Greetings once again from Santa Cruz. We're entering into winter here...as the colder weather quickly reminds us. It doesn't always stay cold for long though, eventually the sun shines again followed by warmer temperatures until another cold spell catches us by surprise.
What often gets me through the cold weather is knowing that warmer temperatures are just around the corner. Life sometimes is a little like that. There are times, I think when getting through the difficult moments takes just looking towards the sunshine awaiting around the bend. The coldness we're experiencing now tends to be quite fitting for this time of year. I think I have mentioned before that the end of the school year is difficult for the missionary community. It means change...and change isn't always easy. There are many people packing up to leave permanently...people who have been here for many, many years...and people who have only impacted our lives for one or two years. It doesn't matter if it's been a short time or a long time...it's hard to say good-bye. It's hard for the ones who are leaving and it's hard for the ones who are staying behind. There are other transitions that often occur for me at about the same time...change in living arrangement, change in ministry, change in roommates, etc.
To up-date you a little on my living situation...
I decided to accept the other house that World Gospel Mission was offering for me to rent. They take care of all the maintenance and upkeep of their houses...there's a LOT to be said for that from a single's perspective! There are many other perks to that house and I'm looking forward to getting settled in there. They need to do a little work on it before I can move in...but we're hoping that I'll be in there by mid-July. As of right now, I have one confirmed roommate (assuming that God provides the support she needs to get here) and another one who hopes to live with us for a few months before moving in with a Bolivian family.
In addition to the difficult adjustment and transition that this time of the year brings for us here in Santa Cruz...there have been a couple of additional hurdles to cross recently. Something that has impacted me greatly is that I ended up attending two very unexpected, unrelated funerals this past week. One of them was for a 20 year old girl, Guisela, who was killed in a motorcycle accident last Thursday. She attended my church as a child, but stopped coming a few years ago, even though she was saved and baptized in the church. However, many of her siblings, cousins, and aunts/uncles continue to be active members there. It is hard to see them hurting so. Then on the weekend, a Bolivian woman from my school and her husband lost their baby who died after only a week of life...he was born several weeks premature. I don't know that I've ever been to a funeral for a baby before, nor seen a coffin so tiny. There seems to be heartache and sadness all around these days. I'd appreciate your prayer particularly for these families.
On a lighter note. Thank you for praying for the Intensive CIET class that I was in charge of and teaching in last week. The students took the final exam on Monday night. They still have a few additional projects and assignments to turn in before June 7...but I'm thankful that the intenseness of being at the seminary every night is over for now!
Well, as I've said...there is sunshine around the corner...in a few more months things will calm down once again...I'll be settled in my new house...making new friends...and finding my way around the elementary principal's office...may God provide the strength and comfort that all of us need to get through the transition! Thank you so much for your love and prayers...not only for me, but also for those around me!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
May 9, 2010
Greetings once again from Santa Cruz, Bolivia. With temperatures in the 70s today...it has really felt like "fall" for us here. We are nearing the end of the school year...with graduation only three weeks away! It is hard to believe, how the year does fly by!
You may remember that in my last post, I mentioned that Chelsea and I would be going to a small community called Villa Cruz to teach a workshop for Sunday School teachers. We left on a Thursday night, by bus...arrived in San Ignacio de Velasco (SIV) on Friday morning...had the day to tour SIV and to show Chelsea some of the ministry SAM has had there in the past. Then, on Friday afternoon, we took a bus (actually more like a large van...very crowded van I might add)...to Villa Cruz. Friday evening, we started the workshop...which continued until Sunday afternoon. With the exception of their typical weekend services on Saturday night and Sunday morning, we spent the rest of the time in the workshop. I even got asked to preach on Saturday night as well...so we stayed pretty busy while we were there! Chelsea was a HUGE help and I was so thankful for her company and support throughout the weekend. On Sunday afternoon, after finishing up the workshop, we made our way back to SIV, and then on to Santa Cruz by bus that night...arriving in the city Monday morning. As soon as we got back we hit the ground running with various school activities. Praise the Lord, all in all the workshop was a great experience...thank you so much for your prayers! There were about 22 people who attended the conference and I was pleased to see the things they were learning and taking away with them!
Last night, was the Jr. Sr. Banquet for school. It was held at the tennis club this year...the same place where Chelsea and I went to the wedding a couple of weeks ago. The banquet is just another sign that the school year is coming to an end. As I watched the pictures on the power point of the senior class throughout their years of attending the Learning Center...I was reminded of what some of them were like when I taught them my first year on the field. These students were in 7th grade then. It is unbelievable to me that now I am watching them graduate. If I include the year that I was home on furlough, I have been connected to the Learning Center for the same number of years that I taught in North Carolina! I praise the Lord that He is continuing to allow me to be something constant and stable in the lives of these children...lives that are so accustomed to constant comings and goings! There are still two full weeks of classes...during which I will also be doing ESL testing for some of the current and incoming students! Then there will be a few days of exams...ending with graduation on Friday, May 28. Please continue to pray for the end of the school year...that both teachers and students will be able to FINISH WELL!
