Bolivian Journal 1 July 6, 2005
Greetings friends,
We have been warmly recieved in Cochabamba. We were met at the airport by Emigdio and Ivan, Bolivian Canadian Baptist Ministries reps., and by Marcellino, the Seminary Principal. They gave us our initial orientation and treated us to a meal ( Argentinian beef, no less). We have shared conversation and meal with the Janke family, Canadian Baptist missionaries, and another missionary family from the United States.
We are settliing into our new home, a two bedroom apartment in grounds of the Baptist Seminary. It is an excellent location that puts us steps away from the library and places us in a neighborhood of some staff and students. This means that rather then being isolated we will belong to a community. We appear to have adopted a new family member. He is a small puppy we found abandoned on the sidewalk after the vendors had left for the day. We have dubbed him "poquito". He is eating up our attention and devouring any leftovers we put in his bowl.
On our first Sunday we were instantly accepted in both the English and Spanish services. In the English service Susan and Anna shared testimony and Kent preached. The congregation included a youth group on short term mission from Willow Creek Church in Chicago. A combined group from Broadmoor Baptist (Richmond BC) and Olivet Baptist (New Westminster BC) is also here serving at the local camp, ¨Los Molliinos¨. At the Spanish service we sang many familiar hymns and praisee songs, but in a strange and unfamiliar language. During the Spanish service the pastor prayed for us and our ministry. I am not exactly sure what he prayed but I do know that we experienced the blessing of being prayed for. We have experienced the same blessing through your prayers. One prayer request is for Anna. She is missing her friends and activities in Victoria. When I asked her if she was homesick she said: ´´No, I am friendsick´´. It is another six weeks until school starts when she will will be in a group of potential friends and busy with school activities and studies. Please pray that even now she find a friend or friends and adapt to her new surroundings and lifestyle.
One of our next steps will be to find a suitable Spanish teacher and begin to learrn this new language. Thus far we have learned a few words and phrases and made some pitiful attempts to say somethiing intellligible. The people keep nodding their heads and smiling at us but my overall impression is not that they are understanding us but they are being most patient with us.
We are most glad to receive emails from you. We like to hear news about you too! Due to time constraints we will not be able to respond individually to you all. We will however keep you up to date with our regular editions from our "Watts Happening in Bolivia" (Susan) and our "Bolivian Journal" (Kent). Although at times this may seem redundant it will at least provide you with more details of our journey and provide two different perspectives on our news. If for any reson you prefer not to receive our emails please let us know and we will cease and desist.
For now mis amigos, adios
Kent, Susan and Anna
We have been warmly recieved in Cochabamba. We were met at the airport by Emigdio and Ivan, Bolivian Canadian Baptist Ministries reps., and by Marcellino, the Seminary Principal. They gave us our initial orientation and treated us to a meal ( Argentinian beef, no less). We have shared conversation and meal with the Janke family, Canadian Baptist missionaries, and another missionary family from the United States.
We are settliing into our new home, a two bedroom apartment in grounds of the Baptist Seminary. It is an excellent location that puts us steps away from the library and places us in a neighborhood of some staff and students. This means that rather then being isolated we will belong to a community. We appear to have adopted a new family member. He is a small puppy we found abandoned on the sidewalk after the vendors had left for the day. We have dubbed him "poquito". He is eating up our attention and devouring any leftovers we put in his bowl.
On our first Sunday we were instantly accepted in both the English and Spanish services. In the English service Susan and Anna shared testimony and Kent preached. The congregation included a youth group on short term mission from Willow Creek Church in Chicago. A combined group from Broadmoor Baptist (Richmond BC) and Olivet Baptist (New Westminster BC) is also here serving at the local camp, ¨Los Molliinos¨. At the Spanish service we sang many familiar hymns and praisee songs, but in a strange and unfamiliar language. During the Spanish service the pastor prayed for us and our ministry. I am not exactly sure what he prayed but I do know that we experienced the blessing of being prayed for. We have experienced the same blessing through your prayers. One prayer request is for Anna. She is missing her friends and activities in Victoria. When I asked her if she was homesick she said: ´´No, I am friendsick´´. It is another six weeks until school starts when she will will be in a group of potential friends and busy with school activities and studies. Please pray that even now she find a friend or friends and adapt to her new surroundings and lifestyle.
One of our next steps will be to find a suitable Spanish teacher and begin to learrn this new language. Thus far we have learned a few words and phrases and made some pitiful attempts to say somethiing intellligible. The people keep nodding their heads and smiling at us but my overall impression is not that they are understanding us but they are being most patient with us.
We are most glad to receive emails from you. We like to hear news about you too! Due to time constraints we will not be able to respond individually to you all. We will however keep you up to date with our regular editions from our "Watts Happening in Bolivia" (Susan) and our "Bolivian Journal" (Kent). Although at times this may seem redundant it will at least provide you with more details of our journey and provide two different perspectives on our news. If for any reson you prefer not to receive our emails please let us know and we will cease and desist.
For now mis amigos, adios
Kent, Susan and Anna
posted by Bibliomaniac | 6:22 a.m.
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