Well, it all started last summer when my youth ministers from high school were in town. They left six years ago to start the mission field with Word Made Flesh in Bolivia. They went down and discovered a large need for ministry to be in the lives of the many women and children involved in prostitution. This is what they have based their ministry around. I told them I wanted to come visit them, and they threw out the idea of applying for their servant team program, which is a 4 month program in the spring or fall. The Lord really spoke to me because I honestly expected to not think another thing about it, and go on, but the idea of going and experiencing life with such different people and finding a way to help them just kept pulling me. I looked up all the information, and out of no where, I applied. Shortly after, I got accepted, and then had a couple second thoughts.
I went through an intense week of reflecting, and truly trying to decide if this is the right path for me. I set several ultimatums for God. If I can't get graduate on time, I'm not going...If I can't get school credit, I'm not going...If my passport is expired, I'm not going...If I can't get into Spanish class in the fall, I'm not going... Well, it proved ALL of those came true, and I still had a desire to go. The Lord was destined for me to live out His will for my life through his own ways. I accepted it head on and raised the money. Now, I find myself in Kentucky anxiously awaiting my departure.
I leave on February 15, 2008 to go and live until June 7th in El Alto, Bolivia, a suburb of La Paz, with an elevation of 13,300 feet above sea level, average temperature of 50 degrees year round and rainy, no heat, a weekly allowance of $12 a week, and only necessities in my possession. I can not wait to truly be able to be ridded of the commercialized culture we live in and really experience life with the two-thirds world. I believe God will be able to speak so clearly through these circumstances. I will live with a host family and volunteer at different ministry organizations throughout each week ranging from serving meals, playing with street children, cleaning, and administering first aid.
Please pray for my team of five, Autumn, Clark, Laura, and Bryan as we go into these people's lives and hope to share the light of Christ with them.
Official countdown: 11 days
About Me
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- Kelly Eckert
- I am currently in El Alto, Bolivia for 4 months living and serving among the world's poorest people. I am going through Word Made Flesh with a team of 5! Please pray for us and the people we will be serving.
1 comment:
Kelly it's so great to have this blog to communicate with you! I know you won't be able to update much (or read the comments much) but I want you to know I'm honored to have such a dedicated, determined, and beautiful cousin! :) You are truly doing the Lord's work, and it's great that you are not worried about finishing school on time or what anyone else thinks about your Mission.
You know you can always get your credits for school and graduate in due time. You and I know you are in the middle of a much bigger task, and I think you and your "Team" will touch the lives of many people that may otherwise have no chance or would have no way of knowing there is a 'better way' than the lives they are leading. My prayers are with you, Autumn, Clark, Laura, and Bryan. You guys truly ROCK!
Ok- enough of the mushy stuff. :) So what's it like living without all the noise and technology? I would think it's very strange at first but I'm sure I would love it! (Except not being able to get online every day- kind of an internet addict!) How about the food? I bet you end up finding some things that are wonderful (Fresh and exotic fruits) and some things that may be disgusting. (I'm sure the Bolivians eat bugs for the protein. Yummy!)
Well I've got to get to work now, but next time you update I'll know! I'll be checking this site at least 3x a week. (Gotta make sure my cuz is healthy and doing well!)
God Bless,
Chris Thomas
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