It is the graduation time here in Portachuelo.  In town there are five high schools plus an adult education school that gives a high school diploma.  The teachers college and the agriculture institute each graduate a class.  I am not sure how many kindergartens there are in town, at least five, each one will have a graduation.  Across the street from our house is the Rotary Club center where most of these events take place.  They are usually all night affair with the partying going on till 6:00 AM.  The narrow street will be lined on both sides with vehicles and we won’t be able to get in or out of our garage until the party is over. 

Next week is the festival of the town, there will be another all-nighter across the street.  The noise doesn’t bother us too much anymore.  Our bedroom is at th e back of our house so we avoid a lot of the noise.

There are invitations to the family dinners for these graduates.  We are invited for two dinners Saturday noon, one on Saturday night and one Sunday noon, all for different graduates.  There goes the diet.

The Kinder graduates

The Christian school has their graduations at the school.  Praise the Lord for the roof over the basketball court.  Wednesday night was the kindergarten graduation.  Twenty five six year olds, twenty of them boys sang and recited and acted and acted up to entertain the crowd gathered to make the time special.  They acted out the story of David and Goliath.  The picture shows the kids with their diplomas in hand and the back drop translates, “Greatness does not depend on the physical size.  A giant can be overcome with God's help.”

Next Saturday is the high school graduation.  Another 12 students who have passed through the school and have heard the message of the Gospel many times.  At least one of those graduating has made a profession of faith.  May the good seed sown produce an abundant harvest in the life of these young people?

The new school year starts in February but there is already a lot going on with plans and documents that need to be turned in to the District Director of Education. The government wants to see all of our plans and projects for the coming year. We are looking for another school director.   Pray for the person of the Lord’s choice.  We praise the Lord for the liberty to continue reaching these young lives with the Gospel but the government wants to control more and more.

Praise the Lord for funds that have started to come in for the new building project.  So far we have $5300 towards the $30000 needed.

Greetings from Washington State.

I am finishing a visit with Cathy and family, getting ready to fly to Chicago on Wednesday.  From there I will be visiting a number of churches in the Midwest, returning to Bolivia on October 22.  Your prayers are appreciated for protection while traveling and the leading of the Spirit in sharing the vision for the work in Portachuelo. 

I am able to speak with Marion almost every morning.  She has extra responsibility when I am away.  Please pray for her at this time. 

The group who were baptized

We had one of those very special times shortly before I left Bolivia.  Six teenagers who were raised in the Assembly were baptized.  They need our prayers as they struggle to live as Christians in a very permissive society. 

The Portachuelo Christian School faces a constant challenge to uphold Christian values in a society that is more permissive all the time.  The administration of the school has their hands full dealing with students, parents and staff.  Pray for the Lord to give wisdom and grace.

Two weeks ago the students presented a talent night; music, poems and drama.  Each class from kindergarten through high school presented something in the program.  Everything had to have a Biblical theme.  I was surprised at the response.  I have never seen so many people out to a school program.

Talent night at the school

Back from Cochabamba

We are back from Cochabamba and Marion’s kindergarten workshop.  Thank you for your prayers.  The workshop was held at the American Institute in Cochabamba, a school that was started in 1909 by the Methodists.  They have almost 4000 students enrolled.  The workshop was attended by 50 kindergarten teachers from various parts of Bolivia.  Marion had been told to expect 15.  The response to the curriculum was varied.  Some people thought it was expecting too much for the kids.  Others thought it was great.  The first day the director figured we had an 85% approval rate.  By the end of the second day he figured about 98%.  Rosa, the kindergarten in our school took along a niece and nephew, both were her students from last year, to demonstrate the results of the program. 

We are half way through the winter vacation at the school.  Continue to pray for the school.  The folks at the American Institute have the same complaint we do.  The government requires so much paperwork the teachers hardly have time to teach.

