Saturday, November 25, 2006
Monday, November 13, 2006
noticias de noviembre
The month of November is quite different in Cochabamba. Instead of crunchy brown and orange leaves underfoot, pumpkins and horns of plenty we are greeted with heavy rain, warm weather and new greenery all around us. November falls during the Bolivian springtime. It is quite a beautiful time of year also, Cochabamba is known as the Ciudad Jardin, or Garden City of Bolivia and during this time of year it really shows. Trees and bushes are flowering all over. For you botanists out there there are hybiscus, bouganvillea (know I spelled that wrong), poinsetta trees, vines, fruit trees, willows trees and other trees that are purple in colour and whose name I do not know. In short it is lovely!
The month of November finds our family doing overall very well. Jubilee is just getting over a cold and cough but it seems to be getting better. Katie and I are both enjoying good health as well. The team experienced the birth of little Eliana Marcum and awaits the Custer baby coming any day now. Let us thank God for the uncomplicated birth of Eliana and pray that Jamie and her baby experience the same. In other team news, Trish is preparing to leave for the states this Wednesday to help Denise prepare for her wedding in December. Butch will stay in Cochabamba to meet up with Jonathan who is finishing up his semester with Harding's program in Chile, and then he and Jonathan will also leave for the states. Please pray that the Sandovals have safe travel and be praying as well for Denise and Daniel as the begin their life as a married couple in December.
The work is also going well. Many things are happening all at once and it sometimes gets a bit overwhelming but it is a sign to us that God is using us as His instruments to minister to a wide variety of Cochabambinos.
Classes at Conexion Cristiana
Currently English Cnversation, Basic English and a how to class on Inductive Bible Study are being offered at the Conexion Cristiana. All three programs are showing a great deal of promise. We have met some really wonderful people so far. Especially rewarding to me, has been the conversation classes where we read from Luke. Just last week we had some of Katie's students over for dinner and we also had three students show up for Jubilee's birthday party. The classes will end at the end of this month until January. We are planning to celebrate a Thanksgiving dinner with English students from both the conversation and basic classes. We hope it will be a good time to get to know our students better and also Thanksgiving is one United States holiday that I just don't want to give up!!! Please continue to pray for the contacts that we are making, that many will come to be friends with us and more importantly come to be our brothers and sisters in Christ. My students are Patricia, Karla, Braullio, Carmen, Tania, and Patsy. Katie's students are Omar, Jose, Giovanni and Gilda.
January Launch
Our launch of the church occurs on January 14th of the new year 2007. This is going to be such a special time for us. We are inviting all contacts that we have made throughout our first year. This will be our host families from language school, students and teachers from the language school, our doctors, our pharmacists, our students, basically anybody who we have got to smile and know our names over the course of 11 months. Of course with three and now four incredibly cute babies on our hands we have been able to make many more contacts than we had imagined. We are going to have time to present all five families on the team, and have a special time of worship as well.
In addition to the visitors from Cochabamba we will also be hosting church family from Santa Cruz and La Paz. We are so happy that they view this as an important national event for the church. The Austin Avenue Church of Christ will also be sending 25 members to be present for the launch. If you would like to come it is not too late, let us know and we will find you a place to stay. We would love to have you. Please be praying that the launch goes well and serves the intended purpose which is to introduce ourselves in a formal way to the community, make new contacts, and offer a special time for brethren from Bolivia and the states to spend together and demonstrate how special it is to be a part of God's family.
Manos Con Libertad
Katie, Jamie, Billie and Trish have been involved in such an amazing and encouraging ministry that I just wanted to take a moment to describe it. Billie Gill had originally come to Bolivia wanting to initiate a women's prison ministry. She has gone many times to the prison but it has not offered her the ministry opportunity she was looking for. Meanwhile when some of the team was still attending Maryknoll the teachers offered students an opportunity to visit non-profit organizations. Josh and I visited a little place called Manos Con Libertad (Free Hands) that is a workshop which gives women getting out of prison and their daughters a safe place to work and make money for their families. Billie visited M.C.L. and after convincing them we were not a cult, our team's ladies were finally given the green light to do short devo style studies for the ladies during their work breaks. Katie hadn't really considered a ministry of this sort before, but wanted to do help nonetheless. We really had no way to know how this would turn out. We were given permission to go in on a temporary basis as the program director was traveling out of the country for five weeks. Now nine weeks later the director of the program is back, is pleased with what has been taught, and the ladies of M.C.L. are asking for our ladies to continue. The class being given is a Bible survey class starting with creation and going all the way to life of Christ and the birth of His church. Some of these ladies now come to our English classes and also three came with their children to Jubilee's birthday party. One of them made Jubilee a beautiful dress for her birthday as well. They are very sweet people. Please pray for this very special ministry, that many women will continue to grow in their knowledge of scripture and of God's love for them through this study time. We give thanks to God for the dedication of our team's ladies being willing to sacrifice time and energy to minister in this way.
