Hola Familia y Amigos!

On the worksite, the team is starting literally from below the ground up to build a classroom for Bible College students. They moved about 5 truckloads of dirt off of the ground onto the worksite for the ground layer of the future building. This also necessitated digging out 2 large stumps from the earth. They used a commercial tamping machine to tamp down the dirt. As I write, they’re in the process of digging enormous holes 56 inches deep for pillars that will be a part of the foundation. The wind blows fiercely here and they returned at about 5 PM tired, sore, hungry, yet satisfied with their hard day’s work. I know I’ve said it before, but this team WORKS. Most everyone got their first shower yesterday (Wednesday) because they discovered there is hot water at the worksite! It’s been very cold here and we’d rather not brave a frigid shower in the cold! Jack N. and Matthew F. (KP for that day) and Ms. Amanda and myself (Ms. Jen) will get showers today when we visit the worksite to bring the crew hot pepperoni cheese rolls for lunch. Lunch at the worksite has also included a 45 min Bible Class focusing on Creation in Genesis and our identity in Christ.

Those who have KP have helped tremendously on our home-front. They wash dishes, sweep, wipe down, cook, chop, play with Shepherd (5yrs) and Everest (2yrs) and other Bolivian kids who wander over. Lito S. helped me shop in the market by writing a receipt and carrying everything I bought, which was A LOT! He inspired the purchase of a ripe papaya, which was liked by most. He also shared a Chinese Green Bean recipe that everyone loved yesterday. Jack N. and Matthew F. baked an enormous Hot Chocolate Fudge Cake from scratch yesterday that was gone completely! Today Jake W. And Garrick B. helped cook the pizza rolls and chop cucumbers. They’ll choose a dessert to bake later. Jake W. says that the most surprising thing to him is how people live with so little here. Lito S. shared in our team devo that the Lord showed him how living with little, these Bolivians are so happy and that he needs to be more thankful for what he has. Grant R. was able to buy a fleece jacket yesterday in a market-stand and give back the long sleeves he’d borrowed. Lizzy S. and Asha C. are close like sisters and we’ve been having the BEST evening girls’ devotion time with honesty and vulnerability. Praise the Lord. Lucas H. says the markets being open-air are the most interesting thing to him. Paul S. has earned the nickname, Pastor Paul; he continues to be a great encouragement to us. Simeon M. seems to stay freezing because he carries his blanket wrapped around him everywhere. Malachi A. and Alex G. have been working hard along with the others.
Pray for:
- strength
- good attitudes as the work is hard
- evangelism this weekend with ~300 kids