Saturday Post -- 02/02/13

First up today, some pictures taken yesterday of the house, which, like their subject, have been a while in coming. 

The new entrance-way being added to the front of the house.

The kitchen, post-tiling, pre-fitting. No idea what our friend in the baseball
cap is up to.

A view from upstairs, outside the large window.

Unfortunately, the project has been beset for some time by a chronic lack of workers. People in the Beni region have something of a national reputation for sloth, and the traditional Christmas/January twilight zone has seen our contractor struggle to assemble enough guys to make headway.

Amanda and I hadn’t initially been too concerned about deadlines, but with our first visitors for the year – my parents – arriving in mid-April, we began to get a little anxious. So I spoke with the project manager a few weeks ago and, voila, the last couple of weeks have seen a major increase in workers and a hastening in progress. Indeed, it was nigh-on impossible to take pictures yesterday without workers in them.

More recently, we’ve put pen to ink on a couple of important contracts for the installation of the kitchen and security fencing – a necessary evil in this culture. Hopefully we’ll be able to report a moving-in date sooner rather than later.

One date we can point to with certainty is the official start of the school year this Monday coming. Well, theoretically at least. Because of course, here in Bolivia, and indeed throughout Latin America, there’s an unwritten rule that nothing really gets going till that granddaddy of all festivals, Carnavál, is out the way. This year’s celebration takes place relatively early – the 11^th and 12^th of February – and so it is fair to say that this week will be something of a write-off. Besides, many schools don’t even have their timetables in place by the time they return from the holidays. However, at least it’ll be out of the way fairly soon and my FT Education colleagues and I can begin the year’s R.E. teaching by mid-February (Carnavál can fall as late as early March, virtually wiping out a month of classes).

At the Foundation this week the main focus has been preparing for the latest surgical campaign, taking place next week in our operating theatres. Once again, we’ll be assisted by visiting ENT surgeons from Paraguay, who have brought a really positive attitude to the place in their recent visits. Like the Germans, Amanda doesn’t tend to get involved in campaigns these days, but she will again make an indirect contribution by taking sole charge of the audiology wheel in the absence of her colleague, Odalys. Indeed, Odalys has agreed to take on the role of nurse-in-charge at FT, meaning Amanda will be increasingly on her own.

Not so in the youth work, where we have both been involved with the youth committee in getting ready for the new year, which kicks off this evening, with just one ‘normal’ Saturday before next week’s traditional Carnavál extravaganza, which promises to be bigger, better and significantly wetter than anything we’ve done yet. More on that next week.

Prayer

• Since writing this entry yesterday afternoon, something of an emergency has arisen. On a shopping excursion, Amanda misplaced her wallet and turned around a few seconds later only to discover that said wallet had disappeared. Thankfully, I had her main bank card but all the rest of her major Canadian, British and Bolivian cards were all in there. So we need prayer, firstly, that a kind soul out there would return the wallet to us. And secondly, if that doesn't happen, that the road to replacing these cards is a smooth one, particularly here in Bolivia. As mentioned in the last couple of posts, we're in the process of renewing our visas. Once you have your visa, you are then expected to apply for a new I.D. card, which reflects your new visa dates. In other words, we are now so close to applying for our new I.D. cards that for Amanda to be asked to apply for a replacement for her current card would be pretty preposterous -- but stranger things have happened to us here. So please pray for understanding from the authorities. 
• For safety for patients and energy for staff during next week’s surgical campaign.
• For FT staff as the school year begins and for preparation of the hearts of those children and young people who will hear the Good News in their classrooms this year.
• For the new year at youth group, that the Lord would equip us to raise up a generation of disciples. 

Praise

• For an increased pace, after a long period of relative inactivity, in our building project.
• For the relative freedom we enjoy here in Bolivia to teach the Word of God in schools. 

¡Que Dios les bendiga!

Craig & Amanda

Saturday Post -- 21/04/2012

Hello again... it's Amanda!!!! Craig has quite the busy weekend in front of him, so I have offered to write the blog this week. This probably means fewer clever references, less humour, and a lot more "..." everywhere. I generally tend to type as I would speak or think... and there are very rarely full stops in my mind... just one long rambling idea, that's connected to another long rambling idea. I actually had a friend once tell me that I had to start using paragraphs in my e-mails because she couldn't follow my train of thought. If there are not a lot of "..." in this post, it means Craig has edited them out.