I'm attaching a link with a few pictures of our trip to SIV/Villa Cruz...as well as a few pictures from the banquet. Please let me know if you have any problems opening the link!
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AbNnDNm5btmS8
This week, you could also be praying for an intensive course in CIET for Sunday School teachers (and others who work with children) that I will be teaching along with a few other missionary friends. The class will be each night, from Monday through Friday...7:15-9:45; plus there will be additional requirements/assignments for the students outside of class, should they choose to receive credit. This, in addition to all of the things happening at school right now, makes this a very busy week for all of us! We covet your prayers during this time!
Finally, I have gotten word from the mission that owns the house where I'm living...that they need this house for some of their other missionaries. Therefore, I will have to move once again! They are offering me another house that they have available. It is a nice house, in a GREAT location! It is a bit more expensive...but it appears that God is providing roommates once again...even though Chelsea is returning to the states. Please pray for me this week as I make a final decision on the house...and begin to look toward that transition of packing up and moving once again!
Thank you so much for your prayers on my behalf! I appreciate your concern and support for the ministry to which God has called me! May He bless you for your faithfulness to Him!
You may remember that in my last post, I mentioned that Chelsea and I would be going to a small community called Villa Cruz to teach a workshop for Sunday School teachers. We left on a Thursday night, by bus...arrived in San Ignacio de Velasco (SIV) on Friday morning...had the day to tour SIV and to show Chelsea some of the ministry SAM has had there in the past. Then, on Friday afternoon, we took a bus (actually more like a large van...very crowded van I might add)...to Villa Cruz. Friday evening, we started the workshop...which continued until Sunday afternoon. With the exception of their typical weekend services on Saturday night and Sunday morning, we spent the rest of the time in the workshop. I even got asked to preach on Saturday night as well...so we stayed pretty busy while we were there! Chelsea was a HUGE help and I was so thankful for her company and support throughout the weekend. On Sunday afternoon, after finishing up the workshop, we made our way back to SIV, and then on to Santa Cruz by bus that night...arriving in the city Monday morning. As soon as we got back we hit the ground running with various school activities. Praise the Lord, all in all the workshop was a great experience...thank you so much for your prayers! There were about 22 people who attended the conference and I was pleased to see the things they were learning and taking away with them!
Last night, was the Jr. Sr. Banquet for school. It was held at the tennis club this year...the same place where Chelsea and I went to the wedding a couple of weeks ago. The banquet is just another sign that the school year is coming to an end. As I watched the pictures on the power point of the senior class throughout their years of attending the Learning Center...I was reminded of what some of them were like when I taught them my first year on the field. These students were in 7th grade then. It is unbelievable to me that now I am watching them graduate. If I include the year that I was home on furlough, I have been connected to the Learning Center for the same number of years that I taught in North Carolina! I praise the Lord that He is continuing to allow me to be something constant and stable in the lives of these children...lives that are so accustomed to constant comings and goings! There are still two full weeks of classes...during which I will also be doing ESL testing for some of the current and incoming students! Then there will be a few days of exams...ending with graduation on Friday, May 28. Please continue to pray for the end of the school year...that both teachers and students will be able to FINISH WELL!
I'm attaching a link with a few pictures of our trip to SIV/Villa Cruz...as well as a few pictures from the banquet. Please let me know if you have any problems opening the link!
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AbNnDNm5btmS8
This week, you could also be praying for an intensive course in CIET for Sunday School teachers (and others who work with children) that I will be teaching along with a few other missionary friends. The class will be each night, from Monday through Friday...7:15-9:45; plus there will be additional requirements/assignments for the students outside of class, should they choose to receive credit. This, in addition to all of the things happening at school right now, makes this a very busy week for all of us! We covet your prayers during this time!
Finally, I have gotten word from the mission that owns the house where I'm living...that they need this house for some of their other missionaries. Therefore, I will have to move once again! They are offering me another house that they have available. It is a nice house, in a GREAT location! It is a bit more expensive...but it appears that God is providing roommates once again...even though Chelsea is returning to the states. Please pray for me this week as I make a final decision on the house...and begin to look toward that transition of packing up and moving once again!
Thank you so much for your prayers on my behalf! I appreciate your concern and support for the ministry to which God has called me! May He bless you for your faithfulness to Him!
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