January 30, 2013

This time has been such a blessing to us as we slow down a little from our whirlwind of travel in the first six months.  We have been able to develop a routine, which has included the opportunity for Dalmiro to work in the office on a regular basis for the mission.  As Laura has advanced further along in the pregnancy, she has appreciated the opportunity to rest more frequently...taking naps when needed.  We have also enjoyed spending time together...occasional dates and movie nights, nightly devotionals together, etc.

Making new friends and enjoying the opportunity to minister in Eastern, VA.

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of Benjamin Carmelo Ortiz

Enjoying our first snow of the year...and Dalmiro's first chance to build a snowman!!!

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support for our family!  We will be sure to let you know once our bundle of joy has arrived!!! 

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!

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AbNnDNm5btmT4

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!

This is Vacation???

Greetings once again from Santa Cruz! Dalmiro and I completed the Beni trip...physically and emotionally tired...yet changed for the better at having been able to serve the Lord in this area of Bolivia. There is much to report on the events of our trip, so I'll do my best to share as much as I can.

Our boat trip began, unfortunately, not as we expected. The first night while we were on the river, traveling during the night, one of our team members, woke up to use the restroom. Apparently, as we discovered after the fact, he must have become disoriented while returning to his hammock. He then opened the gate on the front end of the boat and walked into the water. We then spent the next few days anchored to the shore, hosting a search and rescue center. We took turns keeping watch day and night for any sign of the body. It was at that point that we held a memorial service for our brother in Christ, feeling sure that he had gone home to be with the Lord.


The next few days on the river were very intense as we we then realized the great need and quantity of villages to be seen, yet our shortened amount of time on the river. In each of the villages the doctors/nurses would set up a medical clinic. While they were providing medical attention Dalmiro and another pastor were praying for and witnessing to the adults. At the same time, there were a number of us who provided activities, songs, verses, and a Bible lesson for the children.


It was difficult at times, living in such close quarters for about 10 days, not to mention the emotional stress of the accident at the beginning of the trip. Yet, we also saw God working in many ways as well. We say Him healing people of their physical wounds, providing for their physical needs, and using us to share more about Him. God also led us into some villages which to our knowledge, had not been reached before for the gospel! Praise the Lord for the opportunity to share His love with people who haven't heard how they can have a personal relationship with him! Pray too for children like Bella in this picture (the one in the front, middle) who heard the gospel many times that day and still chose not to accept it! May God draw her unto Himself!



After returning from the Beni trip and taking a couple of days to sleep/rest, I jumped back into taking care of things at school! I had three intense days of English testing for new students seeking enrollment. After that I was meeting with the director so that he could teach me about an accreditation visit that the school is preparing for in this upcoming year (as he will be returning to the states and is leaving me in charge of the information needed for the visit).

The weather has turned cold, my roommates have all traveled either to the states or to other parts of Bolivia, and I'm working frantically to get caught up and ahead of things here! Coming up in a week, I will be teaching the music class for an English-speaking VBS, each morning from 8:30-11:30. Then the following couple of weeks I will be helping to direct an English Village (similar to that which I attended/directed in Argentina) here in Santa Cruz. We're still waiting to see if we have enough students to run the course and should know something about that within the next week. After that..."vacation" will be over and I'll be getting back into the swing of things at school...while trying to move into a new apartment!!! Dalmiro and I have decided to begin renting an apartment which is close to the school and owned by World Gospel Mission. I will be living there on my own until October and then he will move in with me after we get married!

Thank you so much for your prayers on our behalf during the Beni trip! We covet your continued prayers for us as we move through the next...very busy months...and look forward to our upcoming marriage! There is lots of growing, adjusting, and learning yet to come!!!

May 29, 2011--Busy times

For those of you who are not on Facebook or heard via other means, I definitely want to let you know that I am now engaged to Dalmiro Oritz. Dalmiro is a pastor at my church and also works with the church association of which our church is a part as missions pastor. We plan to be married in Santa Cruz on October 22. I am looking forward to our future ministry together...some of which comes very soon as you will see.

Firstly, I need to say that the school year finished well. We were all very busy with the end of the year activities, but we praise the Lord for what He accomplished at school this year. As a result, I haven't had the time to write as much as I would like.

