I can't believe I've already been here for two weeks! The second week went so much quicker than the first week, which is crazy! I still love Bolivia, if you were wondering. It's really weird to me that I feel so comfortable here; it all feels so normal, like this has always been my life.
So a little about how I am doing...this week was actually kinda hard for me. The homesickness started to set in a little. The first week there was so much going on that I didn't have time to think about anything. I was bombarded by new experiences, new places, and new people. But the second week, things started to settle. I started to get into a groove, and I had a more time to think. During those times of quiet it really hit me that I was here, in a foreign country, by myself for 5 weeks. What?! Why did I do this? How did I even get here?! Guys when I tell you that God had a hand in all of this, I really mean it...because when I stop and try to understand how this trip worked out at the last minute, I truly cannot comprehend it all. It all still feels a little like a dream. Anyway, so yes I felt a little lonely this week. The thing is I'm surrounded by great people, new friends. But at the same time it's still a little hard because everything is so new. I miss the old, I miss the normal, I miss the mundane. I know crazy for me to say haha! Thankfully my family has always been there to talk late at night and to encourage me. They continually remind me that I am here for a reason. In addition, I have just been taking these times of doubt and loneliness to draw closer to God. I knew before coming here that this trip would stretch me in ways that I couldn't imagine. I also knew that if I stayed close to God, I would come out of this experience stronger in my faith. So yes, even though I've felt a little homesick and sometimes complain (my parents know all about that) I can't stress enough that I really am so thankful to be in Bolivia. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve and I am so excited to see what God is doing with my life. Okay so story time: On Wednesday we got in a car and starting driving up the winding roads towards the mountains. I didn't really know where we were going or what we were doing...I don't really ask too many questions, I just kinda go with the flow. Anyway, wherever we were going, it was really hard to get there. Apparently there were strikes going on, and a lot of the roads were blocked. Eventually, after getting lost, missing multiple turns and backing down a steep hill, we arrived at the destination. It was a warehouse with people standing outside. I walked inside and the room was filled with food! Stacks of large bags of pasta, sugar, milk, oil, papayas, bananas, and oranges! We were there to distribute food to some of the poorest families in the area. What a beautiful surprise! I was stationed at the sugar stacks and gently plopped a sugar sack in everyone's bag. My leader told me that for many of the families, this was basically all the food they would eat for the month. Wow. We gave a lot of food to each of the families, but at the same time, I'm sure that it is really difficult to make it last for an entire month. The families were so grateful to receive food. It made me think once again about how privileged I am. How I never ever ever have to worry about food. How my pantry at home is super stocked. It makes me think about how it is a privilege to even have a choice in what you eat. When you are hungry you eat whatever you can. You don't pick and choose or complain. You don't turn your nose up at a plate of food. You eat, because you are hungry. It's a privilege to say that you don't want to eat something because you don't like it. It's a privilege for me to even say that I don't want to eat meat...because if I was really hungry and didn't have a choice, I would be thankful for meat. It's even a privilege to say that you are going to eat healthy. When you are hungry, you don't care what you are eating. You don't care about the calories in your food. You don't care if the fruit you are eating is organic... you are just thankful to have a meal. I'm not saying it's bad to try to eat healthy, or to not eat something if you don't want to. But it is a blessing. It's a privelige that many of us have, something that I never really thought about before. It makes me more appreciative of the things I have. It reminds me to put less emphasis on the things I eat and to think of those that don't have as much as I do. It reminds me to live a conscious life... although I'm not even completely sure what that means... Anyway... I just think we should be thankful for all those old cans of corn at the bottom of our food pantries.
2 Comments
Desiree Williams
6/4/2016 06:13:34 pm
Chantal I am enjoying reading the difference you are making, and how humbling it can be when we witness the appreciation of others for what we consider the basics, and how we take so much for granted. You are where God wants you to be. Continue on in safety, open hearts, and share love and tenderness to everyone. Hugs, aunty des
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Jennifer De Barros
6/13/2016 02:28:10 pm
Chantal in that pic you look like your mom. Very nice shot !
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