Team Timothy

Please remember in prayer these ministries as they raise funds and prepare.

• Team Timothy Edmonton will be ministering at the Edmonton BPC, helping with their first VBS from June 30—July 7.
• Team Timothy Cambodia is raising funds and preparing to lead 6 days of VBS and 2 Saturday sessions of Bible and English lessons from July 18—August 3rd.

It is a mistake to assume that missions is all about foreign fields. The needy are all around us.  Every believer is a missionary wherever God has put him.  And the needs are not only spiritual, but also temporal. All too often evangelicals ignore temporal needs out of fear of preaching a social gospel, but in so doing, miss wonderful opportunities to minister to the whole person. In an effort to help our BP young people see the mission field in their own backyard, Team Timothy USA traveled to New York City, August 14-21.  There PMU partnered with the inter-city ministry of Dr. Bill Jones of the New York Gospel Mission (NYGM). NYGM has existed for over 100 years with the primary goal of reaching Jewish people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. In recent years, the ministry has expanded to include all the residents of Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Dr. Len Pine led the team of eleven young people and adults. Mornings were spent in training in the Old Testament, focusing on how it reveals the Lord Jesus Christ as the Messiah. The team then left the sanctuary of the church and entered the mission field of New York City. They handed out tracts and talked to people at the Coney Island board walk. They did the same in the subway underneath Grand Central Station. They spent two afternoons in the heart of the Garment District, evangelizing on the street. At each location, Dr. Pine and a few of the team members also sang gospel music in the open air. The church associated with NYGM, Tompkins Square Gospel Fellowship, has been blessed in recent months by donations of food by a local Trader Joe’s supermarket. Daily van loads of bread, fruits and vegetables, canned goods, and high quality foods of all kinds are picked up and then distributed by Dr. Jones and the church. The team was able to participate throughout the week in this food pantry ministry both in the Projects and in the church itself. Hundreds of people came to receive food, and in the process, also heard the gospel, received tracts, and were ministered to in their need. They not only received physical bread, but they also received spiritual bread! Team members were amazed at how ready people were to listen to the preaching of the gospel and were blessed as they served people many times poorer than themselves. The week ended with a 9 PM to midnight open house at the church. Invitations were distributed in the afternoon and evening in the park across the street and in the surrounding neighborhood to come for free dessert and life-changing conversation. Using cheesecake provided by Trader Joe’s, team and church family members welcomed people of widely varied philosophical, theological, and sociological viewpoints, seeking to engage them with the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a fitting end to an excellent week of training and ministry. Thanks to all who contributed to make it possible.

The thirteen team members of Team Timothy Bolivia left Miami on July 6^th for two plus weeks of ministry in La Paz, Bolivia, with Rev. David Quisbert, PMU missionary, and the Bible Presbyterian Church of La Paz. Once again, Dr. Len Pine led the team, and Miss Susan Blizzard was the co-leader.  After two days of Boot Camp, the work began in earnest. Running a five day VBS, feeding the homeless, personal evangelism in the parks, handing out almost 10,000 tracts in the market streets near the church, teaching music and English, radio ministry, sacred concerts, and much Bible study and preaching kept the team very busy. Team members also participated in the AWANA program with over 40 children attending. The team experienced challenges of illness, fatigue, altitude, and cultural and language barriers.  God was gracious and showed Himself strong through their weakness. A major way that God ministered to the team was through the hospitality of the La Paz church family. Both before and during the ministry they labored exceedingly hard to make the team comfortable, well fed, and enabled to do their work. Team members formed strong bonds with one another during the course of the ministry, and more importantly, with the Bolivians. Perhaps the greatest work that God did was in the hearts’ of the team members themselves. When asked, What was the highlight of your team experience?, Julie Brown replied,  “Learning to trust God with my ESL lessons instead of relying on myself. The fruit of this was becoming great friends with four girls from the American Institute. I was able to focus on them and getting to know them and being a Christ-like testimony, instead of making sure I did everything perfectly, for my own pride’s sake. Besides this every minute of my trip was a highlight!!!” The team returned home safely, rejoicing in God’s goodness.  We thank all who supported this labor with their financial gifts and prayers.  Please keep the ministry in Bolivia in prayer as they continue this type of work year round.  If you would like to support this work, please send donations to PMU, designated to Rev. David Quisbert.