Secondly, my older sister, Janet had her first baby on May 3 in Arlington, TX. Miles Lee Nye was 8 lbs. 11 ozs. and 20.25 inches. I praise the Lord for his safe arrival and look forward to the day when I can see him.

I leave this evening (Sunday, May 29) for a missions trip to the Beni. Some of you may remember that I went on this trip in the past. It is a medical/dental/evangelistic trip, traveling initially to a city near the river between Brazil and Bolivia in the department of Beni. From there we take a boat and travel on the river, stopping at villages and providing medical care, dental care, children's meetings and showing a film. We also do follow-up discipleship with people who have come to Christ at stops from previous years. We won't be on the exact trip as I went on previously, but other teams may have stopped at some towns in the past.

We are are mixed group, the two medical doctors are a couple with SAM who serve in Santa Cruz. The dentist is Bolivian. We also have nurses and some teams have other medical personnel join them as well. There are other missionaries and youth going along also. I am on the first of three trips planned for this year. At first I wasn't supposed to go on this trip as it came so close to the end of the school year, but when I got bumped it made things very hectic at the last minute.

What is very exciting for me is that Dalmiro is also going on this trip. He will be doing the devotionals for the team as we begin each day and also doing some of the evangelistic work in the evenings. The living conditions on the boat and in the villages are very primitive. The men/boys sleep in hammocks on one level and the women/girls sleep in cots or hammocks on another level. We do bring some food (some of it still living) and catch fish along the way.

Please pray for physical strength and safety in travel, both to and from the site and along the river. The team is comprised of folks from different areas, cultures and ministries. Pray that we will have a God-centered focus on serving Him and working together. Most importantly, pray that many will come to a knowledge of the Savior and be encouraged to grow in their walk with Him. We should be back in Santa Cruz on June 10.

Thank you for your partnership with me in Bolivia.

April 10, 2011

On Friday afternoon a 10 yr old boy was sent to my office...it was a student who spends about as much time in my office as I do! We began to talk...once again about his behavior...and I began to wonder once again if I were ever going to get through to him...this time he began to cry. His parents have been separated for awhile now, but the night before he had heard his mom talking about filing the divorce papers. On top of that, she told him that his aunt and uncle were getting a divorce as well. It's all around him. This particular student is walking on thin ice so to speak as there are those who feel it's necessary to kick him out of the school (they call it "not inviting him back"). There are several students they would like to see removed. I'm praying it doesn't get to that. If he isn't at our school to learn about God's love and experience it first-hand from teachers and administrators...where will he see it? Yet, he needs so much more than his teacher and I can give him. Please pray for him and other students like him at the Learning Center! The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few!!!

Yesterday, I attended a birthday party for a boy in my mission who turned 1 and then another party for 2 boys in my Sunday School class at church! I had so much fun celebrating their special day with them!!! Although it's hard to miss out on my own nephew's birthdays...I do enjoy being Aunt Laura for so many different children here on the field! Praise God that I could fill in as that role for them!!! This morning I met a friend at church early in order to go pass out tracts to the neighbors. We were also selling tickets for a lunch that we had at church today...a fundraising tool to help in rebuilding the Sunday school classrooms at the church...something that is desperately needed! Please pray not only for the building fund (and projects that will continue to take place over the course of this year or so), but also for those who received tracts this morning, that God will touch their lives with the message of His gospel! In one week I will turn 35 years old...it seems hard for me to believe! Some of my friends are already planning special ways to help me celebrate...I'm looking forward to it! I do love having a birthday...although stepping up a year with each birthday feels a little frightening sometimes! God has blessed me both last year and this year with people I know coming down to the field just before the 18th of April who have brought birthday presents from my family...the other years the gifts arrived whenever they could (sometimes a month or two late)...but once again this year, they'll be here BEFORE my birthday!!! How fun is that!!! Praise the Lord for the little things! This is a short blog up-date for this week, but if you didn't get a chance to check out the last post with pictures of my trips in February and early March, feel free to do so (scroll down to where it says Blog Archive and click on March for the last blog post to pop up)! Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support!

