Bolivia_BPF

Welcome to the TRIBE!

2011-11-12T20:21:00.001-08:00

THANKS for joining our TRIBE!

This blog is the place where you can get:

Information about future trips
Updates on our partnership
Prayer requests...and...
Follow mission teams on the ground

As a part of the tribe you will get text messages, facebook updates, and emails - but all of those will direct you back to this site. This is where you will get the info that keeps you connected!

Go ahead and look through previous posts to get an idea of all the great experiences BPF teams have had in the past.

Thanks again for joining - I hope you will consider GOING, or going again!

Buenos Tardes! Mi nombre es Tamara ;)

2011-09-17T14:15:00.000-07:00

Wow! Where to begin? Let's start by saying this is my first mission trip...and it has been an amazing experience! I thought that I was coming to help teach the beautiful ladies of Ruth and Naomi the unconditional love of Jesus....yet it seems He used this experience to teach me the same lesson...and there is no doubt in my mind that the ladies on this trip were hand-picked by God. Each and every person on our team has served a special purpose along the way.
After returning from Samaipata on Thursday, we were all exhausted....and needed some rest, because we still had a big day on Friday! After a great night of rest, the girls painted the living room wall of the transition home and the Women's Pregnancy Center office inside the transition home. After that, they had the opportunity to go back to Talitha Cumi orphanage to play with the children and teach on responsibility and team work. I say they, because I unfortunately caught a bug that was going around and had to stay in bed all day. =(
Today is our last day in Bolivia.... We woke up this morning and went to the transision home, where they cooked us breakfast....pancakes, pure honey, real butter and fresh squeezed orange juice...yum! Then, Carlette and Nancy taught a morning class on infant/child care and safety, which the ladies loved. While Stephanie and I juggled 2 babies and a toddler...during nap time. ;).
This afternoon, we bonded and fellowshipped as women do.... Shopping!
Tonight, we are ending our fabulous trip with a traditional Bolivian meal at everyone's fave....Don Miguel's.
...but first, we have to pack up, because our flight leaves tomorrow morning, at 9am.
To sum it up, the things I have learned in Bolivia, have been...
1. There is no set time and plans change...so, be flexible.
2. Cold drinks and A/C makes u sick. (according to the Pharmacia)
3. This country in beautiful.
4. Ketchup and Mayonaise are the only condiments you need...
And most importantly....
5. Jesus loves us ALL for who we are Right now... Not who we think we should be, not for who others think we should be or for who HE knows we can become....but where and who we are right now.
God Bless

Calling all nurses!!

2011-09-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

Stephanie blogged about the retreat and Juanita's accident. My experience has been slightly different than the rest of the team and I wanted to share that with y'all. When Juanita came tumbling off the horse, my heart paused for a split second and then ER nurse in me came to life. I have never been more thankful for having worked in trauma centers across US than in those precious moments. I had to recall so many skills to keep Juanita's spine intact and keep her from being moved around in a way that could compromise her spinal cord. At home, keeping a scene under control can be difficult, this scene was full of people who don't speak English...and as I was trying to hold her neck in a neutral position, I was having to shoo away these spider monkeys...yes...real monkeys from the zoo. I think they wanted to comfort Juanita. There isn't 911 in Samipata, they have a hospital, but it is more lilke a band-aid station than a hospital. Someone called the hospital and they sent a doctor in a truck to assess Juanita, then they went to get an ambulance. All this has taken almost an hour or more since Juanita fell. While we were waiting, we were holding up Juanita's feet and keeping her awake and from moving her head. The ambulance ride was unlike anything I have ever experienced. We made 3 stops before we got to Santa Cruz; at the local hospital for another doctor to look at Juanita, they started an IV and gave her some much needed pain meds for the ride, the second was for a snack for the driver to stay awake and then to get gas when we we closer to Santa Cruz. The ride from Samipata was 2-3 hours...down a mountain...going very fast...the road is mostly paved but every few hundred feet, it was dirt and a we had to slow down...and I was very happy about that. Winding roads are not my friend and I was almost sick in the ambulance myself. When we got to the ER they rushed her in and assessed her, they did x-rays and a CT scan. The hospital was small and no a/c. They call hospitals clinics here...I had to ask why we were taking Juanita to a clinic and not a hospital...Vanessa quickly explained that to me. Juanita had to stay overnight in the hospital with thebhopes of being discharged the next day. The next day Vanessa and I got to the hospital and we did a lot of waiting...just like at home...waiting for x-rays and doctors. At the end of the day we finally had a meeting with 3 doctors and they decided that Juanita should stay another night in the hospital. The rest of the team wanted to go visit Juanita but, they were unable because if the doctors and nurses saw more Americans than the bill would be more. That was such a shock to me, so I went to the hospital with Danny and Dorcas ( the director of the Transition home) to get Juanita to take her to Danny and Vanessa's to make her recovery easier. I have to say that I wasn't expecting to use my nursing skills at all on this trip except for educational questions, but I know now that God had me in Bolivia this week for Juanita and the team. Praise Him for his infinite wisdom and power.

