| This past summer,
ten young adults, led by David Harsh, Carolyn Carter
and Claudia Sergura, departed for an adventure in labor
and love in Bolivia. Hosted by Kay Twilley, Global Ministries
missionary, the group was able to work and play and learn
from their counterparts in Bolivia and from each other.
If you would be interested in having a program brought
to your church or group – the following team members
are willing to talk to you about this amazing journey
they took together! Bolivia is one of the poorest countries
in our hemisphere and the strides that the Methodist
Church is making to improve the lot of the people is
very gratifying. |
|
 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| This mainly Catholic society of 9 million people reside in
a landlocked country in central South America. There are three
main regions: the cold, dry climate of the altiplano, an Andean
highland plateau, subtropical valleys (yungas) of the eastern
slopes of the Andes and the tropical plains of the East and
North, a region of jungles and grasslands. |
| |
 |
|
There are eight Global Ministries missionaries assigned
to Bolivia who are working in such diverse settings and
projects from rural and agriculture to urban and defining
new models of ministry and pastoral development for the
church in Bolivia |
|
|
| Team members: |
|
|
How did the Mission of Discovering of
Bolivia and its People impact you? |
| |
Jennifer Buda
To read a hand written account Click Here. |
| |
 |
|
This was my first time ever leaving the U.S. It was such
a big step for me. I learned so much about myself and about
my sense of not knowing that there are people in need.
I mean, I knew there was, but I had never seen it before.
Life for me is so good compared to others. I’m grateful
to God for my family and the lifestyle he has given me.
I have learned that I make kids happy by smiling and listening.
I loved teaching in Puesto Fenandez. These kids want to
learn so much, it makes me want to learn for them. They
gave me inspiration to stay in School. They made me grateful
for the little I have. I loved the trip and would like
to do this again!
~ Monica Gonzalez |
|
| |
|
| |
This was my first time ever leaving
the U.S. It was such a big step for me. I learned so
much about myself
and about my sense of not knowing that there are people
in need. I mean, I knew there was, but I had never
seen it before. Life for me is so good compared to
others.
I’m grateful to God for my family and the lifestyle
he has given me. I have learned that I make kids happy
by smiling and listening. I loved teaching in Puesto
Fenandez. These kids want to learn so much, it makes
me want to learn for them. They gave me inspiration
to stay in School. They made me grateful for the little
I have. I loved the trip and would like to do this
again!
~ Monica Gonzalez |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
|
|
 |
|
You leave hoping/expecting to make a change in someone’s
life. You come home only to find that the change has taken
place somewhere else, right within yourself! This experience
which I am so grateful for, has opened my eyes, my heart
and my soul on so many different levels, which I never
imagined possible. I have witnessed things I never thought
I would be exposed to. I have accomplished seemingly impossible
tasks for the good of the children, the families and the
community - a community built on |
|
| the foundation of God’s love. There is a binding commonality shared between us and the
people of Bolivia. This similar foundation of God’s love
and support is one in which we live and grow and interact with
each other. I have seen first hand how this love and support
has absolutely no boundaries or limitations separating any
of God’s children, no matter which part of the world
we come from. This experience has challenged my physically,
emotionally and spiritually. My ability to create and maintain
relationships not only with the people around me but also with
God, has been tested in numerous ways. I have welcomed all
of these challenges because they have sparked a new light within
me for which I have grown and matured not only in my faith
as a Christian, but also as a person within God’s whole
community ~Hunter Huffman |
| |
|
|
|
|
The
work projects:
The first project was in Puesto Fernandez,
a village of dirt streets. Our goal was to help lay
the foundation for the fellowship
building at Hasta Crecer, an outreach to the poorest children.
This is a Methodist outreach program. It rained and the work
was dirty and mucky – but very satisfying! The second
job was to assist a local work team and another U.S. youth
crew in building a brick and chain-link security fence around
the Iglesia Metodista campus in Montero. Team leader David
Harsh said he has never had a team work so hard or get so dirty!
Rachel Jackson, team member, wrote 6 articles on the experience for the Daily
Record in Wooster, OH.
Click here |
|
|
|
|
|
|