Aldo and part of the family

Aldo Osinaga is one of the men who is working with me in leadership in the assembly.  He also teaches Christian Education at the school.  His wife Magdalena teaches first grade.  Here they are with three of their four boys.  Their oldest boy has his own bicycle but we have seen the whole family on the motorcycle.  Aldo has developed into a good preacher.  We appreciate this family.

I wanted to go to the city the other day and buy tires for the van but Santa Cruz is in a fuss with the arrival of the Pope, so I’ll have to wait until next week.  The most interesting news from the Pope’s visit was that he changed his clothes at Burger King before going to the nearby stage that was built for the program. 

Dr. Mefi and parents

Marion needs to renew her driver’s license.  It should already be renewed but they found that she was in the system twice and it takes two weeks to get it straightened out.  She can’t drive until they untangle the problem. 

We celebrated Mephibosheth’s graduation from medical school.  (We call him Mefi) Two of his brothers have been working in London for years to help pay for his studies.  He is doing his internship right here in Portachuelo.  Mefi grew up in the assembly and we all rejoice in the achievement.  Mefi is serious about a walk with the Lord.  Here he is with his parents.  He says he still has to look around to see who they are talking to when they call him Doctor. 

A number of our teenagers have asked for baptism.  We started a class for those who want to be baptized.  Six teenagers were with us for the first class.  Most of them have been raised in the assembly and know what they believe.

Sunday night a brother from the assembly in Montero was with us.  After sharing from the Word he presented a number of Bible study helps that are available online.  Almost everyone has access to the Internet now.

Last week was Holy Week in Bolivia.  Things were a bit solemn here in Portachuelo until today.  The popular religion dictates that one is supposed to be sad and not do fun things doing Holy Week.  I was in the city Friday and the supermarkets had the liquor section roped off.  Thousands of people being religious for a few days thinking that the Lord is pleased with an outward show of piety.

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Rom 6:4 

There are 26 in kindergarten this year.  20 of them are boys.  Rosa, the teacher, has trouble with discipline.  Her helper Angela is much on disciple either.  Marion goes in for a while each morning to help with the ones that are having trouble.  She takes them into her ice cream shop and works with them one on one.  There are some perks involved in working one on one with Grandma.

We are still in the process of getting all the school documentation transferred to the Koinonia Foundation.  The lawyer was here today dealing with the Alcaldia (City Hall) concerning taxes.  The present city government did not win the elections.  We have three month before the new group takes over.  We want to get everything done before then.

Last Saturday was the baptism for Helen and Raul.  We went to a nice little river not too far from Portachuelo.  The water wasn’t very deep so it didn’t help us with the weight.  When we were lifting Raul out of the water my foot slipped in the sand and at the same time Oswaldo stepped on a piece of wire.  It is the first time we almost lost someone.

Fabian, Melisa and Melanie

Fabian and Melisa was here Saturday.  They came to show off their newborn daughter, Melanie.  Much pray has gone up for Fabian.  Maybe the responsibility of a family will help him be more serious.  Continue to pray

BUILDING BRIDGES

BUILDING BRIDGES.  The district director of education likes to use our school auditorium for meetings with his school directors.  It’s clean, it’s quiet and it’s comfortable.   Today they are in meetings all day long.  Someone from La Paz is doing a special workshop for the directors

The public school directors in meeting in the auditorium

P.E in the auditorium on a rainy day

WE ARE STILL WAITING for the government to finalize the paperwork for the Koinonia Foundation.  We have been waiting for years for this.  They keep changing the rules.  One lawyer looks at it and requires some changes.  When the changes are made and submitted, that lawyer has moved on and another one finds something he thinks needs to be change.  Please be praying with us that we can get this done.  Other paperwork depends on the acceptance of the Foundation and can’t be done until the government recognizes the Foundation and gives it legal status.




WHY WE NEED THE ROOF OVER OUR BASKETBALL COURT.  On Friday night the program for the end of the second trimester of classes was scheduled.  Friday morning dawned cold and rainy and it stayed that way all day.  The P.E. classes were moved into the auditorium and the program for the parents was cancelled.  The auditorium isn’t big enough for the crowd.

