I went this summer to Bolivia at the age of 15 with the Christ Fellowship youth group. I had been to Taiwan twice for extended missions trips. This trip was only going to be one week long, the shortest I had ever planned to be a part of, and to be completely honest, I was very unenthusiastic. I was not close to God, and I had a very condescending view of this opportunity. I felt that I was "better" than this. I didn't pray much before departure. Besides all of this I didn't even know many people who were going to be on the team. I had talked to my pastor on more than one occasion about getting out of my agreement of going to the Bolivia Life Center (Thanks Pastor Josh for all the great advice you gave me during that time). I didn't know any Spanish, I didn't know what to expect from the culture, and I did not feel called to be going. I cried to my mom many times before leaving on the dreaded trip. As I look over my journal, I see that the first days my heart was unaffected and full of complaints to God. I did try to get to know some of the boys, and I started to get to know the other kids and leaders on my team. The work that we did started to be fulfilling. I look back now and see that even short prayers can make a difference, because God was taking my request of wanting to be changed and running with it.

God was changing my heart, and I felt him getting to me, but I still couldn't seem to connect with any of the boys at the Center. Don't get me wrong I was making many friends, and thoroughly enjoying Bolivia at this time, but something was missing. Each day flew by surprisingly fast. Before I knew it Friday had come, and we only had two days left in the country I was beginning to love. I talked with my leader Karen Huerta about the need of bonding with one of the boys. She gave me some great advice, and prayed fervently with me for a time. As I lay in bed that night God gave me a peace. The next day we were planning on taking all the boys to the park. I started playing with all the boys. There was a slide that some of the kids loved going down. I started pushing them down one by one, and a little boy by the name of Jhonny T. grabbed my heart. As I sat talking with one of the guys there he started telling me Jhonny's story. I could hardly hold my tears at bay as his story of abuse and desperation unfolded before me.

As I boarded the bus that was to take us back to the Center, I could feel God's thumb in my back. He seemed to say to me, "this is my answer to your prayer, not only did I want you to bond with one little boy, but I want you to come back here". He showed me that very day that Bolivia was where I was meant to be. Sunday came as dread began to fill my heart. I didn't want to leave what I felt was now my home. Why would God bring me here, show me this, and then just expect me to leave. I couldn't understand his plan, his logic, his unknown will for me. As the rest of the team sat laughing around a nice warm meal, I sat out in the cold winter air talking and crying out to God in despair. He had given me this amazing revelation, and now I had to leave it behind. The tears would not stop cascading down my face.

As I left Bolivia that night, I knew it would not be the last time I would be there. God had given me a clear path to follow in my life, and there was no denying that fact. My mind had been made up by God himself, and my life had been planned out. It has been nearly six months since I came back from Bolivia, and I am still as fervent as ever. Nothing that Satan has thrown my way has deterred me from this path. I will be leaving for Bolivia in less than two month to spend Christmas there. I am open to God's plan and his will. Whatever he has for me I want to carry out to fulfillment. Please pray for me as I continue searching for God's perfect plan in my life. God bless.

God Bless,
Laura Snyder