If you are interested, I (Colin) will be making a presentation on Bolivia on Sunday September 12th at First Baptist of Eugene. It will be at 10 am in room #102 (The Mix, Sunday School Class).
Our team will be scheduling a group presentation on a Sunday later in September or early in October when the students are back in town............stay tuned!
Colin for the team
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Re-entry
Awoke this morning to find myself (Colin) in my own bed after 18 nights somewhere else. Due to the time difference between Bolivia and here, I found myself wide awake at about 4 am PST.
We all made it safely back to Portland yesterday afternoon about 3pm after 10 flights, dozens of truffe rides and multiple buses and taxis over the last2 1/2 weeks. Coming into Oregon things look both familiar and oddly strange; no honking horns, crowing roosters, swat team (ask about Miami), roads are paved, pedestrians have right of way, seat belts are both required and provided, most everyone's first language is English, toilet paper is readily available and flush-able, breakfast does not include cake, the clothing I am wearing is nothing that I have worn in the last 3 weeks and my cell phone now has reception.
It will be strange not to see the other members of the team we have traveled with on a daily and moment by moment basis. Last night many of us found it hard to say good-bye at Molly's parents house where we all dispersed to go to our various hometowns, onto what is next.
It will be fun to tell and re-tell the various stories; of happenings, observations and experiences along the way.
Ask us about our trip, we are prepared with 5 second, 5 minute and 5 hour answers! I hope that you will continue to visit this blog as I have encouraged team members to recount their experiences here as well.
Colin for the Bolivia Team.
We all made it safely back to Portland yesterday afternoon about 3pm after 10 flights, dozens of truffe rides and multiple buses and taxis over the last2 1/2 weeks. Coming into Oregon things look both familiar and oddly strange; no honking horns, crowing roosters, swat team (ask about Miami), roads are paved, pedestrians have right of way, seat belts are both required and provided, most everyone's first language is English, toilet paper is readily available and flush-able, breakfast does not include cake, the clothing I am wearing is nothing that I have worn in the last 3 weeks and my cell phone now has reception.
It will be strange not to see the other members of the team we have traveled with on a daily and moment by moment basis. Last night many of us found it hard to say good-bye at Molly's parents house where we all dispersed to go to our various hometowns, onto what is next.
It will be fun to tell and re-tell the various stories; of happenings, observations and experiences along the way.
Ask us about our trip, we are prepared with 5 second, 5 minute and 5 hour answers! I hope that you will continue to visit this blog as I have encouraged team members to recount their experiences here as well.
Colin for the Bolivia Team.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Debriefing in Tarija
Hello All!
We arrived savely in the town of Tarija yesterday after a 3 hour taxi ride from Bermejo! It was sad to say goodbye to everyone yesterday as it was so amazing to get to know them all. We will be spending another night in Tarija before flying to Santa Cruz, where we will spend another night, then fly to Miamimi for yet another night, and then finally return home. We began debriefing last night, and will be doing the same through out today and tomorrow. It was amazing to see what God is doing in Bermejo, and it is great to get to spend time reflecting on what God has been teaching us before returning to the hussle and bussle back home.
Thanks for praying for us! Please continue to pray for safety as we have much traveling left to do!
We arrived savely in the town of Tarija yesterday after a 3 hour taxi ride from Bermejo! It was sad to say goodbye to everyone yesterday as it was so amazing to get to know them all. We will be spending another night in Tarija before flying to Santa Cruz, where we will spend another night, then fly to Miamimi for yet another night, and then finally return home. We began debriefing last night, and will be doing the same through out today and tomorrow. It was amazing to see what God is doing in Bermejo, and it is great to get to spend time reflecting on what God has been teaching us before returning to the hussle and bussle back home.
Thanks for praying for us! Please continue to pray for safety as we have much traveling left to do!
In Bermejo
I met a man named Jorge in Bermejo. He was an extremely friendly and lovable man, and this story revolves around him. Jorge was very excited to meet the new missionaries from the US and was constanly making jokes about the different movie stars to which he thought we resembled. His laughter was infectious and so was his loving spirit. His friend named me Chuck Norris which was the moniker by which he called me for the duration of our wonderful stay in the small village. We worked alongside each other in the hot tropical mosquito infested sun, and always Jorge would have a smill and a laugh on his face and a dios te bendiga to be said to each one of us. He invited Matt and I fishing but we were unable to go because of the work we thought that needed to be accomplished. Later in the week he and his soon to be wife invited us over for lunch at their place, with his whole family and we had an absolute blast eating the wonderful kinds of fish he had caught from the river the day before.
