Today's Update from Chip!

Friday the MT left for San Josecito for an evening worship meeting. However, when they arrived there was no one there. The church had gone to minister to another growing church. Apparently a miscommunication. There were no lights in the town or in the church building, which is the size of our chapel. They lit candles and settled down for the night. (Guys in the front and gals in the back of the building.)

A few experienced queasy stomachs, but did not last long. He thinks the Cipro has helped.

The next morning (Sat.) they left for Los Abras to set up a clinic. It was quite the hike. They crossed a rope bridge over a river and preceded up a rather steep incline. They hiked for 3 hours with their back packs. The medicine was carried on burrows. They arrived at 10am.

The people greeted them with excitement and extended wonderful hospitality. They were fed cow and yuka soup! Chip said they were a very organized group and the clinic went very well. Fifty people showed up and probably 30 of them received shots in their knees for arthritis. One man travelled 12 hours on horseback for this shot, which he recieved for the first time 6 years ago from our medical team on that previous trip.

This clinic went until 6pm. They were served tea which Chip described as tasting like PineSol and a bread called pan. There were donkeys and burrows that they rode on for awhile just for fun.

At the church meeting that night, their light was provided by a lit rag inside a can of gasoline. Scott shared a great gospel message. The people are warm-hearted, responsive, and very grateful. They had already set up their tents so they went straight to bed. They were serenaded throughout the night by pigs outside their tents, roosters crowing off and on and dogs howling from 2am on. And still everyone perseveres with joy and without complaining.

This morning they hiked back having to wait for the burrows who went much slower. They packed into the bus for San Josecito where they ate sardine sandwiches. The next bus delivered them 3 hrs later in Entre Rios at 5:15pm. They walked straight into the church service which began at 4pm. Chip shared his message and Rachel gave her testimony. It was a happy reunion to be back w/the CT and the people at the mission!

There was a long line for the showers as they were all looking pretty bad and smelling worse. =) Many are appreciative of the clean clothes they had because Sarah had served them by washing their dirty clothes by hand for 2 hours last Thursday!

Chip highly commends this group of people on how they devotedly serve and care for all they come in contact with. And for their godly attitudes in challenging conditions.

So tomorrow they leave by bus at 10am to conduct their last clinic. Tomorrow evening at 7pm they will hold another youth meeting. Please be in prayer for that meeting!

All is Well in Entre Rios

The construction team worked hard today around the mission house. Tim said that some tile was put in behind a stove, garbage was burned, and misc. odd jobs. They are pretty tired today but still going strong.

The medical team as of 3:00pm was not back but was expected to get in some time today.

There was a 4:00pm service that the construction team was going to attend.

I hope you are hearing from your loved ones. We would love to hear all that is going on.

Construction Team back in Entre Rios

Tim called today and the construction team is now in Entre Rios. They accomplished everything they needed to (concrete sidewalk, pillars, wall). Things went very smooth and everyone worked real hard!

The construction team will do various projects around the mission house until they leave for Tarija.

Today's Update!

The (MT) are to take a 3 hour bus trip to the next village today. They will be sleeping in that village's church building tonight. Tomorrow they hike 2 hours to the next village and there they sleep in their tents. I think he said they will be having church services and Chip and Scott will tag team in sharing. Then Sunday they hike a couple hours to catch a bus back to Entre Rios. Then another clinic on Monday.

I think they have seen about 120 children so far.

The CT are doing some finishing touches to their work; and have been asked to do some electrical work. There may be a few more small things they'd like our team to do, so it may be Sunday before they head to Entre Rios.

Erika was able to share her testimony last night. She was also able to go into one of the villages and spend some time with a couple elderly ladies. Erika was very affected by their humility and undesirable living conditions. I can't wait to hear more about her time there.

Here's an encouraging story from Chip (Erika also shared the same story with me)

He was telling Angela he noticed the Entre Rios church has been singing the same songs for the last 4-6 years. She explained that they haven't grasped how to worship. They just sing the words. There's a pastor's wife from the area who loves being a Bolivian and does not have the desire to go to America. She attended the church service at which our team of people led in worship. After she witnessed them worshipping she was greatly affected and declared if she can learn to worship like that, then she will go to America!

They are all rejoicing that God is blessing their work and plans to serve the people there!

Everyone is doing well.

If you have an encouraging story from one of the teams, please do comment! I think we would all benefit from hearing it!

Another Update from Chip!

Medical Team

The village they went to today is a fishing village by the river. They served them lunch there of fresh fish on stakes cooked over an open fire. He said they were great.

Construction team

They will probably be finished tomorrow and go back to Entre Rios tomorrow and help with things around the mission there. Therefore, every one on the medical team stayed together since they were not needed for construction.

Fortunately, he said the food from the vendors is very very cheap -- most things under a dollar!

Sunday they'll have church and meet with the youth again. Tuesday they have a day in Tarija and begin the trek home Wed.

Great Update from Chip & Tim

I spoke with Tim for about 3 minutes this evening. He was in Timboy using a calling card.

Here's a collaborated update from Chip & Tim. They are using a calling card which last only 3 minutes.


Medical team:

They have had a clinic the other night, and 2 yesterday at 2 different villages, and I think 1 more today at another village.

Everyone is "shining" in their roles. And excelling in all areas.


The arrangement is:
Alyia and Jason interpret individuals ailments
Jordan does assessment and takes blood pressure
Erika and Rachel give medications to the children

Taylor and Eric give BComplex shots
Rita and the Bolivian doctor give explanations to patients
Sarah, Scott and Bryan dispense meds as directed

And Chelsea is doing an outstanding job of "entertaining" about 30 kids at a time

Contruction Team:
Tim and the team have accomplished a great deal in such a short time.
They have torn down the wood fence and poured a sidewalk and the wall. He said he was amazed at their work.

They had church last night -- Chip spoke then they all sang together.

No one is sick!

They have been eating from the vendors in the town.

MT is leaving today for Entre Rios and will not see the CT again until Monday.

Everyone is doing such an outstanding job! How encouraging!

**Joy S. sent me her link where you can read an update from her son Joshua who is on the LaPaz team. Great things are happening! Praise God!

http://j0yfu1.blogspot.com/ Just copy and paste in your web brower

No News/Update Today

Well, it doesn't look like anyone heard from the team today. Let me know if you did. I'm just thinking that getting to a phone may be pretty difficult.

Keep team Bolivia in your prayers!

I'm really looking forward to hearing how God is working there!