A brief account of the last 3 days (Crazy!!!)

2011-09-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

As Jason wrote earlier, we had a crazy accident in Samaipata. We were visiting a wildlife refuge outside of town and Juanita was riding a horse for her very first time. The lady led her on the horse and then let her go to finish the ride. Somehow about 100 yards from where we were all standing, the horse turned around and began to run toward us. It began to run faster and faster until it was racing past us. Juanita's foot slipped out of one of the stirrups and she came flying off and fell on her left side. She was unconscious for about 5 minutes as we tried to assess her. Thankfully, we had 2 nurses with us and Carlette and Nancy were able to keep her stable and assess the situation. She was carried by ambulance with Vanessa and Carlette back to Santa Cruz. She has one broken rib and a bruised lung. They are observing her at the hospital and will probably release her tomorrow. Thank you for your support and prayers. It could've been much worse, but God really carried all of us! A little shaken up, the rest of us stayed in Samaipata to finish the retreat. Despite the craziness of the day, God really blessed our time. To give you a brief overview of the retreat, each day we had worship (in spanish and english) and a speaking session where several of us shared our testimonies and spoke on how God can do infinitely more than we could ask or think in our lives. We encouraged them to rely on his power and love in our lives and not our own strength. For the second session of the day we had support group sessions talking about self worth and forgiveness. The first day, after the support group session, one of the girls from the transition home, Carolean, accepted Christ! Last night after the accident we had a foot washing service where we washed the ladies feet. It was a very sweet emotional time as we served the ladies. They seemed very humbled by us serving them. And today when we had a closing share time, one of the staff of the transition home shared that seeing us serve gives her a stronger passion to serve. They all seemed very blessed by our time together. I had an opportunity to spend a lot of time with Eli, the counselor of the transition home, and I feel God ordained for our hearts to connect. She became our only translator after Vanessa left. She loved the material we were teaching and seemed eager to learn all she could and opened up a lot to me. I am looking forward to working with her in the future and helping her in any way I can to get the girls the help they need to heal from emotional hurts. All in all, we know that God has every member of this team here for a reason, and He has used us in crazy ways we never thought on this trip. Thank you for your prayers! There is still more to come!

Pray Please

2011-09-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

Please be in prayer for our team this evening. They were out at an animal reserve in Samaipata horseback riding today when one of the transition home girls, Juanita, was bucked off her horse and was hurt. They think that she may have broken a couple of ribs, has a few lacerations, and probably a concussion. Vanessa, Carlette and Nancy are riding with her in an ambulance back to Santa Cruz (4 hours away) while Stephanie, Tamara, and Lindsey will stay and lead the retreat for the rest of the girls. Everyone is a little shook up. Be in prayer for Juanita for healing and pray for our team as the are now half in Santa Cruz and half in Samaipata leading the retreat. I will update as soon as hear anything new.

Retreat in Samaipata, Bolivia

2011-09-13T18:51:00.001-07:00

Our team made it to Samaipata late this afternoon to lead in the retreat for the girls, babies and leaders of Ruth and Noemi Transition Home. There are 5 of our team and 13 them to make a total of 18 on the retreat. There isn't any internet access from where they are staying so we will probably not get any updates for a couple of days. Samaipata is about a 3 to 4 hour bus ride up into the mountains west of Santa Cruz. They described the weather as "sweater weather" up in the mountains.

Our team has prepared a great retreat! Be in prayer for them that God will use them over the next couple of days as they share their lives.

If you are interested in seeing the website for the place they are staying in Samaipata then visit here:
http://www.lavispera.org/

Monday in Santa Cruz

2011-09-12T18:41:00.000-07:00

We had a full busy and very productive day today! After a morning of shopping all over Santa Cruz for items for the transition home, we were invited to have lunch with the kids at Talita Cumi orphanage. We got there before the kids got home from school, so we got to tour the facility and meet some of the staff. They have some EXCELLENT people on staff. We were very blessed to meet Heidi (on their board and very much the "mom") and to hear her heart for these kids.

After we ate lunch, the kids sang Happy Birthday to Nancy (today is her birthday!). Then we did a quick talk about hand washing (which they do very well with but always need reinforcing!) and then did a lesson and an activity about protecting their self-worth and finding their value in Christ. They seemed to have fun, and could tell then the message had an impact on them.

Pray for the staff because one of their administrative directors is moving on to another opportunity. The remaining staff will be filling in the gaps until they find a replacement.

In the afternoon we finished up our shopping and did some work redecorating the downstairs bathroom and planning for our painting day we will have at the end of the week. There were a couple of things we haven't been able to find yet, so hopefully we can find them before we leave!

