New Faces at FH Ushpa Ushpa

Every time I go to Bolivia, I have a different experience. But every time I go to Bolivia, I have the same experience. Each year there is a different team and a different project, radically altering the nature of the trip. But every year I am amazed at the glory of God and the work that he is doing in Ushpa Ushpa.

Last year, I noticed an immediate contrast with the first year. In the first year, everything was new. But on the second trip, we flew the same flights, stayed in the same hotels, and worked with the same FH staff, so the trip was comfortable and we were able to hit the ground running.

This year is not like that second year at all.

A lot has changed in Ushpa Ushpa since we were last here. The biggest change has been the FH staff—there has been almost a 100% turnover. The city director in charge of all of Cochabamba has changed, as has the district director in charge of Ushpa Ushpa. All of the social workers are new but two, and only one staff member remains from our first trip (Rueben). Even though this is my third visit to Ushpa Ushpa, it feels like my first.

That being said, the new staff is wonderful and we are really warming up to them. The new city director is a woman with a background in social work, and the new director of Ushpa Ushpa is a pastor. I love both of these changes because they demonstrate to me desires to: (1) empower the women of Bolivia, and (2) strengthen ties to the local church. Both moves are great.

It is now my third day in Bolivia and this is literally the first time I have been free to sit down and write an update. We left early Tuesday morning, flew all day and all night, and then had a full schedule on Wednesday. By Wednesday night, I had gone almost 40 hours without sleep. We had another full day today.

The flights to Bolivia are brutal, but the welcoming committee makes it all worth it. One of the first things we noticed when we descended the steps from the airplane to the tarmac was an American flag hanging from the airport. There were people standing by it, so we waved. As soon as we did, the crowd raised a banner that said “Welcome dear brothers and sisters from Believers Fellowship.” It was the kids from Ushpa Ushpa! We got our luggage and the kids were waiting for us outside with flowers and hugs. That kind of welcome makes a day and a half of travel seem like nothing.

Since our welcome, we have had time meeting the new FH staff, reconnecting with the community leaders, and (of course) spending time with the kids. Time with the kids has been the best part. The FH sponsorship program means the world to them, and they are always so happy to see us. Today we helped teach a lesson on Ephesians 6:1-2 (our theme for the week is “God’s plan for the family,” so we were teaching them about obeying their parents) and then played soccer, basketball, and wiffle ball with them.

Tomorrow is another busy day—we start the home visits. It is always a humbling experience to be invited into the home of a child blessed by the sponsorship program. We will meet the families, find out about life in Ushpa Ushpa, and see firsthand FH’s impact. My goal is to update the blog every other day, but I may update it tomorrow.

The Ostlund's sponsor child
with a picture they sent her

Thanks for praying for the team! Please pray for our stomachs/health. If you don’t feel good, it is hard to concentrate on doing ministry. Also pray for our time with the kids. The child sponsorship program is the heart of FH’s work here. We want the kids to understand that God loves them and that he has a plan for their lives. A simple week like this can make a huge difference in a young kid’s life.

One last note—I was blown away by the level of participation in sending gifts to the kids. Over 20 people in our church paid to send a gift to their sponsor kid, and many more sent cards and pictures. One women’s group even made adorable dresses for the girls! It has been awesome to see the entire congregation rally around this impoverished community in Bolivia.

Thanks for reading. I will be in touch!