1993 Bolivia Mission Trip

6-17-93 Miami, FL
Today is my third in Florida. Yesterday I was in Orlando and visited the Epcot Center. Totally cool. The Mexican and Norwegian areas were my favorites although the Pollo all Parmigiana was excellent in Italy. The Spaceship Earth is a poor AT&T ad and based on a faulty premise. The Living Seas however wear neat-o. I actually got to see a couple of Manatees up close. They are strange and beautiful. The paddle they have for a tail is just like a duck bill. Only grey and large.

Last nite, however, was HELL! After driving to Maimi, fun, I checked into my hotel and left my soul in the car. I spent waay too long (anytime was too long) watching a film that was definitely beyond 'R'. In fact, the last 72 hrs. have been completely carnal. I have determined to destroy myself with sin before I leave for Bolivia and am, apparently, content to leave God out of my life. I'm sorry, Lord. My attitude has been completely unacceptable. Please, PLEASE! don't ever let me fall this far again. I cannot serve 2 masters. I cannot serve you and me. So claim me as yours and don't ever let my flesh intervene. I love you Lord, and it hurts me when I hurt you. Don't let me do that.

Well, I met my team for Bolivia today. The guys: Jud[son], Jason, Eric, Corey and Matt and me. The girls: Janet, Sherry, Kristine, Judy, Jennifer, Christy, Lisa, and Leanna. Its a good team. Corey and Jason are the two real standouts. Corey is a leader. It may be hard between him and I. We'll see. Craig is exacly what I expected; young, strong, single (for no apparent reason). He's 30 and a Campus Director. I have hope. We leave tomorrow at 11:30 for Bolivia. Most of us will suffer from Jet lag. (Not me) It will be a long day. TTFN. Ta Ta For Now.

[As it turned out, I got along great with Corey, butted heads hard with Craig. It hurt deeply to find out later that he became an atheist after wrestling with the Problem of Evil.]
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6-19-93 Cochabamba, Bolivia
Dang! I'm in country. And it's Liane, not Leanne. This place reminds me a lot of Tijuana, Mexico. Its loud at night and there's more dust than oxygen in the air. So far people have been very nice and polite. The women greet with a kiss on the cheek. The men shake hands, just like America. Today after lunch (with Jud) a little girl came begging for food, well, for money, but I gave her the half omlette left on my plate. She must've been about 3. Eric Nickols is my roommate. He's from Seattle, WA. UW. A Huskie, but he's hippie enough to fit right in at the U of O. Its just after midnight, the 20th now, and the Discotec across the street is as loud as ever.

The trip from Miami was rather cool. First I found I was sitting next to Judy Shockey, Rob Schultze's girlfriend [Rob was one of my 7 housemates at the time]. On the other side of me was a guy named Peter Lin. His passport was chock full. The man get's around! Anyway, I gave him the 4 Spiritual Laws and went thru them with him. He says he's a believer, but I can tell the H.S. [Holy Spirit] was wailin' on him 'cause he read thru the pamphlet a couple of times after I was done with him. Then Judy and I got into a pillow fight and discussed my dating future on this project. It was a dead-end conversation. After watching A Few Good Men on the flight, I just happened to glance out the window in time to see a lightning storm from the top side. It was cool, and a little scary. The whole sky would light up and the plane was going thru turbulence on its way into the teeth of the Andes. Wow! [Of course, this was almost an identical scenario to the film Alive! which had only recently been released and featured a plane crash in the Andes whose survivors became cannibals in order to survive.] Then I went back and flirted with the stewardesses for a couple of minutes before getting into a conversation with a Bilivian guy named Benny for 1/2 an hour or so. I'm going to get real tired of Coke this trip if I don't figure out what else is safe to drink.

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6-20-93 Cochabamba, Bolivia
Well, today was definitely a full day. After having our morning briefing, quiet time, and discovering that breakfast is free, I had a talk with Erlan, our student coordinator here in Bolivia. For some reason he wants me to start meeting with him to redesign their weekly meeting. I suppose that's because I'm in charge of our own team 'family time'. One more load to carry. I guess I can handle it. I also got to visit the market. Oh yeah, Jason, Judy (?), Kristi and I got tooled by some kids after lunch too. They have some type of compressed gunpowder that crackles when it burns and jumps around on the concrete. [Actual size of the device is about a dime according to the drawing in the original manuscript.] You strike it with a match on the ground and you can step on it or shake it in your cupped hands. They crackle like fireworks. The kids told us they were called zapichhhh.... or something. [The word actually trails off because I couldn't remember exactly how to spell it.] We spent a minute or two trying to figure out the name, but couldn't quite get it right. I asked Erlan about them and he gently informed me that they were saying "small dick" or something similar and that the real name is buscapiedras-looks for shoes. Anyway, dinner was cool. Cristin and Corey and Liane and I had dinner @ Dumbo's. I had filet mignon a coke and a pina colada for 30 Bolivianos ($6). The total for all of us was 96 Bolivianos. Food is cheap. I also got Liane to accept dinner with me tomorrow. She's a fantastic gal, but I don't think anything special about her. I guess Joanna is still no. 1 on my chart so far. Too bad she's in Portland. I miss ya' Jo.

