March 2023 Prayer Letter

Some months, there are big activities, construction, and visible advancements.  Then other months, like this one, it is more about logistics that are not as exciting to write about. But we have learned that those slower logistical months are what make the ministry happen.

This month, I was able to have a meeting about what could become our next church plant.    I spoke with a pastor about a man from his church.  This man led another outreach in a different part of the city that flourished as they looked for and found a pastor.    He has recently married and is now helping to start another outreach.  He and his wife have the desire to see this new outreach turn into a church. They are exactly the kind of people our family looks for when we start a church.  Please help us pray for guidance.  We are not ready to leave our current church on its own yet, but we are praying and preparing for the future.

We are still doing construction projects at Vida Eterna, our current church.  As I have mentioned in the past, I am offering to pay for material if they will pay for labor as a way to have them invested in the church.  This has worked faster than we expected.  Together we have sealed in most of the building already in just one month.  This is the most giving church we have worked with during our years in Bolivia, however, I believe they need to slow down financially.  This will give me time to do some work I have planned for the front entrance.

Bolivia is experiencing an economic downturn.  After the pandemic, the government bragged about how Bolivia was one of the few countries that had not experienced inflation and other economic woes.  However, it is catching up to them now.  The international reserves which they use to pay debts and invest internationally are very low.  Between January and February, the international currency was cut in half.  This has caused speculation that the economy is about to bottom out.  People are taking all they can in the local currency and exchanging it at a slight loss for US Dollars in fear that the local currency will drop in value.  Now banks are running out of US Dollars which is causing more alarm since they have seen this happen in other socialist leaning countries.  Please pray for our people, I anticipate something drastic is about to make life harder for them. 

A fellow missionary in a different city had a family who he had trained move closer to our first church. This family had the goal of starting a church in that area so some of us joined them to help get the word out about their first service. Two of our pastors helped knock doors with invitations, and our church loaned them chairs.  This was a blessing because most churches here are very inward focused.  If it doesn't help their own local church, then they don't bother getting involved.  It was a joy to watch the pastors I have worked with break free of that mindset and join in to help another.

Thank you for your part in making our ministry possible.  Through your prayers and support we are moving forward for the cause of Christ!