Tomorrow we will leave for the retreat in Samaipata. We have gotten to work around the girls at the Transition Home and gotten to know them some (and their sweet kids!)

Pray for our retreat preparation tomorrow morning, for safe travels up the mountains to Samaipata, and for genuine relationships to build tomorrow evening.

PS - and we got fried plantains tonight! YUM.

PPS - There's definitely a different dynamic this year with an all women team. Lots of laughter!

They have arrived safely!

2011-09-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

I heard from Stephanie this afternoon. The team has arrived safely in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Everyone is doing well. They had a bolivian breakfast this morning (chicken empanadas, fresh fruit and fresh fruit juices) at my brother and sister-in-laws home. For those that don't know my brother Danny, and his wife Vanessa and their 3 kids are missionaries based out of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Danny leads a ministry called Agua Yaku, which provides clean water for those need, and Vanessa leads the transition home that our church helps support which is called the Ruth and Noemi Transition Home for Girls. Our team, this week, will be spending most of their time leading a retreat for the girls and babies of the transition home as well as the leaders of the home.

Our team will spend tomorrow at the orphanage that most of the girls in the home come from which is called Talita Cumi. Then Tuesday through Thursday they will be in up in a mountain town called Samaipata leading the retreat.

Continue to pray for our team as God uses them in great ways this week!
Jason Beams

Bolivia Mission Team leaves Saturday, September 10

2011-09-07T10:51:00.000-07:00

Bolivia Mission Trip – September 10-18
We have a team away to Santa Cruz, Bolivia this week leading a retreat for the girls, babies, and leaders of the Ruth and Noemi Transition Home. This is a ministry that we support that is a safe place for girls to live that are walking through a crisis pregnancy (no family support, abusive situations) or age out of an orphanage and need a place to land and gain life skills, job training, and discipleship. Please be in prayer for Stephanie Beams, Carlette Thibeault, Tamara Rice, Nancy Massey and Lindsey Hiatt as they lead share their lives with these ladies this week.

2011-06-29T12:12:00.000-07:00

We had an incredible, life-changing week!

On the Way Home!

2011-06-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

Well our team has begun their journey home. They are currently on a flight to Miami, Fl where they will have a short layover and then will connect to Houston Intercontinental Airport where they will arrive at 12:10 AM tonight!! Please pray for safe and restful travel! We are all anxious to have them home again! (Especially those of us with small kiddos;) We are looking forward to lots of stories and pictures! Thanks for all your prayers! I know that they have made this trip the success that it has been! -Stephanie

Our Week in Bolivia

2011-06-18T15:04:00.000-07:00

We are back in Santa Cruz after a week in the Bolivian lowlands. La Brecha was the community where we camped, drilled, ministered, and spent time our week. What an awesome and humbling experience we had. This area is so remote it is like driving to El Paso on a single lane dirt road, most of which is so ate up with ruts and potholes. The drive is like a constant rally race to keep from getting stuck. In the middle of jungle, cactus, shrubs, wild animals, and livestock communities pop up that seem to spring up out of nowhere and for no apparent reason. These communities have been here forever. Land and homesteads handed down through generations. There are schools and churches, but practically no basic necessities like electricity, running water, and stores. The indigenous population live in ways that we could never imagine, yet they are kind, generous, loving, and happy. We spent 3 days digging 2 water wells and it was back breaking, bone jarring work. Everyone was wiped out by the end of the day. We all smelled bad, looked bad, and our bodies ached, yet I don´t think I heard 1 person say they would not be willing to come back and do it all over again. The blessing that we received from this experience is much more than the blessing that the community received from our water wells.

On the first night there we attended a local church service that seemed to be given just because we were present. Jason spoke for a few moments, Nathan reviewed one of the daily devotionals we had been doing, and I got to share my testimony. All this was done through translation by our foreman. The young ladies of the church sang some beautiful songs for us and it was an awesome, holy experience. I wish I had known the words. One of the things that touched me the most was that this community came out and put on their best for us. They dressed up in their best clothes, they put on their best service, sang their best songs, and opened their doors and hearts. That was all followed by watching the Jesus video in Guarani. I didn´t understand 2 words but that didn´t matter. There were over 200 in attendance which was just amazing. Even though they do not have much in a materialistic sense, they have an abundance of love and kindness. They put on their best for us in everything they did. They were always kind and friendly even though most of us were terrible in our attempts to communicate with them. One thing that was definitely displayed this week is that love knows no language

On the third day, we almost lost the second well. A section of PVC came unscrewed and the well pipe dropped into a 40 meter hole. By the grace of God, Marcos was able to fish the pipè out of the hole hanging on by a thread. Nathan´s Ninja reflexes got a pipe wrench on the pipe before it dropped back into the hole. We then extracted the pipe, reclaimed the hole and completed the well before dark. All to the applause of the local community. It was totally awesome! I found out later, in talking to Mike, that several of us had been silently praything that God would not let our last 2 days work go to waste. How our prayers were answered and answered immediately was just one of the many miracles we have experienced on this trip! Just being able to grab that pipe out of the hole as it hung onto the edge of the fishing apparatus by no more than .25 inches and the quickness and agility of the whole amatuer team working on the well to reclaim is testimony to the presence and goodness of God.