Do you long to share the good news of salvation through Christ alone?  Do you have a heart for children?  If you do, then we invite you to apply for Team Timothy Cambodia, 2011. Led by Dr. Len Pine and working with Rev. Mark Baldwin, PMU missionary to Cambodia, the team will work in two villages leading VBS ministries with up to 500 children, teaching English classes, and sharing in worship services.  We also hope to build a new church building in a village that has outgrown the home they are meeting in at present.  Come have your faith stretched and see how God can use you in His service!  Many hands and talents can be used for God’s glory.

• When?  July 18 – August 3, 2011
• Who may apply?  Rising high school seniors and older
• Application Deadline:  October 15, 2010
• Estimated Cost:  $2,500

* Cost $2,225 raised in personal support; Remainder of cost is personal funds.

If interested in applying, click on the title of this article.  You will then be able to choose the link below to download the application for Team Timothy Cambodia, 2011.

CAMBODIA 2011, Application-Pkt

Come help the brethren in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, hold their first-ever VBS program, invite their neighbors to hear the gospel, and serve the Lord’s people in the community. Get an application from your church office, download one from our web site, or just drop us an email.

• When?  June 30-July 6, 2010
• Application Deadline:  November 30, 2010
• 9th grade through adults!
• Total Cost Approximately $160 US*

*Cost does NOT include travel to Edmonton or personal spending money.

To access the application for this team, please click on the title of this article.  Once the article opens, you can choose the link below to download the application.

Application

PMU is pleased to be able to field a team of young people and adults to go to the fourth largest city in the world. In a week’s time they will seek to reach many of the 22 million people from every conceivable ethnic background that live there. The dates are August 14-21, 2010. The team members are:

• Courtney Amacher, Grand Island, New York
• Alexander Bean, Lakeland, Florida
• Nathan Blizzard, Cape Canaveral, Florida
• Benjamin Couch, Lakeland, Florida
• Kai Donaldson, Scappoose, Oregon
• Rachel McMillan, Cape Canaveral, Florida
• Richard McMillan, Cape Canaveral, Florida
• Rita McMillan, Cape Canaveral, Florida
• Eli Pine, Grand Island, New York
• Bethany Williams, Grand Island, New York
• Dr. Len Pine, Grand Island, New York (Leader)

The team will receive hands-on training in street evangelism to people of many different cultures, and then put that training to immediate use daily on the streets and in the parks of New York City. This ministry is being conducted in cooperation with the New York Gospel Mission, an independent, Reformed missionary agency founded in 1895 to reach the Jewish community in NYC. The mission is continuing to bear witness for the Lord Jesus Christ to the Jews and to the various ethnic groups in the East Village as well as the greater New York area. (On the web: http://www.nygm.org.) The team will also take part in the worship services of the mission church, Tompkins Square Gospel Fellowship, and see firsthand what an inner city, multi-ethnic congregation is all about. Please pray for the team members as they continue to raise the funds they need for the trip (about $615 plus the cost of getting to NYC), and by all means give if you are able.

Oswald J. Smith once said, “The mission of the Church is missions.” Presbyterian Missionary Union was established in January of 1985 to help the Bible Presbyterian Church, General Synod, fulfill its mission. Throughout its history, the work of PMU has been focused upon advancing the testimony of Christ through the BPC. In recent years, PMU has enjoyed a growth in the number of “boots on the ground” on various mission fields around the world, for which we are grateful. Also, we have been serving as the “front door” for many folks as they explore what it means to be a Bible Presbyterian, or how to start a church.

In order to accomplish these ancillary ministries, PMU depends upon the gifts of God’s people. We especially look to local congregations of the Bible Presbyterian Church as the primary source for underwriting the work. We are also very thankful for the loving and faithful gifts of those from other branches of the Body of Christ who take part in regular giving or special projects.

The expansion of PMU’s testimony in the world has been costly, and God has been generous through his people. The work has progressed over twenty-five years to the point that now new vigor in financial and prayer support is needed to maintain the home and foreign missions efforts that have developed so well over the past few years. Still, the question begs to be asked: “Why should I support PMU?” Perhaps the best way to answer this question is through some typical stories from the fields on which we serve.

