Bolivia Bound in Doce Dias!

Countdown to Bolivia…12 days!

Life is happening fast!  I signed a 2-year contract to be a part of the organization NICS (Network of International Christian Schools) and in less than 2 weeks I will be landing in La Paz, Bolivia.  Then in just a couple short weeks after that I will begin my teaching career as a first grade teacher at Highlands International School in La Paz.  It's crazy to think I'll have my own classroom and a diverse group of students whose names I can't even pronounce right now!  Somehow it never occurred to me that this might be a bit harder than starting out my teaching career in the states.  (No, really, I’m serious.)  I had a very naïve picture in my mind of the whole thing.  I thought to myself “Teaching will be pretty easy and good with a small class and with supportive Christian teachers,” and “Well, I don’t know much Spanish, so that’ll be a challenge.  But I’ll pick it up I’m sure.  And then it’ll be easier to find a job coming back to the states since I’ll be fluent in Spanish!”  I'd say those were my primary thoughts/concerns regarding teaching in Bolivia before coming to PFO (Pre-field orientation) this week in Southaven, Mississippi.

Wow, have I learned a lot.

So many things that I never even thought about or knew before have been discussed this past week and the amount of new and valuable information is overwhelming to me, coupled of course with the fact that this all is soon going to be my world in just a couple weeks.  We’ve talked a lot about TCKs (Third Culture Kids—kids whose parents are living in a different country than their passport country) and all of the characteristics/implications of them and teaching them.  This is a totally different group of students than I’ve ever taught or even been around.  And then apart from TCKs, I’ll have local, native Bolivian students.  Previously, I was reassured that I would be teaching American curriculum and use North Carolina’s standards (not too different from Indiana, I’m sure).  I never thought about having to adapt and contextualize so many different lessons for these students.  (Teaching them the value of American AND Bolivian coins, and bringing into the discussion other coins that students from countries other than America and Bolivia would be familiar with, adapting a lesson on the 4^th of July for students who are completely unfamiliar with America’s traditions on this day but would understand Bolivia’s Independence Day—which I am unfamiliar with!)  I’m realizing I am going into this knowing not only very, very little Spanish (God, was there a reason I took French??) but also so little about their culture.  I will be going into this just as wide-eyed about Bolivian culture as my first graders will be to what I teach them about American culture.  I say I am going over there as a teacher, but in all reality, I will be just as much (if not more) a learner.

I’ve also realized in the last couple weeks, my occupation is teaching, but my vocation, what in a sense is at the heart of why I’m going, is to be a missionary.  What I have been called to do is to share the love of Jesus with my students, with their parents, with families, with neighbors and friends that have never heard it.  I recently found out a little more about religion and spirituality of the people in Bolivia.  Many do call themselves “Christians” but they have a very legalistic view of Christianity, abstaining from drinking, smoking, and dancing, for example.  There is also a blending of Christianity with paganism.  So simply put, many Bolivians, though they have heard about Jesus, are missing the love and grace and holistic gospel message.  They are missing the point that there is freedom in Christ and that faith is all that’s required of us.  Jesus overcame the law, and we have life to the full in the spirit. (And I say, let’s drink and dance to that!  Not smoke…that's gross and really bad for you ;) )

Honestly, this whole “overseas missionary” thing I’ve been battling with a little.  It seems that more and more I see reasons to be a “missionary” at home, or at least in the states.  There’s brokenness everywhere, so why go all the way to Bolivia to be a missionary and teach?  Yeah, it’s adventurous and exciting, but that’s neither the reason I’m going nor the reason I think I should be going for.  I have to keep remembering back to before I made my decision—the chills and overwhelming feeling of "Yes, this is where I want to be" that I felt on the phone talking to the director about the school and the opportunities for ministry there, the encouragement I got through friends, family, professors, the director, and staff, and most of all the spiritual attack I felt in the vulnerable place I was at in making a decision.  I can’t explain it to you in words, but it was real and a hard battle full of depression, confusion, tears, and almost resulted in a decision to turn it down because of so much fear and so many doubts hitting me and hurting me deeply.  Looking back, I am actually so thankful for it because it strengthened my faith and was further confirmation that I had decided to embark on something that Satan HATES...which in turn means I must be moving in the right direction... : ) Praise God for getting me through it and reminding me in His word of these key verses…I’m clinging tightly to them still as I am about to fly out there in less than 2 weeks!

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)

“Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3)

“This is my command--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)  –Scott, the director of my school in Bolivia signed his name with this scripture reference under it, and I got it at exactly the time I needed to be reminded of this.  This was coming out of my depression/confusion, and basically confirmed I should take the position.

Now, I am leaving with a new mindset.  I am leaving with a heart and mind fully surrendered and fully trusting that Bolivia is where I'm supposed to give of myself, not just gain Spanish immersion; where I'm supposed to be challenged and stretched, not have it easy.  There are gains and losses to going, for sure, but I have to keep coming back to "where is my heart at?"  And only God knows what will happen after 2 years there.  I'm going to shrug off any pressure to get married or to earn a lot of money and fully commit myself to serving in Bolivia for however long God wants me there.  3 words I live by, and I think everyone should live by:  Sacrifice. Surrender. Trust.  I am not my own and I don't know what's best for me, but the Lord is directing my steps!

Thank you all for your love and support as I embark on this journey!  I am so thankful for the internet that will keep me connected to you all via e-mail, facebook, skype, and blogging!  (I will use my phone only for local calls in Bolivia).  And I am also thankful I can still come home at Christmas for a few weeks, and again for some time next summer, so I am not disappearing altogether! : )

My e-mail for those of you that don’t have it is:  julieghogan@gmail.com

And my skype name is:  papaya726

Mucho amor, (that means "much love"....freetranslation.com, baby. That's one way to learn Spanish. hehe)

Julie