They're home...

The team all made it home today, with only one delayed piece of baggage.

Wendi is tired, and has a lot to tell about the work. The Lord indeed blessed the work, with over sixty women the visited coming to salvation.

I'm sure there will be a lot of stories to share in the coming days...

Mission Day #10...Homecoming

Well, it won't be long now.

I did speak with Wendi yesterday afternoon. The team is all well, with only a few minor cold symptoms. And, everyone is tired.

The flight arrives early this afternoon, after an overnight trek.

I wonder what she'll appreciate most about coming home? And I wonder what she'll be missing from her time away?

Thank you to all who've been reading about the trip, and those who've been earnest in their prayers for the team. I'm sure they'll be happy to share some of their experiences with you soon. Keep checking back here, and we'll post some pictures and stories for you.

Doug

Mission Day #9...The flight home

Today is the last day in Bolivia. The itinerary is:

• Breakfast & devotions
• Morning shopping in Santa Cruz
• Finish packing and check out
• 12:30/1pm Lunch
• 2:30 Final Presentation-
• (A) Where is CAMS going from here
• (B) And how do we work together with Women of Purpose?
• Prayer time together
• Team meeting and final in-country debrief
• 6:30pm Dinner at Fridolin’s
7:30pm Leave for airport for evening flight

I did have an email from Wendi waiting for me when I got up this morning:

"hi honey, we are back in the city. I would have never considered this hotel high class but I could not be happier about being where there is a flushing toilet and not just a hole in the ground. I will try to call later. we have some presentations to do and lunch and dinner, they eat a lot here. I am ready to come home! I miss everyone. It has been a wild journey, both with God and Bolivia. Can´t wait to tell you all about it.
hasta pronto. Wendi"

And I can't wait to hear about it all...

Mission Day #8...Return to Santa Cruz

The team will be returning to Santa Cruz today, preparing to start the long trip back home. They will have a chance to meet with another group of women before they leave the area. The day looks to be much nicer for travel: 73 F with scatterred clouds.

The itinerary for today is:

Return to Santa Cruz
• Breakfast & Personal devotions
• 8:30am check out and depart for last site visit
• Presentation Discussion of demographics of area &
status of CAMS program
• 10:30- 2:00 –Project visit # 5 Visit Diego’s groups
Meet with clients in Los Troncos and visit their farms
• Eat lunch in client’s restaurant in Los Troncos
• 2:30 Travel back to Santa Cruz
• 5:30 Check in at hotel- showers, nap, etc, begin packing up
• 7:00 Dinner
• Team meeting & debrief

I like that part where it says "nap, etc". And I wonder how much more stuff they are bringing home - Wendi did a remarkable job of packing light on her way down. I'm looking forward to packing light for upcoming vacations as well, but I'm not sure she'll have the same strategy in mind - usually there are a lot more shoes included in her luggage!

I'm looking forward to seeing her on Sunday.

Message from our Pastor...

I'm forwarding a message sent today to the Women of Purpose by our Pastor, Rainer Kunz.

Dear Karen, Tara, Wendi and Celeste,

Just wanted you to know that I’m thinking of you all and praying for you each day. I just got back from Chicago and now we’re off to Anaheim for Jordan’s graduation.
I look forward to seeing you all when I get back. I can’t wait to hear your stories.
As I type this I’m looking at a quote on my wall that Ellen Skubic gave me. I think it’s appropriate for the work that you’re doing – “THERE ARE THREE STAGES IN THE WORK OF GOD – IMPOSSIBLE, DIFFICULT… DONE.”
Here’s one more for you. I need to be reminded of this verse daily -
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
Keep pointing people to Jesus!
I love and miss you all dear sisters in Christ,
Your Pastor
Rainer Kunz

Thank you, Rainer, for your words.

(As Phill has commented in an email to some of you, we would certainly welcome comments and emails that you would like to post on the blog. This can either be done by clicking on the "Comment" link below each entry, or simply send an email to either Phill or Doug, so that we can post it online. The team may be able to read these messages tomorrow, when they return to Santa Cruz.)