We love you all and miss you all. Eat a lot of scrumptous Thanksgiving food for us!
The month of November finds our family doing overall very well. Jubilee is just getting over a cold and cough but it seems to be getting better. Katie and I are both enjoying good health as well. The team experienced the birth of little Eliana Marcum and awaits the Custer baby coming any day now. Let us thank God for the uncomplicated birth of Eliana and pray that Jamie and her baby experience the same. In other team news, Trish is preparing to leave for the states this Wednesday to help Denise prepare for her wedding in December. Butch will stay in Cochabamba to meet up with Jonathan who is finishing up his semester with Harding's program in Chile, and then he and Jonathan will also leave for the states. Please pray that the Sandovals have safe travel and be praying as well for Denise and Daniel as the begin their life as a married couple in December.
The work is also going well. Many things are happening all at once and it sometimes gets a bit overwhelming but it is a sign to us that God is using us as His instruments to minister to a wide variety of Cochabambinos.
Classes at Conexion Cristiana
Currently English Cnversation, Basic English and a how to class on Inductive Bible Study are being offered at the Conexion Cristiana. All three programs are showing a great deal of promise. We have met some really wonderful people so far. Especially rewarding to me, has been the conversation classes where we read from Luke. Just last week we had some of Katie's students over for dinner and we also had three students show up for Jubilee's birthday party. The classes will end at the end of this month until January. We are planning to celebrate a Thanksgiving dinner with English students from both the conversation and basic classes. We hope it will be a good time to get to know our students better and also Thanksgiving is one United States holiday that I just don't want to give up!!! Please continue to pray for the contacts that we are making, that many will come to be friends with us and more importantly come to be our brothers and sisters in Christ. My students are Patricia, Karla, Braullio, Carmen, Tania, and Patsy. Katie's students are Omar, Jose, Giovanni and Gilda.
January Launch
Our launch of the church occurs on January 14th of the new year 2007. This is going to be such a special time for us. We are inviting all contacts that we have made throughout our first year. This will be our host families from language school, students and teachers from the language school, our doctors, our pharmacists, our students, basically anybody who we have got to smile and know our names over the course of 11 months. Of course with three and now four incredibly cute babies on our hands we have been able to make many more contacts than we had imagined. We are going to have time to present all five families on the team, and have a special time of worship as well.
In addition to the visitors from Cochabamba we will also be hosting church family from Santa Cruz and La Paz. We are so happy that they view this as an important national event for the church. The Austin Avenue Church of Christ will also be sending 25 members to be present for the launch. If you would like to come it is not too late, let us know and we will find you a place to stay. We would love to have you. Please be praying that the launch goes well and serves the intended purpose which is to introduce ourselves in a formal way to the community, make new contacts, and offer a special time for brethren from Bolivia and the states to spend together and demonstrate how special it is to be a part of God's family.
Manos Con Libertad
Katie, Jamie, Billie and Trish have been involved in such an amazing and encouraging ministry that I just wanted to take a moment to describe it. Billie Gill had originally come to Bolivia wanting to initiate a women's prison ministry. She has gone many times to the prison but it has not offered her the ministry opportunity she was looking for. Meanwhile when some of the team was still attending Maryknoll the teachers offered students an opportunity to visit non-profit organizations. Josh and I visited a little place called Manos Con Libertad (Free Hands) that is a workshop which gives women getting out of prison and their daughters a safe place to work and make money for their families. Billie visited M.C.L. and after convincing them we were not a cult, our team's ladies were finally given the green light to do short devo style studies for the ladies during their work breaks. Katie hadn't really considered a ministry of this sort before, but wanted to do help nonetheless. We really had no way to know how this would turn out. We were given permission to go in on a temporary basis as the program director was traveling out of the country for five weeks. Now nine weeks later the director of the program is back, is pleased with what has been taught, and the ladies of M.C.L. are asking for our ladies to continue. The class being given is a Bible survey class starting with creation and going all the way to life of Christ and the birth of His church. Some of these ladies now come to our English classes and also three came with their children to Jubilee's birthday party. One of them made Jubilee a beautiful dress for her birthday as well. They are very sweet people. Please pray for this very special ministry, that many women will continue to grow in their knowledge of scripture and of God's love for them through this study time. We give thanks to God for the dedication of our team's ladies being willing to sacrifice time and energy to minister in this way.
