Peace in the Storm

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The last few weeks have flown by in a whirlwind of birthday parties, visiting parents, frogs in the bathroom, torrential downpours, eating mangos, and the normal highs and lows of life at Family Feliz. I've been here for 3 months, and Wednesday (Nov. 27) will be my 100th day in Bolivia!! Wow! God is faithful!

This is a shorter post with just a couple journal entries and a thought at the end. Here's a quick timeline update, though. There are just two more weeks left in this trimester of school for the kids. After that, many of them that have families will go home for the vacation. Sadly, many of them do not go home to places where they are safe and sufficiently provided for--the reason they are at Familia Feliz in the first place. We are praying for God's hand of protection over them, as that is all that we can do at this point. They will return in mid-February. In the meantime, I and my fellow SM's will do some traveling and get some much-needed rest and recharge! We have a trip planned from December 18 - January 13 during which we will be visiting various countries in South America. :)


Ticiane's birthday (photo with her sister, Dianara)


Speaking for church


After worship with Nirza, Santiago, and Teacher Aiden


Baking Tici's birthday pizza


We put up our hammocks in the house!


:)))


Love Santiago and this photo!! <3


Trip to the store


Aspiring birders


Jayden's dad made balloons for all the girls, and they LOVED it!!

Journal Entry 11/6-7/24

"Yesterday I was not feeling well. Tici had a fever, and we were hanging out in my room. I had been in bed til I heard her crying because her body hurt. I got out of my bed and sat in my chair and she came and sat on my lap....I just held her while she cried some. After a little while, I got up to get her some electrolytes so she went back to sit in the other chair. While she was drinking, I went back to reading my Bible. I offered to read my Bible out loud to her and she liked the idea. I read Psalm 23 to her and at the end, she excitedly told me that was her favorite Psalm. I then read her Psalm 27 (one of my favorites!!) as well. After that, she asked if I knew the story of Jacob working for Laban to marry Rachel and Leah. She went and got her Bible and I helped her find the story in Genesis. We read it together, and she told me she really liked that story. I was so thankful for that special time with her when we both weren't feeling well just to connect over God's Word--something I hope she will love and value her whole life, no matter what happens."


Church morning


Bolivian sunsets >>>


Zeinet is a hat thief!


Morning suprise!


Beautiful orange flower tree at the store


Making fire to make lunch


I love them.


They're so silly!


:)

Journal Entry 11/18/24

"Today it POURED! The wind blew into our room and got Laney's bed wet along with a lot of our stuff against that wall. It also made a large puddle on the floor. I was thankful it didn't flood the whole house like the Lila's, though. I took the girls to the store in groups. I was on my way back to the house with the second group (Zeinet, Nirza, and Tici). I thought I heard some rain. I looked down the road as we were about to cross and saw the rain probably a quarter mile away soaking the road. I told the girls we needed to run. We passed the gate and were running through campus toward the house when it started dumping buckets on us. It was so funny! We got so wet but it was a blast and such a happy memory! Tici also gave me the sweetest hand-written note today. It's so special and I typed it into my notes app just the way she wrote it so I can keep it with me forever. <3"



A frequent bathroom visitor


Playing Twister


Teacher Aiden and Teacher Justin built us a fire pit so we could cook at our own house!


My Zeinet :)


Lauren!! Love houseparenting with her! <3


Fabiola


Azumiiiii


Ready for culto


Simple, sweet moment :)


Floor cleaning day!

Something God has been teaching me lately is greater trust. It is so easy for me to worry and let my circumstances steal my peace. When I fully accept and believe the truth that God has complete control and that He cares about every little detail of my life, I can have complete focus for my mission, knowing that He is taking care of me. The storm without doesn't have to produce a storm within. I have struggled lately to keep my personal challenges from affecting my mission focus. There are times when personal concerns and challenges outside of being a houseparent to my girls can drain me of the emotional and mental energy that I need to be the caretaker that my girls need. It is a constant battle and a daily decision to surrender my cares and concerns to God in order to do what He has called me to do right now. He will take care of the rest, and He always has my best interest in mind. May He continue to give me the physical, mental, and emotional strength to be faithful to what He has called me to do every day, and may I have the eyes and heart of Jesus as I desire to display His love in all I do.



All the girl house moms <3


The cake was good...


good for a mustache too!


Fun at the 1st birthday party for the twins


Another visitor in the bathroom...


Plaintain eyes


We've been loving mango season!


We put trash bags in the window because the wind was blowing all the rain into our room.


I paid a visit to Nirza's hair salon.


Enjoying our walk to the store after the rain


Mariana loving life on the way back from the store. Her smile brings me so much joy!


Psalm 36:5
"Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds."

2 Thessalonians 3:3
"But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one."

Hebrews 10:23
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."

Soli Deo Gloria

Comments

  1. Travis SmithNovember 25, 2024 at 5:14 PM

    Kelsey, you are doing some thing that is so incredibly important. I admire you because you were doing something harder than probably anything that I have ever done. You were making a difference in those girls life more than you will ever know.

    ReplyDelete

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