heading to bolivia

I'm heading to Bolivia to do a 5 month internship with Samaritan's Purse. At the moment, the departure date is not set, but training in Boone, NC begins June 14th...meaning I'll be heading out a day or two before.

As I failed to keep up with the blog, I'm including a little update of what I've been doing over the past year.

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IGLESIA NUEVO AMANECER

I've been serving as the sunday school teacher for the middle school kids, leading bible study for the youth once a week, and helping the church learn more about missions. For the first time we set a goal as a church and gave to Lottie Moon $500 dollars. Wohooo!

It's been a wonderful experience to be able to serve among the hispanic community of Oldham County and will certainly miss them very much. I love their giving hearts and will miss their Mexican food. It never failed that any time I visited their homes they always wanted to feed me.

SEMINARY

What can I say? It's grad school. Lots of reading, exams, and papers. Two classes that have kicked my butt have been systematic theology and hermeneutics. I can certainly tell you that I've learned a lot, but this is the first time I've had to do reading outside the subject so that I can understand the subject being taught. Any tips are welcome.


TWO JOBS

1st Job -- Kentucky Refugee Ministries (week days) ---- I'm in charge of donations (taking calls for household and furniture items). My job is pretty much to arrange the schedule to pick up donations and then make time in the schedule to furnish the apartments for the families that are assigned to our office in Louisville. Some days the work is a little crazy, but I love being able to help these families settle into their new homes. Although I don't have direct contact with the clients, I enjoy the occasional interaction, especially with the Cuban-Haitian clients.

2nd Job -- Hispanic Biblical Institute (saturdays) --- I'm the assistant to the director. Pretty much a lot of office support. But the exciting part of this particular job is being able to interact with the members of other hispanic churches in Louisville. I had the opportunity to meet a lot of people who knew my father and heard a lot of wonderful stories. Many of the students are preparing at the institute because they wish to help in their church and that is encouraging to see.


FAMILIA

The most exciting part about being home is being able to hang out with the boys in the afternoons. Right now Esteban is playing tennis, while Andres is playing soccer, and I drive them to their individual practices. Some times we have crazy days when you throw in cello and piano lessons, but we manage. Driving is therapy!

A highlight of 2010 was our spring break road trip to Wyoming to visit family. Yep! We love to drive and see the country. Mom let us borrow her van so the boys had a little more room to stretch versus my little tracker. During our trip, we also visited friends in Cheyenne, whom my parents had ministered. It was good to see them and see how much God had done in their lives.

Overall, one of the most valuable things about my time at home has been the opportunity I've had to meet a lot of people who knew my family. Why? Because I've been able to hear about how Jesus Christ changed the lives of these individuals, all because my parents were willing to share the difference God had made in their lives. Huge blessing.


BOLIVIA

I'll be working with an indigenous group in the antiplano of Bolivia. I'll be based out of LaPaz and going out into the indian communities during the week to do community outreach and discipleship for women and youth who are experiencing domestic violence.

Pray that I'll be able to share in truth with those whom I come in contact and that God will give me wisdom to know how to minister to these suffering individuals.

Pray for safe travel to Chicago next week. I have to renew my Ecuadorian passport because it facilitates travel in South America