We love you all and miss you all. Eat a lot of scrumptous Thanksgiving food for us!
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
September / October Update
September / October Update
Family News: We are all doing well. Jubilee is growing up so fast, it is hard to believe she was not even walking when we arrived to Cochabamba in January. Everything with Katie is well, she continues to enjoy different aspects of the work she is involved in such as teaching Friday school for Jubilee and her friends, helping teach a ladies Bible survey class, and helping teach English using the Bible. I also am doing well and enjoying seeing the work here begin to accelerate. One new piece of news is that we have requested a furlough during the summer months of next year, so if all goes according to plan we could be in your neighborhood sometime next summer!
English Using the Bible:
We have recently begun a new program with the goal in mind to make more friends and contacts leading up to our January church launch. Katie and I form a part of a teaching team with Billie, Drew and Jamie. On Tuesdays and Mondays the five of us are offering conversational Bible classes using the book of Luke. I also teach a basic English course on Tuesdays for absolute beginners. We have had classes two weeks in a row now and just this week really got into the text of chapter 1 of Luke. It has been very exciting to read this passage with our students a few of whom have never heard the story of the angel coming to Zechariah to announce the birth of John. Our students questions and comments have been very interesting. Please continue to pray for the students of our English classes, that they may be blessed and grow closer to God and that God may us His servants to communicate His will to others.
Santa Cruz Trip:
In September and October the men of the team had two trips planned. One was to attend a national men's conference in Viacha which is outside of La Paz. The other trip was to make a blitz trip to Santa Cruz trying to visit as many of the numerous brethren and congregations in that city. The Viacha trip unfortunately was called off because the highways were in danger of being blockaded on our way back. The Santa Cruz trip however was a great time of fellowship. Josh, Drew, Gary and I all made the trip. I was fortunate only experiencing a 7 hour delay on the side of the road while the other three guys who left later than me experienced a series of delays turning the 7 hour trip into a 23 hour trip. We all eventually got there however, the trip is actually quite beautiful anyway, and the church family in Santa Cruz were very gracious and hospitable. On Sunday we split up with me attending services in El Pari, Gary and Drew attending Tres Pasos, and Josh attending the Plan 3000 congregaton. None of us were able to visit the brothers and sisters at the Quinto Anillo congregation but hopefully next time. And there will be a next time, because the sisters in Santa Cruz all warmly welcomed us again but on the condition that we bring our wives and children.
On the Saturday night of our visit we also had a very special time with the leaders of the congregations from all over Santa Cruz. The four of us spoke on what our team has done in Cochabamba up until now and what we plan to do in the future. The brothers were all very supportive and also showed a lot of enthusiasm concerning attending our January launch. There is sure to be a large number of Crucenos probably to outnumber visitors from anywhere else. Please pray that God continues to bless the congregations of Santa Cruz with great leadership and also to bless the brethren some of whom are increasingly worried about the growing divide between East and West Bolivia.
Opening of La Conexion Cristiana and Related Events:
On Monday, October the 2nd we celebrated the grand opening of our contact center now officially named La Conexion Cristiana which of course means "Christian Connection". We choose the spelling conexion because it means an electrical connection as opposed to connection in general. In a sense we hope that God uses the Conexion Cristiana to connect the Cochabambinos to the Bible and to himself in a very electrical and dynamic way.
The English classes started also on the 2nd are already held at the contact center. This next Wednesday Butch and Drew are planning to begin offering another special class to the community. Their class will teach students how to study the Bible in a more profound way and how to do that on their own. Please pray that God leads true seekers to this class and that He may use Butch and Drew as instruments to share His word.
