Bolivia Disturbing news.

Oct 9, 2007 10:40 AM Evo, our president, flown in his new helicopter from Venezuela landed in Candalaria (a surprise visit).  We could hear his speech given from the loud speakers.  He called them to be on their guard from the unforgiving world power.  He needed them to arm themselves and arm themselves well and soon.  The rest of his speech is not worth repeating.  It was full of hate and anger.  His next stop was Colomi an already violent area.  We are saddened deeply from the hate and ways of manipulation with which he runs his country.  Pray for us and Bolivia.  Recently he made 27 (I do believe it was 27) contracts with Iran.  Of which some were ¨Chemical¨.Which kind of Chemical we do not know. All the funds for these contracts have been financed by Venezuela.  Eric, Emily, Benji, Lydia, Ellie & Julia Lizarazu

Sept Newsletter

Eric and Emily Lizarazu
Ben 7, Lydia 4, Ellie 2, Julia 6mo
Cochabamba, Bolivia
South America
Sept. 2007Hi Everyone!
What a wonderful few months we have had.  Time has slipped away and I think this has been the fastest year of my life!  I will recap just a bit.  In April when we arrived, we got ready for a move.  We chose a house about 40 minutes out of town and in need of a paint job, plumbing and a bit more. It is a nice house with the bathroom in-doors and the kitchen in-doors too. (Our other house had these necessities outside on the patio. )  We lack a good phone and internet services out here though. May and June arrived and as the kids started school, we finished settling in our new house.  Eric was out at camp a lot taking supplies and getting the workers ready for the work teams to come.  We had 4 work teams back to back this year.  It felt like a wonderfully long family visit.  Most of the teams were from the same area.  They accomplished many tasks and encouraged us to work in areas that we ordinarily would not have ventured into due to our other duties.  We did a VBS, dental clinic outreach in a near village, tore down a building, started building new rooms at the village church, worked with the ladies group helping them to sell their weavings, taught them how to use some special looms, hauled cement, showed the Jesus film to 400 World Vision kids, constructed a new mess hall, visited Compassion projects, and and and…Then August arrived and we began September.  In the mean time, the extra land we hoped to buy sold.  We are looking at another piece but the logistics of just getting to it is our greatest problem.   The price is right.  The area beautiful but the road is on the iffy side, not to mention that it is a 2- hour iffy drive.  Our need is to purchase some land to have as over flow land to hold camps on.  Camp Kewina is full all year around now.  There are 2 and sometimes 3 camps on the property each week.
Bolivia and politics:  Read Isaiah 59:8.  The way of peace they do not know, there is no justice in their paths.  They have turned them into crooked roads: no one who walks in them will know peace. There is a vote to approve the new Constitution.  It is not a good one.  We
are in for some tough times!Blessings and Greetings from Bolivia!
The Lizarazu Family

Cards Missing

I have been so busy, not to mention we don´t have easy access to internet.  But, I had a minute today to ask for special prayers.  My sisiter sent us some bank cards and Eric´s new Citizen ship card in June.  It has not arrived.  We can get mail from the states in one week to 6 weeks but this has gotten us worried.  I will sit down maybe next week and fill you in on the wonderful past few months of construction and visits. 

Winter Break (June-Aug)

Ben is on winter break from school and we have several work teams down this
summer.  One team is almost 2 days late due to American Air breaking down in
North Carolina.  So, we are at the office celebrating 4th of July  with
Saltanas.  One of our favorite foods here that you eat for a 10 am snack.
It is somewhat similar to a pot pie but different.Ben learned how to ride a bike without training wheels and he grew two inches that same day.  He kind of had one of those growing experiences and now he is different.  Big.Lydia has grown lately too.  She is so sweet.  Ben knocked her clean up job down out of meanness.   She said, no worries, I will just do it again.  NO need to say your sorry.  I got it….Is she real???  Ellie can reach the microwave and thinks everything has to be microwaved but she confusses the microwave with the refridgerator.  She say, I have to put it in the micro to get cold.Julie still spits up like crazy but she can hold on to things and she arches her back to be picked up.  She still has a gray, hazel color to her eyes, sort of dark blue-brown. See you.  Thought I would catch you up.

New House!

Subject: Bolivia
Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 
 
We are moved in for the most part.  Our new house suits us so far.  Except for the spiders.  Last night I was tucking Ellie into my bed after she woke up crying with leg aches.  In the dark I could see my water bottle sitting on the bed rail.  It looked like a sleeping fly was on the mouth piece and I tried to shoo it away.  When it would not shoo, I picked up the bottle and took it into the light.  OOOOO, I wanted to scream.  What if I had picked it up at night, in my sleep,  and took a big swig out of the mouth hole?  It was an ugly spider too.We are continuing work at the camp on the new buildings.  It looks pretty so far. We can’t wait until August to see how it actually all looks. There are 3 camps this weekend so we will head out tomorrow or Friday morning to work with those groups.We are still praying for the money for the new camp lot.  The “overflow” camp spot.  We may have over half of the money for the lot coming from Sweden.  A former camp team member.  The wait and search is still on. Thanks for praying and considering helping us down here.We are somewhat in a rural area and we don’t have e mail.  We will check once or twice a week at the office in town for any updates.
Emily and Family

Back Home

Eric went home in March & Emily has been home since the first week of April.  Her mom and cousin went along with her.  They have had a busy whirlwind time.  Much to adjust to. Possibly moving and everything that goes along with the plans for that, plus a new little person in the midst of everything!

Last Week in the States

Seems like there will be visa requirements for folks entering Bolivia.  Eric overheard some men talking on the plane and the requirments start in April.  That means two of my children and my mom who is flying with us.  We are counting on the fact that this is Bolivia and that delays are almost certain.  We are hoping that the delays will give us more time to figure out how their visa system will work.  We fly in 9 working days, so it would prove difficult to get a visa at this point.  Just a bit of stress. 

Eric made it home ok.  No problems in customs and he figured he would have to pay for some items he was carrying but they waved him through.  PTL.  Em

Baby Julie- passport

Well we got it. We got the baby a passport.  Many US residents don’t have passports when they are just 2 1/2 weeks old, but we got it!    Looks like there will not be any delays for this trip.  I am so thankful!

Eric heads out on the 22nd and hopes to arrive on Friday the 23rd.  I leave on the 5th of April after I get checked and cleared by the doctor.  The new baby may or may not be able to get some shots before she goes.  But, she will get her check up to go too.  The other kids just need good naps…If you know what I mean.  They are so excited to go home!  I wish I could say the same,  I wish I could keep my mom.  She is such a big help!  I will miss her so much.

Thank you all for your support and interest in Bolivia.

The Lizarazu Family 

Julia Grace Lizarazu arrived with a smile!

My 7’s baby

Born: February 27,07

Weighing in at: 7lbs. 7 oz

Time: 7 AM

 “Julie” is doing great and her brother and sisters are so excited she finally got here!

Great News!!!!  I am sore but ok.    We still have plans to head back to
Bolivia as soon as we can secure a passport.  Eric will head back a week or so earlier than we will but we had to give ourselves until the first part of April for the passport.  It was tough to get a good Passport photo of her.  (Those little 5 day old babies just can’t stand in front of the white screen very well)  She was just sooo little.Thanks for praying for us!

Baby Julie is born!!!

Julie Lizarazu was born February 27th. She was 7 lbs 7 oz.  Baby is doing well. Emily is recuperating from the C-Section and will remain in the hospital for 3 days.