Today the team will be returning to finish up the painting we have started at the offices Dan and his team have rented and are renovating. His team has grown from he and his wife to 13 people since we visited in 2008 and getting a space to meet can come none too soon! Tonight the team takes a bus to Potosi at about 14,000 feet in elevation so you can pray for adjustment for the extreme altitude change as we are at 8,500 to 9500 feet here. In Potosi there will be an opportunity to share the puppet ministry before heading south to Tarija and Bermego for the remainder of our visit.
Yesterday we attended services at Luce de Christo, Jhonny's home church (he is our Bolivian host pastor and spends each day with us as he did in 2008). It was the 30th anniversary celebration of the church and we were greeted warmly. Jhonny's daughter, much to his surprise, was baptized and joined the church. This had an obvious emotional affect on her father!
Later we went to El Christo and some of the group ran to the top, while others climbed the 100's of stairs to the summit, the remainder of the group took the gondolas to see the fabulous views of Cochabamba from this huge statue of Christ. Daniel and his three kids, Naomi, Ben and Rachel joined us for the trip as well as Jhonny's 3 year old daughter April.
You may have noticed that our departure for the south was postponed by a day. Why? "Because we are in Bolivia". We have learned that plans and schedules here are more in mud than in concrete and in very soft mud to boot!
Our days have been full. Friday night we led an english worship service in Dan and Daryl's home sharing the Lord's supper and time in God's word with them. Saw many expressions of joy, sorrow and love on the faces of those present as they rarely get to corporately worship in their heart language here in Bolivia. Saturday night the CCF Students joined local college age adults in presenting the gospel through puppets and testimony in the local plaza. There were some that made professions of faith and were invited to attend local churches represented. We try hard to come along side the nationals here to encourage and assist them. Dan said this event was an example of the kind of partnerships with short term teams he is looking for. It stretches our own team and the Bolivian youth as well.
One day we visited the carpentry shop that Nate is heading up. Here they build various pieces of furniture for Christian and secular groups assisting the poor. He takes guys off the street involved in drugs, glue sniffing or alcohol and trains them in a trade, presents the gospel daily and gives them an opportunity to move on to a productive career as their skills and experience are in great demand locally. Please pray as some of his shop equipment is in need of maintenance and repair, such help here is hard to find and weeks out when available. He is currently helping at the office remodel as his shop is shut down until repairs have been made and he can find a new shop foreman who is a national. Visit his sight by Googling "Following the Master Carpenter". He has an amazing ministry here.
Health wise things are pretty good. A few stomach issues for some team members. Adjustments to altitude still going on, some bug bites, and bruises from playing a lot of 'slug-bug' (there are a multitude of VW Bugs here!). The dry climate and heights cause some nose bleeds from time to time, but nothing drastic.
One morning the team here took us to La Concha, a huge open market that sells everything from clothes to local religious paraphernalia. It has its overwhelming sights, smells and sounds and overall is a interesting place to visit while here and an easy place to get lost in. Dan and Daryl are excellent local guides so our excursion ended with as many team members as we started with.
Colin and Greg met with Dan's team for the afternoon on Saturday, while the rest of the team rehearsed puppetry, to take them through their DISC test results. It was fun to see the team's 'aha' moments as they better understood their fellow team members strengths, challenges, communication styles, motivating factors and stress-styles. Dan's team has grown fast and with growth comes new opportunities to learn about yourself and those you work with.
Well, in the midst off all this we are having a lot of fun. Mario our Truffe (micro-bus) driver must think we are a bit crazy, but he seems to laugh with and at us as he ferries us about each day. This is a great team and great relationships are continuing as well as being established. Julianne and Sheli Null have joined us from the Virginia's and Carolina's and it has been seamless. Wendy our short term team host is terrific as well. She and Jhonny have put hours in before our arrival and spend at least 12-16 hours with us each day!
Thanks for the great update Colin! We're keeping all of you in our prayers.
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