I’m a bit embarrassed to finally be up-dating my blog to inform you about events that happened in July! It used to be relatively easy to up-date my blog almost every week…now I’m doing well if I get it written once a month and for that I apologize! I do hope you feel informed of what God is doing here in Bolivia…even when I’m a bit slow at sharing about it!

July Events

During the last two weeks of July, I was busy directing an English Village in Santa Cruz. Together with some other SAM missionaries, we hosted a class of 9 students all of whom were from various cities in Bolivia. Living together at a camp outside of the city, gave us the chance to simulate an English immersion environment for them. Although not all of them are current mission’s candidates, I was impressed by the impact that the course seemed to have in encouraging them to think about what God is doing around the world and the part they could have in that. Please continue to pray that God gives us wisdom in knowing where to go from here as we’ve been asked to direct/teach English Villages in Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, and believe in the importance of doing another one in Bolivia!

August Happenings

August 10, was the official start to the new school year! We started the year a bit short-handed as a few of our staff members were still working on raising enough support to come down. A few of them have since arrived, leaving us with substitutes only in 2^nd grade and 3^rd grade. Those teachers will be arriving in about two weeks. Due to this, it has been a bit rocky of a start to the new school year, but God has been faithful to continue to provide the strength and endurance that we need and we praise Him for that!

Wedding Plans

On September 3, Dalmiro and I celebrated the 1^st of three official weddings! In our home at about 12:00 in the afternoon, we signed the official paperwork, along with Dalmiro’s sister, our 3 witnesses, a close friend (who is our personal photographer ☺), and a notary (who does all the legal paperwork), thereby becoming legally married here in Bolivia. We hosted a lunch afterwards of baked chicken, cheese rice, boiled yucca, salad, and lemon meringue pie for dessert! Attached you’ll see a link with some pictures of the affair. Enjoy! Although we are now legally married so that we could begin some necessary paperwork, we’re waiting for wedding #2 before we move in together or celebrate a honeymoon! Wedding #2 will be on October 22 here in Santa Cruz, then, there will be a reception in Abingdon, VA on December 20, and wedding #3 in Franklin, VA on December 28!!! I think you could say we’ll be about as married as anyone can be!!! Very exciting times!!! Thank you for your prayers as we continue to move through each of these important steps!

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Thank you for all of your constant prayers! Please continue to lift us up...I will admit that I'm anxious to get home and see many of you in December! I long to be able to introduce you to Dalmiro and to spend time with you while you get to know him a little! I am also anxious for a chance to get some rest...to feel spiritually and physically renewed! Pray for strength and wisdom for both of us in all that needs to be done, and for me in working through the problems that cross my desk at school! Thank you for going before the throne on our behalf! We love you and talk about you often!