Planning makes Perfect…sometimes

This is a group of guys that I met with several times while in Cochabamba in order to begin planning an event for the end of this year. I am not a meeting person but I am learning how to be better at it. I had more meetings in Bolivia this trip than I ever had before.

My Iranian Connection

Mohamed, Virginia and I met some years ago in Cochabamba. Our meeting centered around good food as does much of my life. He runs a wonderful Iranian restaurant, named Kabobs, in the city. He also is very creative and has decorated the place with his artwork and artwork from Iran. He even made the huge grill that he cooks his famous meals on. I often take teams of people there. Teams love the food but most importantly love ole Mohamed when he entertains them. We often have in depth discussions about what is going on around the world. He is well read and has a view of Americans that would be good for any of us to sit down and listen to. He has taught me many things. I pray for him often and he does for me. He is Muslim and when we greet one another, there are several kisses on the cheek and then blessings from God. God is at work in Mohameds life. I have learned over time that it is best to love and pray people to Christ instead of trying to argue them there.

I Had E’m Thinking

I had a chance to speak to the Yutes (youth) in Cochabamba, Bolivia. When we lived here I got more chances to push my way into a meeting but now, I have to be invited. Thank goodness that Monte and his wife Andrea asked me ahead of time to speak to the yutes on a Friday night in the Bodega. It was great to see them and to catch up with old young friends. Our future looks bright with these young people that play music and come together to hang out like I did so many years ago with friends my age at a Christian coffee house called The Door. I spoke to them about traveling and the fact that all I hear now from the flight attendants is blah blah blah blah blah blah. Even though the attendants really are giving me important, life saving information, I have tuned them out because I have heard it so much. I then said that my fear for them as missionary kids is that they will not just tune out the things that God is trying to tell them. Even though they have heard stories over and over my prayer for them and for me is that we will not tune out the most important things in life because they are so available.

So That’s Where You Hide Your Gum

While in Bolivia I tried to get a lot of things done. One of them is to have my annual check up with my dentist. She is Japanese and was raised in Santa Cruz, Bolivia where there is a huge population of Japanese professionals. I call her SuKey for short because I cannot pronounce her entire name. I made a call and got an appointment. After all the bowing and stuff when I first got there we talked about the girls a little and Cindy. I showed her their recent photo…she smiled and bowed at them. Then we got down to business and she took out an old filling and put in another. She cleaned and scraped and told me how nice my teeth were. After all the work was done she wrote all that she had done in my file and then quietly said…”160 Bolivianos.” I was outraged and then remembered that 160 bs is about 15 US dollars. I gladly gave it to her, took another photo, bowed some and told her that I would be back again. She bowed, I bowed again and the bowing and saying goodbye went on till I was dizzy and had to leave in order not to fall down! Aint God good?

Some Things Never Change

Some things is Bolivia never change. Like this begger who I recognize very well from living in the city of Cochabamba for six years. He can be seen all over the city where he knows his best option to look pitiful enough to draw another coin out of someones pocket. Bolivia streets are loaded with these professional beggers. They work as hard or harder at their jobs than many of us do at ours. He is a product of what he was taught and of a place that allowed it to happen. Bolivia is in trouble again. It has had so many opportunities to advance but it seems to regress with one step forward…three steps back. While we lived in Bolivia there were three presidents, many riots, shortages of this or that, roads blown up and blocked by different factions trying to make a statement and on and on. Like this begger, who sat down beside me to count his money after I refused to give him any, Bolivia will not show you what she has hidden. She cannot, because she is waiting on someone else to help her. Her hand is always out and like many of us she needs to learn is how to give.