Mission Day #7...The Women's Event

It was wonderful to hear from Karen and Wendi last night; I didn't think we'd hear from them again until they returned to "the city" - Santa Cruz. The women were up late, working on the drama that they are to present tonight in a "Special Women's Event". But, that event comes this evening; it promises to be another long day.

The agenda today is:

Tour of Microfinance Groups in La Brecha/San Julian
• Personal devotions & Breakfast
• 8:30 depart for San Julian
• Presentation Discussion of demographics of La Brecha area, relocation & status of CAMS program.
• 10:00 – 3:00 Project Visit #4 Visit Lourdes’s groups
Learn to cook a typical Bolivian lunch with one of our
loan groups in Los Angeles
Praying for clients & their businesses & families
Eat lunch together (WP group + LA group)
2pm- Attend monthly loan meeting + payment
• 3pm- Return to San Javier and prepare
• Special Women’s Event (time to be confirmed ~8)
• Evening team meeting & daily debrief

(Do you think that we'll be having some Bolivian lunches soon?)

The weather today looks to be a little better: 70 F and partly cloudy. I'm sure that is a welcome change.

Talk for a Minute

I spoke with my wife Karen and Doug spoke his wife Wendi today for about a minute. The team has been busy meeting and interacting with local women and children in need. It has been fulfilling for them all, but sad as well because there is so much need among the Bolivians. Most of the team has or is getting a cold due to the temperature dropping and rain. We should hear from them again late Friday or on Saturday. God bless.

Mission Day #6...El Puente

As I prepare for my day, I am thinking of my wife and the team in Bolivia, preparing for their day. It looks like the weather has cooled off a bit: http://www.weatherunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=san+javier+bolivia. The forecast is only in the 60's. (El Puente doesn't show up on their search engine - it's 90 minutes away from San Javier, so they may have a little different weather.)

The agenda, as we know it, is:

Tour of Microfinance Groups in El Puente
• 8:30 AM – Depart for El Puente (90 minutes)- arrive at 10:00
• Presentation Discussion of demographics of El Puente area & status of CAMS program.
• 11:00 – 6:00 Project Visit #3 Activities in 4 groups in
El Puente – morning and afternoon sessions
• Participating in business (Palm oil production, stores, etc)
• Sharing testimonies and Praying with clients who want it
• Team joins together for lunch and at the end of the day
• 6:00 – Depart for San Javier
• Dinner
• Team meeting and daily debrief

As I rush off to start my day, I will be thinking of the work in Bolivia. "...We consantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith." - 2 Thesslonians 1:11 NIV

Mission Day #5...A Visit to the Mission

The scheduled agenda for today is:

• Personal devotions & Breakfast
• 8:30AM –Presentation (A) discussion of demographics of San Javier area (B) status of CAMS program.
• 9:30- 5:00 Project Visit #2 Activities in 4 groups in
San Javier and Villa Fátima- morning and afternoon sessions
• Participating in their business (baking, crafts, etc)
• Sharing testimonies and Praying with clients who want it
• Team joins together for lunch and at the end of the day
• 5:30 Tour of Jesuit Mission
• Dinner
• Team meeting and daily debrief

The first presentation is by a Peace Corps worker - that should be a wonderful experience.

And the visit to the Jesuit Mission looks to be a unique experience. These missions were featured in the 1986 movie "The Mission", starring Robert DeNiro: http://imdb.com/title/tt0091530/. I'll have to put that on my NetFlix queue for Wendi's return. You can watch the trailer for the movie at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=PvWaD-NErlY.





I can't wait to hear the stories...

Mission Day#4...The work begins

This morning, the team will begin the real work. They will leave the city of Santa Cruz, and the nice hotel that we've heard about, and head to the "campo", the countryside.

I did receive an email yesterday from Tara, one of the other women from West Puget Sound Women of Purpose:

"Hi friends: Well we made it in one piece!! What an amazing place. The people are so great here. Everyone we have met has been so friendly despite the language barrier.

We have spent the last few days in Santa Cruz in a very nice hotel while we have been acclimated to the surroundings. Yesterday we met the Bolivian teams that do all the loan processing for the locals. They are a great group of people. We have been given so much information that it´s a bit overwhelming. There is such a need here. My eyes have really been opened to the difference in lifestyle here. I knew it was going to be different, but it amazes me how kids are all over with no adult supervision. They will be playing in the streets while their parents are selling stuff on the side walk.

