ABBY'S STORY

As I was thinking of what to write for my blog post I decided to tell one story for each trip I've been on to Bolivia and what God taught me.

Two years ago at the age of 12 I got to go on my first trip to bolivia, and out of the country. It was also the first time Montrose Church had worked with Luz Divina. On the fourth day at work I had been working pretty hard and hadn't dranken anything all morning so obviously I was thirsty so how we did water that year is that we got these two liter bottles of water and every person on the team had a regular bottle with their name on it. I couldn't open the new two liter bottle so I asked Herb to open it and he did. I put a good amount in my bottle and started to drink, or so I thought. I looked down because I felt something wet on my shirt and the water is falling right out of my mouth! So I try again! It did the same thing as I tried to drink it I found I had no control over my mouth. Then I tasted it. The 'water' was actually gasoline for the cement mixer! I started crying because I was so scared and besides the taste was horrible! I didn't really smell anything. The people down here burn their trash so I was used to wierd smells but I rememer as I was trying to drink the second time smelling a little gas and thinking oh they must be starting to work again. God had shut my throat up and taken control to save me.That showed me that He really is active NOW, not just in the bible and that He cares for ME. I'm not just another grain of sand on the beach. I'm significant and I'm his child and that He will defy science to save me from harm. That makes me feel so special and I know that if He did that for me He would do that for anyone.

Last year one of my good friends Luis told me that my voice was very good and that God is going to use me and I that I will help advance Gods kingdom. He didn't know that at the time I was still debating with myself whether or not to sing on the worship band for Jr. High group. Well that settled the deal for me and I enjoyed every minute of leading others to worship the Lord. It was Gods way of saying "This is the next thing I have for you Abby. Walk through the door and I will work it all out for you. Don't hide the gift I gave you." That experience has grown me into being a leader and so I got the amazing opportunity to lead the pre-k vbs worship this year which was such a joy! Tonight I got to use my voice to lead a song to worship Him while some of the kids did hand motions to it. It was a great experience even though I didn't sing it in Spanish ;)

This year I noticed that many of my team members, including me, were impacted by the children. The pure joy of the Lord no matter what their circumstances and how that radiates through their eyes and smiles. The love whenever they greet you; you see it in the way they run to you in the morning and then hug you randomly throughout the day. God is just in everything they do. It reminds me of Matthew 19:14 NKJV But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” and also reminded me of 1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. These kids down here have truly shown all of these qualities and have set a great example for me to take back home. Two days feels like a week and yet I'm not ready to go even though it's been one and a half weeks already. There will be tears as we part tomorrow. But this is the awesome part of living in the 21st century is that facebook is here! Haha! We get connect with them all year which is a blessing.

Abby Ahlers

Abby and her entourage of kiddos playing games!

ON DAY 11 WE...

Worked for the last day at the church. Crazy!

Accomplished so much! Here's a look at what we were leaving behind

Had a small service at the church.

Ended the night with sports and some face painting at the Cancha.

Sorry there are not more pictures for this day. We were busy!