Compassion

Love for the Lost

Before coming to Christ and responding to the Lord’s call to the gospel ministry, Rev. Mark Baldwin was a successful engineer and systems analyst at GE. He left his lucrative salary and nearly all of his worldly possessions behind to travel to Cambodia in 2004 to serve some of the poorest people in the region. And he does not serve them at arm’s length from an ivory tower, but rather in their midst adopting their customs, learning their language, enjoying their food, and assisting them in their necessity in ways that encourage their dependence upon God and not men. His love for them is palpable, and it demonstrates itself in the fervor with which he applies himself to the “3-D” ministry of the gospel among them.

Love for the Church

In 2004, PMU began working with Rev. Khawlrokima to assist him in his burden to reach his native land of Myanmar with the gospel of Jesus Christ, particularly people groups that were largely passed over by other churches in the country. Starting with a house church in Yangon, the ministry has now grown in a few short years to twelve mission stations, two orphanage centers, and two preschool ministries spread across three of Myanmar’s states. The Yangon body is now a particular church with its own well-qualified elders and is actively working to evangelize the city as well as providing oversight for the mission stations. We share Kima’s passion to develop biblically qualified leadership, and regularly send professors to assist him in providing a seminary level education for the future pastors of the Bible Presbyterian Church of Myanmar.

Care

Of Resources

The world is full of incredible opportunities to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of people. Multiple requests for assistance from around the world are the norm here in the office. In many cases, it is not question of the worthiness of the project being promoted: we could spend our budget three times over and still not meet all the requests that we receive throughout any given year. But we recognize that our donors give to this agency because they entrust us to be careful in how the funds are used. Designated funds go to the designated account; every dime that is given for any particular missionary goes to that missionary’s account; great caution is taken to make sure that General Fund dollars are not squandered on items and services that do not advance PMU’s mission; accountability practices are stringently followed to maintain our financial integrity. And, we use what we have to strengthen current fields first before adding other projects, however worthy additional projects might be. When great needs arise from among our brethren in sister churches around the world, we require accountability for the use of those funds. Occasionally, some on those foreign fields take exception to our insistence of accountability; when that happens, the funds cease to go there. We will not compromise on good stewardship of the Lord’s money which is given through faithful donors.

Of Personnel

Staying aware of changing political and social “climates” in foreign lands and home mission fields is a challenge, but we take this duty seriously. Of course, the personal needs of our missionaries and church planters often shift in response to those changes. For example, on our largest field in Asia, Miriam has found that the only constant thing in that culture is change. Through the years as various crises have occurred in employment, government policy reversals, and opposition to her work, Miriam’s calls for help have been answered by changing policies to decrease Council response time, providing clearer parameters for independent action on the part of field personnel, increasing salary when necessary to meet a sudden need, simplifying reimbursements, defending her against brethren (true and false) who would undermine her labor, and making sure that connections back home stay strong. All of this along with doing what is necessary to keep bank accounts healthy enough to not only keep her on the field, but to help her thrive on the field. Caring for God’s servants is a top priority.

Commitment

To Presbyterian Government and Doctrine

In a day when church government grows increasingly congregational, PMU’s missionaries are standing firmly for the propagation of biblical church government regardless of the cost. In Western Australia, Ed Paauwe’s firm stand on Reformed faith and practice has led to the formation of a new church when his former congregation decided to follow congregational and non-Reformed practice and doctrine contrary to the church constitution. It was a painful time, but the Paauwes and the majority of the Session held firm in their commitment. Today a thriving new congregation has been established in the area and is already active in supporting missions efforts of like character in the region. We praise the Lord for their faithfulness!

Here at home, PMU is committed to operating in a functionally subordinate role to the denomination as a whole. All Council members, and all full-time missionaries, are members of the BPC General Synod as a matter of policy. We do not begin to discuss bringing a missionary or church planter on board unless they are first approved by a church Session or a regional Presbytery. We honor the discipline of the Church and will not subvert it by elevating our own goals above the courts of the Church. We work closely with our Presbyteries and local churches to identify potential church planting locations, recruit qualified workers, and provide such resources as may be useful in the pursuit of the mission of the local church. We are first and foremost a Bible Presbyterian entity that exists to aid the Synod in its appointed task of disciple-making and church planting.

