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Oh the Opportunities!
Wow, what a whirlwind these last two months have been! It seems like we can hardly keep up with God. In the last four and a half years of mission work, we’ve never seen God moving things so quickly or experienced doors open up so widely in order for His work to go forward. The highlands project has really taken off and we are truly privileged to be a part!
Here are some snapshots those experiences…
All our visa paperwork has come through! Due to a divinely orchestrated contact, we were able to finish up and turn in all of our residency paperwork in record time. Not long afterward, we had our Bolivian ID cards and were off to get our driver’s licenses. It only took 8 trips down to the Automobile Club at the other end of the city to finally get them. We had many good laughs as God provided written tests in English, but so sorely translated that we almost wish we’d taken them in Spanish! Then there were those two weeks where we took daily trips into the center of the city to complete all the paperwork requirements for Samson’s transfer of ownership. But in the end, everything worked itself out!
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Next came the work on Samson. While the Land Cruiser was running and driving, many things still needed changing and adjusting. In addition to fixing the jeep with parts available here in La Paz, DJ ordered many more things from the States. Also, several generous donors that DJ met on the online Land Cruiser forum donated many extremely useful items. In June, Jason Anders joined us for two weeks, bringing those parts and tools. Jason was a big blessing, helping install the parts and traveling with us on our first trips into the mountains.
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Speaking of those trips, we have just begun the next phase of our projection for the first year here in the highlands. This next phase will be focused on investigating the needs of the people. This means we will likely be traveling a lot in the near future, exploring the plateau and the high mountain regions of Bolivia. Please pray for safety and guidance as we set off on this next step.
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I was blessed to be able to attend a teacher’s conference near Cochabamba for a week in June. A group from Minnesota came down, volunteering with Mano a Mano (a local Foundation we coordinate with), to share new teaching methods with a group of 30-40 local teachers. I spent most of the week translating, and the time spent observing in various classes expanded my understanding of the Bolivian educational system. I hope to be part of many more workshops, expanding the training to the teachers here in the highlands.
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Translating for Jackie, teaching the teachers about mental maps - ways of organizing thoughts (left).
A student uses the bubble map (right).
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The opportunities for ministry have surprised us time and again. We are part of a small group Bible study that meets weekly. There are at least four non-Christians attending regularly in addition to those leading and hosting from our church. Also, a spiritual door has opened with our recently widowed, elderly neighbor who I have the privilege of praying with every day (at her request). Other opportunities like starting English classes with another neighbor and not-so-coincidentally meeting a girl down the street who’s looking for more in life have just added to the excitement. God truly has a work for each of us right where He places us. It’s not tomorrow or next month, it’s now that God has something for you to do, someone in whose life God, through you, can make an eternal difference. Working for God is never boring! Why not ask Him what mission He has for you today?
To quote one of my favorite missionaries, Eileen, “Chin up, nose down!”
Jodi & DJ
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