Worship Center, (Centro de Adoracion)
This coming Sunday will be another special day for the church family here in Cochabamba. This Sunday will mark our first Sunday to worship in the other locality we have rented. Up until now the large classroom at Conexion Cristiana was big enough for our group but it is now starting to be a bit crowded. We also want to make the move so that we begin using the space which we are already paying rent for. It used to be a gym so it has plenty of room for us to grow, housing up to 2oo hundred people on the bottom floor. It has an even larger space up above where the Children's Ministry headed by Jamie will use to make classrooms for different age levels of Bible school students. Please pray that God blesses our first Sunday and that he continues to fill this place with people who are seeking to know Him in a profound and lifechanging way. May the words and actions that take place within and outside of its walls serve to testify to amazing love God has shown all men throught His son Jesus.
In Closing:
Thank you all for you prayers and continued support. We pray that this news may find you well and in good health. We love you all very much!!
Family News: We are all doing well. Jubilee is growing up so fast, it is hard to believe she was not even walking when we arrived to Cochabamba in January. Everything with Katie is well, she continues to enjoy different aspects of the work she is involved in such as teaching Friday school for Jubilee and her friends, helping teach a ladies Bible survey class, and helping teach English using the Bible. I also am doing well and enjoying seeing the work here begin to accelerate. One new piece of news is that we have requested a furlough during the summer months of next year, so if all goes according to plan we could be in your neighborhood sometime next summer!
English Using the Bible:
We have recently begun a new program with the goal in mind to make more friends and contacts leading up to our January church launch. Katie and I form a part of a teaching team with Billie, Drew and Jamie. On Tuesdays and Mondays the five of us are offering conversational Bible classes using the book of Luke. I also teach a basic English course on Tuesdays for absolute beginners. We have had classes two weeks in a row now and just this week really got into the text of chapter 1 of Luke. It has been very exciting to read this passage with our students a few of whom have never heard the story of the angel coming to Zechariah to announce the birth of John. Our students questions and comments have been very interesting. Please continue to pray for the students of our English classes, that they may be blessed and grow closer to God and that God may us His servants to communicate His will to others.
Santa Cruz Trip:
In September and October the men of the team had two trips planned. One was to attend a national men's conference in Viacha which is outside of La Paz. The other trip was to make a blitz trip to Santa Cruz trying to visit as many of the numerous brethren and congregations in that city. The Viacha trip unfortunately was called off because the highways were in danger of being blockaded on our way back. The Santa Cruz trip however was a great time of fellowship. Josh, Drew, Gary and I all made the trip. I was fortunate only experiencing a 7 hour delay on the side of the road while the other three guys who left later than me experienced a series of delays turning the 7 hour trip into a 23 hour trip. We all eventually got there however, the trip is actually quite beautiful anyway, and the church family in Santa Cruz were very gracious and hospitable. On Sunday we split up with me attending services in El Pari, Gary and Drew attending Tres Pasos, and Josh attending the Plan 3000 congregaton. None of us were able to visit the brothers and sisters at the Quinto Anillo congregation but hopefully next time. And there will be a next time, because the sisters in Santa Cruz all warmly welcomed us again but on the condition that we bring our wives and children.
On the Saturday night of our visit we also had a very special time with the leaders of the congregations from all over Santa Cruz. The four of us spoke on what our team has done in Cochabamba up until now and what we plan to do in the future. The brothers were all very supportive and also showed a lot of enthusiasm concerning attending our January launch. There is sure to be a large number of Crucenos probably to outnumber visitors from anywhere else. Please pray that God continues to bless the congregations of Santa Cruz with great leadership and also to bless the brethren some of whom are increasingly worried about the growing divide between East and West Bolivia.
Opening of La Conexion Cristiana and Related Events:
On Monday, October the 2nd we celebrated the grand opening of our contact center now officially named La Conexion Cristiana which of course means "Christian Connection". We choose the spelling conexion because it means an electrical connection as opposed to connection in general. In a sense we hope that God uses the Conexion Cristiana to connect the Cochabambinos to the Bible and to himself in a very electrical and dynamic way.
The English classes started also on the 2nd are already held at the contact center. This next Wednesday Butch and Drew are planning to begin offering another special class to the community. Their class will teach students how to study the Bible in a more profound way and how to do that on their own. Please pray that God leads true seekers to this class and that He may use Butch and Drew as instruments to share His word.
