Apprentice Shares God's Love Among Isolated Communities in Bolivia

diciembre 9, 2021 • Bolivia
Apprentice Russell Johnson saw how helping to supply PVC pipe for an agriculture project resulted in a hydroponic garden to grow plants without the need for soil.
Apprentice Russell Johnson saw how helping to supply PVC pipe for an agriculture project resulted in a hydroponic garden to grow plants without the need for soil.

A Samaritan’s Purse apprentice shares his experience on our Bolivia team to help get supplies and assistance to people in need in Jesus’ Name.

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When COVID-19 shutdowns halted the world as we knew it, I had to finish my degree in international relations and economics online. I wondered whether any job was in my near future, let alone the wonderfully meaningful one I found. As an international logistics apprentice in Bolivia, the opportunity to demonstrate Christ’s love to those affected by the pandemic is a blessing beyond anything I could have imagined.

Apprentice Russell Johnson visited our Ruth Bell riverboat, which provides basic medical care to remote villages in the Bolivian Amazon.

Russell visited our Ruth Bell riverboat, which provides basic medical care to remote villages in the Bolivian Amazon.

The training and real-world experiences that the Samaritan’s Purse Apprenticeship Program offers have been the ideal complement to everything I learned in classrooms and internships during college. It is the perfect springboard into a career honoring God and my overseas neighbors. After a period of intensive training at the Samaritan’s Purse headquarters in Boone, North Carolina, I’ve spent the past seven months working in our Bolivian field offices. From the mountains to the Bolivian Amazon, I’ve been welcomed by a vibrant team committed to testifying of God’s love to the hurting and marginalized.

Our programs reach isolated communities with essential medical and dental care, and help malnourished families establish sustainable sources of nutritious foods. We train healthcare workers on infection prevention and control, and provide physical spaces and spiritual support to local churches. None of this is possible without the support of teams like logistics. I’ve seen that firsthand in meetings with suppliers, the administration of our vehicles, and the work that goes into purchasing each water filter, bottle of hand sanitizer, and every item in between. This type of work is rarely glamorous but always essential.

Construction supplies have gone toward the building of meeting places for small churches that could not otherwise afford the materials.

Construction supplies have gone toward the building of meeting places for small churches that could not otherwise afford the materials.

And, it is always joyful, as the Spanish banter and energetic laughter emanating from the logistics area demonstrates on even the most stressful days. Whether it’s approaching each new challenge with their unshakable sense of humor or sharing the eternal purpose of our work with a supplier, the team I’ve been blessed to work with truly reflects Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” From watching requests for PVC pipes turn into a rural family’s thriving hydroponic garden to seeing local survivors of human trafficking working dignified jobs at a supplier’s facility, sources of encouragement are everywhere.

Through the months of training I received at headquarters and the hands-on work I’ve been able to apply it to, the Apprenticeship Program has pushed me to constantly learn and do new things almost every day. More than just an unforgettable experience, it’s prepared me to take my next steps toward the most fulfilling, humbling career I can imagine, being an agent of God’s love for a broken world.

This post was written by Russell Johnson, a Samaritan’s Purse apprentice in Bolivia. Apprentices gain two years of work experience that provides them hands-on training in a chosen career field. Apply now or email apprentice@samaritan.org to learn more.

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