Breaking the Grind

Much of the past four weeks has been a bit of a grind as we continue to pour into our jobs both at Highlands and as missionaries. Learning Spanish continues to be a priority, but one that often tests our patience and lacks opportunity despite living in a Spanish-speaking country.

We are surrounded by English more than you would think. Our school, church, and the school community, all of which are in English, rarely challenges us to use or rely on our Spanish. Instead, amidst a pandemic, we are forced to try and get outside as much as possible and use it with anyone who will listen. This presents some hurdles as you might guess. Our survival skills have been mastered already, as ordering food, directing a taxi, and essential shopping vocabulary are in daily use. The wall is where our conversational Spanish comes in. Mark continues to understand most of what he hears, but still struggles when having to respond, while Audrey finds herself a little farther back in the fog, and understandably so. Faithfully we know this is part of the process, and so we continue to push on ahead, hoping to leave the foggy stage of language learning behind us.

Recently we have been cultivating our relationship with Daniel and Sarita, a Bolivian couple from school. This has been a good opportunity for community as well as our Spanish. We are very thankful for their friendship and willingness to be patient with us, as well as their willingness to share La Paz and all it's hidden gems.

We also had an opportunity to go out for lunch at a delicious Bolivian restaurant with Pastor Mark and Felipe, members of La Paz Community Church, where we have been attending and where Mark plays on the worship team alongside Felipe. This restaurant had some massive portions for minimal prices. Much of the past four weeks has been filled with many food adventures as we have broken the daily grind with the exploration for Bolivia's best burger. It has been a fun way to get out and explore Bolivia's take on an American staple. The jury is still out, but we promise to continue our investigation until all of Bolivia has been thoroughly combed and researched.

Having been here for three months now, we find ourselves quite anxious and always needing to be patient and keep a grounded perspective. Seeking to ground our lives in Christ and faithfully pursuing His will for each day, we often need reminders of the big picture to temper our anxiousness and recognize the season of growth and adjustment He has us in. We ask for prayer in this way. We desire to make the most of the lives and opportunities that He has blessed us with. We feel supremely blessed and desire so badly to serve Him well. Please pray for us as we battle each day in this way.