% good because I just started watching it.  But the beginning has been good.

Two of my friends today told me how much they live on - I did the math - they are living on a dollar a day - and they don't consider it weird or strange - what they consider strange is how much missionaries have budgeted.

LUKE WARM AND LOVING IT - Francis Chan

If you don't have time to watch the message ...

Watch this clip Balance Beam - "WELL DONE"
I remember seeing it years ago and it left an impact on me

Female Prison

Today was my first visit inside the female prison for a bible study.  The prison system here is very different.  Inside it's like its' own little town.  You go past the guards (who have to feel you up quickly), and enter into an open room with clothes hanging all over above and people busily running around.  There are many woman sitting at tables talking to visitors and friends and others selling things they've made.  There are some kids running around - it looks like chaos. 

The lady I was with handed a guard a list of names - the names were called over a loudspeaker - and slowly woman entered into a small room to sit with us.  One woman was concerned because her little boy (younger than 7) had cuts on his face and wanted to talk with someone about where they came from.  

Different words were shared about having peace and joy in Christ and than - caught off guard - "and this is Alison who is going to share with you a little about herself"

Think fast - think fast - how do I present myself to this group?  It was nerve racking.  I don't remember all that was said, just that I am here in Bolivia, don't have many friends (ok so I have a few) and that if they open their hearts to me I will open mine.  I felt compelled to say that because some had stone hard faces as I talked but it seemed a few had compassion on me.  There was one woman in particular who afterwards came up to me and apologized for leaving early but said it was nice to meet me.  The lady in charge added that I like to play soccer - CLAP - the largest woman in the room got excited. 

Later that woman ran and got the director of sports in the prison - they want me to join in on their soccer games and perhaps teach some lessons.  I asked where they play soccer - well inside the jail of course - all the tables are moved aside and right there they have their own soccer games.  Now the director was speaking fast, and I didn't quite understand all that was said, but this Thursday when I return to the prison we will talk more about this possibility.  

Other than this experience today - there have been small things happening that are pretty cool.  While walking around town I often run into people from the Tuesday night ministry (bible study with homeless). "Tuesday, Tuesday" they always say.  One time I was passing by in a trufi and yelled out the window to a lady - "MIRIAM!"  waving vigorously - "Tuesday, you'll be there Tuesday right?" She yelled back.  Tomorrow is Tuesday and I am excited to gather again as a group.

I wish you all the best in everything you do.  Sleep well - hope to update again soon!

Alison Garza

Hillsong United - With Everything

The male prison..the female prison is just around the corner to the left.  To the right is the Casa de Amistad where the kids go during the day