Some developments

Since I last wrote, some significant things have happened in my life and in Bolivia. The situation here continues to be fragile, but this past Monday after nearly two weeks of a closed road between Trinidad and Santa Cruz, the MAS supporters (pro Evo) in the east decided to lift their roadblocks. Gasoline arrived yesterday with lines over three blocks long in most places (3-5 hour wait). Food is also beginning to arrive again and I believe diesel too. Things are returning to normal, although the government and opposition have not reached an agreement. MAS supporters (pro Evo) are threatening to bring back the blockades if the opposition doesn't agree to the government's offer by Monday. Most government offices have been returned too and all airports in the country are operating as normal again. Basically, we're back to status quo.

In the church, this weekend we are having a Bible reading marathon. September was the month the first Spanish Bible was translated, so we are doing a non stop reading marathon for about 36 hours. Apparently it takes ~70 hours to read the whole Bible, so we should be somewhere in Psalms when we finish. People from our church, other churches, the school, other schools and random people have all read a little bit (including me). Tomorrow are having a special all day outing with the church where we will have a morning service, eat lunch together, play games and then go for a swim, have some baptisms and then do our communion services. Should be a fun filled day.

And now to my personal news. My good friend Lidia who has been in Chile the past year more or less involved with a YWAM counseling school returned two weeks ago and contacted me last Tuesday. I called her and talked with her at great length. Apparently after discussing our relationship with her mentor in Chile just before she left and sharing some emails, particularly one of my later emails that was pretty honest and direct her mentor said, "Lidia, you should pray about this, this guy seems serious about being with you and entering ministry with you". This got her attention as you can imagine. So returned and she told me she wanted to spend more time with me and pursue the possibility of marriage in the near future. However due to the political situation, she's been stranded in the south border town of Yacuiba where her parents live and has not been able to return yet to Santa Cruz. But we have spent a good amount of time (hours) on the phone sharing things with each other and getting to know each other on a deeper level. I feel the Lord bringing us closer together and each time I am sad to say goodbye on the phone. She is planning to return to Santa Cruz this week (if the blockades don't return) and so I am planning to go see her next weekend which is perfect since have Monday and Tuesday off too for a couple of holidays! I'm SO excited to spend this time with her and am praying the Lord gives both of us wisdom as to timing and future plans together. I am falling in love with her more and more each time we talk and get to know each other.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Thank you to all of you who have been concerned about my safety, for your emails and prayers. I am pleased to say things appear to be getting better in Bolivia now. Yesterday, Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera met with the governor of Tarija, Mario Cossio for 7 hours, and the second meeting in three days to discuss a solution. Mario represents the group CONALDE (National Democratic Council) which is the group of people supporting the autonomy movement in the east. Apparently the meeting went very well, so well that both sides feel confident an agreement can be reached, possibly as soon as tonight when President Evo Morales returns from an emergency summit in Santiago, Chile to discuss the crisis with other S. American leaders. As a gesture of good will, the roadblocks in the Santa Cruz region have been lifted.

I just read a very good summary of how the whole crisis started, some of its earliest beginnings took place in 2000 before I ever set foot on Bolivian soil. It also explains the suspicions of Morales over US Ambassador Philip Goldberg and why he ordered him to leave. There is still a ways to go in resolving the situation completely, but things are definitely more optimistic and these talks could lay the groundwork for a more stable Bolivia.

Trinidad has remained calm and peaceful throughout this whole crisis, the only things we have been affected by are the roadblocks which have prevented food and gas shipments from arriving. Apart from that, life is normal here.

Bolivia on Edge

Well, undoubtedly news from Bolivia has surfaced in the States, so let me bring you up to speed on the events that have taken place here in Bolivia this week.

Let me start by saying that things are fine here in Trinidad. Everyone is working, schools are open, and things are basically normal. I feel safe, and so far no violence has taken place in the city. I am continuing to work as normal at La Palmera.

To give a recap of the past six months briefly which has led to this. You'll recall earlier this year, four departments have voted for autonomy (Pando, Beni (where Trinidad is), Santa Cruz and Tarija) via the movement fueled by their regional governors (prefectos). Additionally, Chuquisaca (where the city of Sucre lies) has joined the autonomy movement out of desire to restore Sucre as the capital of Bolivia, claiming they have a more representative cross section of Bolivia than La Paz. The recall vote that was held last month reaffirmed the prefectos of the autonomy movement as well as Evo, which as I eluded to some time ago was seen by both sides as a mandate to carry out their agenda. Evo has a communist driven agenda and is supported by Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

This week, the autonomists have spoken up via actions in Santa Cruz, Tarija and Beni. Tuesday in Santa Cruz, a group of autonomists and handicapped people took several offices for national governement ministries and one resulted in a confrontation between military/police which involved tear gas. At least 50 people were injured in this. In addition, Tuesday the airport here in Trinidad was taken by an affiliated group, as well as in two other cities in the Beni but there was no confrontation involved in any of them. This has suspended flights here and is costing the airlines $60,000/day. Yesterday, more offices were taken in Santa Cruz for other national government ministries and also the bus/train terminal. About 12 such offices have been taken in total. The current state of the country is that there are over 30 roadblocks in the eastern part of the country blocking every major route and also exits to Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. This is preventing travel, supply shipments (most notably cooking gas and fuel for transportation) and some food shipments from arriving. But we have plenty of cows here in the Beni, so we won't run out of meat and there is always bread too. So I won't starve!

Additionally last night, President Evo Morales accused US Ambassador Philip Goldberg of conspiring with the people in the east and has told him to leave Bolivia immediately. His accusations of course have no basis, but the ambassador has been embattled for quite some time now and earlier this year there was speculation that Bush would recall him and appoint a new ambassador, so really it's probably a good thing for US-Bolivian relations that he leaves.

But, one piece of good news . . . the Bolivian soccer team drew with Brazil 0-0 in Brasilia last night in their World Cup qualifier, so that is something to cheer about as nearly everyone expected Brazil to win easily! Bolivia has very little chance of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup at this point, but hopefully they'll move out of last place in the group.

Coping with life in Bolivia

So, many of you probably wonder, how can you live in a place so politically unstable? To be honest, it's not easy. As eventful as things currently are here, I'd much rather trade the peacefulness of places like the US, Canada, Europe or even other S. American countries. But, I'm realizing it's another trial from the Lord, again testing my patience and trust. If I could give one word to sum up what God has been teaching me this year, it's trust and I've seen it in nearly every area of my life. And honestly, it's been very difficult. But, He has kept me safe, given me food every day, given me a wonderful community and a lovely place to live. This place is darker every day, in need of God's love and so I feel even more privileged each day as the Lord works in my life and gives me the tools to bring His light to the world.

Currently in our youth group (Jovenes) meetings we are learning how to use the EvangeCube, which some of you have probably heard of. They are cubes that change into 7 different images portraying the message of the gospel. Another pastor in town is teaching us a 6 lesson course on how to use them as ministry tools. After we finish we hope to go to surrounding communities (like Villa Alba, San Pedro Nuevo, etc.) and share with these people (especially kids), the message of the Gospel. Last weekend we went to Villa Alba, had a happy hour of worship with the kids and distributed Bibles, it felt so rewarding to see the joy on these kids faces and let them know that we hadn't forgotten about them.

Today though, I am enjoying an unexpected "Sur", cold front which is much colder than normal for this time of the year. It's allowing me to get some rest and take my mind off of other things in my life and just enjoy my day off. But this peace would not be possible without the trust God is teaching me. So my challenge to you is, where are you placing your trust today?