March 20, 2011

Well, after being away from the city for a week for SAM field conference, 2 weeks in Argentina for a course I was teaching, 4 days for church camp during Carnaval, and 5 days in Quito, Ecuador to attend a teacher workshop...I'm GLAD to be home!!! Since getting back from Quito, I've now spent more nights consecutively sleeping in my own bed in the last week than I did during the month of February and first part of March! Incredible! I guess at this point it all feels a bit surreal to me! In an effort to not ramble on in this blog post, I decided it would be easiest to just point out a few highlights and things God has been teaching me during all of this traveling! At the end, you'll also find the link to a shutterfly album where you can find pictures of these various events!

* Am I putting my total trust/faith in God...allowing Him to work and move in my life according to His plans?

* Am I willing to sign a blank piece of paper and turn it over to Him, thereby leaving it up to Him to write out His plan for my life?

* Life does not revolve around me!

* I love talking about Language Acquisition tools and helping others in learning a new language.

* It's amazing how God cares for His children...providing just what we need, when we need it...even if it's simply for our enjoyment. Returning from Cordoba, my friends and I decided to bus to Buenos Aires and then fly back to Santa Cruz. This meant we would be in Buenos Aires for about 4 or 5 hours before needing to head to the airport. We didn't know what we would do with our suitcases, but we REALLY wanted to see a bit of the city! As it turned out, there were a couple of people from Buenos Aires at the English Village. One of them rode with us on the bus, his wife picked us up at the terminal, they took us out for breakfast, and drove us to another lady's house...she then became our tour guide for the morning.

* Church Camp: Bolivian countryside is BEAUTIFUL!!! It was fun to get out of the city and spend time with friends! Teaching the children every morning was a challenge...next time I'll look for additional help so that I can enjoy a few of the adult services as well! I was encouraged by several children who have accepted Christ. Time will tell if the seed has fallen on good ground.

* Quito has everything...TGIFridays, Dunkin Doughnuts, Cinnabon, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, etc.

* What a great experience...workshops for educators and administrators combined with eating every chance we got!!! Couldn't have asked for more!

* This was a little bit too much traveling...hard to be away for so long and hard to get back into the swing of things (or get caught up) now that I'm back.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AbNnDNm5btmTp

All in all, the trips were wonderful and I'm so thankful that God allowed me to be a part of such wonderful opportunities...learning and being stretched all along the way! However, I am glad to be back home...I love being back at school and getting to daily be a part of the lives God has placed there! Below you'll find just a couple more pictures taken just today as I dressed up like a Pirate in order to read the book "How I Became a Pirate" to the 1st and 2nd grade classes! Thank you so much for your prayers! Enjoy!

Greetings from Cordoba, Argentina!

I apologize for not writing an update for several weeks now!!! Last week I was busy with the SAM annual conference...which was wonderful...but also very intense!!! Then once conference ended about 2:00, I quickly packed my bags and headed to the bus terminal along with Chelsea and Dana to catch the bus. After two nights on the bus (about 36 hours total travel time...30 hours actually on the bus)...we arrived in Cordoba on Sunday morning.

As the director of the English Village, I jumped in the role of administrating the course...doing a fair amount of the teaching...as well as dividing up those responsibilities! Now, at the end of the week, I'm finally beginning to feel like I'm on top of things...understand what's going on, see things running smoothly, and not feeling as tired as I was initially!

Tomorrow we will take a tour of the city of Cordoba (in English of course) with the students and then enjoy a lunch together in the park! After that, the students are free until Sunday night...which means we (the tutors are as well)!!! We plan to do a few tourist things in this area...if the weather is nice on Sunday, we will take a train ride to a nearby town in the mountains. I've heard it's very beautiful...so I'm excited about that! We'll see what the weather is like...they're calling for bad weather this weekend and today has been cool and rainy!

Next week will be another full week of classes...teaching the students methods that the can use in learning a foreign language! It is exciting for me to be able to teach and train these men and women who are feeling called by God to serve Him in other parts of the world! The two women in my tutor group feel led to serve God in Africa. Lord willing, one will be going with her family in July and the other will go next January! What a joy it is to play a small part in the great plan that God has for the lives of these brothers and sisters in Christ!

Please continue to pray for our time here, that it will be fruitful...not only that the students will learn English, but also that they will learn the important tools which we are teaching for grasping a new language! Pray too for strength and endurance for all of us as tutors (the sessions and schedule are intense at times)!

Well, I need to get to the next session! Thank you so much for your prayers and support!

