Starting From Scratch

This is turning out to be the most challenging area I've worked in, but also one of the most exciting. Ali and I are in a mission church plant in the truest sense of the word. Our team of locals consist of the pastor, his wife, and his nine children. Oh, and that's the same folks who make up the congregation. But wait there's more, the pastors wife, Segunda, can't work too long because it takes so long to prepare meals. (No fridge in the house and she has to borrow propane to cook.)

The "church" (shown above) is four months old and really what we have is a pastor with a huge heart and desire to plant this new church, and not a whole lot else. I'm loving this huge challenge the Lord has placed before our team. There is no mother church, no team of locals helping the pastor. It's us and our translators. What this means is that this church, as it grows, will begin with all baby believers. The pastor really has his work cut out for him. His name is Angel (ahng-hel) and he needs not angels, but divine help.Ali
Ali shared with a woman (Carla) that she came all the way from the U.S. to Bolivia just to tell her God loves her and Jesus can take away her sins. When Carla heard this, she broke into tears that Jesus led Ali to come all this way--and not Disneyworld (many latin Americans' dream trip) Then Carla prayed to accept Christ.


Tonight Carla showed up at our worship service and Ali got to hold a little, women's bible study for new believers.