Something deeper
About a six hour hike from the trailhead on the ancient Inca trail leaving Ventilla just outside of La Paz is one of the most amazing soccer fields I've ever encountered. It is an ideal setting for some inspirational T.V. commercial. Once again, God has topped my last best experience with something I wouldn't have imagined in a thousands years.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Following Jesus has taken me places I would have never gone on my own.
Let me try to describe this field. You would normally miss it if you were simply hiking the Takesi Inca trail, but since there were some kids playing the first time I hiked by, I heard and looked, and saw what at first I didn't believe. We were hiking on this steep trail hugging the side of a very steep, lush Andean mountain. The last thing I was thinking of seeing was an airport. The second to last thing would have been a soccer field.
But lo and behold, there below me off the trail, surrounded by Eucalyptus trees and thick fern-like undergrowth was a 3/4 size soccer field. How it hugs the side of that mountain, and who cleared it off remains a mystery to me, but I must say I am very thankful to both the mountain and the ones that took the time to make this field.
Last weekend I happened to be in the area with 7 other gringos and 8 shoe shiners. We stopped and played... for fried chicken. Bolivia versus the U.S., Canada and New Zealand. The Bolivians thought they had the chicken in the bag, and with such confidence jumped out to a 3-1 lead. But after halftime we changed directions and the gringos attacked the slightly downhill goal. Rain started to fall and the gringos started to rally. In the end the score was tied, the chickens were safe and standing in the rain with a bunch of dirty (some bloody) and soaked friends I felt like someone out there with a bird's eye view had just watched all the highlights and as a result decided to purchase a new pair of Nike shoes.
That's the soccer highlight for the trip. But that's just the beginning. I had some great talks while trekking, and one in particular with Ramiro and David I want to record so I can remember. They asked me how I became a missionary. So I told them my story, going all the way back to my trip to Juarez in 1996 with MCYM and Project Serve. They listened with great attention, and when I finished I asked them about what they thought of what we do. Ramiro was the one that answered:
"Since you guys have started working with us the guys are drinking a lot less. That's good of course. We are used to volunteers from different foundations and whatnot, but you guys are different. You guys offer something deeper. You guys offer Jesus. And it's like David (the intern) said, 'Friends and volunteers will come... and then they'll go. But the ONLY person that you can count on always is Jesus.'"
I think Ramiro has a good point.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Following Jesus has taken me places I would have never gone on my own.
Let me try to describe this field. You would normally miss it if you were simply hiking the Takesi Inca trail, but since there were some kids playing the first time I hiked by, I heard and looked, and saw what at first I didn't believe. We were hiking on this steep trail hugging the side of a very steep, lush Andean mountain. The last thing I was thinking of seeing was an airport. The second to last thing would have been a soccer field.
But lo and behold, there below me off the trail, surrounded by Eucalyptus trees and thick fern-like undergrowth was a 3/4 size soccer field. How it hugs the side of that mountain, and who cleared it off remains a mystery to me, but I must say I am very thankful to both the mountain and the ones that took the time to make this field.
Last weekend I happened to be in the area with 7 other gringos and 8 shoe shiners. We stopped and played... for fried chicken. Bolivia versus the U.S., Canada and New Zealand. The Bolivians thought they had the chicken in the bag, and with such confidence jumped out to a 3-1 lead. But after halftime we changed directions and the gringos attacked the slightly downhill goal. Rain started to fall and the gringos started to rally. In the end the score was tied, the chickens were safe and standing in the rain with a bunch of dirty (some bloody) and soaked friends I felt like someone out there with a bird's eye view had just watched all the highlights and as a result decided to purchase a new pair of Nike shoes.
That's the soccer highlight for the trip. But that's just the beginning. I had some great talks while trekking, and one in particular with Ramiro and David I want to record so I can remember. They asked me how I became a missionary. So I told them my story, going all the way back to my trip to Juarez in 1996 with MCYM and Project Serve. They listened with great attention, and when I finished I asked them about what they thought of what we do. Ramiro was the one that answered:
"Since you guys have started working with us the guys are drinking a lot less. That's good of course. We are used to volunteers from different foundations and whatnot, but you guys are different. You guys offer something deeper. You guys offer Jesus. And it's like David (the intern) said, 'Friends and volunteers will come... and then they'll go. But the ONLY person that you can count on always is Jesus.'"
I think Ramiro has a good point.
posted by Randy y Dani @ 12:18 AM
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