Bolivia 2006

On Tuesday July 4, 2006 twelve members of the Minneapolis Team departed for Bolivia from the Miami Airport. We left the United States with different expectations and hopes, but with shared hope that the Lord would use us to love and serve the La Palmera community of school children, church members and visitors, long term missionaries, our hosts Lucho & Lorna Velez, and the surrounding neighborhoods in Trinidad-Beni, Bolivia.

As is the experience of most participants of short term missions trips, each of us come back with the realization that we had been loved and served in most amazing ways. We were humbled and delighted by the immediate warmth and acceptance extended by the Bolivian people. Those of us feeling a bit of anxiety about the language barrier quickly had our concerns put to rest as we found ample translators and creative ways to communicate with both the children and the adults of the community.

We had a variety of serving opportunities during our days in Trinidad. We spent time at La Palmera School participating in the children?s camp taking place while we were there. We had opportunities to lead daily Bible devotions with the kids, join in their high energy praise and worship times, cheer on and even join in the basketball and soccer games, eat lunch with them and even join in morning exercises. We had the very fun experience of taking all the kids to see the La Palmera sponsored Soccer Team play at the community soccer stadium.

We also spent a wonderful day and a half out in the jungle at the annual camp for the teenagers of La Palmera. Some of our Team had the joy of being out at that Camp for the closing morning which included witnessing the baptism of six teenagers and adult volunteers in one of the lakes at the campsite.

There were opportunities to paint, break up old broken floor tile and other maintenance needs that are, of course, endless at a school.

Several of the Team Members had wonderful opportunities to share their testimonies in front of the community church service or other events in which pre-Christians were in attendance. We also performed a short skit which whimsically presented the Gospel.

We left Bolivia on July 16. While we were eager to see our family and friends back home; all of us left a piece of hearts at La Palmera. And many Team Members hope to return this year or in a future year.