Vicky, a 2007 Practicum graduate, has traveled to Bolivia to intern with us in Ixiamas. She e-mailed this to us last week after experiencing problems with the Internet in Ixiamas that wouldn’t let her post to the blog. Below is the e-mail she sent to let us know she finally arrived. Keep checking back for her updates!

The Longest Journey

We were stuck in the plane waiting for the airport official to give us clearance to take off as the tourist was taken to the medical facility. Then, after one hour we got clearance and flew to Miami. When I arrived Miami airport, I looked at my watch and even with the time difference from the Philippines, I had been traveling for 24 hours already!

I waited another 5 hours for my next flight- to La Paz. It was an overnight flight, so I arrived in La Paz the following morning. After almost 30 hours of flying and in several airports, I thought I finally arrived in Bolivia. But then, that was only halfway of the trip.

It was so good to see familiar faces; Addison and Jarred just finished their 3–month internship in Ixiamas! I spent the day with them. They flew back to the US the following day. When I arrived in La Paz, with the altitude of 13,000 feet and seeing the beautiful mountains with snow, I kept saying “this looks like Tibet”. The Aymaran and Quechuan people reminded me of Tibetans- their faces, their clothing, the shops on the streets selling accessories from their colorful fabrics. Even the tourists and backpackers from Europe reminded me of scenarios in Tibet.

On the second and third day, I felt horrible from the altitude, tiredness and jetlag altogether. Yet I had to move around – like check about my visa and send my stuff to the bus station. Thank God for some guys who helped me, Bully and Hubert.

After going out to the town, I went back to my hotel and crashed. On my second evening, tired from walking around the city, I slept and woke up with a horrible headache and nausea. After throwing up, I remembered that when I was in Tibet, whenever we have teams coming who get sick and throw up, we put them in the hospital for fear of getting edema. I started to think, should I call somebody? Lord, will I just die here?

Then, I remember the words of the Lord before I left home. I reached for my Bible, and pulled out the words in Jeremiah 45:5 “…your life I will give unto you for a prize in all places where you go”. I prayed and was reminded that word to the Lord. I got up and went out down to the street and went to the coffee shop. I had some hot cocoa and felt better.

On the third day, I was excited that I will be going down to the lower land. Hubert of SIFAT Bolivia was coming to help me to send my luggage to the bus station to get to Ixiamas. While waiting for him at the hotel front desk, the hotel people kept asking me if I were checking out. When I told them not yet, that I’m sending my suitcase to the bus station, they looked at me as if I was insane, and they all said the same thing, “we don’t do that, your luggage will be lost”. I told them, “but Rachel told me”. Anyway, Hubert came and we got the suitcase sorted out. I prayed though for it to get to Ixiamas safe and well. Then, I went to the airport for my local flight to Rurrenabuque.

I had a choice between doing a 24-hour bus trip through the mountains and taking the one hour rough plane ride down to Rurre and a 4-hour bus (as Rachel told me). Maybe I could take the adventure of doing the 24-hour bus ride through the mountains, but I was okay to skip the famous “death road” ride experience for this time. (After the 30-hour plane ride, hmm, maybe next time).

The plane landed in a tiny airport in the middle of the forest. I was so glad to see Rachel. I thought I am finally here. Hmm, not yet. Since my plane from La Paz was delayed, it was late to catch the bus to Ixiamas. Rachel decided to spend the night in Rurre and catch the bus the following morning. It was a great idea, truly. We took a boat and crossed the river for few minutes to get to San Buena to get a bus. We finally rode the bus from San Buena. After waiting (for long time) the mini bus loaded all the passengers’ cargo and stuff on the roof. We rode through the rough dirt road. After two hours of going through the rugged and dirt road in the middle of the forest, I almost asked Rachel, “will we ever pass through a paved road?” I was waiting, and waiting for some paved or straight road to come. It never did, I regretted that I did not count the creeks, rivers and streams we crossed (without bridges, okay) the minibus went through the water. I also forgot to count the many times the bus broke down in the middle of the water. I had to make my long story short, after almost 6 hours, I finally arrived at the Internado. I was so happy that after 5 days, I finally arrived, as in finally, to my real destination! I was too excited to feel the tiredness. especially when I saw the 40 kids who welcomed me with excitement and smiles on their faces.

I thank the Lord for His traveling mercy and for those who prayed for me throughout the trip. I know the journey of my life in the Internado in Ixiamas has only just begun.

Sharing God’s Love in Practical Ways                                 April 2008

We hope you’ve had a great April. Spring is in full bloom on campus. You can read summaries of the articles in this month’s Journal below. To download a complete version of the SIFAT Journal, click here or go to our news page.

