Saturday Post -- 13/02/16

Amanda's eyesight's bad enough as it is.

Over the last couple of weeks, we've been busier than Donald Trump's hairdresser, so much so that last Saturday, for the first time in the history of this blog, we completely forgot to post anything (as opposed to home leave periods, or those weekends when we serve notice seven days earlier that we'll be venturing to some exotic destination -- or Santa Cruz). 

As a result, in spite of our efforts to give our blog-posts a more thematic feel in recent months, this weekend's effort will very much be in the tried-and-trusted mold of I-did-this-and-she-did-that-and-no-one-died.

The first of these last two weeks was exhausting, firstly because we were up late every night, and secondly because when we did finally rest our weary heads, we kept getting that nightmare about showing up for a high school exam late/unprepared/sans vêtements. Except for the first time in years there was some experiential basis, as a not-altogether-untricky exam was awaiting us at week's end.

All of which is attributable to the youth training week, which we mentioned last time out, with the church looking to re-calibrate the structure and methodology of the youth work, bringing it more in line with the AWANA (Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed) programme we run for children with its focus on Bible memorisation. It was an interesting course, but as intensive as it was interactive; here, rather than meet, say, once a week for five weeks, people prefer to do such courses quickly and efficiently over five weeknights (remember the Marriage Course)? 

In the end, we just about managed to scrape a pass (fully clothed, too) in the leadership exam, though the majority failed. Mercifully, there was a re-sit a few days later, by the end of which all eleven candidates got the seal of approval.

Ah yes, the old favourite of, er, smacking a ball around with balloon-stuffed
pillows.

After something of a dry January, rainy season has lived up to its billing a little more in the last couple of weeks; the storms have been heavy if intermittent, but much surface water remains, meaning mosquitoes are an ever-present nuisance (particularly, and most annoyingly, by our front door). Thankfully, but for a lunchtime downpour, the rain kept well away for last Saturday's annual Carnaval social event for the young people at the lake, which featured testimonies, the usual water-based games, and plenty of opportunities to demonstrate John 13:35 in action. 

That was an all-day affair, capped off with the exam that evening. Sunday, then, presented an ideal opportunity to finally put our feet up...except that we'd organised a Super Bowl party. We went to the lengths of borrowing the church projector for the occasion, rendering the thudding anti-climax all the more massive.

Cam Newton, in happier times (i.e., the pre-game warmup).

We had just about managed to get our house in order again by the time Thursday morning arrived with Edwin Fernández in tow. Avid readers will remember that Edwin works for Langham Preaching here in Bolivia, and Casa Cunningham is base-camp for what is his second follow-up visit since the initial course back in June. There is a lot to be encouraged by here; the fact that he has made the trip so frequently is symptomatic of Langham's optimism about the way things have progressed in Trinidad. Indeed, at the curtain-raising meal on Thursday with all the participants, Edwin presented us with a veritable bookshelf of written material (good books are very hard to come by here), adding that Langham Central was greatly encouraged by the Trinidad group's dedication, and the books were a gesture of gratitude.

Edwin's visits are always greatly encouraging (you might as well call him Barnabas) and he has even been kind enough to make himself available to the staff at Fundación Totaí, most obviously at the morning devotions. We're looking forward to what he has to say the rest of the weekend, be that on Sunday morning, Saturday evening with the youth, or today in our Langham workshop.

I should leave it there before I cause a renewed outbreak of exam nightmares.

Prayer

• Sam is growing quickly and his health remains robust, however, mosquito season brings great potential for complications. Pray for protection there.
• This Wednesday and Thursday, FT is holding two consecutive mornings of staff meetings, with the goal of better equipping our staff for the year ahead and helping newer members of the personnel understand better FT's mission and vision. Pray that these would go well.
• Pray for wisdom for Amanda and the other members of FT's board as they grapple with some financial restraints right now.

Praise

• That everyone passed the dreaded exam! Most were mature adults (you have to be at least 21 to serve as a leader in the new programme), including several who are getting involved in youth ministry for the first time this year. Exciting stuff.
• For safety, fellowship and fun last Saturday at the lake.
• For the great encouragement of Edwin's visit.

¡Que Dios les bendiga!

Craig & Amanda