Here´s a story for you...

Well, I sure have story that I am sure many of you will get a kick out of! The other day I came back to our La Hacienda and went straight to the bathroom. Right as I was about to walk out I saw the BIGGEST spider I think I have seen in a long time. I can imagine all of you enjoying the thought of this if you know how much I adore these little critters, hah! For your information you could say that I am pretty darn fearful of spiders. I can handle all other bugs and snakes before spiders! We just don´t seem to get along very well. My first day here I specifically asked the other 2 if they have seen any spiders, and they said no you don´t have to worry! Riiiiight!! The encounter in the bathroom was not pleasant.... I asked the Lord why was He doing this to me? Still haven´t figured out that one. The spider was right at the door where I couldn´t get out. So I threw toilet paper, soap, a brush, and than he finally moved when I threw a bottle of lotion! I just went into a panic. I yelled for Michelle and she immediately came to my rescue and stomped on him! UGH! Did I mention that he was probably 3 inches long? THEN get this...... we went to the orphanage on Saturday to get on our hands and knees like Cinderella and scrub all of the paint off the tiles that the high school kids had dripped. I was working in the corner and was just in my own little world and than all of a sudden I saw another stinking spider about 2 inches from my hand! I mean what´s up with that!? Nothing like a big BIENVENIDOS to Cochabamba!!

Real quick before I have to go up to La Hacienda and HAND wash my clothes... I want to share with you about the other orphanage close to our house that we got to visit and tutor with the kids. This is the house where the little burn victim I told you about lives! She just melts my heart every time I see her! Here in Bolivia the kids call you hermana/o out of respect. So, they call me hermana Jackleen (that is how they say my name here). By the way, did you know you are not suppose to use adios here? Yeah, I learned that real quick. You only use that when you are at a funeral! These kids just crave your love and attention. I am working on tutoring a few of them in addition, it´s even a learning experience and review for me in spanish! It always takes about 5 minutes to say goodbye because they climb all over you and try to get you to stay! I think they are teaching me more than I am teaching them! If I don´t know something they act it out, draw it, or compare it to something else in spanish! I will provide more details later on this week about what God is doing through me and these beautiful kids I get to hang out with! Hopefully some time this week I will add pics too!! Have a very enjoyable Sunday!

In Him,

Jackleen

The first days in Bolivia....

It is already Thursday. I cannot believe that I have already been here in Bolivia for about 5 days! Time has already flown by. At the end of the day I am pretty exhausted but excited to wake up for the next day! I know that I just sent an email out updating everyone on my first few adventures in Bolivia, but I wanted to post something on here as well.

Does anyone read Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest?? Well you should definitely read the one for today....October 25th! I was blessed to have read it this morning in my quiet time. God not only used it for where I am, but I believe that it could make a profound impact for a lot of you. You can go check it out at www.rbc.com. The title was ¨Submitting to God´s Purpose.¨ It starts out talking about how you need to learn to be God´s man or woman of great worth and excellence. We are made extraordinary by the purpose He has given us. We are right where God wants us and needs us, so embrace it. A few scriptures that he referred to were 1 Cor. 9:22 and John 15:16. God has chosen us and He wants us to seek the work before us. We are not workers by choice, it is ultimately our calling! Praise God, yeah? It of course provided a lot of encouragement for where God has me right now and gave me a boost. I am right in the exact place He needs me! It doesn´t matter if you are in Cochabamba, Holland, San Antonio area, Wisconsin, South Carolina, or Mississippi. God needs you to follow Him. You can´t just sit still and expect it to be done for you and straight through you. We as children have got to do our part!

Well, although I didn´t share much about the adventures here I felt like I needed to share what I just shared! Tomorrow we are going back to the Villa Israel orphanage because there are a bunch of high school kids doing their service project. They are painting the whole house in and out. They need some supervision and assistance because there is a lot to do. Than we will go to the center to tutor and play with another group of adorable Bolivian kids! It is possible that in a week me and 2 others will be going out to the jungle to work for about a week or 2. Two orphanages are under construction out there. Ok, now I must go because we are going over to a missionary couples house for dinner who are from Australia! Hope you are seeing the hand of Christ in all you do! You can never praise Him enough!

Hasta luego,

Jaclyn

I am a blogger!

I finally decided to buckle and create a blog even though I lack any kind of computer knowledge. The more I thought about it the more I realized that this may be a really cool way to share the many adventures that await me in Cochabamba, Bolivia! So, here is my first entry and I am not too certain what to share. Come to think of it though my adventures have already begun! Oh, one cool thing I could share is about the way the Lord completely blessed me yesterday through a church service at Faith Bible Church. I happened to be introduced at church to let everyone know who I was, where I was going to serve, what I would be doing, and how they could pray and be a part of the ministry. From email correspondence the Timmers (the family I will be working with in Cochabamba) said there is a short supply of underwear and socks for the orphans. I have passed that memo on to friends and family and extended it to my supporting church yesterday at the service. Well my little expectations turned into so much more than I was able to show gratitude for! I was a witness to God using His children to provide for the orphans of Bolivia. People were handing me checks and cash left and right. Let's just say after the fact I had $480 in my hand to go and purchase underwear and socks for the kiddos! WOW! We serve a God that is faithful and good. So, God shared a piece of Scripture with me....And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor, his righteousness endures forever...2 Cor. 9:8-9!! And I was totally a witness to Him fulfilling this Scripture yesterday! His righteousness, goodness, and faithfulness does endure forever! That is about the only thing that remains constant in our lives.

Ok, so I went to Target today and thought I had put a good amount of socks and underwear in the cart for the kiddos, and I only spent 60 bucks on them! What I am going to have to do is go buy some more and than save the rest and take it with me so when I see a need arise in Bolivia I will use that money to purchase items for the children.

I leave in about 5 days and I am surely experiencing a variety of emotions! Ready? Yeah sure... ok maybe not, but it is inevitable that my departure is right around the corner!