We have been living in El Alto, Bolivia, a city just outside of La Paz. El Alto is the second-largest city in Bolivia, and has a very large population of native Bolivians. The area is poor, and it is common to see stray dogs, garbage and raw sewage in the streets. We have two teams together this month and have been working at addiction rehabilitation centers for young men and women. RJ and I chose to work at Mision Adulam, where young men, ages 13-18, live and recover from their addictions while learning about God’s love for them.
To be honest, I was apprehensive about our ministry in Bolivia when I first heard about it. I wasn’t sure how I would relate to teenagers, especially when we don’t speak the same language or share the same culture. I am always more drawn to tasks and projects than making connections with people. However, this month has grown me in so many ways, and I will always be grateful for the relationships I have made with the 8 boys that live in Adulam.
Our ministry days look pretty much the same everyday: start at 9, do some maintenance and cleaning around the house, help prepare lunch in the kitchen, eat lunch with the boys between 12:30-1, help with dishes, hang out with the boys in the afternoon, tea at 5, leave at 6. There is a lot of downtime, which initially bothered me, because I would rather be doing something than sitting around. But throughout the course of the month, I have realized it is during these quiet times that relationships are formed. It is during this “downtime” that the boy who didn’t smile the entire first week we were there challenged me to a thumb wrestling match (I won by the way). We have played 5,920 games of Torta Gorda (Fatcake), a card game that the boys taught us and earned how to play chess (not very well). We have listened to music and danced around. And most importantly, the boys started to open up to us and deep conversations about why they were there and how they were changing were able to happen.
It is easy to forget that the boys at the house are there because they are recovering from addictions. Spending time with them, they just seem like goofy, normal teenagers. They love jokes and soccer and can eat 4 plates of lunch without batting an eye. But most of these young men have experienced more hardship in their short lives than we will in a lifetime. From talking to them and hearing their stories, many of them come from broken families, have been affected by drugs and alcohol, and some of them have even lived on the street. They are sent to live at the mission either by court order or by their parents. This breaks my heart, because the boys I see are funny, smart, talented, and have so much potential. I pray that the 6-9 months they spend in the mission prepare them for a productive life. I pray that the short time we have spent with them, investing in them and loving on them, impacts them in a positive way. I hope they can see the light of Jesus Christ through us, and that they know that with Him all things are possible.
We have 3 days left at this incredible ministry before we start the long journey to Cambodia. I can already tell that Monday is going to be an emotional goodbye. I never expected to care so deeply for young men when I don’t even speak the same language as them. But spending 9 hours a day alongside them, I have come to realize that love and connection can overcome any language barrier. It is so hard to accept that after we leave this ministry, I most likely will never know what happens to these boys I have come to care so deeply about. I just have to trust that God will take hold of their hearts and they can live long, happy, productive lives. I have been so blessed this month to know them, and I will be forever changed by the time I spent with them. I now realize my capability for forming relationships, and that 3 ½ weeks is enough time to fall in love with a place and its mission. This will be my hardest goodbye yet, but how lucky am I that I had this experience.
One of the boys at the house has a developmental delay. One of my favorite days was when I helped him make a Christmas card for his family.
RJ and one of the boys repainted the lines on their soccer court.
Many games of soccer were played on this court!
One morning was spent sanding bathroom stall doors (glamorous).
The boys make bracelets in their spare time that are sold to raise money for the mission. One of the boys made this beautiful bracelet specifically for me!
I love that you are using your talents to teach and love on these boys!
You and RJ are doing remarkable work with these boys in Bolivia. While you may never know where their lives will lead, rest assured they will remember you and the loving kindness you have poured into each of them. Safe travels to Cambodia!