I mention Jorge because our time in Bermejo has greatly changed my perspective on God´s work and what it is that our time of service here in Bolivia was meant to be. We didn´t come to dig holes for the bathroom foundation or to do a puppet ministry here. We came to forge friendships with Jorge, Will, Marcelo, and Elli. Being in Bermejo was like coming back home; we ate meals together, laughed, and told sad stories that brought us closer to what I think truly is a feeling of brotherhood and family in Christ. I will always remember the time I spent in Bermejo as a time of learning to love people and places which I would normally consider to be out of my reach. When really Jorge taught me the greatest way to love like Christ. A simple smile shared, a laugh at a common joke, a meal shared between strangers of both language and nationality, and most of all though a unifying love for Jesus and his people here on Earth.
Please continue to pray for our safety here as we are begining to travel back to the states, pray for the ministry that Marcelo and Elli lead within Bermejo, and lastly please pray for our ability to forge new family members across nations through our bond in Jesus as we keep pressing forward looking towards home.
Dios te Bendiga
-greg
I mention Jorge because our time in Bermejo has greatly changed my perspective on God´s work and what it is that our time of service here in Bolivia was meant to be. We didn´t come to dig holes for the bathroom foundation or to do a puppet ministry here. We came to forge friendships with Jorge, Will, Marcelo, and Elli. Being in Bermejo was like coming back home; we ate meals together, laughed, and told sad stories that brought us closer to what I think truly is a feeling of brotherhood and family in Christ. I will always remember the time I spent in Bermejo as a time of learning to love people and places which I would normally consider to be out of my reach. When really Jorge taught me the greatest way to love like Christ. A simple smile shared, a laugh at a common joke, a meal shared between strangers of both language and nationality, and most of all though a unifying love for Jesus and his people here on Earth.
Please continue to pray for our safety here as we are begining to travel back to the states, pray for the ministry that Marcelo and Elli lead within Bermejo, and lastly please pray for our ability to forge new family members across nations through our bond in Jesus as we keep pressing forward looking towards home.
Dios te Bendiga
-greg
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Safely South
Dan received a call from Jhonny mid morning to say that the team had arrived safe and sound in Bermego!
Dan and I (Colin) spent the morning with a missionary who has been mentoring Dan and missionary pastor in a local Presbyterian church in the greater Cochabamba area. In the afternoon we packed for our early morning departure to meet the rest of the team in Bermego, tomorrow. In the evening we had dinner with a short term missionary friend of the Collins' from Canada who is working with youth in association with Canadian Baptist Missions.
The haziness from the mountain forest fires cleared a bit today and in the afternoon there were amazing views of the mountains surrounding the city. Dan says every one is anxiously awaiting the summer rains that begin next month sometime to green the place up and wash the smoke and dust away. Being in this high plain it is so awesome to realize we are already at 9,000 feet and the mountains that surround us tower still higher into the 12,000's and beyond.
Yesterday Dan and I spent the day tracking down materials for the on-going renovation of the office space that the team spent so much time and effort painting and cleaning. Nate went with us as well as a local contractor, Alex, to find someone to repair the machinery that is down at his carpentry shop. What happens with a mere phone call in the states takes hours of leg work and relationships here. Multiple businesses usually need to be found to complete a project, there are no Jerry's Home Improvement stores, Lowes or Home Depot here. Providentially we found most of what we needed at one site, including cement which seems to be scarce right now in Cochabamba. Nate also found a machinery mechanic that would meet him this morning (everyone else was telling him they could not come for weeks out).
Please pray for the majority of the team who are already in Bermego as they adjust to a much lower altitude and more of a tropical climate. Dan's mentor, Dave, said today that the town is much smaller that Cochabamba, more like the size of Cottage Grove or Canby. Pray for the 4 who will head south tomorrow to connect through Tarija and rejoin the rest by evening.
Please continue to pray for unity, health and strength as we start into the last week of our adventure here.
Colin, for the team
Dan and I (Colin) spent the morning with a missionary who has been mentoring Dan and missionary pastor in a local Presbyterian church in the greater Cochabamba area. In the afternoon we packed for our early morning departure to meet the rest of the team in Bermego, tomorrow. In the evening we had dinner with a short term missionary friend of the Collins' from Canada who is working with youth in association with Canadian Baptist Missions.
