Hola Friends and Family!

We haven't been winning the cleanliness award lately given by Miss Piggy because we're leaving water shoes out or a piece of trash is left at the eating site...little things that we can correct. Overall they're very neat and tidy. Today is their last opportunity to do laundry because we have to plan enough time before pack-out for their clothes to dry sufficiently on clotheslines...imagine damp clothes stuffed in a duffle bag for days or left in totes until debrief. Nope. Just this "last" event is enough to get all of us giddy about flying out soon!

We've been so close to winning the O.C. and are really doing exceptionally well each morning starting at 6am! We've been rotating who carries the front flag. Several have fallen into the slew, but nobody complains, they throw bread bags on their dry socks, and their boots eventually dry out. Getting the last person over the top of the wall remains a tricky challenge for us!

We've completed 3 days of puppet class, 3 days of drama training, and 3 days of music class. Today we practiced transitioning into the puppet ministry from doing our presentation. Jack N., Asha C., Lizzy S., and Malachi M. were our dancers, while we had Garrick B. and Grant R. holding the curtains. Operating the puppets were Lucas H., Jake W., Matthew F., and Lito S. That was just our first practice, so we'll rotate out who is in each part; everyone is willing to jump in. Tomorrow we will run through our whole presentation for Team Cambodia. We were told that the kids' songs and puppets will be VERY important in ministering to the Bolivian kids!

Concrete class was the hardest physical work we've done yet and it was cool to learn that Bolivia's team mixed, poured, and floated the MOST concrete of any team here! We rotated positions so that everyone knew each skill needed. I wish everyone could see how hard this team works. The day before, we learned carpentry skills. Pairs of team members were instructed to cut (with a hand saw) certain lengths of boards, then to create a box with the pieces and nail them together. After that task, they were allowed to create anything they wanted, which led to: 2 swords, a shield, a table top, a usable bench, a cross, a "B" that's sitting on our table for rallies, a feeding trough, and a baseball bat.

In our free hour, the teens really like to relax in their downtime. Malachi A. says this is one of his favorite times. They are keeping up with memorizing their verses (one per day)...nobody is behind! There have been 3 SpaceX rocket launches and one sonic boom during this Boot Camp so far, which sets a new record. Unfortunately, two were at night. It shakes everything around us and lights up the sky in red (which they can see through their tents) and about half of them have woken up each night when they go off.

Pray for:
-Further opening up to one another and team bonding
-Safety on the O.C. each morning
-Organization as we are about to pack out everything!
-For God to continue to refine each of us to be ready for the field, in other words, surrender everything to Him now.

The weather here at Boot Camp started bad but eventually got to a point where I wake up freezing. It's been a really good place spiritually and I am looking forward to the field. - Jake W.

Boot Camp started off being super hard, but as the long days go by, it starts to be not as hard. So far my team has been very consistent on the O.C. and we hope to get our first win of the week soon. - Grant R.

Me and Dawson built a bench in carpentry class and placed it in our eating site. My leaders are nice and have been taking care of our feet. - Alex G.

I love Boot Camp so much. I've gotten to know my teammates...but I can't wait for Bolivia and to teach the kids!!! - Asha C.

Hi yall! I wanted to tell you all about Team Bolivia. Our team has bonded so well and we have grown as a team. I thank God that He gave us the strength to get us through Boot Camp thus far. We have been taking classes like Evangelism, Drama, and Concrete. Thank yall for praying for us! God bless - Garrick B.