In 2013, Adam went on a short-term missions trip to Bolivia. He considered the ten weeks he spent there as an individual among the most powerful of his life. Below is an adapted version of one of his reflections during his time there.
So life as a volunteer is certainly not easy. I realize most of my (previous communications) have just been about how awesome it is and how cute the kids are. And that is true. Bolivia is awesome, and the kids are completely adorable. But I have been realizing since I got here just how tough some of this is.
Being in a different culture long-term can be difficult. It’s amazing how different absolutely everything can be. It’s not something you realize when you come on a short trip. Working with people from other cultures is also challenging. We do things a certain way in the US, and they do things a certain way here. And most of the times both sides are convinced their way is right - they are both wrong, but they are convinced of it nonetheless. Mediating and navigating these differences is not easy and can be incredibly draining. It can also make you feel very alone when you are traveling by yourself in a completely different country with a completely different culture. In the U.S. I always had friends or family I could call or spend time with. Or there were hobbies, TV shows, or even food to fill up time and to bring some comfort. But things are different here.
I pray often for guidance with how to handle these differences and for strength to deal with the loneliness that can sometimes feel so powerful.
I am still working at the daycare. I know what I am doing is important there, and I know what a difference it is making in these kids lives. Many of the children do not get a lot of attention or love, and so that is what I try to do. I know that we are providing them with an amazing place to be during the day, that we are feeding them good healthy food, that they are getting lessons on letters and numbers. I also know that many of these kids would be home alone or at work with their parents if the daycare was not there.
That said, working with them is very difficult. Many of these kids are incredibly disobedient. They usually do not listen to anything I say. They can be very violent. I spend a decent portion of my day running around breaking up fights between kids and consoling the victims. It's hard. My patience is tested every single day, and there are days when I have to take a 10 minute walk to calm down.
But God is good, and every day there is at least one moment, with one kid, that makes the day worthwhile. It might be connecting with a kid I have never connected with before, it might be making one of the kids smile, it might be the kids doing something funny, or even just as simple as having a sick child fall asleep in my arms after crying for hours. It is hard, and there are days I want to quit, but I have to look back on the day and find these moments and cherish them. I have to seek those moments and remember that if I was not here this child would not have smiled in that moment, or that baby would not have fallen asleep.
I pray every morning for patience and love with these kids, that I would be able to show them some of His love. And I pray for that moment that I can hold on to.
I do not want to sound like I am complaining; that is in no way my intention. I am incredibly fortunate to be able to be here helping these kids. I am so blessed to have so many friends that support me in this. I am still amazed at times with how lucky I am to be able to spend time with some of these kids. To even be here and be the one able to help and make a difference is amazing. But I wanted to write about some of the difficulties with being here, and also the way God is supporting me through these challenges.
Edited by: John Michael Den Hartog
Being in a different culture long-term can be difficult. It’s amazing how different absolutely everything can be. It’s not something you realize when you come on a short trip. Working with people from other cultures is also challenging. We do things a certain way in the US, and they do things a certain way here. And most of the times both sides are convinced their way is right - they are both wrong, but they are convinced of it nonetheless. Mediating and navigating these differences is not easy and can be incredibly draining. It can also make you feel very alone when you are traveling by yourself in a completely different country with a completely different culture. In the U.S. I always had friends or family I could call or spend time with. Or there were hobbies, TV shows, or even food to fill up time and to bring some comfort. But things are different here.
I pray often for guidance with how to handle these differences and for strength to deal with the loneliness that can sometimes feel so powerful.
I am still working at the daycare. I know what I am doing is important there, and I know what a difference it is making in these kids lives. Many of the children do not get a lot of attention or love, and so that is what I try to do. I know that we are providing them with an amazing place to be during the day, that we are feeding them good healthy food, that they are getting lessons on letters and numbers. I also know that many of these kids would be home alone or at work with their parents if the daycare was not there.
That said, working with them is very difficult. Many of these kids are incredibly disobedient. They usually do not listen to anything I say. They can be very violent. I spend a decent portion of my day running around breaking up fights between kids and consoling the victims. It's hard. My patience is tested every single day, and there are days when I have to take a 10 minute walk to calm down.
But God is good, and every day there is at least one moment, with one kid, that makes the day worthwhile. It might be connecting with a kid I have never connected with before, it might be making one of the kids smile, it might be the kids doing something funny, or even just as simple as having a sick child fall asleep in my arms after crying for hours. It is hard, and there are days I want to quit, but I have to look back on the day and find these moments and cherish them. I have to seek those moments and remember that if I was not here this child would not have smiled in that moment, or that baby would not have fallen asleep.
I pray every morning for patience and love with these kids, that I would be able to show them some of His love. And I pray for that moment that I can hold on to.
I do not want to sound like I am complaining; that is in no way my intention. I am incredibly fortunate to be able to be here helping these kids. I am so blessed to have so many friends that support me in this. I am still amazed at times with how lucky I am to be able to spend time with some of these kids. To even be here and be the one able to help and make a difference is amazing. But I wanted to write about some of the difficulties with being here, and also the way God is supporting me through these challenges.
Edited by: John Michael Den Hartog
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