To Like-minded Brethren

While it is not always possible to supply regular support for new mission fields at present, we are delighted to be able to serve the Church at large in occasional ministries that aim at edifying brethren who seek us out for training, counsel, and encouragement. For example, Dr. Pine, working with other members of the PMU Missions Council, has had the privilege of providing training in India on church government and biblical connectionalism as an aid to planting churches with a wonderful group of brethren who are the spiritual progeny of BP missions years ago. That training established a relationship of mutual help and encouragement that may eventually result in more concrete ties in the years ahead as the Lord directs. Whether it does or not, PMU has played a vital part in assisting these brethren in furthering their testimony in northern India, and for that we are thankful. Dr. Pine and other Council members have done similar work in Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Bolivia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Peru.

Occasionally we also have the privilege of serving the larger Church among brethren in other Bible-believing bodies here in North America, and we count it a privilege to do so. Ministry visits, concerts, conference participation, and being a general resource on a broader scale is also part of fulfilling our purpose for existence.

To Vibrant, Biblical Christianity

At PMU we do not believe that it is enough to have a presence in a community without actually impacting that community. Our missionary to Bolivia, Rev. David Quisbert, demonstrates his passion for a vital and visible Church in everything that he does. His days are full of evangelism through personal contact, tract distribution, radio ministry, web presence, and youth outreach. He takes advantage of opportunities to minister to the homeless and destitute in Jesus’ name, testify of Christ to national leaders in public and private, train others to plant churches around the country, encourage like-minded brethren in their work in various parts of the city and nation without jealousy, and participate in regional ministries that bring faithful believers together from all over South America for a united testimony to the power of the gospel to save souls. All of this work is in addition to the regular pastoral care that he gives to his congregation through the various ministry efforts of the local church in La Paz.

Watching David preach Christ to the president of the country one day, and kneeling down beside a homeless beggar the next day with a plate of food and a tender urging to Christ, we are reminded of the Scriptural admonitions to be ready to boldly give account in the highest echelons of society, and to live out true and undefiled religion in ministering to the poor. In reality, we have now come full circle: this is living out compassion for the lost in ways that are tangible and genuine. We are thankful for such missionaries as these who serve in our ranks.

How Can I Help?

And so our initial question has found an answer. Compassion, care, and commitment add up to an agency that by God’s grace is endeavoring to faithfully do God’s work in the portion of the vineyard known as the Bible Presbyterian Church and its faithful “neighbors.” We are here to help you fulfill your mission. But we need your help in return.

Previous sources of income upon which we built our current efforts were, in the providence of God, unexpectedly terminated in the past year. We have cut extra expenses, trimmed back everywhere that we can while still keeping essential operations going, made regular pleas for additional funds, and still find ourselves coming up critically short. We will soon be tapping limited emergency funds just to keep current efforts going. We find ourselves in the frustrating position of being unable to expand our efforts to meet additional needs that come to our attention. So, the Lord is making it possible for us to see his wonderful provision through his people once again.

Will you be part of that provision through committing to regular contributions, especially to PMU’s General Fund and the account of our Field Director, Dr. Pine? If you already do so, either individually or through your local church, would you please consider increasing the amount that you give? Naturally, pray with us as well:

· That the Lord will provide the necessary resources;

· That he will call people to himself who love the faith “once delivered unto the saints” and want to start churches;

· That he will raise up pastors and missionaries to answer the call to serve;

· That he will preserve us through all challenges to the work.

The work of PMU is vital for the ongoing testimony of Christ through the BPC in this country and abroad. There are many organizations pleading for funds, we know. Presbyterian Missionary Union walks in a unique and committed relationship to the BPC, and in doing so makes itself useful to the larger body of Christ as well. Partnering with you in the gospel ministry is the reason we exist: may God grant that our partnership will be fruitful for Christ for the next twenty-five years. Thanks for your prayerful support.

