Teaching, Birthday Parties, and TACOS!!!!

What do those things have in common? Nothing really, except that they all happened this week!

The first week of teaching went much better than I expected, thanks to God’s goodness and provision, and so many people around me offering their time, wisdom, and prayers. Short of asking someone else to teach for me, I couldn’t have asked for more help this week. :P

On Wednesday morning we were learning about God creating the world, and I had planned to sing the song, “My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do!”  We started to sing, and we got to the part where we sing “There’s nothing my God cannot do.” As an echo I asked “For who?!”  The next thing I knew 20 students screamed “For you!” God has been so faithful all week to remind me that there is nothing He cannot do.

In addition to teaching this week has also been full of birthdays! On Tuesday night we celebrated one of the Tia’s birthdays! I made a cake, and the girls managed to get her to follow Bolivian tradition and “bite the cake” (push her face in the cake). Tia Anita has worked with Casa de Amor for years, and the girls see her as their mother. I am so thankful for her friendship, and her love for Jesus and the girls of Casa de Amor!

On Saturday, we also were able to celebrate one of our older girls - Jhosi’s birthday. Thanks to the extreme generosity of a local organization, Jhosi had a Frozen themed birthday party, complete with a piñata and semi-creepy clowns. All of the kids wore their best dresses, and I spent the morning playing hair dresser. The excitement of the girls made it seem almost like Christmas. (Several of the girls were also skipping around singing Jingle Bells in Spanish, so that might have had something to do with it. :) )

Immediately after this birthday party, we made our way downtown to Quillacollo to celebrate another volunteer’s birthday! Lindsey is from South Carolina, and came to Bolivia shortly before I left last year. She has stayed in Bolivia this year, spending time with the kids, loving on them, and serving in whatever ways she can. I am so thankful for her friendship also! When we got to Quillacollo, we met up with some of the ladies that work at the orphanage, and their children, and went to eat Chicharron (a type of fried pork) up in the mountains. It is always nice to spend time with the tias outside of the homes, and to see them with their own families without the pressures of watching 8 other children.

After our trip into the mountains for Lindsey’s birthday, I was able to make it for the end of a Bible club our kids go to called Horita Feliz. ( Don’t worry, the name means Happy Hour, but it is not what you’re probably thinking…) Several of the people that help run the Horita Feliz also go to the young people’s group at the church, so I headed back into the city with them. I have loved getting to know more people my age at this group, and it is a great opportunity to practice Spanish as well! All through the meeting I could smell something delicious, and was trying to remember if there was a restaurant nearby that the smell might be coming from.  Then, as the meeting ended a guy got up and announced that they had a special surprise for us….. TACOS!! This was the first time I have EVER been served tacos in Bolivia, and I am still excited about it. If I wasn’t already convinced that I needed to be involved in the young people group at the church, I am now!

Thank you for your prayers and support this week. I am hoping to send out an email with more specific prayer updates this week. Love you all!

Welcome to 1st Grade!

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9

It is always interesting to see how God works. I have a tendency to plan out the way I think things should go, and then – most of the time – the Lord has different plans.

When I originally applied to come to Bolivia with SIM, I applied to come as the librarian at the school, Carachipampa Christian School (CCS). I knew God was leading back to Cochabamba, and this position was an open door. I studied Social Work, but I love to read, and God has used books over and over again in my life, so I thought, “Hey, I might be able to do that!” After praying and talking with many people, I applied and was accepted as the librarian!

Then about a month before I left to come to Bolivia, I received an email saying that during the past school year, a TRAINED librarian had come to the school and was planning to stay for the next school year as well! I was excited that the school would have a trained librarian, but unsure of what that meant for me. The email said we would explore other ministry opportunities, and I felt at peace about whatever that might mean.

