Start of School Year 2012

We are in the third week of School Year 2012. After all the dust had settled we have 185 students in the school this year.  We thank the Lord for each one.  Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that we prayed that the Lord would send the students He wants to be here.  Each student with his individual package of problems and strengths is a gift from the Lord.

Those who waited until the first day of school to enroll their kids.

We seem to have a good staff this year.  We have four new teachers.  Last year there were many problems with the high school math, physics and chemistry classes.  This year the students have only good things to say about their new teacher.  He is a no nonsense teacher and the students appreciate it.  He has done his evaluations and is filling in the holes in their understanding.  

First day kindergarten 2012
The young fellow on Marion's lap is a crier.

We have been in the process of trying to set up a foundation which will be the legal entity under which the school and other ministries will function here in Portachuelo.  The process has been ongoing for a number of years.  We hope to have things finished within a couple of months.  The government is requiring a lot more paper work for the function of the school.  The establishment of this foundation will facilitate the operation of the school on a number of levels.  Pray with  us for the quick conclusion to this process.  

	The city paved the street behind the school now we have to come up with $2300 to put in the sidewalk. The building fund for the second floor of the new classroom building is at $12929,    $7000 to go.  Praise the Lord

Introducing Lilo and Carlos

We'd like to introduce you to two of our young men from the Chapel who are planning to attend the Bible School in Camiri this year.  Pray for Lilo and Carlos.  They are the first from the Assembly here in Portachuelo who are taking this step.  This is a one year program.  It will help them to get grounded in the Word and involve them in lots of practical experience.  It will be a challenge for them as they move out from their comfort zone and learn to trust the Lord for their expenses.

Recent happenings

How do you keep the kids together when the kindergarten goes to the zoo.  You tie loops in a length of rope and each one grabs a loop and hangs on.  Its simple and it works.... most of the time.

Last month was Marion's birthday.  It seems birthdays are somehow connected with food.   Pizza is always a favorite.

Marion taught Nardi to make cakes and decorate them.  She moved into the city and owns a bakery.  She never forgets a birthday and she always brings a cake.

Last weekend the assembly celebrated its 27th anniversary.  Another reason to get together and eat.  Praise the Lord for His blessings.

BACK HOME IN LORETO

Two Oscars

During the two week winter vacation Oscar went to Loreto in El Beni, one of the states of Bolivia. That is where his family is from.  His 80 year old father, Oscar, still lives there.  While Oscar’s mother was alive she limited the contact he had with his father.  He has never lived with his father. Oscar was hoping that his father would come to this area and take a job as caretaker on a property that an uncle has not too far from Portachuelo.  At his age that is too big of an undertaking.  He plans to stay in Loreto and raise pigs like he has been doing for years. 

Oscar visits his father during each of the school vacations.  Here are some pictures he took in Loreto.  One can see why he likes to go back there.

Relaxing in the dugout

This little piggy went to market

Sunset in Loreto

Surprise me!

This blog contains some comments and observations about life in Portachuelo and in our house. 

 Marion seldom goes into the city.  I go about once a week to do buying for the school and the house.  Through the magic of cell phones I can call home from the new supermarket on the road coming out of Santa Cruz and ask Marion what she needs for the house or if there is something special I can bring for her.  Supermarkets here are laid out just like they are in the States but most of the products on the shelves are local or from Brazil and Argentina.  We have learned over the years to live with what we can get here and we live well.  Once in a while something appears on the shelf that invokes memories of life on another part of the planet.

Back to “What can I bring you from the city?”  I know she likes chocolate; there are many delicious chocolates available here.  Sometimes a bit of microwave popcorn, once in a while I find Pringles Potato Chips.  Sometimes she will say, “Surprise me!” Last week I found something new, something really exciting, a can of Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce. Guys if you want to make a hit with your wife buy her some cranberry sauce. 

This cat condescends to live with us and even on occasion allows us to touch her.  In the five years she has lived with us I have heard her purr once.  If she could talk she would say, “We are not amused.”  We named her Victoria.

Maybe we should get Gordo to the orthodontist but that is not one of our priorities.  It doesn’t seem to bother him and we have gotten used to it. 

A Weekend at Samaipata

On the way to Samaipata

Our high school spent a weekend in Samaipata, a town up in the foothills of the Andes.  Twenty students and four staff members went on the trip.  It was cold and rainy but they had a good time.  They stayed with Sarah, the mother of a fellow who lived with us over twenty years ago while he was studying at the Agriculture Institute here in Portachuelo. 

Samaipata is at an altitude of about 6000 feet

The group had originally planned to stay in a hostel.  But Sarah insisted they stay with her.  She runs a guest home in her house.  Sarah also did the cooking for the group.  Sarah is one of those people that you cannot out give.  She has a plant nursery in her home and specializes in bougainvillea.  Whenever we stop by she loads us up with plants. She taught me an important lesson.  Her philosophy is: if you are going to give, give the best.

My good Sony camera stopped working so I told Oscar to take pictures for me wherever he goes.   I picked up his camera at a pawn shop in the States.  He took some nice pics.

Portachuelo is as flat as a tabletop.  When the kids get into the hills they like to climb.

Run down to the local appliance store and get one of these in your kitchen.  The griddle is made from the disk of a plow and the fire box is the rim from a tire.
 Sarah made some delicious corn cakes and sent some back to us.

El Vivero Sarita, the Sarah Nursery

Samaipata is known for these pre Inca ruins.  You can see part of the carved rock behind the kids on the lookout tower.

On the way home they only had time for a quick stop at Cuevas.  

No time for swimming, just a hike up to Third Falls.

Praise the Lord for a good safe trip and good conduct on the part of the students.

A week with three Saturdays

Whatever day there is no school must be Saturday.  At least that’s the way it feels.  This week will have three Saturdays.  Tuesday was the Aymara New Year and as our president is Aymara it has been declared a national holiday.  Today, Thursday is the Catholic holiday Corpus Cristi which has been a holiday for as long as anyone here can remember.  Then of course coming up in two days is the original and genuine Saturday.  I find myself thinking I have to have my message ready for tomorrow but tomorrow is not Sunday yet.

Everyone is enjoying the days off.  Marion is busy making goodies in the kitchen.  She and Oscar just went out to buy another 100 lb bag of flour and another 100 eggs.  This week is also a week of three birthdays so the kitchen is being well used.  Oswaldo and his family will be coming for lunch today.  I hear tacos are on the menu.

Yesterday was actually Wednesday and Oscar and Enrique had to visit the orthodontist in Santa Cruz.  I went in early to get some shopping done and the boys came in after classes were done.  We went looking for Fabian to get something to eat.  He is supposed to be finished with work at 6:00.  But because the next day was a holiday he had to work late.

Fabian is working as a builder’s helper.  He is working long hours but is doing well.  He has gotten a raise for being a good worker.  One of the big lessons he is learning is that money goes faster than one expects it to and you have to administer it well or there won’t be enough left to live on until the next pay day.  We praise the Lord for the way Fabian is taking responsibility for himself.  He still comes home every week end.

Thank you for your prayers