Another blessing and miracle is the team of missionaries we worked with. Danny, Vanessa, Warren, Jackie, Juanita, Marcos, and Eric are absolutely some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. Their love for the Bolivian people is not only evident in the drilling of water wells and bringing in missionary teams, but also in the transition home that they manage in Santa Cruz. I would highly encourage any of the ladies from our church to try and visit this coming fall. We got to spend a little time there today and help move some furniture and it is evident that the hand of God is present in this place and on these ladies. Vanessa, Juanita, Terry, Jamie, and Caeser prepared most of our meals, coordinated our activities, and held bible study and VBS during our trip! That is an amazing load! They literally took care of us like kings. That was not an easy job. For 2 days the wind blew at what seemed like 30 to 50 mph. Sand blew everywhere and into everything yet they made sure we had everything we needed to keep going on the task that lie before us. They had to fight tents being blown over and torn up, yet they kept everything intact and we did not miss a meal, go thirsty, or lose a thing. In fact I probably gained a few pounds! Danny, Marcos, and Eric are excellent at what they do. They were able to take a bunch of individuals with little knowledge for drilling water wells and turn us into a functional, coordinated team in just a few hours. I don´t think there is any problem they could not have resolved.

I also don´t want to leave out the fun we had and the relationships we developed. Trust me, being around 10 plus stinky, testosterone laced men in tents for 4 days is no picnic, yet we bonded and came together for a greater cause. To bring glory to God and to serve Him in whatever capacity we each have. We each have different gifts and abilities, and God gave us all the opportunity to serve Him through serving others this week.

Gideon

Great Week!

2011-06-18T07:04:00.000-07:00

We made it back to the hotel late last night from our water well adventure. Everyone is doing great! We were able to complete two wells in a regional village in the Isosog area of South Bolivia. The people that live in this area speak an Indian language called Guarani. The first well we did was at a church. We loved digging this well for them because it will hopefully help them minister to the people in this area at an even greater level. The day we did this well we were able to participate in a great worship service at night where there were at least a couple hundred people who came to the outdoor service. There was lots of singing and celebration. They asked us to share a little bit so I intro´d our group and thanked them for letting us be a part of their community, Nathan shared a scripture and Gideon did an incredible job sharing his testimony. After that we showed the Jesus film. It was a great night. Day 2 and 3 consisted of drilling a well for the hospital in town. La Brecha was a village of probably 100 or more families but also served as a regional area to the hundreds of other families that lived throughout this region. The hospital only had water available to them when they had diesel(which was hard to come by) to pump their well. We were able to put a well in for them so that they have water now whenever they need it. What a privilege to be part of this project. God is good. Thanks for your prayers! Jason

Back in Santa Cruz

2011-06-17T20:05:00.000-07:00

Jason called through Face Time back at the hotel in Santa Cruz tonight. It was great to see his face and let the kids talk to him! They finished their second well after dark last night and got up early this morning to head back to Santa Cruz. Half way between the village and Santa Cruz they pulled off the road for what Jason called the ultimate off road experience! They drove about an hour and half (truly off road, back road, dirt road, etc.) to a scenic hike and overlook. Jason said there were beautiful cliffs and rock arches and at the end of the hike they enjoyed an amazing panoramic view. He said that if the team hadn't felt like they had gotten enough adventure, they certainly got it today! He was tired but seemed very excited about how well the trip has gone! Tomorrow they will have a day of rest and shopping before they fly out Sunday. I know they will have tons of neat stories to tell, since we have only gotten to hear bits and pieces during quick conversations over the satellite phone. The showing of the Jesus Film , which was new this year, seemed to really draw a lot of people. Jason said that he was sure there were at least 250 people that came. Terry and Jamie had lots planned for working with the kids there as well, so I'm anxious to hear their experience. One thing that was exciting for me to hear is that one of our girls from the Ruth Y Naomi transition home, Juanita is who went to be the cook on this trip! It's great to hear that she is doing well! She has graduated culinary school since being at the home and now she can put that into practice!!! Awesome!

Hundreds see Jesus Film

2011-06-16T10:46:00.001-07:00

Hello Friends,
This is Lisa Rodriguez. I spoke with John and Robert early Wednesday morning. Everyone is doing well and feeling super excited. They completed one water well and Monday evening someone had a generator so the team showed the Jesus Film. John said a couple hundred folks walked to see it, they heard about it word-of-mouth. Praise God for the word spreading and allow so many to hear about Christ' sacrifice for all mankind. Everyone is well and have been able to make calls home to relay all the good news.