Worship Center, (Centro de Adoracion)
This coming Sunday will be another special day for the church family here in Cochabamba. This Sunday will mark our first Sunday to worship in the other locality we have rented. Up until now the large classroom at Conexion Cristiana was big enough for our group but it is now starting to be a bit crowded. We also want to make the move so that we begin using the space which we are already paying rent for. It used to be a gym so it has plenty of room for us to grow, housing up to 2oo hundred people on the bottom floor. It has an even larger space up above where the Children's Ministry headed by Jamie will use to make classrooms for different age levels of Bible school students. Please pray that God blesses our first Sunday and that he continues to fill this place with people who are seeking to know Him in a profound and lifechanging way. May the words and actions that take place within and outside of its walls serve to testify to amazing love God has shown all men throught His son Jesus.
In Closing:
Thank you all for you prayers and continued support. We pray that this news may find you well and in good health. We love you all very much!!
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Sonrisas Bolivianas
Pic #1: Betty is an amazing baker!!! She made the cake by hand for my b-day.
Pic #2: Katie and I with our sister in Christ Cecilia. She is the mother of beautiful little Brianna who was featured in a post from about two months ago.
Pic #3: Billie Gill and my English student Karla.
Pic #4: Drew and Bruno hanging out. Bruno and his brother Freddy are the sons of Renan and Leticia. Bruno by the way is an awesome goalie, we play soccor with him and his friends on Sundays and they usually make us feel a little old but we always have a great time.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Juju's special shampoo
Our beautiful daught daily reminds that she has inherited our wacky sense of creativity. The following are pics of her and her desire to wash her hair even though I had just washed it. She is not only creative but resourceful, using what was on hand at the moment! In that first picture she totally has a devious Frank Labowski smile and squinty eyes too for her Auntie Joyce who likes squinty eyes. To Auntie Darla, Auntie Mandi and Auntie Sissie here is something to make you laugh and you don't even have to clean it up!
Monday, August 21, 2006
August Happenings
Comings and Goings:
Today is Monday, the 21st of August. We send our love and greetings to all of you out there. This month again has been a very full month. Since the last post we have two very special visits. One was from the Chesser family of Austin Avenue and the other was from our good family friend Becky Phillipart of Washington, D.C. Having visitors is always a very encouraging experience for us and we look forward to other visitors.
We ourselves will be visiting other places in the next three months. In September we have been invited to a congregation outside of El Alto which is near La Paz for a men's conference. We don't know if it will be a whole family trip yet, but I am definitely planning to go. We also have a visit to Santa Cruz planned in October as Katie and I have not made a formal visit to the congregations in that city yet. We did get to see some of the Santa Cruz bretheren in La Paz during the ladies conference but we of course would like to see them again. In November we are planning to go to Honduras for the Pan American Lectureships. As a team we decided to set aside some team funds to send one family as Cochabamba representatives each year to the Pan American Lectures. The Pan American Lectures for those who may not know, is a yearly event alternating locations in Central America, Mexico or South America and it is for all people interested in the Lord's Church throughout Latin America. Katie and I are very excited about getting to see many old friends and making new ones. We will probably have to spend one night in Miami on our way, perhaps we will have a little Miami reunion with old friends in the South Florida area!
Reaching the Lost & Encouraging the Lord's Body in Cochabamba:
This month has seen some special moments in the life of the work here. Yesterday on the 20th was our fifth Sunday to worship in the contact center, which is the small space we are renting downtown on the Prado for offices. It is already too small for our group which is now usually between 25 to 30 people. Granted most of our worship assembly is made of of the team, but we do have Bolivian Christians who regularly meet with us as well as ocassional visitors. The contact center is pretty much ready for us to begin using it for our offices. To solve the space problem we have already located another larger property that was formally a gym. It has plenty of room for us to grow and it has a great area upstairs that the Children's Ministry is already planning on using for our children's Bible classes.
Many people may wonder what we are doing with our time right now, as we are still working up towards the January Launch date and our official launch of the work here. As the year progresses we see our time becoming more and more filled which is of course a marvelous thing. Currently I am leading two weekly Bible studies, one of which is with my friend Ramber and his mother and also ocassionaly his sister. This study is going well and we have been able to cover a lot of the basics, I am hoping and praying that this family becomes a part of our church family soon. Another Bible study I am leading is with our door man. This study is also going well, but we are going a little slower because I feel the need to explain things a little more in depth with Juan Carlos. However both men often surprise me with their eagerness to continue studying and it is uplifting to be able share such good news with people who really have not heard the gospel in its' entirety as of yet. Please continue to pray for both Ramber and Juan Carlos that God may work in their hearts to bring them into a reconciled relationship with Him.