Today we are gong to church. Should be in interesting in Spanish!! I have so much to tell you about.

Thank you for your support and prayers. Keep them coming. So far we have been blessed. No one is sick or injured. Thank you again.

Take care, God Bless you,
Tara "

The agenda for today was published as:

• Personal devotions and breakfast
• 8:30 AM –WC Bolivia Devotional & Staff meeting
• WC Office Tour
• Presentation History of WCB; WC programs; future vision
• Prayer for WC-Bolivia, CAMS Program, team and upcoming site visits
• Eat Salteñas!
• 10:30 –pack up and depart for project sites
• 2:30 to 5:00 Project Site #1- VillaVictoria with Jhonny (papaya, farm animals, etc)
• Continue to San Javier & check in hotel
• 7:30 Dinner
• Team meeting and debrief

I really have to hear about that entry in mid-morning: "Eat Salteñas!" Are they planning on eating crackers?

I can't wait to hear about the people they are meeting, the fellowship that is made possible by our Lord.

Santa Cruz, Bolivia in the news...

I thought you might find this article, http://www.latinbusinesschronicle.com/app/article.aspx?id=1059, of interest...

The article from the Latin Business Chronicle ranks Santa Cruz as one of the worst for quality of life, with the city seen as losing ground.

On another "news note", this is the fifth anniverary of the death of Hugo Banzer, former president. For those of you living in Kitsap County, you may recognize the name Banzer as that of a local cardiologist...

Mission Day #4...Worship, and the first to be sick...

Today's agenda starts with worship. The Women of Purpose are attending a church service, to be held in Spanish. The agenda states "leave for church" at 9:30, with the next entry being "lunch".

I got an email from Wendi this morning:

"...So much to tell you, but I need to keep it short. Yesterday was so amazing. We never made it to the waterfall, that story is better in person though. I am amazed how God can bring people togther. We met the most amazing team from World Concern. They were patient with our lack of Spanish, and so kind. After a long day in the "compo" (country) we came back to the hotel to freshen up and went to dinner. I did not eat much, but some of the women tried some intestine, esophagus etc. Dinner was about 3 hrs long, and really fun. Then we came back debriefed and prayed together. I went to bed around midnight, and a woke at 3:45 with intense stomache cramps. I will not go into detail, but I am the first to be sick in the group. I missed church this morning so I could recover. I am feeling much better, but still a bit queasy. ... I cannot wait to share all my stories. This is probably my last chance to email. We leave for the country tomorrow out to San Javier. We will finally meet the women that are benefiting from the microfinancing program. I am so excited that God has brought me here..."

The rest of the day is more training and preparation, with presentations by the World Concern staff on the history and politics of the country, the lives of the poor in Bolivia, and details about the microfinance project.

An email...

Just thought I'd share that I did get an email from Wendi today -

"We have a big day today. We had an exhausting day yesterday. Everything is well, and nobody is sick yet."..."Adios, Wendi".

Mission Day #3...Preparation

Today's agenda starts with sleeping in! I'm sure that was welcomed...

I am impressed by the planning and preparation that the World Concern staff has put into the trip. As an example of that, I will show you the day's agenda, which was shared with the team well before they left on the trip:

Orientation & Adventure with CAMS team
(waterfall & natural springs bonding experience
& small town market to test Spanish and charades skills)
• Sleep-in until 8:00am (you came a long way!)
• Personal devotions & breakfast
• Welcome/orientation and introductions 9:30–10:30 AM
• Depart for Los Espejios waterfall and natural springs
• Picnic lunch at Los Espejios & short hike
• Adventure at the El Torno local vegetable market
• Return to hotel to at 6:00 PM -showers
• Dinner at 7:00 at local restaurant – Casa de Camba
• Team meeting- daily debrief

The local weather today is 88F, with 63% humidity. Wendi wasn't planning on going swimming at the waterfall, but she might change her mind!

Update...

