Bus strike or no bus strike FH git's er done! The buses aren't running in Sucre so we took taxi's and a truck. Riding in the back of the truck was mucho fun. Yesterday was the easiest day of this trip. Charlotte and her gang taught more sewing, Tom made a home visit to one of his sponsored children and the rest of us cleaned rocks off the new soccer field.
The farewell dinner was last night. Awesome steaks, that cheesy rice stuff that everyone but Marv likes so much. Of course potatoes, you don't eat a meal in Bolivia without potatoes.
The weather was terrible the week before our arrival. Cold, rain and wind. It's been beautiful during our visit. However, we awoke this morning to low clouds. This is a problem because the Sucre airport has no radar. If they can't see, they dont fly. If they don't fly it's a 15 hour bus trip to La Paz to catch tomorrows flight home.
The team prayed, the Lord answered and the clouds rose. We hugged everyone goodbye at the airport, cried some and then flew out of Sucre. So .... I'm writing this from La Paz. Oscar Montes, the Bolivia National Director met us for lunch. Such a blessing to spend time with him and hear what God is doing through FH. After lunch it was off to shopping.
The bus leaves the hotel at 3:30 AM for the airport tomorrow. Ouch!
Hasta mañana.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
This Is Not Your Typical Dance School
Those words introduced us to the new HCB dance school that FH is sponsoring. It's not your typical dance school because it's purpose is to use dance to teach students that they can have a future, to learn and practice Biblical principles to prepare for that future and to introduce them to the One who wants to give us all a future.
You could use that statement for everything FH does. Nothing they do is typical. It's not your typical soccer school, sewing class, library, family training center etc. All of it is designed in the most creative ways to fix the root causes of poverty.
Speaking of poverty, today was a day the team saw it up close, home visit day. On this day we visit the homes of our sponsored children. It's awesome and heart breaking at the same time. You don't need Sally Struthers crying all over your television set to get you care about the poor on this day.
On home visit day you see it, smell it and feel it. It's not theoretical. It has a name and a face. It's a face you've learned to love which makes it all the harder. But, it's just where Jesus is in HCB. It's where He's always been ,in the middle of the suffering. It's a privilege to be here with Him. Pray for the families of Horno Ckasa B. Pray God restores their community and that by His power they understand the height, breadth and width of His love.
Pray for the team that we are His hands tomorrow.
One more prayer request, pray for our transportation to and from the community tomorrow (Tuesday), there is a bus strike and word has it that no vehicles may be allowed on the streets. Maybe we'll just have to go for ice cream.
You could use that statement for everything FH does. Nothing they do is typical. It's not your typical soccer school, sewing class, library, family training center etc. All of it is designed in the most creative ways to fix the root causes of poverty.
Speaking of poverty, today was a day the team saw it up close, home visit day. On this day we visit the homes of our sponsored children. It's awesome and heart breaking at the same time. You don't need Sally Struthers crying all over your television set to get you care about the poor on this day.
On home visit day you see it, smell it and feel it. It's not theoretical. It has a name and a face. It's a face you've learned to love which makes it all the harder. But, it's just where Jesus is in HCB. It's where He's always been ,in the middle of the suffering. It's a privilege to be here with Him. Pray for the families of Horno Ckasa B. Pray God restores their community and that by His power they understand the height, breadth and width of His love.
Pray for the team that we are His hands tomorrow.
One more prayer request, pray for our transportation to and from the community tomorrow (Tuesday), there is a bus strike and word has it that no vehicles may be allowed on the streets. Maybe we'll just have to go for ice cream.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Since We Can't Sew, We'll Just Have To Eat Ice Cream
Its the end if another amazing day in Horno Ckasa B, Bolivia. As I told you in my last post we spent the past 24 hrs. or so at a youth retreat in yatola, a beautiful tree covered resort area about half an hour outside Sucre.
If you've been to CIY you would have right at home. Picture CIY in spanish with 120 students. We sang many of the songs that we do in the US, and all the jovenes ( students) jumped up and down, just like CIY.
The MCC team played a respectable game of soccer against the Bolivianos, only losing by 2 points. Thanks FH staffer John Warden for some great goal tending. For those who were part of the humiliating loss on the last trip, this is sort of a vindication.