HENRY AND HIS FAMILY have been going through difficult times financially.  The other Sunday he had set aside his tithe of 20 pesos for Sunday morning.  He reached into his pocket and took out the 20 peso bill and put it in the offering.  Afterwards he realized that he had put in a 50 pesos bill instead of the 20.  The 50 pesos was to buy meat for the family for the week.  Instead of buying the two kilos they had planned on they went to the market to buy a half kilo of meat.   Going into the market Nancy looked down and there was a 100 peso bill on the floor.  They were really excited with the Lord’s provision.

FUNDS FOR THE ROOF continue to come in.  Praise the Lord!  We are still lacking $11360 to reach the goal of $32000.  Continue prayer with us for this project.

If you would like to share in this project funds should be designated for Merlyn Schultz, the roof project and sent to:                                    

Christian Missions In Many Lands 

P.O. Box 13

Spring Lake, NJ 07762

News From Portachuelo, Bolivia

School is back in session after two weeks of winter vacation. 

Our first grade teacher, Patty and Magdalena, her helper are back again.  Magdalena was off for almost three months for maternity leave and Patty because of her bout with cancer.  The cancer proved to be malignant.  There is still some questions about what follow up therapy they will take with this.  Pray for wisdom.  Pray for the Lord’s intervention. 

The first grade is glad to have their teachers back.  The substitute teacher had a hard time keeping order.  She shouted a lot. 

I got a call from Fabian Saturday.  He is back on drugs again.  He is looking for help.  Pray for wisdom in this situation. 

Rosario learned to make doughnuts helping Marion make them for the school snack shop.  Recently Rosario has started making doughnuts at home early in the morning for her son, Willie, who is a student at the local teachers college.  He sells the doughnuts at the college and that pays for his schooling.  He is about to go out into the country to do several months of student teaching.  Now he is getting up early in the morning (4:00 AM) and making the doughnuts to sell to have money to pay for his board and room while he is away from home.  It’s great to see them taking the responsibility to do what they can to help themselves.  

Bismar the school director is under a lot of pressure and doesn’t always respond well.  It is affecting his walk with the Lord and his family.  Pray for Bismar.

The funds for the basketball court are growing.  $1000 came in last month.  We still need another $15000.  Those who would like to help with this project can send funds to the following address: 

Christian Missions In Many Lands 
P.O. Box 13
Spring Lake, NJ  07762

Funds should be designated to Merlyn Schultz for the basketball court roof.

Patty, our first grade teacher has been the subject of much prayer.  She had surgery three weeks ago to remove a large tumor from between her right kidney and the spine.  The doctors have determined that the tumor was malignant.  Now they are considering various options. 
Please be in prayer with us. 

Alberto and his family were among the first to respond to the Gospel when we came to Portachuelo.  They have been an important part of the work here.  Alberto has his ups and downs.  When he is on top of things he is a real asset to the work.  We have often asked for prayer for his son, Hilton.  Hilton has been battling a drug problem for years.  He has been in at least four different rehab facilities and run away each time.  He goes home and causes chaos.  He continually steals to support his habit.  Right now he is in the local jail for six months.  The family has enjoyed a period of peace.  Soon he will be out and they are anxious about the future.  Please continue to pray for this situation.

In two weeks the school will be having our winter vacation.  Yes, south of the equator winter comes in the summer time.  The builder has promised to finish the stairs for the new classrooms during the vacation.  The stairs are usable but they need to be finished with ceramic tile.  The builder hasn’t been real good about finishing things.

Many of you have prayed for Fabian over the years.  He continues to make bad choices.  He seems to have steady employment in the city.  He has learned to lay ceramic floor tile and is in demand for that skill.  The people he chooses to associate with are not a help to him.  Several months ago we had to tell him that he is not welcome to stay overnight at our house any longer.  We haven’t seen him since then but he has called and said he is trying to avoid the people that are a bad influence.  Some of those people are in Portachuelo so he doesn’t come here anymore.  Continue to pray.

