I remember, as a child, the delight and excitement we would have when, on those hot summer days, we would hear the jingle of the Ice Cream truck as it played it’s tinny, hokey, children’s tunes at top volume. That particular sound could draw groups of kids that would make the Pied Piper twist in envy! We KNEW what that sound meant! And we wanted what that sound promised… yummy ice cream and cool popsicles!

I guess some things are universal. Because…

Ice cream is a big thing here in Cochabamba. Folks love their “helado”. No matter where you go, whether it’s the main park/shopping areas (Recoleta, Prado, etc.), Ferias or La Cancha, you’ll see folks on bicycles or motorcycles with their styrofoam boxes of ice cream strapped behind them. The boxes often have the names of the major Ice Cream chains, like Donal’s or Dumbo’s, or they’ll just have “Helado” stamped on the side. They don’t have canned children’s songs to blast out, so they squeak their “oogah” bike horns or hawk their wares verbally.

The other day I saw the most interesting site as our taxi was pulling away from our home. We passed a lady dressed “al campo”. That means that she was dressed the way they dress in the “country”… regional hat, shell pattern crocheted or knitted top and dirndl/pleated skirt, usually scarlet or burgundy in color.

This lady had an ice cream cooler strapped TO her and she was honking the oogah horn. She WAS the ice cream truck!

You have to admire that kind of determination and drive to earn and succeed. I was so touched by that sight. If I weren’t so paranoid about buying anything to eat from the street, I’d have gotten an ice cream from that lady! As it was, I prayed that the Lord would honor her hardworking ethic.

When I get tired, trying to learn spanish with no class available, the Lord brings to mind this picture… the lady selling the ice cream from her back; the little boy who knows no English other than the word “MONEY”; the legless lady at the Feria each Saturday who can only sit in her wheelchair and hold out her coin cup; our taxi driver who is a hardworking man who loves his wife and his Catholic church; and so many more people. God reminds me of the many people with whom I would love to share the Gospel… if I only knew the words they needed to hear.

THAT is what drives me on to learn as best as I can. Please pray for us. And please pray for those people who need to HEAR what we need to SAY… in SPANISH.

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