Once again, as we see almost every trip, God has been at work at MCC and HCB to bring about transformation. About a year ago God put an idea in Charlotte's mind to train the women in the community to sew. This would allow them to sew for themselves but also teach them a skill they could use to make money for their families.
At the same time last year some of the women in the community asked FH if they could somehow start a sewing class for the community. Neither the Americanos or Bolivianos knew God was working in us both,at the same with the same idea.
Last July, Marina was amazed at God's grace when MCC asked about getting some sewing machines for the community.
The machines are here and we start classes tomorrow. Well, I shouldn't say we, some of us know nothing about sewing. So.....the sewer's are going to sew and the rest of us are going to get ice cream at the park. And they ignorance is not of value!
There are home visits, training for the MCC team on world views, sewing classes, and of course, ice cream.
Pray for Horno Ckasa B, that God would be glorified here liberate this community with freedom of Christ.
If it wasn't midnight i'd tell you about the inagural soccer school practice with the professional national Bolivian team player, the incredible time with Shekina church tonight, April's talk to the students that has made her world famous (because it impacted the students so much) and the carnival where Scottie was the community target for water balloons.
So much to tell, so little time. Thanks again for all your support, we couldn't be here without it.
If you've been to CIY you would have right at home. Picture CIY in spanish with 120 students. We sang many of the songs that we do in the US, and all the jovenes ( students) jumped up and down, just like CIY.
The MCC team played a respectable game of soccer against the Bolivianos, only losing by 2 points. Thanks FH staffer John Warden for some great goal tending. For those who were part of the humiliating loss on the last trip, this is sort of a vindication.
Once again, as we see almost every trip, God has been at work at MCC and HCB to bring about transformation. About a year ago God put an idea in Charlotte's mind to train the women in the community to sew. This would allow them to sew for themselves but also teach them a skill they could use to make money for their families.
At the same time last year some of the women in the community asked FH if they could somehow start a sewing class for the community. Neither the Americanos or Bolivianos knew God was working in us both,at the same with the same idea.
Last July, Marina was amazed at God's grace when MCC asked about getting some sewing machines for the community.
The machines are here and we start classes tomorrow. Well, I shouldn't say we, some of us know nothing about sewing. So.....the sewer's are going to sew and the rest of us are going to get ice cream at the park. And they ignorance is not of value!
There are home visits, training for the MCC team on world views, sewing classes, and of course, ice cream.
Pray for Horno Ckasa B, that God would be glorified here liberate this community with freedom of Christ.
If it wasn't midnight i'd tell you about the inagural soccer school practice with the professional national Bolivian team player, the incredible time with Shekina church tonight, April's talk to the students that has made her world famous (because it impacted the students so much) and the carnival where Scottie was the community target for water balloons.
So much to tell, so little time. Thanks again for all your support, we couldn't be here without it.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Can't Go Wrong With Nut - Del Flan
For those of you who are wondering, we made it to Sucre today. The flights were fine, the luggage all arrived with us and we even had time for some Nut-Del flan tonight.
Its only day one in Bolivia and we have already had breakfast and lunch with Joel and Celeste Mercado in La Paz, played with kids in Horno Ckasa, played with staff in Horno Ckasa, ate some great Bolivian pizza and pastries, shared with Marina, Zulema and the FH staff about the progress in HCB....and....worshipped at an awesome church service.
Tomorrow we play soccer with some kids, start sewing classes in the neighborhood and then head out to a youth retreat in the country. We are staying at the retreat tomorrow night so may not be able to post for a day or two.
Thanks for all the prayers back home, He is listening.
Its only day one in Bolivia and we have already had breakfast and lunch with Joel and Celeste Mercado in La Paz, played with kids in Horno Ckasa, played with staff in Horno Ckasa, ate some great Bolivian pizza and pastries, shared with Marina, Zulema and the FH staff about the progress in HCB....and....worshipped at an awesome church service.
Tomorrow we play soccer with some kids, start sewing classes in the neighborhood and then head out to a youth retreat in the country. We are staying at the retreat tomorrow night so may not be able to post for a day or two.
Thanks for all the prayers back home, He is listening.
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