Oscar Asaeda, is a new student in our junior class this year.  His father is a doctor here in town and director of one of the hospitals.  He spends a lot of time in our house with our Oscar.  Last week was Teacher’s Day.  The junior class prepared a meal for the teachers at the doctor’s house.  His mother was in tears as she shared with Marion the relief she felt that her boys had a family with other values to associate with.   Pray that the seed sown will find good soil in the heart of the hearer.

For two weeks the students have been involved in interschool sports competitions.  These competitions are required by the government.  They take a lot of time away from studies.  Our teams have started winning some of these games and have to travel and sometimes stay overnight in other towns.  The parents pay for their kids’ expenses but the teachers who accompany them have had to pay their own way.  We have been looking for ways to help with the extra expenses to the teachers when they have to make these trips.  Marion has started selling ice cream at the school.  On Mondays the upper grades have classes until 4:00 PM.   Marion and Rosario make goodies to sell on Monday afternoons.  This provides funds to cover extra expenses at the school. 

Marion and Rosario with the Monday goodies.  I have the responsibility for quality control of the goodies.  I know its a nasty job but someone has to do it.  So far the quality has been excellent and the products are rated "yummy".

Visitors

We have know Luis Enrique for a number of years.  He worked at the school and lived in our home for a year before he went to Spain and spent eight year in the Canary Islands.  He called several weeks ago and said he was coming to Bolivia for a visit.

Friends get together

One morning I heard someone call at the door and there he was.  He came direct from the airport and spent five days with us before taking off for Trinidad to see his parents.

Bob and Luis Enrique comparing toys.

We had a get together so everyone could catch up on eight years years of news and gossip.  He will be staying with us again for a few days before flying back to Spain in June.

This afternoon Oswaldo's girls, Asiel and Samara were in the house and decided they wanted to learn to make donuts.  Marion loves to teach so before long the delicious smell of donuts frying filled the kitchen .Dunkin Donuts, move over, you have competition    I am looking for sympathy, I was forced to eat donuts. I couldn't help myself.

By the way in the last post I told you about Aldo and Magdalena and baby number four.  They now have four boys.  Jafet, Joel, Jeffrey and the newest, Jairo.  Remember the Spanish J, sounds like the English H.

ANOTHER OSINAGA

Saturday the teachers from the school decided to have a baby shower for Magdalena.  Not only the ladies were invited the men as well.  They decided to have it at our house so we had a lot going on Saturday.  The ladies brought home made goodies.  If you have never had pan de arroz (rice bread) you are missing out.  Rice bread is delicious.  It’s made with yucca and rice flour.  

Magdalena with the cake made of diapers

Aldo

The folks visiting

Aldo Osinaga and Magdalena have three boys.  They don’t know what this one will be but I think they are hoping for a girl.

 Aldo grew up in the assembly; he was involved with the youth group as a kid, now he is the leader of the youth group.    

While the adults visit the kids are at the computer.

Aldo and Magdalena both work at the school; she is on maternity leave right now.  We are thankful for them and their ministry.  Pray for this family Aldo, Magdalena, Jafet, Joel, Jeffrey and baby.

BACK HOME IN PORTACHUELO

For those of you who asked "Are the stairs finished?" 

BEFORE

 I have photographic proof.  Maybe I shouldn't say "finished".  The ceramic tile is not in place yet.  It is ready and waiting to be installed.  Praise the Lord for Cerabol, a local tile factory that gives us a good price on their seconds.  All the floors in the school are finished with this natural red tile. 

AFTER

There are no lights yet and the doors are not hung but the second and fourth grades are having classes in the new classroom.

Use your imagination and picture another building, just like this new one, facing this one with the second floor accessed from the first landing of this stairway.  That is our next building project. 