Moving on to a new paragraph then... I have had lots of comments about our new baby girl Pinky this week. Firstly, I would have chosen to spell it "Pinkie" because I like the "ie" better than the "y", but as Craig and I hadn't discussed this and he went and posted it last week with a "y", there is nothing I can do about it. It is true for my own name as well... if I ever allowed anyone to call me Mandie... I would want it with an "ie", not a "y". But no one is allowed to call me Mandie. Anyways, Pinky has had a rough week... poor girl has been sick. She apparently got bitten by something... possibly a snake or poisonous bug and has been running a fever all week and broke out in a red rash for three days. She's seen the vet three times and has to go back today for a checkup. She is still not eating well... and I am essentially sticking the food in her mouth, though we think she's more active this morning... she still has a fever though. The vet said it's because the venom is still in her system. But on the other hand... the two of us (me and Pinky), walked all the way from the vet's to the bank (7-8 blocks) and she was amazing. I have never had a dog walk next to me, well, ever... keeping up with me, never pulling the lead, perfectly content just to walk with me. She was awesome!!! She loves trips in the car and playing with the other dogs... she's so cute. 

Well, I shall now move on as some people might not think this information is important. I would like all of you to know that we have still managed to keep working effectively in ministry despite the appearance of our new baby girl Pinky... so don't get worried. I do sometimes have to take my work outside and look up frequently wondering, "Has she peed yet?". I know Craig has taught all his English and Religious Studies classes this week... and the classes at the local school have been extended another 20 minutes. Apparently all the classes got let out 45 minutes early this Friday for the funeral of the mother of one of the teachers... all the classes except Craig's, who wouldn't tolerate such laziness. I bet they don't like him too much... hehehe. In the Biblical Application section of the English classes we looked at the Trinity this week... and I learnt a new English work "triune". Okay, I've probably heard it before... but it is definitely not a popular English word. I learnt the Spanish equivalent too... "trino". Probably not going to use that any time soon either... 

Paragraph 4... I know what I did this week a whole lot better though, so let's focus on that, shall we... firstly, the Women's Group met again on Tuesday night and that was really encouraging. We were talking about the goals that the Bible gives to us as Christians... and we were talking about how we are called to not be ashamed of the gospel. One woman, who is a new Christian, talked about how its hard for her to share her new faith with her Catholic family because they harass her constantly and she doesn't have all the answers to give back to them. They were making her feel bad for eating red meat over Easter and she was trying to explain the difference between traditions for tradition's sake and how what God really want for us is to live without sinning, and she used the example of not fighting amongst themselves. The reply she got from her sister was essentially that she has no idea where she gets these ideas from because the Bible clearly says not to eat red meat and doesn't say anything about not fighting with each other! So we as a group had the chance to encourage her in her attempts to witness to her family. We emphasised the importance of reading our Bibles so that we know what it says... and we also emphasised that she's not the only one to have experienced that. We have all let opportunities to share our faith pass us by, or not had an answer to someone's criticism. 

It actually made me think about how much easier to is for me as a "missionary" here... I have this label that I can't get rid of or ignore. I am quite blatantly a Christian, openly stating that my goal here is to share the gospel with whomever I can. But the truth is, when I didn't have this label "missionary" hanging over me, I wasn't nearly so open about my faith. My faith was real and important, but I can't even remember all the times I let opportunities slide by me in the two years I worked at the doctor's office in Scotland... and it had me wondering what I would be like if I went back to that situation now without my missionary label to break the ice for me. Do I really feel more passionate about the gospel now or is it just because it is easier here? I would like to think I have changed... but I want to remember this thought as a challenge to myself when we do go home.