Happy New Year!

I know, it's a little pathetic that we're over halfway through the month of January and I am just now writing my first blog entry for 2011! I'll do my best to catch you up to speed!

After spending 3 weeks in the States with my family for the holidays, I returned to Bolivia on January 8th. My time at home was wonderful, as usual! It was extremely relaxing and I especially enjoyed LOTS of quality time with my nephews and my parents (of course my sisters as well...wouldn't want them to feel left out...but now that they're having babies, that's who I REALLY go to see!) : ) I was also able to visit with a few friends and get caught up on the things God is doing in their lives.


I hit the ground running as soon as I got back to Santa Cruz as I arrived on Saturday and two days later started back to school. It has taken me the better part of the last couple of weeks to begin to feel like I'm getting caught up in several areas, although I still have a ways to go!

There are a few things coming up in the month of February for which I would appreciate your prayers! The first full week of February will be our annual SAM conference. There will be several visitors coming down from the States as well as SAM missionaries from other fields in South America. Please pray for the mission and each of the missionaries as we prepare for this conference. We have begun praying and meditating on God's word, seeking wisdom and direction as we explore possibilities for the future of South America Mission. It will be a more intense conference than we have had in the past! Immediately after conference, I will be traveling to Cordoba, Argentina to help in directing the English Village (EV). Some of you may remember when I participated in the EV last year. It is basically a language acquisition course for those from South America who are training to be missionaries in other parts of the world. I love being a part of this course and am excited to see how God will use this year's group of students as well as tutors! Obviously, because I will be participating in these events, I will not be able to be at school for about three weeks in a row! Fortunately, the woman who has been the elementary principal in the past is willing to fill in for me, but it's still a long time for me to be gone. Please pray for the teachers and students as they adjust to my absence.

I guess this about does it for now! Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support! They mean so much to me!

December 14, 2010

It's hard to believe that we're already only a week and a half away from Christmas!!! The semester is finishing up at school this Friday!!! Then...this coming Saturday, I'll be heading home for the holidays!!! As soon as I can get over this cold I have and finish up all that I have to do this week...I imagine that I'll be super excited about being with my family! As it is, I woke up this morning and lay in bed thinking about playing with and holding my nephews...as well as thinking about being with my parents at the beach...and all the other joys of being home during this time of the year!

This up-date contains mostly pictures...as I want to make sure that I get it posted today! I wanted to catch you up to speed on a few things that have been happening over the past couple of weeks! Last Thursday, we added a fourth roommate to our household...Emilee Dickman (sitting in the middle of the picture below). She has come to work at SCCLC until the end of the school year and then stick around and help out with teams until mid-July. She is a wonderful addition to our team and we are excited to have her here! She is a friend of Ally and Danielle's from New York state so they are particularly excited to see her and teach her the things that they have been learning...which is a good thing, since I'll be leaving them in charge of the house when I head to the states! Please pray for all three of them during this Holiday season as it is their first one away from home...and that isn't easy! I'm thankful that they'll be having a few supporters/friends visiting them!


This past Sunday, my church celebrated its 23rd anniversary!!! It was a beautiful celebration and a great reminder of all that God has done/accomplished and all He continues to do in/through that church! We praise Him for His faithfulness to our small congregation!!!

There were also a couple of activities that happened a little over a week ago...but since I never got around to up-dating my blog last week, I decided I would mention them in this post! One of these was that my friend's son, Marcos, graduated from high school! This is a huge milestone here in Bolivia and especially since God has placed the desire on his heart for him to continue studying through the university! Congratulations Marcos!!! We are all so proud of the young man that God is growing him to be! Please continue to lift him up in your prayers!

Also, that same weekend, I worked alongside my friends on SAM's Children's Ministry Team as we planned a Knight's Conference. This was a conference for boys, ages 10-13...teaching them to be men of honor. The boys seemed to have a great time learning about the armor of God and how it is applicable to their lives. Their fathers came and had lunch with them, then there was a session for fathers in the afternoon while we had one last session with the boys. After that there was "swordfighting" and other games on the lawn! I believe God will continue to use this conference in the lives of these boys as He grows them into leaders who desire to serve Him!


