What's Going on in Bolivia?!

Please be in prayer for Bolivia. We find ourselves in the midst of troubling times.

When President Evo Morales, a former coca leaf grower and Bolivia’s first indigenous president, was elected in 2006, it was expected that he would serve in the presidency for 2 consecutive terms (a total of 10 years). However, towards the end of Evo’s last term, he sought to modify the constitution in order to run for a 3^rd term; there was a national election and the amendment was defeated. However, shortly after, Evo turned to the courts, stacked with members of his MAS party (Movimiento al Socialismo or Socialist Movement). As a result, the country’s highest court overruled the constitution and gave Evo the ability to run for a 3^rd term-and for every election thereafter.

Despite this abuse of power, Evo continues to be well loved among the predominantly indigenous population of Bolivia. In part because of his own indigenous background and also due to his implementation of many socialist programs that have helped the indigenous population and his work to support the preservation of the indigenous culture, language and religious beliefs.

So, this brings us to today and Evo’s recent doings. In December, legislature passed a penal code that is set to be passed in the next 18 months. The penal code does lots of things. It criminalizes ALL malpractice (rather than just gross negligence). Based on accusations alone, a physician could be sent to prison while awaiting trial. The penal code also calls for increased censorship in journalism and increased criminal penalties for those in the transportation sector. Perhaps most alarming, is a portion of the code that criminalizes evangelism in Bolivia. The disturbing mandate calls for “5-12 years of imprisonment” for “whoever recruits, transports… or hosts people with the aim of recruiting them to take part in religious or worship organizations.” Obviously, this could result in potentially severe restrictions on religious freedom in Bolivia.

Since the passing of the penal code there has been a great outcry from the Bolivian people and large gatherings of prayer and protest throughout the major cities of Bolivia. On Monday, the president will address the nation. A lot will ride on what he has to say. As a school, we are preparing for closure for the entire week, as potential demonstrations, marches and blockades could make it difficult to impossible to get around the city. There is talk of people from around the country flocking to La Paz (the home of the president and political capital of Bolivia) to protest.

Tomorrow, believers throughout Bolivia will observe a day of prayer and fasting. Please join us in our prayers. Pray for wisdom for the leaders of Bolivia, pray that God’s will may be done, and that He will be glorified. It seems that in times of persecution, the church always grows and becomes stronger; pray that many will come to know the Lord in these times.

Doctors on Strike in Bolivia

Evangelical Leaders Praying for Bolivia

President Evo Morales

A Tribute to My Uncle Bob

The Monday before last, my Uncle Bob fastened his helmet, activated the GPS on his watch and clipped his shoes into the pedals of his bike. It was a normal weekday morning ride, something he did consistently, Monday through Friday, typically logging 10-12 miles through the pine and spruce covered hills of eastern Washington. Unbeknownst to him, this would be his last ride. A young man, on his way home from the night shift, fell asleep at the wheel, striking my uncle at 45 miles per hour. Early the next morning, taken off life support, his heart stopped beating.

Each morning, my uncle wrote in a journal, jotting down what he had read in his Bible and what God was teaching him. The morning of his accident was no different. He sat in his chair, no doubt with a cup of coffee, and read through 1 Samuel 1-3,  journaling while he did so. This portion of scripture records the story of Hannah, a woman in deep pain who chose to trust the Lord despite her inability to understand His ways. In her prayer she says, “The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up.” It seems poignant that these were among the last words my uncle read shortly before his own time on earth was over.

My uncle loved music-all different kinds-but particularly worship music. The playlist on his phone showed the last song he had enjoyed that morning: “Forever Reign”. The lyrics go something like this; “You are life, You are life. In You, death has lost its sting. I’m running to your arms, in your presence, I’m made whole.” During the memorial celebration we sang this song together, changing the lyrics to “I’m riding to your arms”. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place as we imagined Bob literally riding to the arms of his Savior.

