Hosanna by Erika Symonds

This post was written by Erika in the Santa Cruz airport on our way back, but did not get published till now due to all of the craziness with our flights. Enjoy!

God is doing something huge here in Bolivia. I have never heard the word gracias so much in my life and felt so much love from the Bolivians – it was almost unexplainable. As it is our last day here in Bolivia, we have about only 4 more hours left in this beautiful country, and it is starting to become real for all of us that we are leaving. It feels like we have been here for forever, but as we sit here in the airport now it feels like this day has come way to quick. 

It is so hard to sit here and type out all the emotions and memories that we all have encountered because I don't want it to end. As we were leaving the airport earlier today, about 30 Bolivians showed up to send us off with one last prayer and thanks. All of them went out of their way to come there just to love on us one last time and show their appreciation for all of the hard work we were apart of this week. 

As a part of their thanks they sang the song "Hosanna" by Hillsong United in Spanish in the middle of the airport. Half of our team started to cry by the chorus of the song because it was the most heartfelt and loving gesture anyone could ever do. After the song was over they surprised our whole team with scarves with homemade stitching of their church's name so that we will never forget them and remember to pray for them. They constantly called us their brothers and sisters and always reminded us that if we don't return to Bolivia one day we will meet in heaven. 

They waved us off on the tarmac... and made us cry.

As much as the Bolivians thank us for everything, I think we owe them the biggest thanks for changing our lives and helping us grow in a deeper relationship with Jesus and expanding the kingdom of heaven. In the end, though, all thanks goes to God for making this trip possible. 

- Erika Symonds 

HOME!

THANK YOU for your prayers! Our entire team has now arrived safe and sound in Chicago. We are incredibly thankful for all of the love and support we've received from family, friends, and others. Over the next few days, we will continue to post some pictures from the trip, so you can continue to see the impact of the team in Bolivia. Thank you once again! It's time for us to get some sleep. :)

Made it to Miami!

After some major complications with the airlines, we are safely in the U.S. and slowly working our way back to Chicago! We had to send 13 of us on one flight back this morning and the rest of us will be heading back from Miami at 5:25 this evening. We will update when we all return safely! Thanks for your prayers!

No News is Good News!

Today was our busiest day yet! We began at 6:30am and just finished our team debrief about an hour ago at 1am. :) Needless to say, we will not have any student bloggers tonight. We cannot wait to share about the community outreach event today -- it was absolutely INCREDIBLE. God truly did some amazing things, and the students were used in mighty ways to advance His kingdom! All are sleeping now, but we should have a couple students who will blog about it tomorrow. In the meantime, here is a picture of our last moments with our Bolivian friends as we blessed them, and them us, and said our goodbyes.

We are very sad to say goodbye to this beautiful country and the wonderful people we have met, but are looking forward to seeing our families. Please pray for safe travels as we leave for the airport tomorrow afternoon!

Linzy

A Day With Los Niños by Dominic Pierri

Hey, everyone in America! Time for the daily update from the mountainous country of Bolivia.

Today we moved on from working on the building to spending some time in the community with the local Bolivians. We started the day by driving the bus down to an orphanage for young boys. We spent a lot of time playing with them and making dozens of balloon animals and swords.

After pretend-battling outside, we headed into the orphanage to see the drama group's skit. Mike Anagnostopoulos struggled with different kinds of sin and was saved at the end of the act by Sarah Kitchel's representation of the power of prayer, the bible, and God's love. The Bolivians and the Gringos both enjoyed the skit greatly. After the skit, the group made conversation in Spanish with the orphans while snacking on some crackers and cookies. It can easily be said that a good time was had by all.

Once we said our goodbyes there, we drove back to the guest house and walked from there to a local park. We met up with even MORE Bolivian niños. Different games and activities were carried out as bonds were strengthened between the Chicagoans and the Bolivian children. We all knew that we made a huge impact at the end of the day as we took a group photo. The smiles on their faces were enormous, and it was clear that we did a pretty decent job of sharing God's love with them.

We are now back at the guest house safe and sound. Please keep reading the blog for more updates! We'll be home in a few days, and we want you to know what's going on every minute that we're out here. Please pray for our safety now and the plane ride home.

God bless!
Dombo

P.S. Miss you, Mom! (And the rest of the family... She just wanted me to give her a shout-out)

Your Will Be Done by Sarah Kitchel

At first glance, I think this country is beautiful. The clear sky perfectly frames the mountains and the houses hug the mountainsides like ants on a wall. Even though there is trash in the streets and graffiti all over the walls of buildings, I still think it is a pretty city and I find myself romanticizing this place and the people who live here. One of my favorite parts of the trip has been driving around the city of Cochabamba and just being able to see the buildings and the people and scenery and everything that there is to see here.

This past Tuesday, Joe Holman took us on a tour of the neighborhood where we were building. On a dusty hillside, this neighborhood was not pretty or beautiful. People lived in tiny, floor-less homes with no electricity or running water. Their bathrooms were often across a dusty road, outhouses shielded from the elements by dirty sheets or broken pieces of wood. Joe said that a typical income for these families was about $500 a year, which was 1/5 of the money that each one of us on our team had raised in order to come on this trip. Children and stray dogs and chickens stood in the unpaved roads and looked at the car full of gringos with big sad eyes while we passed by. Joe pointed out typical homes, a school and the lack of a church. The community building that we were helping to build would not only provide medical and dental care to the local people but would also help to share and spread the gospel and show Christ's love to people who were in desperate need of a Savior and something to carry them through their lives. After seeing this neighborhood, Bolivia didn't seem so beautiful anymore.