Thank you once again for your continued prayers for the ministry to which God has called me here in Bolivia. Thank you too for your prayers as I travel to the states on Saturday...as well as for the three weeks that I will be spending with my family! I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas! Through this busy time of the year, may you be constantly reminded of the TRUE reason for the season!

November 23, 2010

So, yet once again, I only got part of my blog done last week and then never got around to finishing it! I at least got pictures uploaded...but then the week got busy and I never got a chance to write anything to go along with them. I think the moral of my little story here is that I should begin to update my blog on Sunday afternoons as Mondays just fly by too quickly and don't leave me enough time to get it done!

Therefore...let me briefly recap on the last couple of weeks to catch you up to speed. First of all, a week ago Saturday, one of my roommates (Danielle, the one in the middle of the picture posted here) celebrated her first birthday in Bolivia. In order to make it a special one, we planned a surprise birthday party for her at the bowling alley...as well as pizza and cake at our house afterwards and then a serenade that night by the youth group from her church here. All in all, I think she had a wonderful time! I know the rest of us did!


On that same day, in the afternoon, my church had a baptism for 7 people...among them were 5 young people from Talita Cumi (a local children's home from which a large group of kids faithfully attend our church), and also a girl with her mother! It was an exciting time to see these people making a public profession of faith! Please pray that God will direct their steps and that they will continue to rely on Him as the Lord of their lives!


This past week we celebrated Thanksgiving together as a mission family! It was a very special time of eating lots and sharing with one another! One of the things that past through my mind more than once over the Thanksgiving week was how grateful I am to each one of you for your love and support (both through prayer and financial giving). It is such a comfort to know that you're continually praying for me and the work God is doing in Santa Cruz! THANK YOU!!! The rest of the long weekend, which we had off from school was full of various activities! It's amazing how busy I felt doing things...yet don't feel like I got very much accomplished! I'm not sure how that happened! Regardless, it was a restful time as well...I watched plenty of movies and worked on my cross-stitch when I could(maybe that's why I didn't seem to get much done!) As I'm putting up my Christmas decorations now...I'm reminded that the holidays are only a few weeks away! I've been given the blessing of going home for Christmas and New Years to spend the time off from school in the States with my family!!! I'm SO very excited! Although I will miss my friends here...I'm looking forward to seeing my family! I will head north in about 3 weeks! I can't wait!!!

November 9, 2010

Just so that you can understand a bit more about the day and life of the elementary school principal at SCCLC...

Monday morning, I administered a spelling test to a 5th grade student who has some special needs and is extremely hyperactive...just the same, I love the one on one time with him and it helps out his teacher. Upon leaving my office, he stuck his head back in the doorway and said, "God bless you, Miss!" All I could do was smile and chuckle a bit!

Then, at lunchtime, my roommate who is the 2nd grade teacher brought one of her students into the office so that we could have lunch together in the conference room. You see, as a behavior reward that she had established for him...he could earn a reward for having a certain number of stickers on his card. When she asked him what he thought a good reward would be...he said he'd like to have lunch with her...and Ms. Boyce...and the director of the school!!! Do you think he's a bit hungry for attention? Once we all got together in the conference room, sat down, and began eating...the child said, "So, tell me about your lives!" It was all we could do from cracking up!!!

The rest of the day was filled with addressing discipline issues and teaching in a couple of classrooms (part of a BUILD campaign...teaching students necessary tools that they can use in life to help build one another up...it's an anti-bullying campaign that we've developed!) After school I went home and prepared my exams for my CIET students...took a quick nap...had dinner with my roomies...then went to CIET, administered the exam, went home, and hopped immediately into bed!!! It was a full day, but an enjoyable one!!!

Oh the joys of being an administrator...thank you for your continued prayers for wisdom and strength as I confront daily challenges!

October 19, 2010

After a three week long visit to Bolivia, my friend Lisa Birzer and her daughter Danielle returned to the States. We enjoyed many fun things while they were here, including a quick trip to Samaipata with my roommates and two of the pastors from my church (in the picture above, the one in the front on the right is Dalmiro with whom the Birzers came to visit as well.) They also had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time with Dalmiro's family, particularly his sisters. In addition, I appreciated their help at school being willing to fill in wherever necessary and do just about anything! We don't have enough people like that floating around this year! It was a huge blessing to me!


