Bolivia #9 – Gifts of Strength

Well, today was a big day. In addition to our usual Bible study in the early morning and VBS, we were looking forward to visiting a couple of radio stations up in El Alto this afternoon, coming back for English class, and going back up to El Alto for the evening concert. Well, I have to say we really weren’t looking forward to that schedule, because it’s a good half hour up to El Alto on steep, winding, bumpy, twisting roads, and its exhausting just making the trip. And, we were painfully aware of how much practice we needed for the concert. Well, as it turned out, the Lord saw to it that we got some rest and the practice! The radio stations called to say that they had sold time in the afternoon, and that we could only come later, during our English class time. So, that was cancelled, and we were able to stay here at the church for the afternoon. Pastor David made arrangements with a secular station just up the street from us about 2 minutes to go in and do a team interview and some songs for about 20 minutes or so, and we were able to do that. This station particularly is designed for factory workers in the area, and we were able to talk about the gospel, and ecumenicity, and the contrast between us and the Catholic church, all as the announcer asked questions. It was great.

We go in some good practice, and spent the rest of the afternoon getting ready and gathering strength for the evening. It’s hard to imagine the difference a couple of thousand feet can make in the extent of your endurance, but at this altitude it can be huge. After a nice dinner, we took a minibus up the tortuous way, but a little quicker this time since we took the toll road. Still, on the way Rachel started feeling really rough. Thought we were going to have to stop to let her out a couple of times, but she held on. By the time we arrived at the church, she was pretty green. Roldan found some local herbs that are good for this sort of thing, and they perked her up considerably, enough so that she was able to participate in the concert! God is good. We really needed her voice and flute, since we’re a pretty small bunch, and it was a big sanctuary. Carol started feeling poorly about the time we started the concert, but held on as well. The trip down was rough for her, but the herbs did the trick for Rachel.

The concert went really well, and was well received. There were about 200 people or so there, many of whom I know from past trips, and many new faces from all over El Alto. Most exciting to me was seeing our new brother in Christ, Ronald, walk in, grinning from ear to ear. He was just beaming, and I felt like jumping up and down with joy at seeing him. He is clearly a new person. He will be coming to church here, and Martin and David are taking him under their collective “wing” to make sure that he is in a place where he can grow in the Lord.

The church we sang at is a large one, and the building is relatively new and still unfinished. But they have come a long ways from the last time that I saw it and ministered there. The pastor is the head of the CALA ministry and a leader in his denomination. CALA is the ministry that produces hymnals in Aymara, the songs that we sing for the concerts we do. They are amazed that Americans like and care about their music, and they treat us as one of them. It’s a blessing.

We came home tired but elated that we survived our concert, and thankful for the strength that God gives to do his work. Thanks for your prayers.