The haziness from the mountain forest fires cleared a bit today and in the afternoon there were amazing views of the mountains surrounding the city. Dan says every one is anxiously awaiting the summer rains that begin next month sometime to green the place up and wash the smoke and dust away. Being in this high plain it is so awesome to realize we are already at 9,000 feet and the mountains that surround us tower still higher into the 12,000's and beyond.
Yesterday Dan and I spent the day tracking down materials for the on-going renovation of the office space that the team spent so much time and effort painting and cleaning. Nate went with us as well as a local contractor, Alex, to find someone to repair the machinery that is down at his carpentry shop. What happens with a mere phone call in the states takes hours of leg work and relationships here. Multiple businesses usually need to be found to complete a project, there are no Jerry's Home Improvement stores, Lowes or Home Depot here. Providentially we found most of what we needed at one site, including cement which seems to be scarce right now in Cochabamba. Nate also found a machinery mechanic that would meet him this morning (everyone else was telling him they could not come for weeks out).
Please pray for the majority of the team who are already in Bermego as they adjust to a much lower altitude and more of a tropical climate. Dan's mentor, Dave, said today that the town is much smaller that Cochabamba, more like the size of Cottage Grove or Canby. Pray for the 4 who will head south tomorrow to connect through Tarija and rejoin the rest by evening.
Please continue to pray for unity, health and strength as we start into the last week of our adventure here.
Colin, for the team
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
In Potosi!
Hello everyone! We made it to Potosi today. Our bus arrived at 6am. I was so impressed by the bus, it was super nice. We are riding another tonight which most likely will not be as luxurious haha but it will be an adventure! I have been told we are in the highest city in the world right now. We are at about 14,900 feet! Which is taller, than Mt Hood or Mt Rainer! It was rather chilly this morning. We will board our next bus around 8 tonight to Tarija.
This trip has been so incredible! Thank you all for your prayers, you can tell people have been praying for us. Love you all!
This trip has been so incredible! Thank you all for your prayers, you can tell people have been praying for us. Love you all!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Off to Potosi and points beyond
Evening has come and the team has eaten dinner at the UBB Center and is packing up to head to the bus depot to catch an overnight bus to Potosi. Daryl says that this particular bus has sleeper seats with foot rests and is much more comfortable than an air plane. They will be going to about 14,000 feet by morning so pray for the adjustment to altitude. Dan and Colin along with Julianne and Sheli will join the rest of the group in Bermego on Thursday. Meanwhile the group with travel with Dan' staff: Wendy, Jhonny and Hans.
Forgot to tell you about our ride to church on Sunday, there was some sort of parade for the blessing of a new taxi service going on so the normal route was blocked. The cars were all covered with local colorful blankets with silverware, dolls and money sewed on. Dan explained that it was an offering of sorts to the local god and then they would end at the Catholic church for the priest's blessing as well. Anyhow our truffe driver took an alternate less improved route, steep enough that the mirco bus could not pull the hills so several of us got out and pushed at critical spots.
We finished the lions share of the painting, landscaping and window scraping today and Dan was very pleased and excited to have 'a months work done in a few days'. Every one really worked hard and should sleep well tonight. The office space was quickly transformed as well as the front yard.
Several asked me to note that they were unsure as to the next time they would have internet service. We will have some contact with them as the Bolivian leadership accompanying then have cell phones and there is service at points along the way
Please pray for safe and memorable travel with chances to be Christ to one another and the others we will meet along the way.
Colin for the Bolivia Team 2010
Forgot to tell you about our ride to church on Sunday, there was some sort of parade for the blessing of a new taxi service going on so the normal route was blocked. The cars were all covered with local colorful blankets with silverware, dolls and money sewed on. Dan explained that it was an offering of sorts to the local god and then they would end at the Catholic church for the priest's blessing as well. Anyhow our truffe driver took an alternate less improved route, steep enough that the mirco bus could not pull the hills so several of us got out and pushed at critical spots.
We finished the lions share of the painting, landscaping and window scraping today and Dan was very pleased and excited to have 'a months work done in a few days'. Every one really worked hard and should sleep well tonight. The office space was quickly transformed as well as the front yard.
Several asked me to note that they were unsure as to the next time they would have internet service. We will have some contact with them as the Bolivian leadership accompanying then have cell phones and there is service at points along the way
Please pray for safe and memorable travel with chances to be Christ to one another and the others we will meet along the way.
Colin for the Bolivia Team 2010
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