Saturday Post -- 10/12/16

Well, we had hoped to have news of Sam's UK visa by now, but no concrete answers have been forthcoming. We wrote to the embassy in midweek, and we were informed that further enquiries are being conducted. Yesterday, we received an automated email informing us that the application had now been passed on to an entry clearance officer. We had been told that we would receive this email as part of the process, so hopefully that means things are progressing again. We have had no indication of timing yet; hopefully we will have an answer this coming week.

We can 'only' pray, and this morning we were reminded of the need for persistent prayer in all circumstances in our final Langham escuelita of the year, where I preached on Luke 18:1-8, and Edwin was once again in attendance from Cochabamba. Edwin took the opportunity to encourage the group to continue to meet in my absence. My right-hand-man Cristian will take charge while we are abroad, and dates have already been put in place for Edwin's next visit (in March) and our next conference (in September). When we look back on this second stint we have spent out here, Langham is an undoubted highlight. What a provision it has been to the churches involved, and what encouragement we all gain as Bible teachers by meeting together in this way.

Dr. Richard Wagner boarded Edwin's plane back to Cochabamba, having spearheaded another ENT surgical campaign at Fundación Totaí this week. We're happy to report that this year's campaign went by without a hitch. All the while, Amanda was working closely with two new staff members at FT, who will be replacing our outgoing Director of Finances, Mariana. As if to underscore Mariana's importance to the work, it has been necessary to hire both an accountant (Vladimir) and an administrator (Hernán). Mariana is staying on until the end of December so as to ensure a smooth transition, before she heads to seminary in the new year. 

Amanda and I continue to chip away at the long list of tasks that remain, though the closer we get to leaving, the more things we remember we have to do. People here, so thoughtful in this regard, are also keen to ensure we get a proper send-off (we're only away for six months, guys!). Among other things, an FT staff member is trying to organise a farewell event for Mariana and Amanda, and I may be required to speak at a wedding on the 27th of December -- a mere two days before we are due to set off for Santa Cruz. We are truly honoured -- while secretly wondering how on earth we will squeeze such things into our to-do list. We'll cope, I'm sure; somehow, by God's grace, we always do.

Prayer

• For a prompt -- and affirmative -- answer to the visa question.
• For cool heads and the courage to take things one day at a time as our exit nears and the workload doesn't feel much lighter.
• This Christmas, our theme at church is 'The Light of the World'. Craig kicks things of tomorrow with a sermon on Isaiah 9:1-7.

Praise

• Craig and fellow elder Miguel Ángel had a really encouraging chat via FaceTime this week with Miguel Ángel's son and a missionary friend of his, who are based in Cochabamba. They are hoping to come through to Trinidad once a month to help support the preaching and music ministry next year. This will be a great help to Miguel Ángel and the church while I am away, especially as our pastor, Elías, is stepping down on the 31st of December.
• For a successful ENT surgical campaign.
• For the blessing of Edwin's final visit to Trinidad of the year, and the blessing of the Langham programme in general to our church and several others.

¡Que Dios les bendiga!

Craig & Amanda

Saturday Post -- 22/09/12

Amanda with one of the puppies, now two months old. This week
we bid farewell to two of the litter and the remainder will be heading
for kennels new in the next few days.

I may have mentioned in the past that birthdays play a lot bigger here than they do in Western cultures. In Bolivia, they have the big milestones like everywhere else – 15, for example, is a huge deal for girls. But it’s not unusual to receive an invitation to a fairly lavish bash for, say, someone’s 37^th birthday.

We have tended to steer clear of big celebrations ourselves, preferring to keep things quiet (and, as the years pile up, we have good reason to do so!). Nevertheless, it’s been nearly three years since we arrived in Trinidad and this year, realising it had been some time since we’d marked either of our birthdays with friends, both of us had an inkling to stage festivities of some sort. Alas, the more obvious occasion, my 30^th birthday, coincided with Amanda’s time in Santa Cruz – maybe next year – but Amanda turned 27 on the 4^th of September, by which time we had been back for some time, and set about testing the water for an event among friends and colleagues (as if we expected them to say no).

Well, it turns out Fundación Totaí has something of a September issue. For Amanda was quickly to discover that she is one of four female workers here whose birthday falls on the ninth month. Consequently, she felt it incumbent upon herself to organise an evening of revelry not only for herself but for those three colleagues (and the wife of another FT worker), which took place last night. The list of invitees consisted solely of those of the fairer sex. Luckily for me, however, Maicol needed a hand on the barbecue and let’s say that, having enjoyed more than my fair share of steak, I more than took advantage of my, ahem, ‘prime’ position. More to the point, though, after a week of rigorous preparation, Amanda was able to sit back and enjoy the company of her friends here.

It was a busy week, too, at work, where Amanda took sole charge of Audiology in the absence of co-worker Odalys, who spent the week in the outer reaches of the Beni region providing ear & hearing care to remote communities. It was, of course, a privilege for Amanda to provide cover so that Odalys could go about such valuable work.

Meanwhile, I’m growing increasingly appreciative of my week out west as I’ve had hardly a moment to myself since returning. Firstly, I’ve had a sermon to write for this weekend on Psalm 112. Our recent schedules have prevented me from doing much preaching lately and, having had a couple of months away from the pulpit, it’s taken me a while this week to get back into a rhythm. Secondly, the community classes continue to grow, with around 30 kids in attendance on both Wednesdays and Fridays. Elizabeth and I are embracing the new challenges which such high numbers present us with. And thirdly, the new Basic English class kicked off this week, where we have a keen, but small, group of students, with just five in attendance at Thursday’s class. Please pray for more attendees there.

Finally, I should make mention of something which took place a few weeks ago but which I’ve not been able to share due to my time away: I received a letter inviting me on to the eldership of our church, ‘El Jireh’, and I’ve prayerfully accepted that invitation. Amanda and I feel there is still so much the church could be doing to impact our local community for Christ and ‘make disciples’ of those already in our congregation. So perhaps there is an opportunity here to help influence the church in these directions. But before I can even begin to think on such things, I am all too aware of the immense responsibility which now falls on my shoulders and the higher standard to which I will, one day, be held accountable. More than anything else, I would ask you as friends to pray that I would live up to the benchmarks set by the Lord through Paul in 1 Timothy 3:1-7.

Prayer

• For Craig as he begins his service as an elder at ‘El Jireh’ church and as he preaches on Sunday.
•  For growth in the new English class.
• For my travelling companion, Dan, who should be on the final leg of his journey back home to Scotland later today.

 Praise

• For the special time Amanda was able to share with her female friends and colleagues last night.
• For the many new faces who have come to the Community classes in recent weeks.

¡Que Dios les bendiga!

Craig & Amanda