Sent: Monday, Dec 11, 2006 3:45 PM
Subject: We got the Passport
The kids and I went out to camp for a few days so we would not be alone while Eric took a long bus ride to LaPaz to see if he could pick up my passport. Unlucky for him, he missed the night bus and made it the next morning. Lucky for him, he was still able to get there before the immigrations people closed up the next day and they actually released the passport to him right then. It seems that we will have to submit the passport again in April when I return (Eric will not be leaving
Bolivia but for a short visit when the baby is due.) But, we will worry about that later. Thanks, the timing could not have been much closer seeing that the kids and I take off on Wednesday. Emily
Monday, December 04, 2006 8:27 AM Passports
Bolivia… In June we were to pick up my passport all completed. It has not arrived. Around Thanks Giving Eric sent a letter of complaint and request for my Passport to arrive in
Cochabamba from LaPaz soon. They did nothing. Today, he called again. They said to call again on Wed. morning. If it is not here on Wed. morning he will have to make a trip to LaPaz (8 hour bus trip) to see if they will release the passport. With work to do at camp you can see our frustration – more days lost. We leave as a family on the 13th to
Santa Cruz for our flight out on the 14th to the States. We have run out of time. Thanks for remembering us in your prayers and thanks for those who have remembered and have written to ask about the passports. Emily
Tuesday, September 05, 2006 1:58 PM
More on Bolivia
Today I sat at a Red Light: It had both red and green lights lit up. What a set up for a crash! I laughed as I thought about
Bolivia. As we speak there are about 5 different marches, strikes and road blocks. This is what a few of their “causes” are.1. Evo wants to stop Coca Leaf growing in one area. The people want it.2. The people wish their town to be identified with a bigger zone so that they can receive more govt. money.3. The people wish to run the church in one area. They say that they can get more money from the Catholic church if they are given positions and authority to run it.4. The MAS, the political party in charge, wants to write the constitution and vote in all the laws with a 51% vote or the simple majority (50% of the people writing the constitution are from that party so what they would do is just sign things in their way.) But, the current constitution says before a law gets changed it needs 2/3 vote. This could stop the MAS from swaying the constitution for their benefit. The people want the 2/3 vote. So, there are school strikes and marches in the other “states”- departments of
Bolivia. As for the other reasons for the civil unrest. Hmm, we are not sure what the truth is. I am not so sure that the people marching, congesting the roads, and burning tires know either. Just a quick note on how to pray for
Bolivia and the strong holds keeping her from making any progress out of poverty.
Monday, September 04, 2006 6:44 PM
For those who pray
This week we tried to get out to camp. There were unexpected road blocks. The man who keeps the grounds at camp was to stay until we arrived. He did not keep his end of the deal. He took transport to the road block, walked around it, then he came to town. This left camp empty with no one looking after it.Last week. We did not go to camp when we usually do. During this time, some community members broke a contract with us. They dug a pipe line 5 blocks long and laid some pipe across camp land. The contract was to be finalized and signed this week. With POSSIBLE work beginning on THIS WEDNESDAY. So, what happened? Who gave them the permission? And how do we handle this in a Christian manner when it should not have happened? We are asking to be lifted up because anger is quickly getting the better of us.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Sunday Elections in Bolivia
This sunday we have Elections here in
Bolivia. This is a reminder to pray for us. These elections are to re-write our constitution. A Venezuelan airplane came carrying a load of Cuban medical supplies and a box of premarked ballots for Evo, the current President and his party, He is very much into banning Christ at all costs. He wants each school to teach the worship of the Earth and Sun God. You can see why we fear his party entering into the team to re write the Constitution.Saturday, June 10, 2006