On Friday night, October 15, I attended my good friend America's wedding. It will be the first of a few for her as she married a young man from North America so although they had a religious ceremony here...they will legally be married in the States in a few weeks. I am very happy for her although, I will miss her terribly when she leaves this weekend to go to live in the U.S. They will be living in Washington state...I told her that I couldn't believe she'd be living about as far away from Virginia as she could get! Regardless, I hope to find a way to get over to see her the next time that I am home on furlough.

I continue to greatly appreciate your prayers on my behalf and on behalf of those here (both Bolivians and other missionaries). Personally, I am feeling very tired and that is adding to an already stressful time at school...leaving me more irritable than usual, with little patience. I haven't had much time at home in the last few weeks so there are several things that I need to take care of there (replacing the gas tanks so that we'll have hot showers tomorrow, paying the phone bill so that they'll turn it back on, cleaning my room so that I can find things, etc.) Of course, there's also the car...once again giving me fits. To add to all of this, my body is showing signs of stress as well, such as a rather constant back pain that I've had for about the last month. I find a bit of relief in realizing that I'm not the only one feeling this tension...I know of several teachers at school who could use more encouragement right now too, including my roommates. I am sure there are others in my church and in SAM as well, but where I'm noticing most of the strain is at school. Please pray for our school, students, and staff, we have become very proactive in fighting certain negative behaviors (i.e. bullying) recently and I believe that Satan doesn't want to lose that foothold...so his way of trying to stop it is by discouraging the staff and (it appears) by putting extra energy in all of the students. I think as a whole we could use an extra boost of His strength and constant reminders of His grace! Thank you for joining us in laying these concerns before the throne of Him who can do all things, whose plan cannot be thwarted (Job 42:2)!

Viva Santa Cruz!!!

Well, I uploaded a few pictures to my blog last week and had planned to write an entry to go along with them...but I didn't get it written and I didn't even get the pictures actually posted! Sorry about that! Anyway...there are a few bits and pieces to share with you...

Two weeks ago my roommates and I had the pleasure of baby-sitting Noah Weigner (shown in the picture below with his mom). Noah's parents were celebrating their anniversary and asked us if we would take care of him for the weekend. All in all, he handled it quite well...and so did we! There was a minor bump in the road on Saturday afternoon when he was having a few gas issues...but other than that things went very smoothly!


Also that week, I had the pleasure of participating, along with the other SAM ladies, in a baby shower for a Bolivian woman from Cochabamba. Some other missionaries that we know who live there, knew the family and discovered that their son who is 2 years old was struggling with some health issues. Since the doctor's couldn't help him there in Cochabamba, due to finances, the missionary family called Drs. Toni and Placido Mercado, who work with SAM, asking them if they could do anything to help. The boy and his mother then came to Santa Cruz, began living with the Mercados, and Placido took care of the necessary surgery. As there were some unexpected complications, the mother found herself still in the city when it came time for the birth of her second child. So, given that she didn't have any resources with her, Toni and her family organized a baby shower and invited all of us to attend! The woman was so moved that she cried! The mother and both of her children seem to be doing quite well; however, you can continue to pray for their salvation and the ministry that the Mercados have to this family!


Then, of course, on September 22...a couple of days before the actual anniversary of Santa Cruz, the school celebrated with lots of typical games, stories, food, and music. It was LOTS of fun!!! Below, you can check out a couple of pictures of that special day!



On September 23, Lisa and Danielle Birzer arrived from my home church in Abingdon, VA. Dalmiro (one of my pastors who spent a year as an intern at my church in Abingdon) and I, quickly went to work showing them the sights and enjoying in the many festivities around the city. More pictures to come soon of Lisa and Danielle's visit! Last Wednesday, they went to spend a week in Portachuelo, when they return this coming Wednesday to Santa Cruz...they will be here with us until October 15.

Also, this past weekend we celebrated my roommate Ally's first birthday in Bolivia! Danielle and I threw a party for her here at the house...and although she knew we were planning something...she didn't know what...so it was a fun surprise! I think she had a special weekend!


Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support! It's been a busy few weeks and I imagine that it will stay that way until Lisa and Danielle return to the states. Please pray specifically for strength and patience during this time! Thank you once again!