Wednesday was kind of a blur, as I still felt rotten and weak and couldn’t get out to do anything. Certain aspects of this thing just wouldn’t let up. Couldn’t figure out what the problem was and was beginning to suspect a parasite of some kind. Everyone was worried. I just wanted to be able to preach, and not have my gut hurt!

In the morning, tract distribution was scheduled, and Pastor David had prepared about 3000 to send out. I heard them when they left, and when they came back. They were pretty excited. All 3000 had been given out in about an hour, and they came up to see me and tell me how people crossed the street to come and get a tract, how eager many were to receive one, how exciting it was, how they wished people in the States wanted to hear about the good news of Christ with the same determination. They had a good time.

The afternoon was free time so the team could go out and do some shopping. They had been looking forward to this for a long time, and I was very sorry not to go with them. I stayed in bed, feeling marginally stronger and wanting to keep it that way. It was very quiet during the afternoon, and I slept it away. Meanwhile, they were busy! They enjoyed exploring the Witches’ Market area and finding their own places to buy gifts of thanks and remembrance for people back home. By the time they returned, they were pretty tired, but showed me the stuff they bought like warriors returning in triumph. And, some of them did really well in the bartering – others, well, let’s just say they were a little too soft-hearted!

I tried eating a very little before the service, but it didn’t set very well, so I quit. One of the church members came up to the office about a half hour before the service – he was helping conduct the opening parts of the service – and started talking to me about my symptoms. He’s a dentist, a very fine man, and was quite concerned for me. His name is Victor, and a good friend. Anyway, after hearing what was going on, he said it was clear to him that I had an intestinal infection, not a parasite, and he knew what I needed. He and Roldan took off to a local pharmacy and were back in a few minutes with some strong antibiotics and some other things, including an instant Bolivian version of Gatorade, and got me going on it. I was ready to try anything.

The Lord helped me through a long, emotional farewell service, and the message went pretty well. Started slow. Ed told me it took about 5 minutes for the engine to start running properly, and it felt that way. But the Lord gave the strength, and the preaching seemed to go well. I usually am a little on the longish side anyway, and these messages are all translated – even though I shorten them a bit, it’s still twice as long due to the translation, so we go about an hour. It was a long time to stand, but I hardly felt it once I got going. The Lord was good. I’ll admit I was ready to sit down, though!

Well, Victor’s prescription worked. I slept through the night for the first time since Saturday, and woke up feeling alive again. So well, in fact, that I spent the day with the team walking (slowly!) around La Paz through a museum and in some nice parks with views of the city, even doing a little shopping with them. Was pretty wiped by the end of the day, but it was great to be out again, and to spend our last day in Bolivia in fellowship with more than my pillow.

It was a beautiful, warm day, and the museum we went to was a great way for the team to get to know the history and culture of the area. It even had rooms full of silver and gold from the Inca days, and lots of dioramas, costumes, weapons, etc., from a the various eras of La Paz’ history. It’s located in a preserved area of old colonial La Paz that takes you back a couple of hundred years to what the streets were like then. The parks are perched on top of ridges that overlook the city, and have a lot of big toys (concrete and steel, not wood like here) and play areas for kids. My particular favorite thing to do in Laikkota Park is to spin the kids around on the merry-go-round until they scream for mercy, and then they laugh and want me to do it again. Once I start with a few of them, any kid within sight comes running to jump on. It’s fun. The girls and Pastor David slid down a giant slide, and Ed and a few others allowed themselves to be swallowed by a giant alligator. The locals must think we’re crazy.

After lunch it was time to finish up the last minute shopping before heading back to the church for a special farewell meal. It was a feast, and Gloria and Gonzaga worked all day preparing it. My only regret was that I couldn’t hardly eat anything. But no one else seemed to have that difficulty, and the food was delicious. They had even obtained a cake from a local bakery and we had a wonderful celebration. Gloria and Gonzaga have worked so hard throughout our time here, with absolute joy and a determination not to let us do anything for ourselves that they could do for us. They are very special people.

