Potpourri 2009

Wow...time just flies! I really don't like to let so much time pass between blogs, but "asi es la vida!" This blog sort of overlaps the last one. But I wanted to share the pictures.

David's wife, Becky, was with us for about 2 weeks. She helped relieve Keila's stress in the elementary school while she was here. We really appreciated all her enthusiasm and energy. The kids loved her! Keila is running again, teaching classes in primary and secondary, working as the school psychologist;), and running all the religious activities.

We've said good-bye to one of our Bolivian missionary families that has been with us since the very beginning. They feel they have been called to work with the churches in town and they left this week. That leaves us minus one Chemistry/Biology teacher and one Primary teacher.

The super good news is that 2 more missionaries will be arriving in just 2 weeks. LYLI is planning to be back at the school on June 7. There are some last minute details she must take care of in Mexico before coming back, but her ticket has been purchased and we are looking forward to seeing her really soon! Traveling with her is another young lady from Mexico who will also be working in the primary school. Keila is counting the days until they arrive.

Becky and Keila

The rice harvest was beautiful this year. It is satisfying to eat the rice from your own field. We didn't get nearly as much rice as we would have liked, but God is good. Having our own rice saves us nearly $75 each week. Yes, as a school we go through about 25 -50 pounds of rice per day. That's why it's the last thing I want to see when I am in the States on "summer break!"

Rice ready for harvest. It reminds me of all the harvesting imagery Jesus used when talking to His disciples.

At the end of last school year, we finally imported a portable sawmill that was donated to the school. Ruan had a lot of fun learning how to use it and cutting boards before school started. Unfortunately, he has been running around doing all the paperwork for visas for all of the volunteers and has not had a chance to use it lately. He's looking forward to getting through the paperwork tunnel and back to the great outdoors to do some cutting. The sawmill will be a huge blessing to the school. Not only can we cut the wood needed for our own construction projects, we can also cut wood to sell as an industry for the school. Just one step closer to becoming more self-supporting.

Ruan cutting with the sawmill

In April we did an evangelistic series in Yata. Our truck was sent to Santa Cruz for an overhaul just two days before the series started. This left us with one choice – walk. So, we all walked to El Yata and back every night for the week. The students learned to enjoy the 4 mile walk there, and the 4 mile walk back. Even though April is normally the beginning of dry season, it rained every night on the way there and back, but would stop for the outdoor evangelistic series. After the evangelistic series, 10 of our students and 1 woman from El Yata got baptized. More are studying for baptism. The community was able to see the positive attitudes and dedication of our students in spite of the long walk in the rain every night.

Wet road to Yata
Keila walking barefoot through the puddles
Keila and me after arriving in Yata

Our "convention center"

Mother and son

One of our students

After a long day of work, the boys love taking a walk to the river just a kilometer from the school. They love to bridge jump and swim and just chill for a while. I always watch happily from the bridge. I wouldn't jump if you paid me. Boesman came with us this time and loved to watch the boys jump. He ran from the bridge down the bank to the water and back over and over again. He loves the water!

3....2....1....Jump!

Swimming in the flooded river

Boesman watching the action.

While Ruan's parents were in Bolivia, my father-in-law decided that Joel needed some practice in the medical field, so he cut his leg with a machete;) Joel is one of our 4th year students and would like to be a medical missionary. He stitched up my father-in-law's leg under the supervision of our nursing teacher, Susie.

Nursing class:)

Last, but not least, our kitty - estilo Mexicano:)

God Bless!!!!

Ruan & Tara