This last week teacher orientation started at CCS, and I started the week planning on teaching a few Bible classes, and being on call as a substitute, or whatever other need might arise. Throughout the week, we had been praying for God to provide a 1^st grade teacher during our devotion time each morning. Several teachers had fallen through, and school starts on Monday. On Wednesday morning, we gathered to pray again for the teacher needs of the school, and as we were praying for a teacher, someone prayed for God to touch the heart of the person that would teach. I started to think about a teaching internship I had done in High School in a 1^st grade class, and once again, I felt this peace. And then something close to a panic attic. And then peace again.  After devotion time, I talked with my mentor teacher, and mentioned the internship in 1^st grade. Before I knew it, I was standing in the 1^st grade classroom looking at rows of empty desks.

It has been a very different week than I planned, but I can see God’s hand in it. All of the staff at the school has been beyond supportive, and as unsure as I am, I know that God is at work, and am excited to see how He will work.

If you all could be praying, I would be so thankful. Please pray for wisdom for me as I plan lessons, and get to know the children in my class. Please pray for relationships with the students and their parents, that God would be working in their minds and hearts. Please pray for the parent meeting on Monday night, that relationships would be formed. Please pray for language learning, as most of the children in the class are Bolivian, and first grade is still technically a bilingual class. Most importantly, please pray that this school year people would come to know God, and that He would be glorified! J

Thank you all! I will keep you updated! 

Goodbye & Hello

The last two weeks have been crazy, but also great! It is hard to believe that two weeks ago I was anxiously waiting to see if my visa for Bolivia would come or not! I haven’t done a great job of updating you all since then because everything happened so fast, but I will try to give you a quick summary. (Just kidding, this is probably the longest blog I have written.)

Two weeks ago, I got word that my visa would come in on time to leave the 22^nd, and the next day I was fully funded and able to buy a plane ticket. Obviously God’s timing was much better than mine, and He has been so gracious in the way He has provided through all of you! So thank you!

By the time I had a plane ticket, I was four days out from leaving. At first I thought I was crazy to try to leave that soon, but as soon as I started saying goodbyes I realized that four days might have been perfect. Because I had left the country for long periods of time before, I didn’t really think it would be hard to do it again. But two years is a lot longer than 3 months, and so I was very thankful for the way God allowed the time of goodbyes to be short and sweet.

My Homegroup and church has been so supportive, and they prayed for me, and sent me off with encouragement and lots of sweet notes. I got to meet up and have a LOT of coffee and great meals with friends, and I could not be more thankful. Some friends came and had possibly the weirdest going away event ever, where they celebrated all of the birthday's, Christmas' and even weddings I will miss over the next few years. I got to spend time with my family, and wrote a ton of thank you notes. So many of you called, texted, and emailed me to let me know you were thinking and praying. Each time I teared up a little, so know that you are loved and appreciated.  I know I have said it before, but I am reminded again and again of God’s love and faithfulness through all of you, and I am so thankful.

On Tuesday my family took me to the airport, and several friends came as well. We prayed before I walked through security, and I felt this strange peace all the way to Bolivia. The flights were super smooth, and I didn’t get sick in La Paz!

First Flight from Dallas to Miami

Flying from La Paz to Cochabamba is a short flight, but I have never sat by the window. This time I got to look out at the mountains all the way. There were little villages scattered throughout the mountains, and I began to get so excited for how God might work over the next few years.

Mountains from La Paz to Cochabamba

I spent my first few days going back and forth between the girls house, and the school I will be working at. I was so excited to see the girls, and they were excited to see me….  for about three minutes. And then the wanted to play Temple Run on my phone.  We know where their priorities really are. J  It has been so good to see how they have grown over the last year. Several of the girls  have started to read, and they have all grown in different ways!

Some of the girls at Casa de Amor

I have really enjoyed getting to know people at Carachipampa, the school I will be at, catching up with friends here, and learning what it will look like to live here long term. The first question everyone asks is, “How long are you going to be here?” I have loved being able to tell everyone that, God willing, I will be here for two years. At least. I am excited to see how God will work, and so thankful for your support, both prayer and financially that makes that possible.  