A Chance to Make a Difference – Today almost 30,000 children under the age of five will die of mostly preventable causes. More than 70 percent of the planet does not have clean drinking water or sanitation. While statistics can be overwhelming, there are solutions that can change this– one community at a time! Our Fall Practicum will teach community leaders self-help skills in the context of Christian community development. You can be a part making a difference in our world by providing full or partial scholarships for our students. Contact Kathy Bryson (brysonk@sifat.org) for information about donating scholarships or finding other ways you can get involved with the Practicum.

Reflection on a Deaf Teen Retreat – A group of deaf teens from Dallas, Texas, participated in a SIFAT retreat. These students were given an opportunity to learn about other cultures and themselves during their time on campus. Tom Hudspeth, pastor of deaf ministries at Lovers Lane UMC, wrote a reflection about his experience after participating in the slum experience in our Global Village.

Learn & Serve Update – Spaces are still available in our Elementary Learn & Serve session (June 29-July 2). The cost is $150 per person. Weeks 1,4 and 9 are already full! Limited space remains during the other weeks. If your youth group is interested in coming, please register soon. Individuals are also welcome to participate. Learn about the elementary session and how to register on the Learn & Serve site. Contact Learn & Serve director Jamie (waldhourj@sifat.org) if you have questions or need more information.

Sarah Trust Fund Update – We have almost reached $130,000. Remember, our goal is $200,000 by November 2008. Please consider giving to this trust fund, so that SIFAT can continue sharing God’s love in practical ways in future generations. SIFAT Remembers: Two Groups that SIFAT Targets – This month, SIFAT cofounder Ken Corson remembers his home in Sapecho, Bolivia, and how living with the poor helped his family understand being poor. He explains the term “mid-pew America” and how SIFAT wants to be a bridge between the First and Two-thirds Worlds to empower Christians to help one another.

Practicum Alumni Visit – Jhony Bandela, of Hydrabad, India, graduated from the Practicum in 2006. After returning to India, he realized these were classes his wife, Prasuna Gajula, needed to attend. Prasuna graduated last year, and she returned to India prepared to implement what they learned in Grace & Truth Ministries. Prasuna and Jhony returned to the United States this year to visit churches supporting them and to share the new expansion of Grace & Truth Ministries.

Claude Hurtt Joins Staff – If you have called the SIFAT accounting office recently, you may have spoken with Claude Hurtt, our new accountant. Claude has taken the place of Scotty Turner, who returned to Florida with his wife Jane to be closer to his father. We wish Scotty and Jane the best, and we welcome Claude. If you have need to contact Claude, feel free to e-mail him (hurttc@sifat.org).

From the Desk of Tom Corson – Tom returned from a trip to the Holy Lands. In this month’s column, he shares how being in the Holy Land, where he encountered the effects of civil unrest and tourism, is vastly different than being His Holy Lands. Tom challenges us to no build stone temples in memory of Jesus’ life, but rather, to make our own bodies His temple where we get involved and act out His command of loving our neighbor.

Don’t forget that you can donate to SIFAT online. Do you want to find out about ways to get involved with SIFAT? Click here.
Do you want to receive the e-Journal and other e-mail updates? Send a blank e-mail to info@sifat.org with the word SUBSCRIBE as the subject.

Addison and Jarred are back in the States! They arrived in Atlanta late Friday night/early Saturday morning. Thank you for all the prayers during their time in Bolivia.
Vicky should be in Ixiamas now. She sent an e-mail letting us know that she arrived in La Paz without any problems and will try to blog once she gets settled in Ixiamas.

Four interns from Auburn University’s Wesley Foundation will leave for Bolivia later this month. Please keep checking the blog to read about their adventures in Ixiamas, while they help us share God’s love in practical ways!

It is the last day.  Jarred and I board a plan for Santa Cruz, Miami, and then Atlanta tommorrow at 6:45am.  Since tuesday we have been staying in El Alto with Filex and Christina Toremino and their three beautiful children Paula, Nicole, and Israel.  Filex is Mateo’s brother (Mateo being the director of the Internada).  We went to church with them last night and it was awesome.  Today we just got back from the Zoo and I dont even have to say anymore about that.  It was a blast.  This morning we woke up at 5:00 to pick Vicky up.  She is safe and sound in the Hotel as we speak.  She is a little tired from two days straight in a plane changing over in Manilla, Tokyo, Detroit, Atlanta, Miami, then finally arriving in La Paz.  She is a champ and is only a little out of it from the altittude.  I think I can speak for Jarred and myself when I say that the hearts and lives of the people we have come in contact with has been what has meant the most to us both.  We have not had time to sit back and fully take it all in but we know we will remember the faces of the people who have shown us the love of a God in all the have done. -Addison