[In point of fact, Joanna Lacter and I were never more than friends, and not very close friends at that. I did express my feelings to her, but was rebuffed. In hindsight, I was a complete idiot when it came to dating in college, failing to produce a single meaningful lasting relationship.]

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6-22-93 Cochabamba, Bolivia
Well, yesterday Corey and I found the florist shop. 7 Bolivianos for a dozen roses. I want to get a girlfriend just so I can take advantage of that. It was also our first day on the campus of Universidad de Sam Simon. Several people came to Christ. The guys I talked with were already Christians, or so they say. My biggest trouble so far is with women. The waitress in the coffee garden here at the hotel has already started to ask questions about me. And she's not the only one. I've been whistled at regularly now for a couple of days. And some of the Alpha y Omega gals are asking questions too. [AO is the name for Crusade in many countries around the world.] This is all very flattering, but really a big headache. I made the mistake of giving Liana a hug in front of some of the AO women yesterday. They all started to giggle and exchange looks. Now, I've been informed, I'll be perstered to death about our "relationship" which doesn't exist.

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6-23-93 Cochabamba, Bolivia
Well, yesterday I wound up stuck in a conversation with I don't know how many gals. 1st they wanted to know if I had a girlfriend. Entonces, me pidieron si pueda cocinar. Tambien, querian saber cuantos anos tengo. Desfortunatamente, mis respuestas fueron exactamente los que querian. Today conversation classes begin at four and we have a fiesta in celebration of El Dia de San Juan to go to.

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7-1-93 Cochabamba, Bolivia
The air is so dirty here you canhardly see the mountains surrounding the city. That wouldn't be a big deal except that I'm at 8,500 feet above sea level smack dab in the middle of the Andes.

I guess I still don't know what to think of this project. God has shown me that I need to be broken before I can be a good leader, and that is a frightening and also exciting. Before I can have a family or a solid ministry, I need to learn to follow. So on a personal level God is showing me a lot about myself. As far as the team is concerned, I don't honestly know what is going on. I think my job here is to keep my head down and do as I'm told. That means showing up for meetings, doing evangelism, and keeping quiet. I'll help others when I can, but I am in no position of authority here. I guess we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

[At one point during the mission, just prior to this journal entry, I was dressed down severely by Craig Cunningham, the project director. He accused me of being hardheaded, selfish, and a hindrance to the team, of undermining his authority, and being unteachable. After listening to his tirade, and yes, it was a tirade (I honestly thought he was going to hit me at one point), I only objected to one of his accusations-being unteachable. That was a serious lesson for me, and one I took seriously to heart. That Craig no longer claims to be a Christian grieves me deeply because I know how much God used him in that one brief time to impact my life. Before, and especially after that night, I looked up to Craig as a mentor and a role model. I wish I could meet him again and return the favor now.]

The military/police here is a joke. They ride motorcycles and bicycles c. 1960 and their uniforms and discipline are invariably sloppy. The maid service, however, is excellent. They even do my laundry for 12 Bolivianos, less than 3 dollars. [My roommate Eric and I discovered that blessed service early and were surprised to find out several weeks later than a number of our team were still trying to figure out how to stretch their 2 weeks worth of clothes into 6.]

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7-29-93, Thursday, Still in Cochabamba
Well, a month later and here I am. My final numbers? 38 shared with, 11 received Christ. I have adapted completely to the culture now, I think. I am completely fearless in traffic and almuerzo familiar is actually a pleasant thought. [The sidewalks were so narrow that it was normal to get clipped by cars on our walks to/from campus. Usually it was just an elbow getting whacked by a side mirror. 'Almuerzo Familiar' refers a four course lunch.]

Let's review the last six weeks from a practical view point. I have loved and lost with Liane, that's a real pisser, but at least we're still friends. My best friend on this project, Corey, had to go home early because his sister was in a funknasty car wreck, and I have picked up drinking and smoking nightly on the roof with Kristi, who is drop-dead bombshell gorgeous and very engaged. Oh yeah, my language has deteriorated also. [Yes, its all true, but in our defense we didn't drink much, and we never smoked more than one or cigars/cigarettes a night. And it never developed into a lasting habit.]

