April 2021 Update
This last month has shown us both blessings and trials. It has been a time that the Lord allowed us to step back and take an outside look at our ministry here.
On the last weekend in March, our family gathered with 2 other missionary families for lunch. We enjoyed a time of fellowship as our children all played together. As we were preparing to leave, Ellie fell several feet from a tree. There was no hospital nearby, so we brought her to the city hospital about 45 minutes away. Here we learned she had broken her wrist and elbow of her right arm. Both breaks required emergency surgery. Her wrist needed a pin to help it set. Her elbow was dislocated as well as broken, so they reassembled and put in 2 pins. She has been a trooper and has done very well. Lord willing the stitches and pins will all come out this month, and her cast should be removed a couple weeks after that. We do ask that you pray for her. As it would be for any young child, this been challenging for her.
Due to the surgery, Ellie had to spend the night in the hospital for observation. She was released the next day, but this caused our family to miss our Sunday morning service. The Lord used this time to open our eyes to some blessings despite our current circumstances. That afternoon, Pastor Francisco from our first church sent us some pictures that showed a full church house and him giving Bibles to 4 new believers. Later in the day, we received word from Pastor Rogelio of our current church that their service went well too. We felt the Lord confirming to us that both churches are well-able to continue without us always being present and actively involved with every step.
In the same weekend, we received another reassuring example from our first church, Monte Carmelo, which has been autonomous for a while now. I received pictures of the new front door that they had installed. It gives a more inviting look to the front and entrance of the building, but the greater blessing is that the church people did most of this on their own. They raised over half of the finances themselves during a pandemic. They also tore out the wall and prepared it for the new door without outside help. It is wonderful to see them taking ownership of their building. It was something they wanted to see done and they took the steps to make it happen.
We have enjoyed watching the people take part in the work of our current church as well. On Easter weekend, some of the men of the church took their holiday time to continue laboring on their building to give it a more complete look. Their goal is to have the main portion finished by the church anniversary - the first weekend of July. It thrills our hearts to see what God has accomplished in both churches in such a short amount of time. What a blessing it is for us to have been allowed to have a small part in His great plan.
We have experienced some trials and physical pains within our family this past month, but as you can see, the Lord used the time we needed to spend attending to more personal family needs to show us a broader view of what He is doing through us and our churches here in Bolivia. Please remember, through your prayers and support, you have also had a part in this, and we hope you too can rejoice in what the Lord has been doing.