Bolivia – Politics and PrayerI can make a pretty good apple crisp but when it comes to politics, especially Bolivian politics, I try to stay out of them. It is quite the saga here. She said, they think, can you believe, road blocks, riots, lies and bribes. However, this is what I know for now. I write about politics because there are 2 chance for prayers to make a difference right now. One, for Bolivian school kids and their future. The other for the whole country as they elect officials to write a new constitution. Here is a bit more detail. Fascism – Authoritarian – Fascism is a radical authoritarian political philosophy that combines elements of corporatism, totalitarianism, extreme nationalism, militarism, anti-communism and anti-liberalism. Those are big words to say, we are in trouble here. Evo Morales, who was elected President of Bolivia wants to be Fidel Castro or
Venezuela’s President Chavez. He is a charismatic, violent man who relies on the words of Chavez and Castro to make his moves. His alliances with
Venezuela and
Cuba have led him to implement laws that bypass the Bolivian Constitution in the Education and Religion reforms. Starting in August, Evo has suggested that we copy the Cuban Education system. Evo says,
Venezuela has done it, it must be good….A few of these changes would include:1. Changing the name of the schools to Educacion Doctrinal Inical or “Initial Doctrination Classes”. The Universities would be changed as well to “University Bolivariano …then their name” The Bolivariano phrase would mean, “Government
Union School of …their name.”2. Trained teachers and students would be spies. These spies would be placed in the schools to notify authorities of any Bible or other religious teachings. (
Venezuela has already fired 1,000’s of teachers and implemented their pre-trained spies into their schools, including students.)3. Each school would have to teach the “activistist-ideologies”. Brain wash the students into the humanist doctrines. From pre-school on up.4. Private schools would be government run and not free to teach religion.5. I could go on but you get the point and the urgency.
Venezuela has recently closed their doors to missionaries. This is a likely to happen here as well. Evo, Chavez and Fidel want to create a dominant power here in
South America. They want a power such as
Europe or the
USA here on the Latin frontier. They are backing and pushing for other South American countries to elect Authoritarian, extremists as well.
Peru just elected a President. One they did not like, but, the other choice was a man connected to
Venezuela as well.
Venezuela has now cut ties with
Peru and turned to
Columbia as they look to vote for a new President soon. Back to
Bolivia…Evo Moralas promised to make a committee to create a new Constitution. This would consist of elected members who would spend 1 ½ years rewriting the Bolivian Constitution. Elections are next month. We worry about Evo’s party getting elected. We worry about Liberals getting elected. We worry about what Evo, who thinks he is King/God now will feel he can do while the new Constitution is being formed. I don’t know it all. I am not a politician, but it is clear that Communism does not work. The positive side of all this is that there has been more cues in
Bolivia than any other country. Their govt. has never been stable. Every few years the govt. changes, every since their independence from
Spain. So, this yuck stuff may not last. Or it may… it depends on what Congress we get to help or hurt the country.Keep us in your prayers. This is serious for us right now. It is getting bad, but it could be good. I heard once that 95% of people who suffer persecution prosper but 95%of people who prosper fail. I hope
Bolivia pulls through. Turns to Jesus, the real Jesus, and heads up a revival in all of
Latin America. Wouldn’t it be neat if he influenced even Fidel Castro? Wouldn’t it be neat if….God is big enough. Ask with us. Please go and pray.Eric, Emily and FamilyThis sunday we have Elections here in
Bolivia. This is a reminder to pray for us. These elections are to re-write our constitution. A Venezuelan airplane came carrying a load of Cuban medical supplies and a box of premarked ballots for Evo, the current President and his party, He is very much into banning Christ at all costs. He wants each school to teach the worship of the Earth and Sun God. You can see why we fear his party entering into the team to re write the Constitution.Saturday, June 10, 2006