September 21, 2010

Here we are...off to a running start this week! This past weekend, I was taking care of my friends' baby as they went to Samaipata for their anniversary. With the exception of a few fussy hours on Saturday afternoon due to gas...he was a very happy and content baby. Overall it was a lot of fun to have him around...although, I will say, I think I ended the weekend about as tired as I started it!

This week we have many activities going on for the bicentennial celebration of Santa Cruz. Tomorrow, Wednesday, the Spanish department has many activities planned including games, dramas, speakers, food, etc. There are other classes that have special things planned as well! On Thursday morning, my friend Lisa Birzer and her daughter Danielle arrive from the United States. They will be here visiting and working alongside of us for a couple of weeks. Also on Thursday, I hope to attend a special program that the Talita Cumi orphanage will be hosting to celebrate this exciting day! Then of course, Friday, September 24, will be the actual bicentennial of Santa Cruz and there will be many more activities going on in the city! Please be sure to check my blog up-date again next week for pictures of these special events!

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support of the work that God is doing through me here! May God bless you for your faithfulness to Him!

September 13, 2010

It's hard to believe that we are already halfway through September! The days seem to quickly pass by...turning into weeks...etc. At the school, we're already 5 weeks into the first quarter! Each day is a learning experience for me as elementary school principal. I continue to grow in understanding of how to discipline children, interact with parents, train teachers, etc. Of course, frequently something new pops up and I go seeking advice from our current director who worked for many years as an elementary principal in Florida. In general, I'm really enjoying this new responsibility...although it doesn't come without trials either! I covet your prayers as I seek God's wisdom in handling various situations daily.

Aside from school activities, I continue to be active in my church ministry. I enjoy playing the keyboard and singing on the worship team...as well as teaching in various Sunday school classes. This past Sunday, I taught the youth Sunday school class for the first time. It was a lot of fun and stretching for my Spanish ability!

I'm looking forward to a few different visitors in the coming weeks. This weekend, I will be babysitting a 7 month old baby whose parents are fellow SAM missionaries. They are going away for the weekend for their anniversary and asked me to take care of their son! I'm SUPER excited about it...call it the "AUNT" instinct in me! Also, at the end of this month, on September 23, I'm expecting Lisa Birzer and her daughter Danielle. They are friends of mine from Abingdon Bible Church. It will be a joy to show them my various ministries here and allow them to participate in those as well.


Finally...September 24th marks the 200th anniversary of Santa Cruz! Needless to say...the city is already getting pumped up for the activities that will occur that weekend! I bought a t-shirt last weekend to commemorate the occasion and look forward to joining in on the festivities as well! Thank you once again for your faithful prayers for the city of Santa Cruz and the work God is doing here through me! May He bless you for your faithfulness to Him!

Finally Getting Into a Routine...

All in all it was a great experience having the Westminster Team here in Bolivia. They were such an encouragement to me, my ministry, and many other people here!


After the team left...I jumped immediately into my responsibilities as Elementary School Principal at the Santa Cruz Christian Learning Center (the school where I've been teaching for the past several years. So far I'm really enjoying the new role; however, it doesn't come without challenges! Please pray for patience and wisdom in dealing with daily discipline issues and parental suggestions/problems. As well as in working with and training many of the new teachers that we have in the elementary staff. Many days I wish I could clone myself in order for there to be two of me...one supporting the teachers and one dealing with students/parents!



Most of my time has been spent at school...as I'm now there in a full-time capacity. Yet, as we get further into the school year and my roommates begin to feel a bit more comfortable branching out on their own in the evenings...I find that I'm able to begin getting involved once again in a few of my additional ministries. Each time there is a 5th Sunday of the month, my church organizes mission's services. As this past Sunday was the 5th Sunday...I was able to take part in planning and preparing for that. In the picture below, you'll find several other friends of mine who were playing various roles in the morning service.


Finally, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my grandfather, Pick Pickles, who celebrates 105 years of life this weekend! He is such a pleasure to be around as he continues to remain young at heart! I wish him a day surrounded by those who love him in addition to many cards and other greetings (as I know he thoroughly enjoys those as well)! (Picture below was taken while I was in the states this past June.)


Thank you once again for your continued support and prayers! As I feel like I'm finally getting back into a routine...I hope to begin up-dating my blog again on a weekly basis...so look for the up-dates on Mondays! As you may have noticed, there's also a new look to my blog...that's thanks to my friend Amy Mozombite (SAM missionary) who's working hard to keep me up-to-date in current trends!