View from my window on the school property

Bienvenidos a Miami!

Bienvenidos a Miami!

Hello! As I write this, I am sitting in the Miami airport waiting for my flight to La Paz, Bolivia.  I have heard Miami called the Capitol of South America, and that definitely seems to be true. The airport still feels like the World Cup is going on – there are vendors everywhere, and the majority of travelers have jerseys! It is so interesting to be surrounded by so many different languages, and still be in the U.S.

This afternoon I went with my family to eat tacos one last time before entering the land of Taco-less Bolivia. After lunch, we went to the airport and my family and a few friends dropped me off. It was hard to say goodbyes, but also exciting to finally be so close to getting on the plane. My family and friends prayed for me, and I headed to security. I was the ONLY person going through the line, and had the nicest TSA agents I have ever met. I don’t know if I just got lucky, or if it helps to go through security with tears in your eyes. Either way, the agent APPLAUDED me on doing things well and quickly. I was shocked.

I got Starbucks one last time, and have been enjoying free wifi and sending as many texts as I want before I leave.

I am so excited to go, and sad to leave. I can’t wait to see how the Lord will work, and feel honored and completely unworthy of going. Please continue to pray for relationships with kids, new friends, old friends, and co-workers. Pray for open doors, and soft hearts!

SO CLOSE!!!!  

God is Good. God is in Charge of Everything.

Hello friends & family!

My original goal was to post a blog every week with an update, but the last few weeks I have had a hard time thinking of anything to write that would be interesting enough to read!

I don’t know that this is actually interesting enough to read, but I do want to be honest and realistic, and not just post when things are going really well (AKA how I want them to go). :)

Over the last two years, I have had the opportunity to work with pre-school and kindergarten age kids at church. Each week the kids learn a story that shows a characteristic of God. There are five main characteristics of God that the kids learn, and two of them are that God is good, and that God is in charge of everything. Those both sound like such basic things, but over the last year, the Lord has sweetly reminded me of areas in my life where I have not fully believed them. I don’t often doubt that He is able, but I do doubt that He knows and wants what is ultimately best. If I believe that God is in control of everything, AND that He is good, there is a peace that goes beyond what I can explain. That doesn’t mean God is a genie and gives me everything I ask for, but it does mean He does what is best – whether I understand or not.

So the other day as I sang “I Surrender All”, I caught myself praying, “I’ve surrendered everything…why are you taking so long to bring this visa in?!” In that moment, I was so convicted of the fact that I obviously have NOT surrendered everything. Although I know God is in charge, I don’t trust Him to be good.  I too often want my timeline to work more than I want God’s will. God is infinitely wiser than I am. He created the world, and knows what is to come. So who am I to demand that God work in the way or time that I think would be best?

I once heard someone say that God answers our prayers the way we would pray them if we knew the big picture. I am confident of the fact that God hears the cries of His children. I also know that like children, sometimes we ask for things that are not really want we need. I am thankful that God in His mercy doesn’t give us what we ask for, but in love, like a good parent, He answers us according to His goodness by giving His presence.

And He is always enough. :)

Bolivian Friends

During my time in Bolivia, I have had the opportunity to meet many new people, and make great friends. Some of these were other volunteers at the orphanage, or with other organizations in town. These friendships were such a blessing, and on hard days at the orphanage I looked forward to going to get coffee, or going to the market, or even just be able to speak in English and not think before I spoke.  There were many days where just the sight of a familiar face that could speak English made me laugh instead of cry.