Bolivia – Politics and PrayerI can make a pretty good apple crisp but when it comes to politics, especially Bolivian politics, I try to stay out of them. It is quite the saga here. She said, they think, can you believe, road blocks, riots, lies and bribes. However, this is what I know for now. I write about politics because there are 2 chance for prayers to make a difference right now. One, for Bolivian school kids and their future. The other for the whole country as they elect officials to write a new constitution. Here is a bit more detail. Fascism – Authoritarian – Fascism is a radical authoritarian political philosophy that combines elements of corporatism, totalitarianism, extreme nationalism, militarism, anti-communism and anti-liberalism. Those are big words to say, we are in trouble here. Evo Morales, who was elected President of Bolivia wants to be Fidel Castro or
Venezuela’s President Chavez. He is a charismatic, violent man who relies on the words of Chavez and Castro to make his moves. His alliances with
Venezuela and
Cuba have led him to implement laws that bypass the Bolivian Constitution in the Education and Religion reforms. Starting in August, Evo has suggested that we copy the Cuban Education system. Evo says,
Venezuela has done it, it must be good….A few of these changes would include:1. Changing the name of the schools to Educacion Doctrinal Inical or “Initial Doctrination Classes”. The Universities would be changed as well to “University Bolivariano …then their name” The Bolivariano phrase would mean, “Government
Union School of …their name.”2. Trained teachers and students would be spies. These spies would be placed in the schools to notify authorities of any Bible or other religious teachings. (
Venezuela has already fired 1,000’s of teachers and implemented their pre-trained spies into their schools, including students.)3. Each school would have to teach the “activistist-ideologies”. Brain wash the students into the humanist doctrines. From pre-school on up.4. Private schools would be government run and not free to teach religion.5. I could go on but you get the point and the urgency.
Venezuela has recently closed their doors to missionaries. This is a likely to happen here as well. Evo, Chavez and Fidel want to create a dominant power here in
South America. They want a power such as
Europe or the
USA here on the Latin frontier. They are backing and pushing for other South American countries to elect Authoritarian, extremists as well.
Peru just elected a President. One they did not like, but, the other choice was a man connected to
Venezuela as well.
Venezuela has now cut ties with
Peru and turned to
Columbia as they look to vote for a new President soon. Back to
Bolivia…Evo Moralas promised to make a committee to create a new Constitution. This would consist of elected members who would spend 1 ½ years rewriting the Bolivian Constitution. Elections are next month. We worry about Evo’s party getting elected. We worry about Liberals getting elected. We worry about what Evo, who thinks he is King/God now will feel he can do while the new Constitution is being formed. I don’t know it all. I am not a politician, but it is clear that Communism does not work. The positive side of all this is that there has been more cues in
Bolivia than any other country. Their govt. has never been stable. Every few years the govt. changes, every since their independence from
Spain. So, this yuck stuff may not last. Or it may… it depends on what Congress we get to help or hurt the country.Keep us in your prayers. This is serious for us right now. It is getting bad, but it could be good. I heard once that 95% of people who suffer persecution prosper but 95%of people who prosper fail. I hope
Bolivia pulls through. Turns to Jesus, the real Jesus, and heads up a revival in all of
Latin America. Wouldn’t it be neat if he influenced even Fidel Castro? Wouldn’t it be neat if….God is big enough. Ask with us. Please go and pray.
Eric, Emily and Family
January 2006
Hang in there, it is a long one!
Politics:
There has been peace since the December 18th election of Evo Morales -an
uneducated, coca farmer (coca as in cocaine not chocolate) and a known
leader of the “cocaleros” (the union of coca growers) was elected
President. Supported by
Cuba and
Venezuela, Evo and his party have made
many people take a deep breath and wonder what will happen next. Their
known anti US policies, their violent past (their party succeeded in causing
such unrest among the impoverished that the last 2 presidents in 2 years
resigned and one fled the country) have many folks walking around shaking
their head. Evo and some of his party members return this week from a Cuban
sponsored tour of
Cuba,
France,
Spain,
South Africa &
China to make
important social contacts. His swearing in ceremony is January 22. During
the last several weeks that we experienced peace, we can’t help but wonder
what sort of unrest would have arisen (initiated by him) had another
president been elected.
