Special Visitors:
This past month we had a couple of different visitors with us from the US. First we had a group from one of our supporting churches here for a week. They had a very difficult time getting here with their first flight being canceled the first day, and they had to return home. They returned the next day with another flight, this time to Lima Peru and then to Bolivia but their flight left late for Lima and they missed the flight to Bolivia. The next day they got a flight to Santiago Chile and the next morning back to Bolivia and finally made, although three days late. While visiting we were able to show them the great need for the gospel here in Cochabamba and also have them visit the churches that we have started. They were able to sing several specials and give testimonies and the pastor was able to preach several different times. We also had a pastor’s get together one night where the men asked many questions about dealing with issues in their lives and churches. It was truly an edifying time and blessing having them with us.
We also had with us, this past month, a couple that are friends of ours, Luke and Megan Moore. Luke came down two years ago on a mission’s trip and now two years later, him and his wife are praying about the Lords will and where He wants them to serve in missions. While here, we were able to take them to see a museum that used to be a monastery, where young girls, at the age of ten, would enter and give their lives to complete isolation from the world. When these young girls would enter the monastery to become a nun, they would never leave again, never seeing their families and were even buried in the monastery. We also took them to several areas of our city where there are hundreds of thousands of people and no solid church that we know of that is reaching the people there. They were also able to sing several specials in the different churches and Luke was able to preach several different times. Please pray for them, that the Lord will direct them to know what His will is for their lives.
Where are the Headed:
Every year, at the end of August, we have one of the largest Catholic celebrations in all of Bolivia, that take place here in our city. Over 300,000 people come from all over Bolivia, and even from other countries, to walk all night to the city of Quillacollo, where the statue of the Virgin is. It is truly amazing to see and heart breaking to know that these people walk blindly for hours thinking that it is going to help them both materially and spiritually. The sad part is that everything they are doing is in vain and that they really have no idea where they are headed. In 2001 we did a short video called, “Where are the Headed?” that shows the multitude of people and even has a few interviews with people asking why they are going. With each one you can see that their motivation is to receive material things like houses, money, a better job or just general “good luck”. No doubt there is also the motivation of thinking that because they are making this sacrifice, that they will have a better chance of getting into heaven. We of course know that the only true sacrifice that can get them into heaven is that of Jesus Christ on the cross. Please pray for the many lost that don’t know where they are headed.
Prayer Requests:
1. Pray for our Bible College classes that start again this month.
2. Pray for the church in Quillacollo as they look for land.
3. Pray for us as we will be traveling to Peru this month as a family.
4. Pray for the youth of our church in Pacata as they are facing lots of opposition.