Robert has been spending time the children in the area which is a larger community than they have visited in the past. This is the reason they are able to do more than one well this trip. They also have a restroom of sorts, no digging holes this trip. Thank you for all your prayers and continue to pray the messege of Christ be spread through this community like the water that will soon be flowing, fresh, free and fulfilling.

1. Complete first water well in a day...Check!

2011-06-14T16:44:00.000-07:00

Jason called on the satellite phone this afternoon. It was great to hear his voice and know that they are safe and having a great time. He said they had just completed their first well and all they have to do is cement the pump in! Awesome! For those of you who have been in the past you now that sometimes a well can take 3 or 4 days, so this means great things. The ground is softer and they are able to find water at much shallower levels. They are planning on drilling a well a day while they are there, so they will start on the next one tomorrow. He said that the team was all having a blast and loving every minute. They are staying on the property of a little Assembly of God church that was started by a Korean missionary and traveling a couple of miles each day to the community to drill. Jason let some of the team members call and let their family members know that they were there. It was a quick call but I know everyone back home was excited to hear news from them!

They made it...I think!?

2011-06-14T09:22:00.000-07:00

Well, I didn't know when we would hear from the team, so I was a little surprised when last night at 9 o'clock I checked my phone and saw that at 8:23 there were missed calls from a really long number that appeared to be the satellite phone. We were outside playing with the kids and came in about 8:40, so we just missed him!!! :( I tried to call back, but no connection. He didn't leave a message and called several times within that 15 min. period, so I think he was having difficulty making a connection. Jason had told me that he would probably let a couple members of the team call home to let everyone know they were there, but no one else has heard, so I am assuming they are having difficulty getting a signal. He hasn't tried to call back, so I am assuming there is no emergency and they made it there and that is why he called. They are probably busy getting the well started this morning. I will keep everyone updated if he tries to call again! Please keep them in your prayers as they work very hard to give the people of Bolivia clean drinking water and share about Christ! ~Stephanie

Face Time

2011-06-12T19:37:00.000-07:00

We got to talk to our guys tonight on Face Time. Technology is such a wonderful thing! They are getting everything ready to leave at 5 in the morning to take the 7-8 hour trip to the village. They asked for extra prayer because there have been threats of road blocks, which is why they are leaving so early. In Bolivia, there is a big gap between the rich and the poor and a lot of political friction between 2 parties. So... when the poorer class party wants the government to do something, they stage road blocks in protest. This delayed our team by about 27 hours a couple of years ago. (And definitely increased the adventure aspect of the trip, driving through winding dirt roads and holding the bus up around curves!) This year, they are hoping to get through ahead of any road blocks, so keep them in your prayers. The only contact we will have the next 5 days will be through a satellite phone. Jason said that he would let us know that they made it safely, but that is probably all we will hear while they are in the village...in tents...with no electricity...or running water....remember that's why they are there drilling a well! This will have a huge impact on this village!! Be praying for their safety and for God to prepare the hearts of the people of the village to receive His word! So, on the night before they enter the jungles of Bolivia, to prepare for all the ministry they are going to have there, our boys are watching the Mavericks in Spanish!!! Yay Mavericks!!! That's all for now! I will keep you updated as I hear anything else! Thanks for your prayers! -Stephanie

Waiting for news...

2011-06-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys...this is Stephanie
Well, we know the team has landed safely in Santa Cruz. They got off the plane no doubt to a wonderful Bolivian breakfast with fresh fruit and juice (Bolivian fruit is awesome!) Im jealous! We are still waiting any further word. Jason has tried to call a couple of times from his Ipad, but we haven't been able to connect, yet. I'm just glad to know they are safe. They are getting rested for a big trip tomorrow down south to the village where they will be drilling. Keep them in your prayers, as road travel is not quite what it is in the U.S. (that is a huge understatement!) I'll keep you posted as I hear more!!!

Second time Around

2011-06-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

Robert and I are serving together again along with other BPF team members in 2011. Second time around for this father/son team. Putting God first was a challenge this year. Lots of work obstacles and limited time with family before departure. Pray for God's here in Bolivia and back home with our family members. I would not have missed this for the world. A few airport, visa, and luggage issues but things were otherwise uneventful. Long road trip tomorrow followed by hopefully a bountiful 4 days drilling for clean water.

...and they are off!

2011-06-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

The Bolivia Team is officially at the airport. I think they are all eager to get there. :) 8 members of the team have been before, so there are 6 newbies ready for adventure! Saying good-bye for 9 days leaves room for adventures both on the state-side and in Bolivia. (Like, when my husband decided to start potty training our 2 year old this morning and then leaves the country! hahaha- I'm ok with it. It will be and interesting week!)

I'm looking forward to hearing what God is going to do this week!

