Remembering Christ’s birth is a wonderful event.  Our sister church in La Paz, Bolivia, enjoyed celebrating Christ’s birth this Christmas season with several special services.

On December 19th, the children presented a program.  The choir sang, directed by Mrs. Gloria Quisbert and Sister Beatriz Sarvia, and five children recited poems. The church enjoyed the God-given talents of the children. Pastor Quisbert preached on Luke 2:1-7.  Visitors were given a New Testament and gospel tract; then 93 gifts were handed out to the congregation.  Beginning with a piano, violin, and recorder concert, the church held a candlelight service on Christmas Eve.  Many Christmas hymns were sung with great joy and enthusiasm, and a sermon was preached.  The church prayed for the Bible Presbyterian churches around the world.  Following the service, hot chocolate, panettone, and cookies were enjoyed.  The following Sunday, December 26th, the church invited the choir, “Dios es Amor” to sing at the service.  New people attended again.

Closing out the year with a New Year’s Eve service was a great joy to the members.  Edgar Zuazo, Fernado Zola, and Martin Irusta prepared a barbecue,  and the ladies of the church prepared salads for the midnight dinner.  At 10:00 PM the service started; members of the church, including the kids, shared their testimonies about what God had done in 2010. Some of the members sang their favorite hymn, others cried during their testimonies, remembering loved ones who had passed away. It was a time of great blessing.  At five minutes before midnight, the members made a circle and joined  hands to pray. They passed from 2010 into 2011 in prayer. They completed the evening with their midnight supper.

One large surprise this Christmas for the church was a donation from the Canaan Korean Presbyterian Church of La Paz.  Due to members moving away, the Korean church needed to close and decided to donate a piano and 18 choir robes to the BPC of La Paz.  The La Paz church is praising the Lord for His mercy to their church.