Saturday Is My Favorite.

You gotta love the weekend. Well I had a really good day today. Want to hear about it? I love saturdays here because on saturdays we go to an orphanage called Megumi and cook lunch with them. I love love love these girls. They are all super sweet and super fun.
Today we made spaghetti. 

This beautiful ladies are who I have been living with for the two past weeks. Couldn't be more blessed!

Eryn was real good at mixing. Real good.

Some of the girls setting the table

The Lunch was really yummy of course. After lunch and dish washing we went out to play soccer with the girls! aaaah soccer. I love soccer. So much that I will run through a pile of dog poop in bare feet numerous times while screaming just to score a goal. I think the girls found my super competitiveness to be quite humorous. Super fun. I really love it there.

Then we had to leave booo! But even more fun awaited us as the day went on. I made cheese quesadillas with Amy Cline which was super fun. Cheese is just wonderful and made me really happy. Plus we had chips and salsa. 

AAAAAAANNNNNNNNDDDDD then we got to go to Cristo Viene! Thursday is the day we normally go but this thursday didn't work so I was so ready to be there tonight. I finally got to see laura after almost two weeks since she was sleeping last time I was there. When I came towards her she gasped and said "Mi Amigita!" and reached out to be picked up. So good to be able to hold her after what seemed like forever. The girls were watching a movie(Princess Protection Program to be exact) and I got the joy of sitting with Laura and Vicky who is just a little younger than laura. Trying to balance two wiggling and talkative little girls during a movie is absolutely hilarious. Eventually Vicky got annoyed by Laura's squirming and moved which was also hilarious. Laura proceeded to wiggle, climb on me, and tell me everything that was going to happen before it happened. It was pure bliss. 

The girls watching a Selena Gomez music video :)

God is awesome for giving me a day like this. This week had been hard for me but it's days like today that make the challenges totally worth it.

And Honestly...

3 weeks ago today I was on a plane on my way to Bolivia. It's crazy to think about because I really feel like I've been here forever. I really do love it here but this trip hasn't been without challenges either but at the end of the day I know that God has me here for a reason. Or do I? Don't get me wrong I'm not about to pack my bags and sit in a corner and pout but lately it's been a little harder to understand why I am here in Bolivia. And no, I'm not going to sit and crank out a depressing blog. Those of you who know me well know that's not how I roll. But I am going to use this blog post to present a specific, thought-out, and honest prayer request. Maybe it's just because I haven't been around the little girls that cling to me and love me as much or I'm just tired but I often find myself asking God why am I here. In most situations lately I feel just really awkward and unhelpful. I often feel like God should have sent someone more assertive and confident in my place. Someone who can handle any sort of ministry instead of just sitting there wondering when the next time I will get to go to Cristo Viene is because I'm not good at anything else. 

It's times where I am doing things such as this that I feel called to be and to stay here.

Showing love to kids especially little girls is where I can visibly see God work through me. It's the other times that it gets hard and start believing a lot of lies. I know that God is not limited and can work through people in any situation I just have a hard time believing that God will use me. I need prayer that I can know that God is working through and I am where He wants me to be. That I would not have these doubts and stop believing lies and start to fight them continually without giving up and giving in to them. That I would have confidence in who I am in Christ. That when I am believing lies I can seek truth from the word and the people around me. I have been blessed with people around me that do care enough to help I just don't ask for it. Thank you to everyone who supports me in prayer. I appreciate it a lot a lot a lot.

On a happier note not all of it is hard and I do really love it here. God has taught me a lot about Himself and His character. I have this amazing opportunity to do ministry alongside some amazing people and watch as God works through them. It's super encouraging and I just love the amazing God we have and how chooses to use us. How He teaches us to love and therefore reveals a picture of His love for us. It's absolutely insane. God really just loves to blow my mind. I am learning just how personal God is and how He puts things and people in my life to meet me where I'm at to love and encourage me. Like it's crazy to think about how He has a specific plan and way to show me His love and encourage me to keep growing in Him. Yeah it's pretty wonderful. 

In Bolivia and loving it

Alrighty so I've been in Bolivia about 2 weeks now and God has already done a ton. I'll try my best to sum up the highlights but if I had to say what i've learned in a single sentence it would be that God answers prayers and God provides what we need.

God started to show me this first when about a week before leaving for Bolivia an envelope with $300 in it and my name on it was outside my door. I still have absolutely no idea who gave me the money but i had needed it for this trip. Pretty insanely obvious example of God's provision right there.

When I got to Bolivia and i thought about going back to the girls' home i was so nervous. I was nervous that the girls wouldn't remember me especially a little girl named laura. I was so worried she wasn't going to remember me or not like me anymore and therefore absolutely shatter my heart to pieces. This, however, was not the case. God really protected my heart because when i got off that bus, saw her, and shouted her name she came running into my arms and could not get enough hugs from me. wait what? you want to see a picture? well ok...  just look to the right and you'll see me and laura. this year i practiced my spanish enough that i can actually understand most of what the kids are saying which is a blessing. In fact some the older girls warn each other that i can understand everything they are saying which i find hilarious. however, i do still freeze up when i am around spanish-speaking adults so um i'll have to work on that.

Another way God seriously worked in my life was through relationships with the kinetic team i came down with. i could go into a lot of detail with this but i'm going to sum it up by saying God knew that i needed to be loved by people and He used this team to love and care for me in ways that pretty much blew my mind. saying goodbye to the team at the airport this morning was way harder than i expected and i reacted way more emotionally than i thought. 

i realize i really haven't said that much but i don't want to be on the computer all now typing if you want to know more just send me a message and i'll tell you stories buuuut now on the present situation and the future for my next month here in Bolivia and cover some prayer requests chicka yeah prayer requests. for the next two weeks i will be living with 3 amazing girls right next door to my favey fave missionary. I am really really really excited about this. As far as what i will be doing i will be at a couple different orphanages and be tagging along with my favorite missionary Heather. again, i am very very excited about this :)

and now prayer requests

1. The Ministry. Pray for the ministry that will be happening with the orphans and Bolivians. Pray for God's love to show through my actions and that I never take my eyes off of Jesus throughout this month or really ever i guess.  and that there can be a ministry as roommates and neighbors where i am staying.

2. Health. I have had stomach issues for 5 days now and i am really really ready to just be better and be able be fully active and eat whatever without feeling awful later. 

3. Safety. safety in the house we are staying in and safety while doing ministry.

4. Growth. I would really like to keep learning and growing in my walk with Christ while i'm here.

5. Discernment. To figure out truth and lies and fight off the lies in Jesus' name with the word of God

Yep i'm going to stop typing now. But know that i miss all my friends in the states and i appreciate your prayers and support!