Bye Daddy! Love, Sarah & Caleb

AguaYaku

2011-06-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

Check out AguaYaku - learn what they do, how they do it, and how to make a donation if you are interested

And They're Off...

2011-06-09T13:00:00.000-07:00

We have another team headed to Bolivia! This is a water well team that will be working in the jungle. (We will be sending a Ruth & Noemi Transition Home team to Santa Cruz later in the year.)

This team will leave on Saturday, June 11. Here is how you can be praying:

-Pray for the last minute details as they prepare to GO
-Pray for safety as they travel to Bolivia and in country
-Pray for success in drilling the water wells
-Pray for connections and catalyst opportunities with natives
-Pray for our friends and partners: missionaries Danny & Vanessa Beams, and family; and Warren & Jackie McCaig and family
-Pray for long-term relationships between BPF and a Bolivian community or people group

Check back often. Just keep in mind that when the team is in the jungle - they have no communication (other than a satellite phone that is used for emergency only). But, we will update as often as we hear some news!

JOIN US...

2010-06-23T14:22:00.000-07:00

Come celebrate what God had done!

BOLIVIA PARTY

Sunday, June 27th @ 6:00pm

in the BPF Worship Center

Pictures, Videos, and Stories

...

2010-06-19T15:10:00.001-07:00

2010-06-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

WINDING DOWN A GREAT TRIP!!
Saturday June 19
What a wonderful week we have had here! It is so encouraging to know that God can take you so far from home and then despite a language barrier and a different culture He can use the skills and gifts that He has given to meet the needs of such grateful people. Sometimes I have felt so inadequate when I had a chance to serve outside my comfort zone but He has shown me especially on this trip that He can use us despite our inadequacies (imagined or real) and establish relationships with those that we have come to help and with each other. Today was a rest day- which we really enjoyed. Some of the guys went hiking and saw some beautiful waterfalls and the girls spent some time shopping and being pampered with manicures and pedicures. Some of the ladies that help in the Transition Home and also Juanita (a resident there) also came to enjoy our " girls day out". They were really appreciative and had a good time too. It will be sad to leave them because God has blessed us with their friendship but it´s awesome to know that they will always be our friends even though we can´t stay here. I look forward to the time when I can return if that´s what God has in mind but I know that He will continue to grow his work here as more and more people are drawn in to what He is doing at the Transition Home and at Centro de Vida (the Life Center). I was overwhelmed when I had the opportunity to tour the Centro de Vida. I was looking at the bulletin board that showed pictures of the mommas and babies that have been saved through this center and already had a lump in my throat just thinking about how God is at work here but then Vicki showed me to a small room off to the side and opened the doors to reveal an ultrasound machine. I can´t even begin to tell you the incredible overwhelming joy that swept over me as I looked at that machine! I realized at that moment just how united we are as the body of Christ because I know that it is His desire to bring life and to bring it more abundantly and He is moving on the hearts of believers all across the world to accomplish that goal. What an awesome and mighty God we serve that knows no boundaries and can can communicate His love so clearly. I couldn´t feel more blessed.
Love,
Teresa

Reflection on this Week

2010-06-19T06:31:00.000-07:00

This is Robert posting. As a teenager, Bolivia has affected me differently than most of the adults. When the water well team arrived in the villiage I realized how much we really have. The villiage consisted of a few small houses with roofs made of palm branches and straw and if they had walls (which few did) they were made of either tree trunks, mud bricks, or wooden planks. I saw children 8 and 9 years old doing things that most 14 and 15 year olds could not do for such long periods of time. I saw 14 and 15 year olds doing things many adults would consider difficult. When we were building the well and needed water, the adults from the villiage would tell the young children to go get water from the swamp-like area, a distance of about 500 feet from the villiage. It was incredable to watch these small kids work together to carry 3 or 4 buckets full of 3-4 gallons of water each. After the well was done we built a platform around it by placing logs in a square and filling dirt in it. Boys my age (including myslef)spent hours digging and carrying dirt to fill the platform without a complaint. I think that God has told me this week to be grateful for what I have and through hard times to remember that many people have it worse than I do.

Best of Both Worlds

2010-06-19T06:05:00.000-07:00

Hi! It´s Sidney
I have really enjoyed my trip to BOLIVIA! I really feel like God has provided for my wants. Before the trip I thought I wanted to help with the Ruth and Naomi Transitoin Home, but later after much thought changed my mind and decided to join my adventerous mom and work at the water well. Though I was more than happy with my decision, I still wanted to help with the Home. Well, all turned out just perfectly.
I went to the jungle, talked with the natives, cooked food that I had never eaten before, went fishing (and caught fish) in the rapids, ate pirahna, hauled water, rode in a bush plane, saw at least 150 crocadiles, and had one of the most adventerous and thrilling times of my life! Luckily we finished the well early and gained an extra day in the city.
Once in the city I had a good bath, and luckily got to help out with the Home too! I got to paint inspiring words on the wall at the Home and spent time with all of the wonderfull girls that will be living there in the future!
I got the ¨best of both worlds¨ and was able to do both of the things that I wanted to do!