So the day ended with last minute packing – had to get up at 3:30 in the morning or so. Rachel and Liz were determined to just stay up all night, which they did, and I think regretted doing the next day! The Quisberts and Irustas all came the next morning with us to the airport, and patiently waited while we got checked in, guarding our carry-on stuff. We all went to breakfast at Burger King in the airport before tearfully saying goodbye. These are good friends, well-met, and it has been a trip that no one will quickly forget. Thanks for your prayers. After about 20 hours of travel, all are safely home!

Sunday night was a long night, went to bed early, and then woke up about midnight feeling really bad. It’s now Tuesday night, and it’s the first time I’ve felt well enough to do much of anything. Basically had the 48 hour version of the 24 hour flu. And yes, it is what Carol had. The last two days have been a blur, sleeping most of the time (in between trips downstairs), but I can tell you some of what the team has been doing, anyway.

Monday was painting day, and the team was able to prime the whole interior of the church, and get the outside painted entirely. Pastor David hired a couple of painters to come finish up the inside – they were here until about 11 pm. The sanctuary and outside are now a very nice, warm, sandy-yellow color. It’s light and inviting. Pastor David is ecstatic. It really looks nice from the street, too. Painting is quite different here than in the states. First, you have to tint your own paint. You buy the base, and the tubes of tint, and then bring it home and stir it up. Then, for some reason, they like to thin it out with a lot of water. I could understand that if I were spraying the paint, but they get it really watery and roll or brush it on. Takes more coats that way. It was driving Carol crazy – she had the consistency just where she wanted it, and the painters came in and started adding more water! I think we kind of got to do it our way on the exterior. But, either way, it looks very nice, much better than the raw, grey concrete it was before.

Rachel, however, didn’t have such a good day. While priming an area over her head, some of the primer dropped into her eye, partially dissolving her contact lens and causing a lot of pain. It took some doing for Carol to get the lens out, but she was able to do so. Rachel was in a lot of pain, and felt bad besides because it knocked her out of the work crew. Carol lubricated the eye with drops and patched it after looking on the internet to see what to do. Today, Rachel still couldn’t see much out of the eye, so they took her to an eye doctor here who said everything looked pretty good, and that the biggest issue was an infection in the eyelid. He gave her some anti-biotic and anesthetic drops, which have really helped the pain. Praise God she is seeing better this evening and a lot more comfortable.

I understand the evening Bible study at the Ramirez’ home was terrific, with the house packed with about 30 people, and plenty of food (not that I was interested in that). Sorry I had to stay behind. The Ramirez family are good friends. I just slept. Tried to eat a few crackers and a little soup, but that was about it until this morning. Still going slow, very drained. Tonight, though, is the best I’ve felt, so I’m hoping for a good night of rest and a normal day tomorrow.

Tonight everyone has taken off again for the home Bible study at the Huanca home. The Huancas are also very good friends, and I’m sorry to miss it. But I’m worried about pushing it too fast. Today was a good day for the team: Rachel is better, Liz has a cold, but is plugging along, Carol headed up a women’s Bible study that went very well from what I am told, with a lot of ladies in attendance. This afternoon the team gathered with a group of young people for a couple of hours of sports at a local Wallyball complex, and Roldan brought a devotional. I guess there were about 20 young people there besides the team. Ed came back breathing hard, remembering that the altitude hasn’t lessened! But they had a great time. And yes, I slept through it!

Had a light dinner tonight, and am trying to regain equilibrium. For those of you that knew about this and were praying, thanks. I’m sure I’m out of the woods now. Have to preach tomorrow night, and we’re supposed to go out and distribute tracts in the morning. Also, we scheduled some time for shopping in the afternoon tomorrow, and the team is anxious to find gifts for folks back home. I hope to go with them to help them find what they need and help them barter for the best deals. It’s more fun than actually buying stuff for yourself!

I found out that my blog host is having issues with their service that they use to post pictures. I tried to upload some yesterday in a coherent moment, and the deal is that nothing that I post will show up for the moment. So, when they get it straightened out, I’ll be putting pictures up for Peru and Bolivia. Until then, thanks for reading and keeping us in your prayers.

Saturday was a lighter day, with only teaching and helping with the children’s OANSA program in the afternoon. That’s the Spanish version of AWANA in the States. More on that in a moment.