I am also teaching a weekly English class for one of the Spanish teachers from Maryknoll. She would like to attend a Presbyterian Seminary in Viriginia and she needs to take an English test before she can be accepted. I am helping her to prepare for this test, including giving her tapes of Bo Shero's sermons for listening practice which she seems to enjoy and they make a great starting point for conversation practice as well. Please pray for Karla as she prepares for this important test and also as she is gradually being exposed to some ideas on the Bible that she has perhaps not considered before.
In addition to the Bible studies and the English class I am also involved in a small group Bible study at the Sandoval's house being led by Butch. This is a small group time designed to encourage church members and give them a forum for sharing important prayer requests. Our family, the Sandovals, the Custers, Billie Gill and the family of Brother Renan and Sister Leticia are participating in this small group. Another small group which is more evangelistic in design will begin within the next two weeks in the home of the Marcums with the Bulls also attending. The small group at the Marcum's will focus on the sharing the gospel with visitors. In the future, once we have a better idea of how small groups work, Katie and I will begin a small group in our home. The Bulls and Custers will also eventually break off to lead small groups in their homes as well as Renan and Leticia most likely. We hope to make the small groups a very important part of both our evangelistic efforts as well as a way to encourage and mature the church body. Please pray for our small groups, that many will hear and obey the gospel as a result and that many will also be encouraged to spiritual maturity as a result of these study and prayer times.
Serving as Christ Served:
Another important role that Katie, Trish and I have on the team is to organize a benevolence/outreach program. Of course our first priority is to serve the needs of the body as they have need, and we are beginning to plan for that. We are currently considering how best to cloth and feed members as they have need. Once the larger building is being used for worship services we also would like to have storage space set aside for both dry goods and used clothing.
The Benevolence Team has also been visiting different organizations in Cochabamba that are already serving in some capacity. We would like to have a good idea of what the needs in our community are and which of those needs we can best serve. It is a process that is both exciting, daunting, and sobering at the same time. On one hand we can see great potential in serving others in the name of Christ in this city. On the other hand, how do we decide who and how to serve??? There is such great need here as there is in any city on Earth, and it is challenging to know where God would like us to serve. Please also pray that God may give us wisdom concerning this decision of how to serve our community.
THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS, LOVE AND SUPPORT. SORRY FOR THE SUPER LONG BLOG. WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!
PHOTOS OF THE CONTACT CENTER, URKUPINA PROCESSION, AND A FUNNY RENDITION OF MY TRIP TO THE CHAPARE WILL SOON FOLLOW.
Today is Monday, the 21st of August. We send our love and greetings to all of you out there. This month again has been a very full month. Since the last post we have two very special visits. One was from the Chesser family of Austin Avenue and the other was from our good family friend Becky Phillipart of Washington, D.C. Having visitors is always a very encouraging experience for us and we look forward to other visitors.
We ourselves will be visiting other places in the next three months. In September we have been invited to a congregation outside of El Alto which is near La Paz for a men's conference. We don't know if it will be a whole family trip yet, but I am definitely planning to go. We also have a visit to Santa Cruz planned in October as Katie and I have not made a formal visit to the congregations in that city yet. We did get to see some of the Santa Cruz bretheren in La Paz during the ladies conference but we of course would like to see them again. In November we are planning to go to Honduras for the Pan American Lectureships. As a team we decided to set aside some team funds to send one family as Cochabamba representatives each year to the Pan American Lectures. The Pan American Lectures for those who may not know, is a yearly event alternating locations in Central America, Mexico or South America and it is for all people interested in the Lord's Church throughout Latin America. Katie and I are very excited about getting to see many old friends and making new ones. We will probably have to spend one night in Miami on our way, perhaps we will have a little Miami reunion with old friends in the South Florida area!
Reaching the Lost & Encouraging the Lord's Body in Cochabamba:
This month has seen some special moments in the life of the work here. Yesterday on the 20th was our fifth Sunday to worship in the contact center, which is the small space we are renting downtown on the Prado for offices. It is already too small for our group which is now usually between 25 to 30 people. Granted most of our worship assembly is made of of the team, but we do have Bolivian Christians who regularly meet with us as well as ocassional visitors. The contact center is pretty much ready for us to begin using it for our offices. To solve the space problem we have already located another larger property that was formally a gym. It has plenty of room for us to grow and it has a great area upstairs that the Children's Ministry is already planning on using for our children's Bible classes.