Thursday and Friday

2010-06-19T05:30:00.000-07:00

Thursday was a great day, very busy, but great! The transition team met with the staff of Ruth and Noemi and had an intense time of prayer for the girls that have been in the home and the staff. We prayed over each room of the house for God´s blessing and protection. After some rest, the water well team joined us to finish up last minute details on the home and a wonderful lunch of tacos made by the staff of the home! We definitely have NOT gone hungry here. The food is wonderful! The girls from Talita Cumi that will be transitioning to the home soon joined us and we had a great time of fellowship, a little game of UNO, dominoes and Robert even taught the girls a US card game. Robert was a big hit with the girls, they all thought he was muy guapo! After lunch the guys all left so we could have a girls day! We watched Bride Wars in Spanish, had chocolate fondue and taught the girls how to make the cross t-shirts. It was such a treat for them, something they never get to do. They were all so proud of their shirts! It will be a great way for them to sell them and make money to help support themselves and to save for when they leave the home. (They open them a little savings account for them) We ended our time at the transition home with a dinner and very hard goodbyes!!! Can´t we just pack a few in our suitcases. I have gotten very attached after doing lots of intense counseling with the girls and getting to know their stories. It is heartbreaking what some of these girls have been through. I am praying that the work we have started here with begin some healing from their deep hurts. As we were leaving the home, Juanita, the girl staying in the home grabbed my arm and took me up the stairs to her room. She hugged me and told me she would love me forever and she searched through her purse and pulled out some earrings to give me. I was very touched. Juanita has one of the hardest stories I have ever heard. She is struggling with the scars of terrible abuse and abandonment, but praise God she is being loved and cared for in a safe place at the transition home. It makes all our work worth while to know that we are making a difference in her life.

Yesterday we had a free day and went out of the city to a BEAUTIFUL butterfly sanctuary! There were tons of butterflies, birds, monkeys, even bunnies. Everyone had a great time relaxing and swimming. Last night we headed to the city for some shopping and an Americanized meal. It was a good day! Today, our last day here, half our team will head to a waterfall and half our team will stay in town to do some more shopping. Some of us are even getting mani/pedis because it is so cheap here ($5-7) We are going to treat the ladies from the transition home!
We all miss our loved ones back home, but everyone is having a blast! We will see all of you soon! Hasta Mañana! Stephanie

Wednesday

2010-06-16T19:37:00.001-07:00

God has really worked this week. My son Robert was ill, and I became ill during the week. But each time, we prayed specificially and saw each of us recover quickly as hoped. We are continually amazed at the beauty of the Bolivian people, their simple homes, and their family life. We've enjoyed using our Hispanic and basic Spanish language capabilities to communicate with the people each day. In many ways, this community is at least 150 years behind in technology, yet their joy and work ethic continue to provide for their families each day. Time starts with sunrise, and generally ends with a few hours of conversation in the dark, staring at the bright stars and Milky Way. Fishing, basic hunting, and basic home structures have sufficed for now. We are enjoying serving with our hands, providing them clean water, and looking forward to continued relationships with people in the region. As a father/son team, I have enjoyed watching my son enjoy being a boy with the other children, and also becoming a man as he serves and shares God's love from his own Christian background. God truly got us here, clearing my work schedule and putting me on his time, rather than my own. Great pics. We'll share soon when get back.

2010-06-16T15:34:00.000-07:00

This is Nathan, reporting in for the well drilling team. We just arrived back in Santa Cruz we are all feeling very refreshed after a shower. The well drilling project was a successful adventure! We left the Santa Cruz hotel on Sunday morning and drove to a local (small) airport. We boarded two six-seater airplanes and flew two hours to the village of San Lorenzo de Moxos. Our landing there disrupted the local church service as many of the attenders ran to the grass runway to meet our planes. We joined them for the end of their church service and then ate lunch with some of them before embarking for the village of Las Hermosas. The trip to Las Hermosas consisted of a six-hour trip upriver in a dug-out wooden canoe with a small motor. The wildlife we observed on our trip was astounding. We saw numerous species of birds, including macaws and kingfishers, monkeys, and even some pink dolphins! In addition, we counted 31 alligators and crocodiles, including one that we estimated to be about 12 feet long! Sunday morning we camped at the farm of our canoe guide and then finished our trip on Monday morning. We arrived in Las Hermosas, met the villagers, ate some breakfast, and began setting up to drill. The locals were very helpful - it was incredible how quickly they chopped up large tree trunks with a simple set of tools (axe and machette) to use for the frame of our drill. We went right to work on the well and actually completed drilling on Monday evening - two days ahead of schedule. Danny said it was the fastest they had ever drilled a well to that depth. (I would like to think that the strength and endurance of our team played a key role in that accomplishment, but the soft sand was also a major factor!) On Tuesday we helped put the finishing touches on the well and then had a chance to go fishing with some of the villagers. They hauled in about a dozen fish in less than an hour with a bow and arrow and spear and simple hook and line, but the Americanos would have come up empty except that Terri and Sidney each caught a fish! Today we reversed our trip. It was slightly faster downstream. Our croc count on the return trip was 43! Well, the transition home team just arrived back at the hotel, so we are going to join them for dinner and recount our adventures!

