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!
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