Moving on... I was able to have a really great chat with one of the nurses this week. I learnt a lot more about her and shared my vision for the future ministry here as well. She is not a believer, but she sees the difference in the Foundation as a Christian organisation versus the state run hospitals here and that means a lot to her. Working in Audiology gives me a good metaphor to share with people the importance of the gospel... I sometimes say something along the lines of, "What's the point of giving someone a hearing aid and helping them hear, if we're not then telling them something of value to listen to?" In reality, their hearing aid is not going to much good to them after death. At times, I feel this particular nurse is someone who agrees with you verbally in a conversation without actually stopping and thinking if they really agree with you, however, I was encouraged to have had this conversation.

And on Friday afternoon I made a home visit to a woman whom we've written about before named Mary... she accepted Christ a while ago, but is having a hard time getting to church regularly because her husband is back in town and is concerned she's become a fanatic. I am going to pick her up tomorrow morning with her children as he's just really been denying her money to get to church on a taxi, but please pray that he doesn't put any more barriers in front of her attendance. She wants to go to continue to learn and grow in her faith and is finding life at home right now really stifling. We were going through her answers in the first Emmaus book and while there are some things she accepts so readily on faith, she struggles with the concept of Jesus being the only way to salvation because there are so many other religious faiths out there and how can they all be wrong. We went to John 14:6 and talked about that... and I used the example that if I say and really believe that the yellow flower is red, that doesn't change the fact that the yellow flower is yellow. Please pray for her in her faith right now.

And one more thing... I am starting a morning prayer meeting at the Foundation. I felt that the workers in the Foundation could do a lot more to support the board of directors in a practical way -- and what could be more practical and powerful than prayer. So every morning from 8:15-8:30 we're going to have drop-in prayer meeting. Probably some mornings it'll just be me (I would like to think Craig will come), but I would like to encourage others to understand and tap into the power of prayer. 

So... 

Prayer

• Mary as she works through her faith and as she chooses to be a witness to her husband.
• The new morning prayer meeting at the Foundation.
• Craig as he preaches tomorrow on John 21:1-14.
• Keep praying for our land dealings. This week we are due to both complete the purchase of the plot we agreed to buy last week, and get our refund for the two plots we 'bought' last year. Please pray that everything goes to plan.

Praise

• The chance to speak with América (the nurse) about my faith a bit more this week.
• Pinky's apparent recovery (although, this could still be a prayer item as well).

¡Que Dios les bendiga!

Craig & Amanda

Saturday Post -- 11/02/12

The missionary life, at times, is one of great challenges. Living by faith, so far from loved ones, certainly has its ups-and-downs. And these are exacerbated by our decision to live in such foreign contexts.

Cultural barriers to the gospel’s spread arise at every turn in our world. From the language of ‘tolerance’ and atheism’s resurgence in the West, to Sharia law and unrelenting persecution in the so-called 10/40 window, one does not have to look very far before coming up against opposition. Here in Bolivia, our efforts can be frustrated by people’s clinging to weird mystic traditions (which are heavily promoted throughout society by the government) and the Catholic church’s strong (if diminished) cultural influence and works-based theology. Our problem here is not so much that people reject salvation – it’s their mistaken belief that they have already ‘attained’ it.

However, when I compare our lot with the constant opposition missionaries face all over the world (an area in which our home countries are, regrettably, increasingly non-exempt), I am reminded of just how privileged we are, and what a marvellous opportunity the Lord has so graciously provided us here to proclaim his name (I say ‘privileged’ and not ‘blessed’ as there is, self-evidently, extraordinary blessing in persecution).

This week we’ve seen just such an example of that. On Monday, the first day of the new school year, the Foundation received a letter from the local secondary school (where I taught English to a couple of classes last year) requesting more English input this year. The head teacher, to be fair, should really have borne in mind our conversation at the end of last year, when I expressed my desire to take R.E. classes this year rather than English. Nonetheless, an opening.

So I popped my head round the door on Wednesday morning to see if we could reach agreement. The head teacher had no problem with me switching subjects (it had been difficult for me to develop any kind of progressive learning process last year in English due to continual interruptions). I then went on to explain what I planned to use as my primary resource: a no-holds-barred evangelistic textbook based on the gospel of John (which we will read in its fullness alongside the textbook). I even went so far as to say “I’m a missionary, and my goal here is not merely to educate, but to lead people to Christ.” Can you imagine that conversation in your local head teacher’s office?