A going away lunch with other vounteers, and Bolivian friends

And as great as these friendships were, the Bolivian women who worked at the orphanage were some of  my closest friends. Living at the orphanage, I spent the majority of my time at the house. As much as I love children, and especially these children, there is something great about talking to an adult every now and then. :) These women taught me how to help in the orphanage, they told me the kids stories, and they encouraged me when I needed it. They helped me with everyday things like which bus I needed to take to get where. They gave me remedies for my sickness,(which included lots of tea, garlic, and onions) and plenty of advice on how to find a suitable husband (this did not involve garlic and onions). These women taught me about life in Bolivia, and invited me into their lives and families. After the kids were in bed , we studied the bible together, and on less holy days, we just watched movies on my computer. These women showed me by their actions what it looks like to follow Jesus.

Some of the sweet friends in Bolivia!

As I have prepared to return to Bolivia, I have had the opportunity to meet several girls from Bolivia who live close by – more Bolivian friends!!  I always love getting to talk about Bolivia, but when it is someone who can relate its even better! As I have prepare to go to Bolivia, I have done research on the culture, and history, but there are some things you can’t learn in a book, or on a website. As I have gotten to know these girls, Daniela and Camila, they have taught me so much about Bolivia, and reminded me why I feel led to return long term. Bolivia is split into different departments, the way the U.S is split into states. I have only spent time in the department of Cochabamba, but Camila is from Santa Cruz, and Daniela is from La Paz. La Paz and Santa Cruz could not be more different, and so it has been interesting to see other parts of Bolivia from different perspectives.

I am so thankful for the way God has provided friendships in Bolivia, and has used them to teach me more about the culture, and more about who He is. I love seeing the diversity, and knowing that diversity is a reflection of God’s creativity and character.

I am counting down the days until I am back in Bolivia with these dear friends – and am making new friends as well. Please continue to pray that my Bolivian visa would come quickly so that I can buy a plane ticket within the next week. Please pray also for the remaining $345 of monthly support must come in by July 12th. If you are interested in partnering in the work God will do in Bolivia through prayer or financial support, I would love to talk with you!

EMAIL: danyelle.graves@sim.org
To GIVE: https://web.simusa.org/give/index.php?FundID=042110-001&LNme=Graves&Dsg=Support 

Celebrating God's Faithfulness

Last year on my birthday, I woke up in Bolivia at 6:00 AM, and opened a card my mom had sent in my suitcase. I kept the lights off in my room, because I could already hear the girls moving around, and I didn’t want to announce I was up yet. I opened the card and “You’re a Shining Star” started playing from the card. The girls all knew I was awake, and started to fill into my room. They had never seen a musical card, and were in awe of its ability to play music. Inside of the card, my mom had sent tattoos and nail polish, exactly what I wanted for my 21st birthday. But the girls loved it!

I convinced them we needed to wait until after church to celebrate, and as soon as we got home, my room became a nail salon/ tattoo parlor with a 5 second clip of “You’re a Shining Star” playing in the background.  All afternoon I painted little fingernails, and applied removable tattoos.  It was a very different 21st birthday than I ever imagined, but I couldn’t have asked for a better one!

This year, I woke up around 9:00am in Denton, TX. I took my time getting ready, and then opened my mom and dads card. It didn’t sing this year, but it did have a Starbucks gift card! I got to spend the day with great friends, cooking out, and eating great food.

Over the last year, I have been reminded again and again that God is good, and He is faithful, no matter where I am on the globe. While I can’t wait to be back in the land where singing birthday cards are cool, and entire afternoons can be taken up by fingernail polish, fake tattoos and children talking to me in Spanish, I am so thankful for where God has me.

I am so thankful for your friendships, and encouragement, and love. I am thankful for the ways you have loved me enough to send me off, and to encourage me to follow where God is leading.

I am excited to go, and sad to leave. There are so many quotes that could say that more eloquently than I have, but for those of you who read this, know that I am thankful for you. I am so thankful that no matter what side of the equator I find myself on, God is good. He has put people in my life that reflect His goodness, both here in Texas, and in Bolivia as well. I can’t wait to see what God will do in this next year, and so thankful to be able to do whatever it is with all of you!