Winds of Change

July - A Difficult Month For Us

So many things happened over this last month for Colleen and myself. One of the workers in El Candelero didn't work for part of July and so Colleen helped out in the coffee house. Being that July is winter here in Bolivia we had some very cold evenings. This winter is the first time since we have been here that all my plants froze solid. Still not sure if they will come back but that is another story. Anyway when it is so cold the youth and college students here in Tarija prefer being inside instead of out and seeing as there is so few options here in Tarija they come to the coffee house (El Candelero). During the week that Colleen was helping it was one of the busiest weeks the coffee house has ever seen. Estimating over 500 people every day. So many it is hard to count. We are thankful for this ministry and the opportunity to reach out to them. As well David Fuertes took the month off from his work in Comunidad Cristiana Candelero (the church plant) and so Colleen was left alone with the worship. David does most of the preaching and because he took the month off we had a variety of guest speakers come to share in our church. The first two Sundays we had an ex-priest, studied 10 years in the vatican in Rome. The third Sunday an ex alcoholic shared his testimony of how God brought him out of his sickness using the prayers of his wife.The forth SundayDavid did share about because it was a special Sunday here, Friendship Day. The last Sunday I shared. I hadn't preached in a long time and I must say that I actually enjoyed it. I find preaching in Spanish hard but it is getting better.

August and September - Months Of Change

August and September are months were change always takes place. Winter is ending here and Spring is coming. This change in seasons is always brought in with lots of wind. This is how we know when spring is actually coming. Once the winds come bringing with them lots of dust and hot air Spring is not far behind. Although this period of change is not always enjoyed we know that better weather is not far behind and so we are thankful and rejoice in what God has in store for us.

In the same way we are going through changes in our ministry during the months of August and September. The biggest of these changes is in our youth ministry. Up until now our group is from the ages of 13 until over 30. It has been challenging to meet the needs of all the different ages as well trying to keep unity and a sense of oneness in the group. Over the last years we have seen the group grow both in numbers as well as spiritually. However it is definitely time for change. We are dividing the group to be more like a youth group, ages 13 - 17, and a college and career group, ages 18 and up. With the separation of the ages we will also change the topics of the studies to be more geared to the specific age groups.We are excited that Carlos, one of the college aged individuals will be leading the youth group. I have had the privilege of watching Carlos grow a lot in his faith. He used to be a rough and tough youth, painting tattoos on people for income, living a promiscuous life. Now he has developed into an incredible leader. He visits people in the jail twice a week, volunteers every day with the street kids ministry as well as studies in a Bible seminary several times a week. I am excited for his enthusiasm to serve and to impact others for Jesus Christ.

The other major change is that we are no longer involved in the Wednesday business group Bible study. Over the last three years we have seen one conversion. Not saying that this is not good. We are excited about what God has done but feel that our time will be better used in another area of need. When we first started our church the majority of those attending where youth. However, now after 2 1/2 years we have more adults and young couples than we do youth. Because of this we have decided that we are going to offer a mid-week bible study for the adults and young couples of our church to help with their spiritual growth. Please pray with us as we look for the perfect material to give them.

Our church service recently

Our church service shortly after we started in October 2004