As I was driving to the hospital this lunch hour, I got a phone call. The caller ID was the longest string of digits I've seen, beginning with a + symbol... It was Wendi calling from Santa Cruz.

The team arrived on time, without any trouble. She confirmed that they arrived later than expected in Miami, after going around a thunderstorm. But they had plenty of time to make the connecting flight to La Paz. When they arrived there, the passengers remained on the plane while Bolivian Customs officers boarded the plane for inspection. They were scheduled for a 45 minute stop, but spent two hours on the tarmac, as the officers very carefully searched each seat pocket, each seat cushion, each carry-on bag. (What do you suppose they were searching for? Are they worried that people are importing drugs FROM Miami? ...)

It was about 4 o'clock local time, and she told me that they had a nice lunch, the big meal of the day. She was happy to see that there were no beans! The Bolivians prefer rice and potatoes. Guess that Beano won't be necessary.

The team was all pretty tired from the trip, and she was looking forward to bed. She told me the hotel was very nice; certainly nicer than the hotel they had stayed in Wednesday night in SeaTac.

Mission Day #2...The Arrival

The team was scheduled to arrive in Santa Cruz at 8:10 this morning - that's 4:10 AM Seattle time. My phone rang this morning a little after 6:00. News from Bolivia? No, just my work.

As seen above, I was able to "watch" the team's scheduled flight on its way to Miami. Looks like the flight took a bit of a longer route, around a thunderstorm. In fact, the website indicated that it was going to be arriving an hour later than expected. It looked like they still had an hour and twenty minutes before the flight left for La Paz. But, I couldn't find a way to track the international flight online...

The agenda for today has the team arriving at the hotel at 10:00 AM. The agenda for the day is light, and includes some time set aside for prayer. The team will spend some time preparing for a women's event to take place later in the week. The team will be walking to the plaza for dinner "or just an ice cream if not hungry." (Well, hmmm, is that ice cream pasteurized?) Each evening ends with a team meeting and debriefing. And then, off to bed early to catch up on their sleep.

There may be a chance for visiting an internet cafe later today; I'll let you know if I get an email...

Doug

Mission Day #1... The Journey

The team from West Puget Sound Women of Purpose and World Concern are in transit now, having left Seattle this morning. I hope to be able to update you with news as it becomes available during the next 10 days.

Last night, Wendi and I, along with our son Nick, had a chance to join Coleen and her husband David, Sarah, Anna, and Karen and her husband Phill in SeaTac for a brief dessert. (You could say we broke "bread pudding" together, and banana creme pie!) As we drove up to the hotel where this part of the team was spending the night, we parked next to a well-used Land Rover, which apparently had already been to Bolivia as part of it's long trek from Europe to Africa to South America on up to Alaska! Small world, after all...

And this morning, as I prepared for work, and Wendi was preparing for the trip in SeaTac, the Today show had a story featuring the Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan about "Village Banking", the practice of microloans and community accountability that is the model being used by World Concern in their Women of Purpose projects. The statistic noted at the bottom of the screen states that 1.3 billion people, mostly women and children, "struggle to live on $1 a day." Wendi had shared with me that she'd heard another source saying that 2/3 of the world's population live on less than $3 per day. And again, it is this pervasive poverty that puts women and children at risk of exploitation and abuse.

The trip started in Seattle this morning, with a flight to Dallas. The flight then goes on to Miami. From Miami, the team will fly to La Paz, and then on to Santa Cruz, Bolivia. After leaving this morning at 10:00, the team will arrive in Santa Cruz at 8:10 AM tomorrow, local time. (Santa Cruz is four hours ahead of Seattle time.)

The weather in Santa Cruz has been fairly nice. I'll be using this website: http://http//www.wunderground.com/global/stations/85245.html, to keep up with the weather.

I know that the team covets your prayers. Thank you all for your support of the project. The team has a long day ahead, and the team left with anticipation for the work ahead. As we met at the hotel in SeaTac last evening, we were greeted by a rainbow, a reminder of the promises that God has made to us.

(For those of you who would like to participate in devotional messages from the "men behind the Women", click on the link to the Brothers of Barnabas blog site.)

Doug