When tragedy strikes, when something happens that we just cannot comprehend, we as humans have two responses. We either become bitter and angry at the God we cannot understand, or we cling to Him despite our lack of understanding. In the story of Hannah, we see the second response. We see a woman so troubled,  that she wept much before the Lord “in bitterness of soul”, with prayers so fervent that the worshippers among her assumed she was drunk. We see a woman desperate for a miracle; eventually God did give her what she asked. But in the interim (the place where many of us live), she chose to trust the Lord, knowing His ways were higher than hers. She did not mask or deny her anguish, she opened her heart before the Lord, pouring out her pain, her doubt, her confusion and her anger to Him, and trusting Him along the way. Later in life, the Lord brought so much beauty from what she suffered. 

We are suffering. We do not understand. We may never understand this side of heaven. But, we bring our pain to the Lord, knowing that He promises to make beauty from ashes. Knowing that we grieve in hope and with confident expectation of the day we will see Bob again.

“He raises the poor from the dust and lifts 

the needy from the ash heap.” 

1 Samuel 2:8

Enjoying time at the Coeur d'alene Resort

Uncle Bob and me

He loved camping! And Rosie!

Supporting his son, John, during a race

Doing what he loved with his brother-in-law, Jim

Fun times with the grandkids

Bob and Debi

We love you, Uncle Bob. 

Trust the Guide

As we glided through the deep blue waters of the Yacuma River, nestled in the swampy grasslands of Northern Bolivian, our guide brought our boat to a slow stop and began navigating us towards a tree. While beautiful, there was nothing special about the tree, it appeared to be like any of the other hundreds of trees we had seen growing along the banks of the river. But our knowledgeable guide knew better. After waiting for a couple of minutes, we heard a rustling among the leaves and suddenly we were in the company of dozens of capuchin monkeys. They jumped from branch to branch and eventually joined us on our boat, hoping to scavenge a snack. They were not disappointed; we drudged out some crumbled crackers from our weathered backpacks and literally had monkeys eating out of our hands. Had our guide not taken us on this detour, we would have missed this beautiful and surreal moment. At times along our journey through the river, we were impatient, even dubious, with our guide. “Why is he stopping? Where is he taking us? Is he lost?” Yet, not once were we disappointed as each time we were rewarded with the sight of incredible jungle animals-cayman, turtles, pink river dolphins and colorful birds such as I have never seen before.

Sometimes life is like this, right? We think that we know and understand where our life is headed and all that is happening around us and then suddenly something seemingly derails our journey and we impatiently think, “God, what are you doing? Where are you taking me? This makes no sense!” Yet, God is His sovereignty has a detailed plan for where He is taking us and ultimately that plan is for our good and for His glory.

As the Israelites were wandering in the desert, making their way to Canaan, the Lord sent an angel to the Israelites to “guard (them) along the way and to bring (them) to the place (He) had prepared.” (Exodus 23:20) Yet, that journey certainly didn’t look like what the Israelites had in mind. God promised the Israelites that He would deliver Canaan into their hands, driving out the fierce tribes inhabiting the land. Yet, the promise was fulfilled in God's timing and way, and I suspect it wasn’t as the Israelites imagined: “But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.” Exodus 23:29-30 Had the land the Israelites so strongly desired been immediately conquered for them, the barrenness and the wild animals of Canaan would have destroyed them. One step at a time, God made the Israelites stronger and stronger until the time was perfect for His optimal blessing.

How many times have I pleaded with God, “How long, Lord? Do this NOW! Heal me now! Make me brave now! Give me what I want now! Fix this situation now!”? And each time God has lovingly and compassionately responded, “Trust Me. Your times are in my hands.” (Psalm 31:15) Sometimes, He does things little by little, growing us, increasing us, requiring us to trust Him, so that we may receive the fullness of the blessing He has for us.

He is a good, good Guide. You can trust Him with the “NOWs!” of today. He’s got some awesome “monkeys” for you to see while you wait.