We Got Wheels...and a bed

As you know we have been praying for a camper, a truck, the house to sell, and financial supporters and prayer supporters for our ministry to Bolivia. Now, you might ask why we need a camper and truck....are we driving to Bolivia??? No! But we are driving through the United States until the end of September meeting pastors, preaching on the street, and ministering in churches to raise support and partners for the mission in Bolivia. The three of us have to live somewhere while we are driving across the U.S. And about a month ago God dropped it in our spirits to get a camper and a truck. So, I began a search, finding a few trucks here and there and a few campers that seemed the right fit. But, without any finances I simply said to God, "Hey, this looks good, don't you think?" And I also reminded God that the clock is ticking (more about that in a minute).

So, two days ago I get a message from my friends that they have a camper that we could use. I said, wow, how generous but I need it the whole summer until September and he said, "I said you could use it as long as you need it. Come by and look at it." So, we did and its even more than what we had been asking God for. It has a bunk bed for Sam...under my plan Sam was sleeping on the floor (just kidding...no angry letters please). Sam would have slept on the couch that converts to a bed. Now he has a place that is his. God is more than we could even ask or think.

As for the clock ticking....In November I was asked how our ministry development was going and I answered with , "I'm just waiting on God." In December friends started delivering messages to me from the pulpit and in sermons saying God is waiting on YOU! During the first week of January I received a word of prayer from my own Son saying the same thing---the sixth time! Another said that I would hear it again. A few days later, I heard it a seventh and then I heard another word from a friend who said, God wants me to tell you this and it doesn't make sense to me, but he says, "The clock is ticking!" Then she asked if I knew what that meant. ----only too well! So God and I have had this thing since then. He reminds me and I remind Him, "the clock is ticking!" Now we are at work everyday getting everything ready and receiving more and more ideas about the ministry. We are locking in arrangements in Bolivia as well. STAY TUNED GOD FANS, SAME GOD TIME, SAME GOD BLOG! (I'm feeling kinda Batmanish, Supermanish...ummm, God's manish? I hope so) {Ok, for you young people the Batman TV show used to say Stay tuned, Same bat time, same bat channel----sheesh, it loses something when you have to explain it!} - RON-

We love you all and thank you for your prayers and support. We are going to try and keep you posted on what is going on with us via this Blog. God is doing such amazing things so quickly that we have a hard time keeping up. Please please please keep us in your prayers. -RHONDA-

Bolivia Summer 2008 Video

These are photos of our recent trip to Bolivia Summer 2008.

There and back again

WOW! God is amazing!

We have just returned from a two week trip to Bolivia. The first week we spent in La Paz. The second week we spent in Santa Cruz.

We were amazed at how large La Paz was. The city was busy all the time. People always seemed to have some where to go at all hours of the day and night. Most women still wear the tradtional dress of the Chola. The women carry huge burdens on their backs, wound up tight in colorful blankets. Often these blankets include small children.

We found the people to be very kind and hard working. At times it was difficult to catch our breath but we adjusted well thanks to all the prayer and fasting going on back home. We never got sick. The Lord is faithful.

We were very exicted to minister to the Amaryan people in the alto-plano. We feasted on several varieties of potatos (papas) and quinoa soup. This amazing soup is made with a grain that is very high in protien and mixed with milk. It was muy rico! I loved it. We were also treated to an Aymara worship song. You can click on the picture below to hear the song.

The man in the blue shirt is Boniface. The church meets in his small home until they can build a church on the back of his property. The home has no running water, no refrigerator, no heat source, no bathroom of any kind.. In fact there is no bathroom on the property at all. The people use the fields as needed.

They have many animals that provide for their needs. There are no trees on the property and no fuel source. The oven is located outside and dung is used to heat it for cooking. The night of our visit the temp got down to 25f degrees. Many of the villages that are further up in elevation get even colder. The people do not have shoes to wear, only sandals made from old tire rubber.

The people are hungry for the word of God and receive with joy the good news of a god that wants a relationship with them. They are very family oriented. A god who wants to be their father is an amazing idea to them.

We became acquainted with a man who works for the Bolivian Bible society who was able to supplies us with some Amaryan Bibles and some Proclaimers. Proclaimers are AMAZING!!! They are like a CD player powered by the sun. Only the CD is built in. The entire Bible is broadcast like a book on tape…IN AYMARA! It does not need batteries or electricity. It is powered by the sun. We ordered 20 to be distributed to surrounding villages. This is not enough. We need more! (for more info on the Proclaimer go to http://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/proclaimer ) The people have many needs. Shoes, socks, blankets, food sources, fuel sources, Aymara Bibles and teaching, Proclaimers and more.

In a couple of the villages they had never seen Anglos. In fact a lady spoke up to say that the children had NEVER received a gift of any kind...ever. The children do not have TV or movies. They were amazed by the puppets, dramas and songs that we ministered with. Also, they loved the clowns. The team had hired some clowns for the children. They were so wonderful; the best I had ever seen. We enjoyed them as much as the children.

Many of the Aymara were in awe that we would come so far to share the love of God with them. Many, many gave their hearts to Jesus. ¡Glori a Dios!

There is so much more to tell you about. We will make time to tell a little bit in each posting.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" Eph 1:3-7

Please continue to pray for a mighty move of the Spirit in Bolivia!

And so IT begins...

Two years ago God revealed to us (Ron and Rhonda) that His plan was for us to enter the foreign mission field as full time missionaries. As we prayed about where He would have us go our hearts and minds were turned again and again to Bolivia, specifically La Paz and Oruro Bolivia.

We began Spanish classes and entered a time of preparation. In July of 2007 we did children's ministry in Morelia Mexico.

In January of 2008 we began attending Luz para los Naciones. http://lfnchurch.com/home. We praise and thank God for leading us to this congregation of sweet believers. They have blessed our lives beyond measure.

In April of 2008, God opened doors for Rhonda to travel to Zihuatanejo to teach on children's ministry at a church leaders conference.

We had been praying daily for God to reveal His timing and to guide our steps to Bolivia. Over the last two years we have become more and more restless in our jobs and more anxious for God to guide our steps to Bolivia. At the end of May 2008, God began to show us some answers...