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!

June 13, 2010

Surprise! For those of you who haven't heard yet...I'm actually in the United States!!! I kept it a secret as my father didn't know I was coming home. We (the rest of the family and I) wanted to surprise him when I showed up in time for his retirement party last Friday. Therefore, we just decided to let all of you know...after the party was over so that there would be no chance in someone accidentally telling my father! Our hard work paid off! My dad was completely surprised! While my sisters walked up the driveway (surprising him a bit anyway as he didn't know my older sister and her husband were coming either)...I snuck in the back door and came back out the front onto the front porch where they were standing. I began talking and he responded as if it were nothing...then when he turned around and it registered that it was ME...he just couldn't believe it! So much fun!

This quick trip home is of multiple blessings...as if it weren't enough that I actually got to be here for all of the family activities celebrating my dad's life and his accomplishments...I also get to spend time with my adorable nephews (notice the plural...my sister, Emily, gave birth to her second child on June 2...Ian Christopher Marks...weighing 8 pounds, 21 inches)...and of course, I always enjoy the chance to get caught up with as many of you as possible! As I will only be able to stay in the states for about a month this time...I don't think I'll have time to travel outside of Virginia and North Carolina. However, if you happen to be in one of these two states, drop me an email or call my parents to track me down and I'll do my best to work you into my schedule! Of course...in general, I'd just enjoy a phone call as well since it doesn't cost as much as an international phone call would!


Tomorrow...I'll be going to the mountains with the family...we'll be spending the week there...then I'll be spending a few days in Abingdon, VA before making my way back towards Franklin. Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers! I appreciate them so much...and for the great blessing of having a few quick weeks here with family and many of you! God is good...all the time!

June 2, 2010

Hello there friends and family! I apologize for not up-dating my blog recently...things have been a bit hectic here!!!

Last week, we finished the school year with a bang! There were cookouts to celebrate the end of the year, graduation, cleaning up classrooms, teacher luncheon...and to really end with a bang, I stepped into the Elementary Principal's position by leading a meeting for all of the rising 4th grade parents to hopefully begin resolving some of the MAJOR discipline issues that have occurred in that classroom so far. Obviously, it was a very full week!!!

This week hasn't been as full...although it still has plenty of action! My roommate, Chelsea, will be leaving on Friday morning...so we've had plenty of outings and activities planned (most of them including FOOD) for this week to help her to have a good send-off!!! I should also be working on packing up the house...as I need to have my things stored in one of the rooms next week when I move out so that the other family can begin moving in. I will leave my things store here in one of the bedrooms until the other house is fixed up and I can move into it (which will hopefully be in the middle of July)!!!

I also got some VERY exciting news yesterday!!! Allison Lee, one of the new teachers coming down who is going to move in with me...got permission from SAM yesterday to go ahead and buy her tickets to come down!!! She will arrive in the middle of July at the same time that I am moving into the new house!!! Praise the Lord for allowing her to take this next step!!! Please continue to pray for the rest of the financial support that she needs to be fully supported as well as the support that several other teachers still need. Speaking of teachers...we also need a couple of elementary teachers yet and some junior high/high school teachers. We would also appreciate your prayers for those specific needs!!!

Well, I have a full day planned, so I should keep this up-date short. Thank you so much for your interest and prayers in the work that God is doing here in Santa Cruz.