The Plan

The Vida Joven (teen ministry) leadership team is meeting here at my place at noon to continue planning our kick-off event with the youth here in Tarija. It's to be for December 3rd. I'll be one of the speakers and there'll be drama, music, video, etc. Please be praying that all the details come together...there is no doubt that the saying "manana, manana" - basically everything can be put off until tomorrow - could be multiplied down here in the South :)

This leadership team involves all the Baptist churches here in the city but there's one that seems to be struggling a bit and the girl who is to be part of the team working with teens hasn't actually attended any of the meetings yet so we're working on some commitment issues and I'm trying to learn what truly is going on.

It's already mid November which is just nuts! I need to get the December kick-off talk ready and then 2 workshops for the annual jovenes campamento in early January done. I'll be starting that this afternoon. I'm also getting back into Horizons again; that needs to be a priority for the next few months. I need a new brain :) Terry Smith and two others from the CBM home office will be arriving early December for team meetings as well as partnership meetings with the Bolivian Baptist Union (UBB). I must say that it'll be great to see them as well the Guthries and Nachos (and their new little baby :)).

Basically the next month will be crazy busy but exciting so please be praying regarding the kick-off event, the Vida Joven leadership team - commitment, bringing everyone together, etc., cbm's team & ubb meetings and the workshops I'm putting together.

In other words...keep praying! :)

Blessings!
rebecca

Back Home

I took Jeff Carter to the airport a few hours ago. He'll spend the night in Santa Cruz and then will catch the early morning flight out to make his way back to Prague. I ask that you be praying for safety and the time to get caught up on some much needed sleep and family time for him.

I can't say how well the past 11 days have gone...it's been fantastic! The seminars in Sucre, Potosi, and Tarija went really well with good attendance - at least 50 last night here in Tarija! There were good questions and definite interest in Horizons so I'm really looking forward to the upcoming months. A big thank you goes out to Jeff Carter for being such a good sport with the altitude (especially in Potosi) and the crazy schedule I put us through :) As well to Ivan Gutierrez, Humberto Flores, and Diego who helped with translating various times during the trip.

And many thanks to all of you who have been praying. Unfortunately my camera stopped working on the first night of the congreso/convention - I have to take it in to be checked...I'm hoping it's just some dust that needs to be cleaned out - so I don't have any pictures to show at this point but will get some from Jeff and Ivan to post when possible.

'til next time,
rebecca

Off to Sucre

The youth congreso/convention just finished up - at 1am today. The joys of council meetings :) Jeff Carter did a fantastic job with the workshop and keynote address regarding youth and integral mission and he was able to reconnect with friends he hadn't seen in more than 20 years. It was great being back with youth I haven't seen for months and I'm pleased to say that I survived council meetings that went to 2 in the morning.

Tomorrow we head to Sucre to meet with youth leaders there. Then it's off to Potosi on Tuesday. Jeff will be speaking about the Calling of a Youth Leader as well as Horizons. We met with the first to-be mentors of the Horizons program. Danny and Sara want to go through the program and then the 3 of us will do a test run before launching it. It's exciting times!

I'm also excited that the new jovenes national president and vice-president who were elected yesterday are from Tarija! I wasn't so excited about the huge spiders I encountered where we were sleeping :)

Thanks for all the prayers...will write again in a couple of days. It's time to get some much needed sleep.

'til next time,
rebecca

All Systems a Go

I'm now in Cochabamba with Jeff Carter...he arrived without problems (thanks to all of you who have been praying!) and we've had a great first day of conversations and sharing. Please continue to pray as we get ready for the conference/convention starting on Thursday; for health and safety, and all the connections that will be made.

More to follow including pics later this week.

'til then,
rebecca