"Where are we going to go?" This is the question I am asked at the start of almost every walk we go on. My usual response is, "donde quieren" (wherever you want).
We pick a "theme" for the walk (of what we'll focus on taking pictures of), I point out things I think we should photograph, I give some hints about good composition, I rejoice with them over the beauty of the photos they've taken... and occasionally we have some "classroom time" to do more formal photo critiques.
Am I really teaching? Or am I just "facilitating?" Am I doing too little? I'm not really sure of the answers to these questions, but I do know that they are learning, that they are expressing themselves, and that it is freeing for them to walk and take pictures... So is that enough?
I've been learning a lot about myself through my time here. I've been learning that I don't want to be a teacher. Or a counselor. And I'm okay with that... but then how do I keep going? How do I stay motivated? I am feeling more than ever before the need to rely on the Lord's strength to get me through my days. And that is such a valuable lesson. I'm glad I'm here and I'm glad I'm doing what I'm doing, but I am impatient as well, to get onto things that I think I may be better equipped for, and that I may enjoy a bit more.
In other news, I made it to Cusco and back last week, and yesterday did a 12 hour hike up into the mountains that surround Cochabamba. Outdoors and friends are always a good respite from the cotidiano of life, though generally such things are few and far between, and who knows how many more chances I'll get like these ones.
Pray that the Lord's strength would continue to guide me through my days, and that I would find support and community in these next three months, wherever I may go.
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