HYC LA Paz, Bolivia: Desiree Perkins

"It has been seven months since my Hope Youth Corps trip to La Paz, Bolivia and since that time I can honestly say that that Youth Corps was one of the best and impacting experiences of my life. I thought that when I left I would fall back into the pattern of seeing the world and living my life how I always did before, but it’s been months later and there isn’t a moment that goes by that I don’t think about the lessons I learned about myself, about God, and about others from that trip.

Before coming to Bolivia my heart was more calloused than it had ever been spiritually. I felt every time I chipped pieces from it I would form a new callous around it. I felt stuck, and I was waiting for moments and situations to change me, but I didn’t realize I didn’t need to see those things to change me I needed to see God, and being in Bolivia helped me get to that point. I always wanted to believe it was my “calling” to help people and serve, but in reality it’s every disciples calling, and every disciple’s heart should want to give back because we’ve already been given so much.

I learned that church family is the same everywhere, and it’s something special to know that I can go to a completely different continent than my own, meet people completely different from me, and we still have the same goals and love each other as if we actually came from the same blood line. I learned not having “enough” is a lie. What I lack at times is not having enough faith that God will provide for me, because there were Bolivians that I saw physically not having enough yet still gave. So me feeling like I don’t have enough to give wasn’t a stuff issue it was a heart issue. I learned that God is big and my problems are small compared to him. I learned people need help with more than just physical needs, they need help with emotional needs as well. Being hopeless at times is worse than being without food or clothes. Being there to comfort, listen, and show love can have bigger impacts than I thought it could. I learned serving as a group brings unity and it pushes one another to go past comfort zones. I learned I can set an example without saying a word, but with my actions.

But most importantly I learned that my life is not my own, and if I live it like it is I’m not really living at all. I feel so honored and blessed that I was able to build friendships, been able to serve some of the most amazing people I have ever encountered, and see the beauty of Bolivia. That almost a week and a half trip has shown me more than anything years before. I had to save up almost a year’s pay checks in order to go to La Paz, but it was one of the best investments I could’ve ever made. I just want to tell you thank you so much for the opportunity to have that experience, no words could really fully express my gratitude."