EATING
I shared with the folks in the States about the about the local custom the believers here have of inviting reasons to get together and eat.  We haven't been able to break the habit, it continues to this day.  They had a welcome supper for us when we got back. 

Before and after pictures will not be included for the eating category. 

La Quinceañera

In Latin America a young lady's 15th birthday is the big one.  It is when she is presented as a woman.  The tradition here is to have a really big party.  Dancing and drinking are a big part of it.  What about the believers.  What do they do?

Martha and her four children have been a part of the assembly in Portachuelo for years.  They are involved in many activities of the assembly .  Martha's daughter Rosa's 15th birthday was coming up.  What to do?  The father is not a believer and he wanted a big party with all the things that the world expects.  Martha asked if they could have the party at the church so she could avoid that.

Praise the Lord for providing a place for things like this.  Our basketball court gets used for many things.  This Saturday night it was the scene for Rosa's Quince (15).

Lots of room for special occasions.  

Teddy Campbell from Santa Cruz spoke to Rosa and the group about the things of the Lord and the decisions one makes for their future.

Rosa with her parents

Everyone wants their picture taken with the "Quinceañera".

Rosa and Oscar

THREE FAMILIES

These three young men are the responsible brothers who are sharing the leadership with me in the assembly in Portachuelo.  They have not be named elders yet, but they are doing the work of an elder.  They are also the leaders at the Christian school.  Pray for them and their wives.

Aldo, his wife Magdalena and their three boys.Joel, Jafet, and Jeffrey

Aldo teaches Christian Education, he is also the school "regente".  That means he keeps an eye on things, like discipline and attendance, and the buildings and grounds.  That frees the school director (principle) to attend to the academic side of things and keep the Department of Education happy.

Magdalena is the teachers aide in first grade and maybe will be the school secretary next year.

Bismar, Ruthy and their boysAbdiel and Paulo 

Bismar is the school director.  His job comes with a lot of pressure.  He is responsible for academics.  as well as representing the school to the legal authorities.  A big part of his job is handling people.

Ruthy is the second grade teacher.  She is always beside Marion to help when there is baking to be do

Osvaldo and Kathy with
Osvaldo, Samara, and Asiel

Some of you will remember Osvaldo and Kathy from their time in the States.

Osvaldo teaches English, computers and is involved in the administration of the school.

Kathy is a public school teacher.  She travels 50 miles everyday back and forth to her school in Mineros.

INTRODUCING

Carmen Rosa Vargas
When  school enrollment for the current year started in January there was no school secretary.  Via the grape vine Carmen heard that we needed someone to fill the position.  She came with experience as secretary in a Christian school in Sucre.  She is a big help in keeping things running smoothly.  Carmen is the friendly face that greets everyone visiting the school.  We praise the Lord for sending her to us.

Carmen and her husband have been married for five years and had no children.  They were in the process of adoption when she started to work.  Just a week ago they welcomed fourteen month old Fernanda into their family.  Fernanda comes to school each day with her mother and is cared for by the caretaker's wife.

Carmen and Fernanda

Bob Mc Elmurry
Bob has been with us for a number of years.  Bob is a retired chemist from Madison, Wisconsin.  He came to help teach English.   His job grew and he now is the one that keeps the computer lab up and running.  Thanks to Bob we have a computer lab that is the envy of many schools.   He is constantly looking for ways to improve the program.  He also writes programs to help the teachers.  We praise the Lord for Bob and his dedication to the school.

Bob is also the resident grandfather at the school.  The younger students seek him out, especially when he has balloons in his pocket.

Bob in the computer lab

Happy Birthday

Many of you will remember Enrique, who visited with us in the States several times.  He is now 18 years old.  He graduates from high school this year and plans to study civil and petroleum engineering.

Marion and Enrique

We went into the city to be with him and his family to celebrate his birthday.  Just like in most other places these celebrations are accompanied by lots of food.

This is cattle country so we eat meat.

and more meat

The young people from their assembly in Santa Cruz were there to help celebrate.  When Christians get together there is singing and food.