Pleasingly, the head teacher gave my plans the school’s full endorsement, and, from Tuesday the 28^th of February, I can look forward to essentially preaching the gospel to over 100 teenagers every week – at the state’s invitation! There is, indeed, plenty of confusion and resistance in this cultural context, but we have opportunities many missionaries can only dream of, and for this we give thanks to our merciful God.

One other important development this week was a meeting with our fellow missionaries, Kenny and KC, to establish a network of personal spiritual counselling in the Foundation. In the coming weeks, we are each hoping to start meeting with individual staff members on a regular basis, to pray and offer spiritual support where needed. With significantly more women than men working in the Foundation, it has to be said that Amanda and KC’s burden is significantly heavier than that of Kenny and myself. The women will, then, probably aim to meet every few weeks, while Kenny and I can probably meet once a week with our respective colleagues. We look forward to forming deeper relationships with staff members and ministering to their needs – and we pray that several may make some important life decisions in the process.

Prayer

• On Thursday, a 6-year-old regular at church and the community classes, Nicole, was trampled on by some horses that were running loose (yes, you read that correctly, Trinidad really is that provincial). Mercifully, her injuries were minimal (even the initial diagnosis of a broken clavicle proved not to be the case) and we were able to visit her and her family in hospital yesterday, and pray with them. We later found out that the horses’ owners has paid Nicole’s medical fees by way of an apology, which is great news. Pray for a full recovery for Nicole.
• For the youth committee as we plan next Saturday’s annual Carnaval weekend event, which will be like a regular meeting, but with food, water-fights and an 8-hour running time! I’m going to be taking charge of the main teaching slot, and I’ve opted to go with Psalm 1, a pretty appropriate passage for Carnaval time, when many of the youth will be wondering why we don’t go for it as believers. Please pray for my preparation this week.

Praise

• For the most encouraging developments on the R.E. classes front.
• For a good first week at the Foundation for Mayerlin (volunteer nurse) and Elisabet (part-time worker in education/sports). Readers may remember their names from previous posts as being young believers in the church. It’s great to strengthen the Christian witness at the Foundation and to be able to encourage these young women as they set out on their career paths.

¡Que Dios les bendiga!

Craig & Amanda

Saturday Post -- 28//1/12

I shan’t lie to you: this blog post will be briefer than a Marks & Sparks management briefing on the briefs department. With a sermon to finish, a discipleship slot this afternoon, band practice and the first youth meeting of 2012 tonight, time is in short supply. Oh, and a football match of some import is due to kick off any time now!

Amanda’s lunch with the nurses last weekend was a great success, and a mutually beneficial enterprise all round. Since moving here, we’ve become keen fish eaters, the fish here being chunkier than a ‘Celebrity Fat Club’ contestant. However, we had not yet mastered the art of buying and cooking fish. Indeed, the best fish is only available at a certain place in town very early on a Saturday morning – that is, 8am (well, Amanda describes it as very early).

So, killing two birds with one stone, Amanda reckoned if some of her nursing colleagues could instruct her in how best to source and prepare the fish, she would host a veritable fish-feast for them. And so it proved, with the nurses still commenting today on how much of a good time they had. And the flat doesn’t even smell of fish any more.

I thought it best to steer clear of the sisterhood, and so I met up with my old language teacher friend, Farid, who I know some of you have been praying for. He is still ploughing away at university here, though picking up interesting language opportunities here and there; he spent a week on a luxury tourist boat translating for Americans earlier this month. He still comes along to church now and again and is well aware of what is preached on a Sunday, but hasn’t quite made that all-important step of faith yet. Fertile soil there, though – please keep praying.

At work, we have been up to our usual, with preparations continuing for the English classes (with an agreed-upon start-date decided this week of Tuesday 28^th of February) and a raft of audiology patients. Amanda has also been helping in an Excel course for the nurses at FT. Each month, the nurses have to submit a series of reports, recording in statistics the work done in each area of health over those four weeks or so. However, very few of the nursing team have ever received any training in Excel, and so, a good friend of ours from church, Jerry, who is also a tech-whizz, has kindly volunteered his services over the past couple of weeks. Amanda, the one who usually has to tidy up the reports for everyone at the end of the month, is assisting. Hopefully the new insights gained will ease the burden on her shoulders – though I must say, I personally wasn’t expecting the ‘where is the start button in Windows’ conversation to go on as long as it did!

