Spreading Our Wings

Adjusting is something we have all had to do during this pandemic season, but for us adjusting has taken on a whole new meaning, especially for Audrey. However, we take these adjustments in stride, and seek the joy that lines each new opportunity. Whether it be new foods, new friends, new jobs, or figuring out the new routines, we are adjusting, and all thanks be to God who guides us through it all, He is our rock.

Since settling into our new apartment and starting school the new adjustment has been centered on what our new norms and routines will be. We are grasping for the groove as we tackle each day with openness and opportunity. Audrey's life here has taken a special turn as the past three weeks have seen her job transition from helping with only elementary to now focusing on ESL (English as a Second Language) and keeping two of her elementary classes. While also balancing online college classes, Audrey makes time to fit in zoom classes throughout the day where she leads a reading and math group for kindergarten kids, full of singing ABC's and counting 1,2,3s. Audrey's schedule was officially finalized last week and that has helped level her find a groove.

Food has also been an arena of adjustment especially as Audrey is new to many of it. Slowly Audrey is getting introduced to some Bolivian dishes and staples such as Saltenas (pictured far left) and various quinoa bowls and salads (pictured far right), while Mark refreshes his pallet with some rellenos de platanos (stuffed plantain based dish) and a llaucha, which is a Bolivian empanada popular in La Paz and contains a delicious creole cheese sauce.

An odd and enjoyable blessing came a week ago when, for the first time since arriving in Bolivia, we were actually able to sit down inside of a coffee shop and enjoy a meal. This may seem a somewhat normal experience to most, but one that hasn't happened for us since we left the states. It brings a wave of normal as the past week we have seen restaurants and parks open up and watched as the city has opened up and become more alive. The quarantine rules still say that during the week everyone must be in by 8pm and on the weekends by 4pm, but this coffee shop experience feel like a big win, and one that hopefully signals good things to come. Community and fellowship remain a prayer and a goal for our new life in Bolivia, and the more Bolivia opens up the more the possibility of community does as well. Churches remain closed and we continue to stream services from afar. The word is that the next wave of opening things up could come after the elections here in Bolivia on October 18th. Much like America, Bolivia awaits the results of the upcoming election.

As stated earlier, community has been a major prayer for us and one that we are seeking to make here. Our school director, who lives very close to us, hosted a Bolivian barbecue at her house. This Monday, on a day off of school, she has organized a hike for the teachers to go on. Hiking has been a way for us to both adjust to the altitude as well as La Paz. It is such a beautiful city with so many breathtaking views. The one picture above on the right is a new lookout that some of our Bolivian friends shared with us on a Sunday afternoon hike.

Hiking and exploring has also allowed us to spend time with people and build relationships, and we hope to really plug in and build community with people inside and outside of school. We have hiked and explored quite a bit since arriving over one month ago. For Mark it is a real joy to be able to share with Audrey all the things he knows of La Paz, while also still finding plenty of new things to explore together.

Ministry opportunities seem limited by both the pandemic and our Spanish speaking limitations, but we are being patient and diligent as we seek to adjust and settle in for whatever God has in store for us here. We feel very comfortable and ready to do whatever He asks of us and leads us to. For now we know the biggest ministry is to our students and so we pour all we can into that. Mark met with three of the senior boys that graduated last year, and hopefully can continue to meet with them while also working on his Spanish with them.

One unique ministry opportunity presented itself recently in which we were able to help pay a hospital bill for a Venezuelan refugee that Mark met in Colombia. Mark met Juan during the summer of 2018 in Colombia and Juan has kept in contact with Mark through social media ever since. They met again in Bogota on a mission trip in the Spring of 2019 before Juan headed back to Venezuela to be with family. Recently Juan's daughter, Eduanyerlis, needed an operation and we felt the Lord put it on our hearts to reach out and help pay for that. Thanks to the support of many of you, we were able to pay the doctor directly and use this as an opportunity to encourage Juan and reflect the love that his Father in heaven has for him. Mark, in his broken Spanish, was able to pray for Juan and his family over a video call before the operation. Thanks to technology Mark was also able to present a simple Gospel message to Juan and encourage him to find a church community to plug into. Hopefully the Spirit will work through this opportunity, and we ask that you pray for Juan and Eduanyerlis. Pray that the Lord will work in their lives and save them from not only the worldly hurdles they have, but more importantly their souls.

If you have made it this far through the update then I commend you. Thank you for taking the time to read and stay updated with our lives and mission here in La Paz. We pray for more ministry opportunities and for the Lord to use us however He sees fit. Please know that we greatly appreciate all the support that we receive both financially and through prayer. We are seeking to be good stewards of the opportunities that God places before us. We currently have another ministry opportunity that the Lord has brought before us concerning Highlands and a Bolivian staff member. If you would like to know more or are interested in possibly helping support a staff member in need, then please contact us in whatever way you know how and we can further explain. Thank you again and God Bless.