There is always a guitar and choruses 

KINDER WORKSHOP

Whew, I am home again.  Merlyn told me I had to write the blog about my trip to Cobija.

Rosa, the other kindergarten teacher and I went to Cobija at the invitation of one of our assemblies.   They have a school and wanted us to do a workshop on our kindergarten material. They invited the teachers from the government schools also.

Marion animating the teachers

I have spent about six years working on, correcting and revising a program for kindergarten.  We have been able to teach the children to read and to do basic addition and subtraction.  Nobody here believed that possible.  There was only one lady in the conference of about fifty that had heard of phonetics. We spent a lot of time teaching them the sounds of the letters.

Rosa receiving her certificate

The last time I presented the material at conference in Santa Cruz, the teachers didn’t believe me until on the second day when I took three of my kindergarteners to show them what they could do.  This time we taught the teachers just as we teach the kids; they could see the possibilities and responded with excitement.  One lady couldn't wait for the cds to be copied and she photocopied over 1000 pages so she could start on it right away.

The group that attended the workshop with their certificates

The authorities for the public schools counted this workshop for credit for the teachers and they issued the certificates.  The teachers from the state schools asked that we come back in December to have a workshop for all the kindergarten and 1st grade teachers.

Waiting in the airport and flying time cost us two and a half hours in the flight to Cobija but took six and a half hours coming home again.  It was so good to get home.

Teacher's Day

June 6 is Teacher's Day in Bolivia.  It is not an official holiday but it is celebrated like one.  In the past whenever there was a special day that required a special program, the staff had to organize it and do all the work.  It's nice having older students now who can take on some of these special projects.  This year the 10th grade class did the Teacher's Day program and even did a supper for the staff.  It was all very well done.

The teaching staff and administration

 Pray for the staff.  Most of them are believers but several are not.  May we be a solid testimony to them.

The 10th grade with Oswaldo, the class counselor

 This class is the first group that Marion had in her kindergarten.  They have been exposed to the Gospel for ten years.  Only two of them are believers.  Pray that they will open their hearts to the message of salvation.

A TIME TO BREAK DOWN AND A TIME TO BUILD UP

Praise the Lord!
We have the funds to start the second floor of the new classroom building.

The neighbors tell us that this is the oldest building in the neighborhood.  The construction method is what is called wattle and daub (look it up on wikipedia).  The property used to be a lecheria (dairy) and this house was where the vaquero (cowboy) lived.

This building has been the home of the school caretaker and his family.  Sadly it is in the way.  The stairway to the second floor needs to go where this house is.  We plan to start construction soon.  First the second story will be built, then during our summer vacation that start in November the old house will come down and the stairway will be built.

Praise the Lord for His provision.  Pray that there will be enough funds to finish the work. Since we got the estimate prices have gone up.

The mosquito Aedes aegypti feeding.

This little fellow is the carrier of dengue fever.  

We are still dealing with dengue fever in our house.  Marion was down for three weeks, she got up for a week and went down again last Monday and has been ailing since then.  There isn’t much one can do, acetaminophen for pain and fever, drink plenty of liquids, watch out for signs of the dengue hemorrhagic fever.

The doctors in Bolivia are still on strike. They are only attending in the emergency room.  (The emergency room in Portachuelo is staffed by interns right out of medical school.  It is often an frustrating and sometimes frightening experience.)

Today Marion and I went into Montero to find some medical help. I had to stop by the hospital where we have the staff of the school insured to make the monthly insurance payment.  I was talking to the secretary at the hospital and she said that Dr. Choque, the hospital director, would be glad to look at Marion.  Dr. Choque saw her in his office and prescribed an IV with lots of vitamins and some pain medicine.   We are back home waiting for someone to come and put in the IV.  Why didn't I learn to put in an IV when I had the chance?

Many at the school are battling with dengue, I still have times with fever and extreme fatigue.