In the book of Jude Christians are given their purpose and their role when
things like this happen: Verse 22 – 23 “But you, dear friends, build
yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep
yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others
from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear- hating
even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”
Ministry:
Starting in November when Bolivian schools got out, the camp started
hopping. There were World Vision camps (Children from villages around
Bolivia), Children’s camp, Adventure camp, Teen camp and independent camps
(church groups who rent the camp). The themes are as varied as the groups.
Some groups are learning about the “Easter story”, some creationism, others
Abraham. Many of these camps aren’t planned quite like camps on the state
side. We plan as much as we can. We program and staff but, most of our
running around happens at the last moment when the busses show up. It is
only then that we know how much meat, rice and potatoes to buy. We find
ourselves running around for hours trying to make the supplies meet our
needs as the number of kids increases up till the moment the busses are
pulling out.
We had the pleasure of having two nice folks from
North Carolina visit us in
December, Dave and Dana Cadwell. Dana is a knitter and weaver and with her
motivation we met quite a few women in the village around camp who knitted
and wove beautiful items. She was able to buy many items to take back to
sell in the craft shows in her area. The proceeds will be fed back into the
local church. They also planted, weeded, mowed and cleaned. But, the
biggest thing we did with them is to bring Christmas to the village. Our
Annual Christmas Program for the village is sponsored by their church in
North Carolina. Through this sponsorship, we were able to give gifts to
over 700 children and their parents as well as do a bit of evangelizing. A
week later we were asked to share the extra gifts with some kids about a 30
minute drive from camp. We loaded the gifts (a puffed corn snack with a
sprinkle of sugar – it tastes like Styrofoam but is very popular – a sucker
and some plastic toys) and headed down the road with one very excited man
yelling out the window, “Everybody, run to the school, Christmas is on its
way.” In the end, we were served some boiled potatoes and something
similar to cottage cheese and told that the people in this part of the
village wouldn’t block the roads or charge us a toll the next time we took
our Adventure Teams down their road. (They blocked the roads the last time
Eric went to pick a group of hikers up thinking Eric was the DEA searching
for drugs.) It was a good peace-making venture, I guess.
A peek at our week:
We were forced to have a quiet week this past week. Eric had only one or
two things that had to get done in the city, one was to renew his driver’s
license, the other was to take the car in to the mechanic. Not as simple as
it seems but, no worries, there is a happy ending. This is how the week
unfolded. Monday he stood in line at the police station all morning waiting
on his turn. He was 7th from the door when they came out and announced that
they were closing for their 2 hour lunch break so, he had to return in the
afternoon. This time he was able to start the papers but they closed early
so he couldn’t finish them. He returned on Tuesday to complete the process
and was told to return on Wed. to pick up the license which wasn’t finished
when he arrived and he was told to come back on Thursday to see if they had
finished it. They did! But, in the meantime, he took the truck into the
mechanic so he was without wheels all week. When the mechanics called us,
they had taken everything out of the truck to get to the clutch and they
needed some parts. Eric had to run to town to pick up the parts the
mechanic was going to need (have you ever carried a Land Cruiser clutch on
your back in a back pack while riding a bike?) Well, Eric tried but he had
to take a taxi instead because he had to carry the old clutch to town to
compare it to the new one before he bought it so there would be no mistakes.
Two clutches too much. We hope to pick the car up Saturday. All was well
though, these little things kept Eric home more and we enjoyed his company!
We can’t believe it is almost February. January flew by. The kids are
great by the way. Thanks for all your prayers.
Prayer Requests:
-Evo is traditional and superstitious. Pray that God will use that to turn
him around.
-Safety to,from, and at camp.
-FaithfulnessPraise:-We are thankful for the peace that passes all understanding! Among many
other things!
Acts 10:34-35
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not
show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what
is right.
Blessings,
The Lizarazu Family