Well, we took some time in the morning to get some money changed and walked downtown, about a mile or so, to the exchange place. It’s located about a block from the San Fransisco church and plaza, in the heart of La Paz. We passed out tracts as we went, and more when we reached the plaza. None of us have enough Spanish under our belts to really engage people with the gospel, but we are thankful that most receive the tracts willingly and even begin to read immediately. Roldan spent some time with a drunken man in the plaza, and tried to relieve him of his liquor. It’s so sad to see this sight frequently – men staggering through the streets in midday in a stupor. The verse that reads, “without God, and without hope in the world” comes to mind. After exchanging some money, we walked through the church, which is about 460 years old or so. Its façade is an ornate blending of traditional Inca, Tihuanacan, and Catholic art, and the interior is a blend of baroque and neoclassical Catholic images and designs, much of it covered in gold leaf or gold paint. The walls are lined with images of saints, with people praying to the images and offering flowers and incense. The mix of pagan and Christian symbolism is obvious, typical of the Romanist tendency to syncretize with local religions rather than remaining true to biblical Christianity. The devotion of many to this false religion is an occasion for sorrow, and reminds us of why we are here.

Back out in the fresh air, we decided to take a stroll back uphill toward the church to find a taxi. This area of La Paz is a big tourist draw, and the streets surrounding the church are lined with shops that sell every kind of tourist trinket, traditional handcrafts, musical instruments, and Bolivian clothing of all kinds. And, the famous “Witches’ Market” is also in this area, interesting to be so close to the Catholic church! The walk uphill can be grueling, with grades of 10-15% sometimes, so we went slowly, did a little browsing along the way, and enjoyed soaking up some local sounds, smells, and sights. There was the traditional wedding we saw a part of in the streets, the crowded Saturday market streets, fresh-squeezed orange juice from a street vendor’s cart (one of my favorite things to do in La Paz!), and doing our best to avoid becoming a hood ornament on taxis and busses! We never did find a taxi or bus that was free along our route, so we ended up walking the entire way back to the church, tired but happy from the experience. We had handed out about 250 tracts, and found a few bargains on gifts for people back home, and become one with the city for a time.

The afternoon OANSA program is an outreach to the children of the neighborhood, and from 3-5 every Saturday afternoon the kids pile into the sanctuary for a time of singing, Bible stories, Bible memory, games, and activities. Today, our team was privileged to be the leaders (helped a lot by Gloria, Martin, and Gonzaga!). The kids did a great job with their memory work and crafts, and they loved the game time, too. I brought a Bible story from the book of Job. I think there were about30 kids present. The church has been doing this outreach for a little over a year now, and is sponsored by the Grand Island BPC in New York.

Since we didn’t have anything planned for the evening, we continued a tradition of taking the team and the Quisberts, Irustas, Roldan, and the kitchen helper out to a nice dinner as a thank you for all their hard work. We went to a awesome restaurant at the top of the Hotel Presidente downtown. The food was superb, and the view was incredible 17 stories up. You look all around and see the panorama of La Paz at night. It was beautiful.

The Lord’s Day services went very well. Susan and Carol taught the children’s Sunday School classes, and I preached in the morning and evening. It was a blessing to see the church pews full, and to know that this is the regular attendance, too. With some of our special services, we have a lot of visitors, which is wonderful, but it is nice to see the regular attendance at good levels. In the afternoon, we had a kind of in-house concert where the music students for the week played piano and violin, and team members did more solo or small group pieces/songs, and the whole group did several Aymara and Spanish songs. It was low-key and a great time of fellowship. These music students have worked with our teams before, and continued their practice in between, and they really make progress with our music teachers. This year, Carol had the violin students, and Susan the piano students. It was a special treat to have our friend Christian spend the concert time and evening service with us. Susan had taught him piano four years ago, and while he had had lessons before, he hadn’t made much progress. He took what he learned from her and just took off. He plays mostly by ear, and plays with incredible virtuosity. And, he especially loves hymns, and when he plays he just grins from ear to ear with joy in the playing. It’s a blessing to hear him.

I’m not feeling well this evening, not sure what is going on. Hope this doesn’t turn into what Carol had this week.