One thing that's funny: we [the guys] had a mandatory boxer night on Tuesday. Craig, the project director, brought the stogies and we played poker for three hours. You know what cracks me up the most? We broke him! Craig left the game in debt! He lost 7 Bols. on a hand of Between the Sheets.

What did you do in Bolivia, Jon? I picked up smoking and drove mt PD out of a poker game in his underwear. Great summer, huh?

Today is our debriefing. So lets debrief. Ah, that's better. I'm slowly losing my marbles, don't you agree? I need to ask one of those beggars in the Pinnochio hats for some coca leaves. I also need to find a place I can buy one of those pinnochio hats.

I hope Gonzalo makes it. He's a great guy. I found him, well, Corey found him, on campus during our 1st week. He was already a Christian, but he wasn't going anywhere in his faith. Now he's got direction, but he's going to need someone to pace him, to run alongside, for a while. I hope Erlan doesn't drop this ball.

Erlan's the student/staff in charge of the campus here. I also know the CD at Santa Cruz and the National Director, Tito Ramos. Actually, Tito and I get along quite well. I've been told that you never joke at authority here, but Tito and I joke all the time. Oh well.

Hey, I've seen Cochabamba through the eyes of Christ. Well, actually, I've seen Cochabamba through the eyes of Cristo de la Concordia. Its a statue overlooking the city. The largest Christ in the world. Quite a pagan God actually. I had to avoid the police to get in, but it was worth it. I need to take a road trip to New Mexico.

Fernando, how can I forget Fernando? He's also going on staff here. He used to play soccer for the national indoor team. We've played some soccer here and let me tell you, he can score on me at will. Fortunately, he was on my team when we played during the retreat [we had a weekend retreat with the AO group]. It was cool really, I kept four games before we lost the fifth. The Bolivians told me I am a good 'arquero' (goalie). They are probably only being nice, but I am honored nonetheless. These guys can play!

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7-30-93, Friday, Cochabamba
So, I can't wait to get out of this country. You know it only took me 6 weeks to develop a great friendship with Liane. Of course, I also managed to f*ck [I'll keep it PG for the kids out there, but the manuscript isn't as polite] it up absolutely during that time, but am I bitter? Hell yes! I have spent all summer working on two relationships: A) Corey Williams and B) Liane Furness. Corey had to go home early because of his sister's car accident and I screwed up the other so completely I don't know if I'll ever get it back. [Angst is a terrible, if temporary, thing.] Well, in another 48 hrs. or so we'll never have to see each other again. Sh*t, as if that made a difference.

Judson just came in the room. I'll be honest here, Jud is a great guy, but he has this absolutely incredible knack for coming in or finding me when I least want anyone's company. Whew! He caught a clue and left. Sorry Jud, I like youman, but I need to be alone. Well... I need to settle with Liane. I wonder when that will happen. [It did, eventually.]

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8-1-93, Sunday, Somewhere over Brazil
Dang, its over. I'm finally on my way home. And some of the best stories still need told. Like Kristi, who got a letter from her fiance describing the knives they got as an engagement gift, asking exactly what a 'dishwasher safe' is. She thought it was a separate item instead of the description for the knives.

Kristi is a great gal. She only knows enough Spanish to tell people when her wedding is. So, on the first day in country what does she do? Leads a guy to Christ! Wait, it gets better. Our first day on campus she led something like 3 girls to Christ and didn't know it! Paulette shared with them later and they said they'd already accepted Christ with Kristi. She [Kristi] said she thought they were just translating for some other girls. Sorry, girl, God will use you when you least expect it.

Leaving the country was fun. I got a knife confiscated and was frisked. Yipee! here I am standing in a room (a small room) with my arms over my head and some Bolivian dude asking me where I'm from as he feels my pocket knife. I'm asking myself at this point whether or not I really want to know this guy. Imean really, how close do I want to get to a guy who already has his hands in my pockets?

Okay, well, I don't really need to watch that. Hmm... not such a good movie on the ol' flight today. "Only You." Well, looks like I've got a couple of hours to kill.

I was talking with Cesar yesterday about soccer, and it turns out the Bolivians really do think I'm pretty good. Of course, a trained monkey can keep short field soccer. He suggested, with much sincerity, that I find a trainer and check out the national team. We must really suck. Or they must really suck. [In fact, Bolivia beat Brazil in a World Cup qualifying match while we were there. It was HUGE. The party didn't quiet down 'til dawn.] I am kind of happy about 1 thing; I definitely improved their view of Americans with regard to our ability to play ball.

If there is only one God,
why do we serve so many?
If there is only one law,
why do we live like there aren't any?

[Lyrics from a popular comtemporary Christian song at the time. Praying for Rain was the group, I think.]