Oh, and I got out last night for my first proper kickabout for a year or so. I can barely feel my legs.

Prayer

• Craig is preaching on the second-half of John 16 tomorrow morning. Pray for guidance as he continues his preparation.
•  For the new session of the church youth group, which gets underway tonight. Pray for wisdom for us as leaders as we seek to minister to them as a group and as individuals with a whole range of needs.

Praise

• On that note, give thanks for safe travels and an encouraging week for Ivonne, Mariana, and Wendy, who are three of the, let’s say, ‘young adults’ on the youth committee. They spent last week at a camp for youth leaders and have come back with new ideas aplenty.
• Give thanks also for continued opportunities over the past week to nurture our friendships here.

¡Que Dios les bendiga!

Craig & Amanda

Saturday Post -- 21/01/12

"This is a promo shot for my REALITY SHOW..."

After a hard day’s work, Amanda likes nothing better than to come home and plonk herself down in front of a reality show called ‘Property Virgins’. In said televisual production, property guru Sandra guides prospective first-time buyers through the choppy waters of the housing market. Amanda gets a particular kick out of the fact that it’s based primarily in the Ontario region, so she gets to see a lot of her old haunts. As for me, while I find the programme insightful as to the Canadian market, I can do without Sandra’s California-schoolgirl tone, particularly her frequent use of the ever-grating ‘interrogative answer,’ i.e., “I know the asking price is a LITTLE HIGH but that’s just the direction the MARKET’S GOING IN THESE DAYS so I don’t know what you guys wanna DO.”

Nevertheless, for all that, I’d pay good money to subject myself to her infuriating sing-song-speech right now, as we set out to get settled in a house of our own (albeit, we’re building it, not buying, and I doubt even she is suitably equipped to take on the horrors of Bolivieaucracy – though if she opened her mouth…). Yes, you guessed, it, it’s been another challenging week on the land front, though the signposts for ‘light’ along the tunnel walls display ever-decreasing distances.

For those thus far unacquainted with our situation, we paid for a couple of lots of land over a period of a year during 2010 and 2011, expecting the landowner to do her duty and process the required documentation as quickly as possible. This process has been protracted by her general failure to take responsibility for her side of the bargain, her living in Santa Cruz (which has a separate land-registry process) and the incompetence of the authorities here in Trinidad.

The week did not start well. Having received texts from her the week before assuring us she’d be coming to Trinidad on Monday morning – well, she didn’t! We tried to contact her all day Monday, but to no avail. It wasn’t till later that evening that we got a text telling us she’d be in town by Tuesday morning (Santa Cruz is an overnight bus trip away).

We met at the offices of the local land registry, whose task in her absence had been to process documentation related to our priority. Alas, the documents had seemingly been left on a shelf to gather dust. Nonetheless, her anger was quickly directed not at the land registry workers, but at ourselves, for supposedly nagging her throughout the process. We were on edge after her dishonesty about coming on the Monday and it would be fair to say that we responded in kind.

We all agreed to meet again that afternoon, by which time the authorities assured us the paperwork would be dealt with. However, Amanda and I left with a heaviness of heart, sensing that taking things to DEFCON 1 perhaps wasn’t the way forward, after all. We could sense that what we called pursuing our consumer rights, she calls pushing one’s luck – such is the consumer’s experience in Bolivia, where the customer isn’t right so much as thankful they’re getting the vendor’s attention in the first place.

In any case, we just had a real sense from God in that moment that there was really no need to push this, that we were in danger of being given our money back, that we still have two years to build a home before our furlough year, and so perhaps this time it was best to keep stumm and let him work.

Sure enough, as we left it in his hands, the landowner made significant progress, without our sticking our noses in it. By Thursday, when she left town, the matter had been left in her lawyer’s hands to deal with and, hopefully, all that should remain from her is to sign the documents of transfer when she returns in February.

