Bolivia Votes "Si"

Well...yesterday was a rather uneventful voting day...peaceful as far as I could tell, which is a blessing. No campaigning is allowed for the last couple of days before a voting day so other than remnants floating around (graffiti on the walls of buildings, fliers, etc.), there wasn't much new. Most of the votes had been cast by about 6:00 in the evening, so the news channels began to post results. I made the rounds in the afternoon and evening, visiting people I knew who lived within walking distance...it made the day pass by a little quicker. During my last visit before going home, I stopped to have dinner with some other singles from SAM. We turned on the television to see what we could find out. Basically...the country as a whole voted in favor of the constitution. As we all expected...Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, and others voted opposing the referendum....however, La Paz, Potosi, Cochabamba, and others voted in favor. So, where do we go from here? We continue to sit, wait, and PRAY! Only God truly knows what will happen from here on out. Praise the Lord that His plan is perfect! The idea therefore, is for us to continue to go about our ministries as God has called us to do...keeping in mind that the ultimate goal is that those ministries would continue, even if we were pulled out of the country...so as SAM's motto states...Build Leaders to Build Churches!

On a lighter note...this week is Vacation Bible School at my church! It starts today and will go until Saturday...every day from 4-5:30. It is quite possible that we will start off with 30-40 kids and then by the end of the week have close to 80 or so. We'd appreciate your prayers as we work to share the gospel/God's love with these children! The theme of the week is "Jesus, el regalo de Dios para ti...Jesus, God's gift to you!" We're also praying that the weather will stay nice all week. It is rainy season, so it is common for us to get a burst of a shower or even a couple of days of rain. However, if that happens many of the children will not be able to come, their parents won't want them out in the muddy streets. So, please join us in praying this week!

Well, I guess that's it for now. I'm attaching a couple of pictures below for your viewing pleasure! They're both pictures from school...one is a picture of me teaching the weekly elementary chapel...the other is a goofy picture of a few of my students. Hope you enjoy!

Happy New Year!

Here we are...another year has begun! In case you've lost track of me over the past few months...I just wanted to let everyone know that I am in BOLIVIA!

I enjoyed a wonderful Christmas/New Years with my family. I arrived in the states on December 20 so my parents and I were able to enjoy close to a week at the beach together before my sisters arrived with their families. Janet and Rick, and Emily, Christopher, and Wesley all caught up with us at the beach on the 26th. We ate at a couple of our favorite restaurants, swam in the indoor pool, walked on the beach, did a little shopping, and drove along the boardwalk to see the light display. Then, that evening we headed back to mom and dad's house in order to have our Christmas celebration on Saturday. All in all, it was a wonderful trip.


I returned to Bolivia, on January 4, feeling encouraged and strengthened once again to the work God has called me to here. It was difficult to say good-bye to my family (of course) and I left Chiquito (my dog) in the states with my folks (also an extremely difficult move), but so far I've been pleasantly surprised at how being back in Bolivia just feels so RIGHT! It suits me! I hit the ground running as soon as I got back...we had our annual SAM field conference last week. We stayed at a resort called Los Cedros...it was a good time of fellowship as well as challenging in the Biblical themes we were taught.

This week, classes at SCCLC started up once again...so I'm back to teaching resource style classes. Due to some changes in scheduling for the general curriculum classes, we had to rearrange our resource schedule as well. It took us a couple of days to get that straightened out...so I really didn't have to start teaching until Wednesday...not bad! This week, I'm sure will be a rude awakening...back to old clothes and porridge as my mom always says! I do have one new responsibility at school...I am now officially the Elementary School Chaplain...which basically just means that I have agreed to do the teaching for the weekly chapel in the elementary grades. It's only about a 15 minute teaching once a week, but I'm excited about doing it! I have done it a couple of times over the course of last semester, but now it works out in my schedule for me to do it each week. If anyone has any ideas...feel free to send them my way!

I continue to be active in church...actually, now I guess I'm even more active! The HAuses and Heather Mickelson (fellow missionaries in my church) are currently home on furlough, Dalmiro (another one of the pastors from the church) is currently in Abingdon, Virginia in the missionary internship program...several other core leaders for various reasons are now unable to help out...so quite a few holes have been left, so I find myself filling in more frequently in many different roles than I had before. Two things you can be praying for with regards to the church...one is that we will be having our Vacation Bible School (Bolivian schools are still on summer vacation) from January 26-31. We often have close to 100 kids that come by the end of the week. Please be praying for both children and workers alike. The second thing is that one of the couples in the youth group (college students) recently announced that they are expecting a child. She is about a month along. This came as quite a shock and now is another hurdle for us to cross. They are planning to get married, possibly in February. They could use your prayers, as well as their families. I have become even more concerned for the other girls in our youth group. Please pray with me as well for the best method of reaching them with the importance lesson of waiting. May God strengthen their hearts and their willpower! I find this sort of thing is all too common in this culture!


I've also been able to begin working with SAM's children's ministry team. On Saturday, I went with a few other missionaries to a church that is a part of the association that SAM supports. They had their Vacation Bible School last week. We were asked to come and do the closing program. I gave the Bible lesson...talking about being new creatures in Christ. We used the caterpillar turning into a butterfly analogy. I think it was one of the few times that I have really felt comfortable teaching in Spanish. It was such a blessing for me! Praise the Lord for the time we had with the children there! Once I get some pictures of that activity, I'll share them with you!

There is one other thing that I would like to briefly mention...one week from today, January 25, is an election day. The people will be voting on the new constitution that has been written. So far, it is expected that it will pass. I have not read it all myself...but from what I have been told...there are many aspects that could be really bad. Therefore, the tension in the country has begun to pick up a bit and is only expected to get worse. I tell you this, not to frighten you for my own safety. The mission has already shown me that they are perfectly capable of caring for me! I only tell you these things as a reminder to be praying for this country...both the Christians and Nonchristians alike. Not to mention...personally, the thought of being evacuated again, is really hard! I don't want to go through that process of having to leave again! However, God is in control...and I know that His will is going to be done regardless of the type of government...God works through all situations!

Well, I know this was a rather long entry...that's what happens when I go several weeks without writing! Now that I'm getting back into a routine, hopefully, I'll be able to up-date my blog once a week like I did before. My plan will be to up-date it on Mondays...so you can feel free to check anytime after that! Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support! I appreciate all of you so much!