This morning, we went to a boys orphanage to play with the kids there. We made balloon animals and balloon swords for them and gave them juice and cookies. Despite the things that they had gone through, the boys seemed thrilled to see us and ran around laughing and playing with us. Even though we had only known them for about an hour and a half, it was sad to leave and say goodbye, knowing how unlikely it was that we would ever see them again.

On the bus ride back, I was looking out the window as I always do when we drive somewhere and just thinking about the boys in the orphanage as well as the neighborhood that we had seen on Tuesday. In my head, I began praying the Lord's Prayer, and when I got to the part that says "Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven," I paused. How could the grave reality of the poverty and sadness of these people's lives here be God's will? Is this what God had planned for these people and what He had wanted for their lives? But then I realized how much it is not my place to judge God's plans for the lives of others. He knows what He is doing; He loves all people the same. It is not possible for me, a human, to comprehend an infinite God and all that He plans for the world. He is beautiful and He always works for the good of those who love Him. With this in mind, I finished the prayer and enjoyed the rest of the scenery on the way back to the guesthouse.

Everyone at home, I miss you a lot! I have so many stories to tell you when I get back. Dad, I haven't been abducted by druglords yet so there's nothing to worry about, and for your information I peed in the bushes the other day, so you should be proud of me for that. Mom, I have only gotten dehydrated three times (oops). Matthew, I got you a cool present that has llamas on it :). Ryan and Daniel, I guess I miss you guys...sorta...maybe...a little... Michael, I miss you lots.

Can't wait to see everyone!

Lots of love,

Sarah Kitchel/Skitch

The Last Day Of Work : ( By Sarah Mendelson

So today was our last day of doing the building. Which was really sad for me because the past two years I've been on very heavy work trips, building a house. And the work has always been my favorite part of the trip. It was sad as well because that means the trip is almost over, and although it was a long trip, it has flown by and I know everyone here agrees with me. So we were trying to really make a dent on our build today because we aren't finishing it, and whatever work we don't do someone else has to. I think a lot of people are struggling with the fact that we aren't going to be here when the project is going to be finished, but we've all seen the compassion kids running around at the park nearby, so we know who it's for and we were able to finish building strong. And although we didn't get to finish it, Joe has promised us pictures of it when it is finished.

Today was also very rewarding in the sense that we had finished all the trench building, which all the guys were VERY excited about. As well as finished a fair amount of the walls for the first floor. It was rewarding for me personally because Ben Holman was walking around right as we were cleaning up oddsing every single person to see if they would go into the well to get some buckets we had lost getting water earlier in the week. I was feeling fairly adventurous and decided I didn't need odds, I would just go for it. So after taking off my shoes and socks, and rolling up my jeans, Matt and Ben lowered me into the well. It was just lower than my knees and then I walked to the back corner where I found not two, but THREE buckets. Then the two Ben's lifted me up and out. It was an experience I never could've experienced except here in Bolivia. Although the work part of the trip is over, I know God has great things in store the next two days for us, as well as the children we are going to be ministering to.

- Sarah Mendelson

Our building team

Cuatro de Julio En Bolivia By Ally Lee

Today was our last day of laying bricks and digging trenches, FINALLY! It is a relief to get some rest and to go do other things tomorrow. However, it is sad because we were not able to see the finished product.

Erika had a fight with a root... and she won!

After working all day and taking a picture with the workers, we went back to the guesthouse for some burgers and grilled cheese with french fries. The Holman's came over along with 2 members if the Ross family. We set off some fireworks and had a great 4th of July in Bolivia.

I miss you Grandma and Aunty. See you soon :)

Love,

- Ally

Dontcha Wanna Cancha Cancha. By Arianiz Agosto

Hola mis amigos!

Today we had a break from bricks and concrete and got to venture out into La Cancha, the biggest market in South America. I started out with 280 bolivianos and ended with one keychain, a braided hair extension, eight bracelets, three headbands, a backpack, a journal, a wallet, a scarf, a clutch bag, a reversible hat, and some serious swag pants. Enjoying a little bit too much that American money is worth just a tad more over here. Besides that though, it was so much fun just hanging out with everyone and enjoying different places in Bolivia!

Where's Dombo?

Some of the boys decided to get their hair done...

Got my swag on!

This trip has been an adventure, challenging me in ways that keep pushing me towards Christ. Having a smaller group of brothers and sisters to travel with has brought so much joy in my fellowship with them. I love getting to teach what God has taught me in my life and to listen to what God has been teaching all of these people around me. Though there are many things about this trip that I won't ever forget tonight's worship by far stood out to me the most. I have been struggling with feeling God's presence and have felt conflicted about my struggles however, I finally have been able to break down that wall tonight and I am beyond stoked for what the Lord has planned next!

Team Worship Time 

Miss you mom! Miss you dad! Miss you Machito! Miss you Jay! Miss you Gavin! Miss you Aligator! I'll see you soon :)

- Ari Agosto