Cochabamba: only 8000 feet

I've been debating on whether or not to post tonight. There's plenty to post about, but I haven't even started my orientation yet, which is the whole reason I flew out to Cochabamba in the first place. I think instead of relaying some boring, hard-to-understand facts, I'll share a bit of what I've been thinking lately.

First off, to let you know the context around which my brain has been maneuvering, I'll let you know that I am currently reading God Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile by Rob Bell and Don Golden. In it, they talk about this pattern God has of redeeming his people. Starting with the Exodus from Egypt going onto the Babylonian captivity and eventually coming to the ultimate in redemption, the redemption of Jesus. Jesus' liberation was not the conventional liberation brought about by spears and chariots. War and conquest only ever resulted with a failed system. Solomon became insanely rich, but instead of using his wealth and power to help the oppressed (like God helped Israel out of Egypt) he used it to preserve his wealth and power and eventually ended up oppressing other people. Jesus' liberation transcended the broken system of violence and erupted in an empire of peace.

Anyway, it's a great book. I don't know if it has much to do with what I'm thinking, but now you know my influences.

It has been pretty nerve-racking being here alone without a team or certain group that I am traveling with, but this is not a bad thing. It may be lonely, but it is a chance for God to grow me, to stretch me, and for me to depend on Him. I think this is what James is talking about when he says to rejoice in these trials of various kinds. It is in our weakness that God works. God listens to those who cry out. How can we cry out if everything is fine and dandy? How can God work if there is no cry for help? It takes a little testing of one's faith to get into a taxi and trust that he's taking you somewhere you're supposed to be. It takes a little testing of one's faith to be immersed in a culture and language you don't know and know that your God is still with you. All this traveling around has been hard, but it has been good. I am thankful that I have this opportunity to have my faith tested in these various trials.