Many people may wonder what we are doing with our time right now, as we are still working up towards the January Launch date and our official launch of the work here. As the year progresses we see our time becoming more and more filled which is of course a marvelous thing. Currently I am leading two weekly Bible studies, one of which is with my friend Ramber and his mother and also ocassionaly his sister. This study is going well and we have been able to cover a lot of the basics, I am hoping and praying that this family becomes a part of our church family soon. Another Bible study I am leading is with our door man. This study is also going well, but we are going a little slower because I feel the need to explain things a little more in depth with Juan Carlos. However both men often surprise me with their eagerness to continue studying and it is uplifting to be able share such good news with people who really have not heard the gospel in its' entirety as of yet. Please continue to pray for both Ramber and Juan Carlos that God may work in their hearts to bring them into a reconciled relationship with Him.
I am also teaching a weekly English class for one of the Spanish teachers from Maryknoll. She would like to attend a Presbyterian Seminary in Viriginia and she needs to take an English test before she can be accepted. I am helping her to prepare for this test, including giving her tapes of Bo Shero's sermons for listening practice which she seems to enjoy and they make a great starting point for conversation practice as well. Please pray for Karla as she prepares for this important test and also as she is gradually being exposed to some ideas on the Bible that she has perhaps not considered before.
In addition to the Bible studies and the English class I am also involved in a small group Bible study at the Sandoval's house being led by Butch. This is a small group time designed to encourage church members and give them a forum for sharing important prayer requests. Our family, the Sandovals, the Custers, Billie Gill and the family of Brother Renan and Sister Leticia are participating in this small group. Another small group which is more evangelistic in design will begin within the next two weeks in the home of the Marcums with the Bulls also attending. The small group at the Marcum's will focus on the sharing the gospel with visitors. In the future, once we have a better idea of how small groups work, Katie and I will begin a small group in our home. The Bulls and Custers will also eventually break off to lead small groups in their homes as well as Renan and Leticia most likely. We hope to make the small groups a very important part of both our evangelistic efforts as well as a way to encourage and mature the church body. Please pray for our small groups, that many will hear and obey the gospel as a result and that many will also be encouraged to spiritual maturity as a result of these study and prayer times.
Serving as Christ Served:
Another important role that Katie, Trish and I have on the team is to organize a benevolence/outreach program. Of course our first priority is to serve the needs of the body as they have need, and we are beginning to plan for that. We are currently considering how best to cloth and feed members as they have need. Once the larger building is being used for worship services we also would like to have storage space set aside for both dry goods and used clothing.
The Benevolence Team has also been visiting different organizations in Cochabamba that are already serving in some capacity. We would like to have a good idea of what the needs in our community are and which of those needs we can best serve. It is a process that is both exciting, daunting, and sobering at the same time. On one hand we can see great potential in serving others in the name of Christ in this city. On the other hand, how do we decide who and how to serve??? There is such great need here as there is in any city on Earth, and it is challenging to know where God would like us to serve. Please also pray that God may give us wisdom concerning this decision of how to serve our community.
THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS, LOVE AND SUPPORT. SORRY FOR THE SUPER LONG BLOG. WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!
PHOTOS OF THE CONTACT CENTER, URKUPINA PROCESSION, AND A FUNNY RENDITION OF MY TRIP TO THE CHAPARE WILL SOON FOLLOW.
Friday, August 18, 2006
noticias de agosto
Perhaps you will notice in our blog updates and bi-monthly newsletters that I increasingly switch between English, Spanish and a little Quecua. I do this as thinly veiled plot to increase your vocab to prepare you for your upcoming visits. We love visitors, we want you to come!!
This evening we said bon voyage to our good friend Becky. She is in fact much more than a good friend and although we are sad to see her go, we have immensly enjoyed the three weeks she got to spend with us in Cochabamba. I fear she did not get to do all the touristy things there are to do here in Cochabamba but nonetheless she got spend major quality time with the Forbesses especially with Juju which we know was her true motivation to brave the trip. Included is a photo taken before Becky and Katie head off to the airport. Next stop for Becky the world traveler is Cuzco and Maachu Pichu across the border in Peru. Please keep her in your prayers as she is going to brave Bolivian airlines and flota (bus) in the same trip, both of which can prove to be quite an adventure as I found out last week on my way back from the Chapare.
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