Blog from Week 2:
A flood of people
oranges, tents, dogs, and vendors
women wearing bunched skirts, aprons, laced and knitted vests
colorful cloths filled with goods and babies strapped to their backs
black hair plaited into two long braids
the women are identified by their skirts and hats
de Cochabamba, the women are signed
by their white, wide–rimmed hats
accented with fresh flowers
de La Paz, the women are signed
by their dark, bowl–shaped hats
resting easily on their crowns.
This week we spent a lot of our time doing various ministries—teaching, cleaning, and making jewelery. Most draining, yet most satisfying, we spent time at La Casa de Amistad (The House of Friendship). On the Plaza de San Sebastian surrounded by three prisons, La Casa de Amistad is una escuela (a school) for children ages 3 to 15.
In Cochabamba, if men are incarcerated their families move into prison as well. All the children at La Casa de Amistad live in prison. The 3 days I´ve been to school, the children have gathered around smiling, crying, shouting, whispering, for attention.
Although the atmosphere is seemingly bright and open with the Bolivian sun warming the air, many of the children harbor horrid experiences. Walking into the classroom, there´s a vibe of enprisonment. Beautiful children with lice, ragged clothes, scars, and need to be cared for swarm around for attention calling, ¨Tia Tasha! Tia Tasha!¨ (Auntie Tasha).
As they wrap around arms, legs, waists, necks, I feel weighted down, heavy. Their precious faces could fool anyone of their experiences. It´s hard for me to imagine what their eyes have witnessed, their bodies have experienced.
Coming down the tight and colorful corridors pushed forward by running/screaming children are adults in scrubs. Sometimes they come into the classroom. Most of the time they check the health of the children. They tend to any evidence of abuse–cuts, bruises, blood.
Spending time with these awesome children of God is overwhelming. By the end of our time together I´m ready to go back to the safe, clean place of Palabra de Vida. I feel ashamed to admit such a thing. My life has been so priviledged, protected. God is using me, us, however. I´m here, in Cochabamba pursuing God´s desire for my life.
If that means feeling overwhelmed by so many flowing emotions and hidden experiences, I will embrace it. I will be here for the children who so desperately deserve to have attention—who so desperately deserve to be held, listened to, and talked with.
Praise God for this amazing and adventurous experience! May God´s love shower on the beloved—the children of God.