In this situation, of all situations, we have been very much within our rights to apply pressure and demand progress – after all, we have paid in full for the land. But we are re-learning the lesson that the likes of Peter had to learn over and over again: that God’s will is not ours to force or to tinker with. At so many points in our lives, not least in the months leading up to our departure for Bolivia, we have seen God work best when we deliberately take a backward step. Maybe after this experience, we’ll finally get it.

Prayer

• Amanda, in an effort to strengthen ties with her nursing colleagues, is having them round for lunch today (one or two have just arrived). Please pray for her continued witness to them.
• Craig is currently putting together a revised English class programme, combining grammar lessons with Bible readings in simple English, with the hope of launching by the end of February. Pray for guidance for Craig.

 Praise

• For substantial progress on the land front this week, and for lessons learnt in the process!
• For the church band over the last few weeks, where Craig has been able to step back and pass responsibility on to the three regulars as well as a couple of guys who are here for the holidays. Give thanks for real progress in this area, and for the decreasing missionary dependence!

¡Que Dios les bendiga!

Craig & Amanda

Saturday Post -- 17/12/11

It seems that my week was so exciting and Craig's week was so mundane, that it made no sense for Craig to write the blog and therefore, for the first time this year... it is my turn! As in, Amanda is writing and not Craig. I think it was about this time last year I wrote my last post... so I'm well on track for once-a-year entries.

The reason that my week was a lot more exciting than Craig's is because I travelled to Cochabamba for a three day course on solar hearing aids... and Craig did not. His week was even duller than average because he had to deal with more paperwork for our land and housing project. I'm really glad I wasn't here for that. I had been in Cochabamba for a layover before in 2003 when my Canadian team was leaving Bolivia and we had enough time to go to their big market and see Cristo de la Concordia (this massive statue of Christ on top of a hill - akin to the Christ statue that makes Rio de Janeiro notable), but in reality I didn't know the city at all. This time I feel like I got to see a lot more of the city... the less touristy things, and I didn't go see the statue... I couldn't even see the famous statue through all the clouds from anywhere in the city. But I got a good sampling of the city's food and a good idea of city life.

Cristo de la Concordia, the highest statue in South America
(yup, that includes the one in Rio de Janeiro).

I think we've said before that La Paz is probably the most "Western" of the cities we've been to, and that Santa Cruz is really developed and has a lot of amenities that are a nice break every once in a while, though it is really just a big Trinidad. Well, Cochabamba is somewhere between the two. It has a nice, cool climate, at least while I was there it was nice and cool... and rainy, but that doesn't bother me after Trinidad's sweltering heat. I don't know if I can describe it really well... but I got this vibe that put it somewhere between La Paz and Santa Cruz. We had a nice hotel to stay in with hot showers... and a girl can't really ask for more than that.

I went with Odalys, one of the nurses at the Foundation, who is trained in Audiology and runs the Audiology Department. CBM organised the course and people from all over Bolivia came to be properly trained in Solar Ears' product line (Solar Ears are an NGO from Brazil that makes low cost hearing aids, with rechargeable batteries and solar powered battery chargers). Solar power just makes so much sense here because a lot of people don't have the finances to keep buying new batteries, which can only last a week, and because a lot of people work in the country and are there for months at a time and have no way to buy new batteries when they need them. If they can just recharge the batteries they have with solar power it is a lot more practical. However, people are not used to such technology and they have to be properly taught, which means we have to be properly taught as well. Apparently, a common problem with their whole system is that people don't understand that only the charger is solar powered... you have to charge the charger in the sun about once a week... and then the charger will pass its power on the rechargeable hearing aid batteries... BUT NOT IN THE SUN. People think the whole process should be in the sun and they put their hearing aid batteries in the chargers and leave them together out in the baking sun and then their batteries explode. That had to get repeated several times over the three days to make sure we completely understood.

I don't know how much people would like to know about the details of the actual course... I'm sure if you have no experience with hearing aids you would find a run down of my course quite boring. So, if anyone actually wants to hear more... please e-mail me or Facebook me and I shall regale all. As to the other things I did while I was there... please keep reading.