Going Home

The last few days of the Westminster team's time in Bolivia were full of activity! We finished VBS on Friday by inviting the parents to come and hear what the children had learned. It appears that everyone had a wonderful time and learned a great deal about how to deepen their relationship with the Lord. After VBS ended, the team enjoyed a friendly game of soccer with some of the youth from the church we visited on Thursday night. After soccer, we then took a trip to the center of the city and spent the next several hours souvenir shopping and eating in a cafe downtown. Dinner was then shared at the Strebig home (my SAM field director and his family) and consisted of a variety of typical snacks. We had a wonderful and just enjoyed being together.

Saturday was a long and action packed day! We began the day with a quick trip to a local orphanage where we had time to share a bit with the children and learn about how the orphanage is run. Then, we returned to the mission housing in order to have a time of debriefing and sharing together. I was encouraged to hear the things that the team had learned and the things that God taught them throughout this week. The rest of the afternoon was filled with fun activities...some went go-cart racing, others to get manicures, then some went to the movies while others went downtown again. We wrapped things up with dinner at a local steak restaurant then headed back to the mission housing to pack and take off for the airport. As far as I know the plane took off on time!

I just received word this morning that the team arrived safely in Miami and were making their way around the airport. I'm so thankful for the time that I had with them this past week. They are a WONDERFUL group of teenagers and it was so special to get to know them/share these experiences with them. The adult leaders on the trip were also a huge encouragement and support to me/the ministry happening here. I think I'm already looking forward to the next Westminster team!!! Thank you so much for your prayers and support of these young people this week!

Full Steam Ahead

This post is being created by Laura Boyce's mother to let parents and friends of the Westminster team know that everyone is doing very well, working hard and completely exhausted. As I write, those that chose to are going up on SAMAir flights over the city of Santa Cruz.

On Tuesday, as they returned from the visit to the Ayore community, they encountered a blockade (an out-of-control strike). They were unable to take the bridge across the river and after maneuvering on back roads and over the river in a barge, they got back to Santa Cruz. A one hour car ride turned into five hours! They are learning why missionaries have to be flexible.

This evening (Thursday) they will sharing their faith in a mid-week service. They hope to be able to attend a party with another team from the US that is also working in the area.

VBS is going very well with about 50 children in attendance. Friday they will end a few minutes early. They have invited the parents of the attendees to join them for a program and snack lunch.

Positive comments abound about how great the youth are and how well they work together. I am sure that Laura and/or Christopher could improve this note. Laura is hoping to have the Internet installed at her house today. Maybe one of them will be able to update this post.

Greetings from Bolivia. Just a report from the Westminster team. This post is coming from Christopher(from North Carolina) to those of you who might visit Laura's blog site while we are on the trip. So far, things have been great. Temperatures are hovering around the 70's with wonderful sunshine. The group had a good flight down with only minor delay to skirt around Tropical Storm Bonnie with a stop in West Palm Beach to refuel and to wait for Bonnie to move out a little over the Gulf. We arrived in MIA and then left shortly there after for our final destination to Santa Cruz. Since our landing, we have been shopping at the supermarket, market, and enjoyed a Saturday night Youth Night which was a good experience for the entire team. Currently we are preparing for our departure to Posa Verde out in the Ayore area. We will be out there a couple of days and will report back then. We hope all is well. Thanks for your continued prayer and thoughts.

July 23, 2010

Greetings once again from Bolivia! After spending a little over a month in the states with many of you, I have now returned to Santa Cruz. I had great plans of updating my blog this week and sharing pictures of my trip...but there just hasn't been time! My new roommate, Allison, and I arrived to the city last Saturday morning and immediately moved in with my friend Virginia Swartzendruber, because our house wasn't ready for us. While invading Virginia's space, I spent several days at school giving English tests for incoming students and getting settled into my new office! Finally, after a week of that...Allison and I were able to move into our house today! On top of that, a team from my parents church arrives TONIGHT...well really about 1:30 AM as their flight was delayed! I don't have much time now, but I will be updating my blog frequently this week with news on the team's whereabouts and activities! Thank you so much for your prayers on our behalf!