Thankful

Andrew, our volunteer from McCallie, left this morning.  As he left, I couldn´t help but feel so thankful for this opportunity we were able to have.  Andrew spent 5 weeks in Bolivia, after his school friends had left in June from their one week stay.  He asked to stay with a Bolivian family and to be kept busy volunteering each week he was here.
We had a hard time finding a family for him, as many families simply don´t have the space for one more person in their homes.  Finally, a couple volunteered to host Andrew.  We were a bit weary as they didn´t have any children, and had just lost a baby after being pregnant for 7 months.  But, as it was our only option, we introduced Andrew to Rioni and Betty.  Drew took Andrew to Church on a Sunday and left him with his new host family that afternoon.  We left Andrew alone for a few days, then took him out for ice cream.  He was happy and smiling, so we took that as a good sign.  Then we asked him how his first few days had been.  He told us the first day, he was able to dig a bathroom in the front yard with his new host dad.  So, he was thankful to have a bathroom in the house he was staying in.  He was realizing very quickly the reality of life for many Bolivians.  It was quite a shock for him, but it took it in good stride, always being thankful for the little things he learned along the way.
We tried to take Andrew out at least once a week to check in and see how things were going.  We were amazed at how quickly he was learning Spanish, and how he kept such a positive outlook despite a complete culture shock and a number of opportunities not working out like we had hoped.
Last night, we had a full house with Andrew, Jared (our Wheaton volunteer), and a professor from Wheaton as well.  As we ate our silpancho, we gave Andrew a space to talk about his time here, what he had learned, and what he would go back home with.  I almost teared up because I was so thankful that God had allowed us to walk alongside Andrew and watch him learn these things.
Drew and I realized how much we really enjoy hosting volunteers, and how well we work together in those situations.  But more than that, we enjoy learning alongside the volunteers and encouraging them to not forget the things they learned here in Bolivia.  We are thankful to be a sort of bridge between the Bolivian Church and the North American Church, sharing the strengths and weaknesses of both Churches so the greater Church can be truly act as one body.  Andrew goes back today and will be able to share with his friends and family what he has learned and struggled with.  We are thankful for his time here, and pray that he never forgets the things he learned here.