I find travelling without Craig really hard... I know some people might find that mushy or gross or go, "Awwww", but it's true. I feel off somehow, kind of unbalanced... and the longer the trip, the harder it gets... but thankfully, this trip was only three nights and I survived without any permanent damage. After the first day, Odalys, Maricarmen (an Audiologist who used to work at the Foundation, but who moved to La Paz) and I went out shopping and walking around... and afterwards we went out for a really nice dinner at this restaurant called Paprika. It was really trendy and yummy even by North American/European standards... I really enjoyed this as I don't get to hang out with girls and do girly things all that often... there is not that much to do in Trinidad and when I am outside of Trinidad I am usually with Craig... and shopping is not something he enjoys all that much. It felt good to be out and have a girl night... it was very refreshing.

The second night the course finished earlier than expected and we went back to the hotel and rested... until dinner and then the three of us went out again. This time we went to a restaurant which people who've been to South American will understand... it's one of those restaurants staffed by young adult travellers from North America/Europe who are trying to pay their way through their travels... as in, a lot of them had dreads in their hair. :)

A view over the city. Cristo de la Concordia  is on the hill in the centre of shot.

The third night, CBM organised a culturally traditional dinner at this nice restaurant for everyone in the course... I ate half a duck. I love duck! It is so rich and always a treat, because you can't eat it every day as you would get sick... unless you were my sister who just gets sick anytime she eats it (she has a sensitive stomach). Anyways, it was definitely enjoyed... and I am anticipating my next mouth-watering duck experience with much eagerness.

I had been praying about this trip for a while before it... praying for a way to witness to Odalys... and, to be honest, we didn't have any earth shattering conversations... but I pray that we, as people and friends, are closer because of it. Odalys would say she is a believer, but it's hard to know if she understands what that means or if she thinks she is because she is Catholic. I'm not sure... she was one of the nurses who recently received a Bible from us, and she brought it with her on the trip... and I saw her reading it. She also recently received a devotional program for children to read with her 11 year old daughter. Please keep praying for her. I find it hard sometimes to know what to say to the nurses here, because I am very often unsure as to the depth of our friendship and how interested they are. I measure depth in a friendship by how much you share of yourselves together... how open you are and how serious you can be... and sometimes I think I am not very close with these nurses. And then sometimes they do or say something to make me think that they think we are very close... so maybe they measure friendship in a completely different way. Please keep praying that I can manoeuvre these cultural differences to be share to more with them and support them as well.

I also enjoyed getting to know Maricarmen a lot better as well. Maricarmen taught the very first ear course I took at the Foundation in April, 2010 and she came back from La Paz to lead the Audiology course I did  in January of this year... so I knew her a little, but I definitely enjoyed getting to know her better. She moved to La Paz about a year and a half ago... but not long after she moved, one of the young people from the church, Maye, moved to La Paz to study Audiology... and Maye is now living with Maricarmen and her family. Through Maye, Maricarmen became a Christian and is now attending the local church and brings her son as well. I can see a big difference in Maricarmen... she talks about trusting God and seeking His plan for her life. Please pray for her as well as she has big decisions coming up in her life; that God would lead and guide her through them all.

I have been instructed to tell you that we now have a Facebook ministry page... and if you are interested in knowing of prayer and praise items in the moment, please 'like' our page on Facebook. If you don't have Facebook, do not feel like you need to go out right away and get it... we will still be posting on our blog once a week, but if you like the shorter, more frequent updates, we now have that facility. There is a link at the top right-hand side of the blog... or if you want to go to the effort of typing (perish the thought!), the web address is www.facebook.com/cramandaham.

Well, see you next year then... or maybe sooner.

Prayer

• Maricarmen and Odalys and their personal walks with God.
• Craig as he focuses on Christmas during the staff meditations this coming week and his Christmas epilogue at the Foundation's Christmas Celebration. 

Praise

• Amanda's nice time with friends in Cochabamba - and the informative solar hearing aid course.
• A really great time with friends and colleagues at last night's informal staff-organised Christmas dinner. The food was so good and we really enjoyed the laughs and fun.

¡Que Dios les bendiga!


Craig & Amanda