We have had the privileged of meeting a number of different Bolivians during our stay in Uyuni. The people here work hard and tend to be more on the serious end of things. All of them cry or at least get tears in their eyes every time they pray. While there may be some differences, the general rules of society still apply when it comes to respecting elders, kids still try to be mischievous and the preteens are just as awkward as ever. Pastor Rolando, the man who has been our primary contact, is absolutely incredible. He has been so helpful and has made us all feel so welcome during our stay here. Most of the people in the congregation do not want us to leave for Peru or anywhere for that matter.
The person who has grabbed my attention most in these past two weeks has been a women named Gabriella. She is 76 and is an absolute inspiration. During worship, she jumps without care. When we were doing manual labor in the church yard she grabbed a pick-ax and started helping us. She is one of those people that gives you a sense that there is so much more to her. The Lord is clearly with this woman. Many of us have described her as an angle and that is entirely accurate. She is not particularly mobile and yet she seems to be absolutely everywhere we are. None of us know how she does it. Sadly, we heard that she will be leaving Uyuni soon. This would have been quite upsetting were it not for her follow-up statement that she has to return to her pueblo to tend to her sheep. This 76-year-old woman has to leave to go tend HER SHEEP??? First of all, that shows incredible physical strength that she is still able to do that. Also, how Biblical! This person who has inspired us all to work harder and who we have described as an angel has to go tend her sheep. The word coincidence does not exist in my vocabulary and this angelic acquaintance would certainly not fall under that term. I am so grateful to have met her and cannot wait for more relationships like this.