Tuesday

2010-06-15T18:46:00.000-07:00

The water well team finished early. Danny Beams said it was the fastest they have ever completed one. They only had to go down 25 meters to get good water. So, the well team is headed back to Santa Cruz early. They will be back late tomorrow afternoon. Pray for their travel tomorrow.

The transition home team had a full day today - and has a full day tomorrow. The house is really looking great. The resident and staff are so grateful. It is a wonderful place already doing amazing ministry - and has so much potential for so much more! Stephanie and Vicki had pretty intense but fruitful days with their work with the girls and staff. The rest of the team also worked hard and was pretty tired at the end of the day.

It is a totally different trip staying in Santa Cruz, very good - just different.

We have had so much fun and laughed so much. We have dozens of inside jokes that I wont bore you with. I will just close by telling you this: one of my favorite parts of my job is getting to see our people connect their vocations, passions, skills, and hearts in our partner countries! I can't get enough of that!!

Monday

2010-06-14T15:46:00.000-07:00

Today the real work began! The transition house team painted, painted some more, and painted ALOT! Pictures will follow, but for now, imagine a very excited Juanita (a resident at Ruth and Noemi Home) when Teresa and I, Vicki, hung new curtains, and helped her put her new bedding on. Also envision, paint covered workers, lots of laughter, singing by Larry (a.k.a. Randy), and yes, the World Cup on every T.V. It was a rather long day, but so rewarding! I trained Vanessa, the resident housemom, a board member, and Angelica (the precious woman who went to cook for the water well team last year), and her daughter Gabby. This group of women are so hungry for ways to serve God by loving on these girls who have no where to go and need to be loved! What an incredible privilege and blessing it was to serve this group of women. Vanessa translated for me but the fact is different faces, same challenges we face at Safe Haven. We cried, we laughed and we shared for over 3 hours AND then we painted! Long day but how comforting to be His hands, feet, and heart in another part of His world! Dinner, a hot shower, and a good night's sleep and I am ready to go again, and again, and again............. - Vicki

Hi again- it's MM. I just have to say it's awesome to see God at work after you have specifically prayed for people on your team. Vicki had shared with us this morning how anxious she was about teaching. Well, I just happen to take a quick break from painting and took a few pictures. As I watched Vicki through the lens of my camera, I could totally tell how calm she was and see the bond she had made with the ladies. It was awesome!! Vicki's heart has been captivated by the ladies here. She's has already said that "she has to come back next year!"

Sunday

2010-06-13T18:18:00.000-07:00

Hi friends! The Water Well team left bright and early this morning at 6:30am. Steph and I kissed our hubbies good-bye as we sent them off into the bush. (...to meet the crocodiles, piranhas, monkeys, and BUGS!)

The City Team has enjoyed seeing the sights in Santa Cruz. We started the day worshipping together at Trinity International Church. Brother Randy Dane shared with the missionary families and other guests. After a great lunch at a Cuban restaurant, we strolled through a city market for a little local shopping. Ohh...and by the way, did you know the WORLD CUP is going on??? It's on every TV around here. Small tvs in grocery stores or the MASSIVE 30 foot TV in the middle of the market place.

After shopping in the market, we visited the Talita Cumi Orphange. We were greeted by a precious 4 year old girl, Naomi, who was determined to give the tour. She immediately wanted to know all of our names and wanted to hold each of our hands. The kids were excited to meet us and show off their home. Heidi, a missionary who helps run the home shared with us some of the needs of the home and some of the heartbreaking stories of what the kids have gone through. It was very touching. We even made some purchases of items the children had made to help support the kids.

Tomorrow the real work begins. We will spend the day painting and training the staff from the Pregnancy Center. Then later in the week Stephanie will do some counseling. After everything is decorated and finished we will have the opportunity to host the girls from the Talita Cumi home who will be transitioning to the Ruth and Noemi Home. We are excited to get started! Right now we are tired and headed to bed! Goodnight!
Mary and Stephanie

Saturday

2010-06-12T12:16:00.001-07:00

After a long journey here we have had a great day. We arrived early in the morning. The Beams and friends were at the airport waiting for us. We went straight to Danny and Vanessa's house, where we had fresh fruit and cinnamon rolls. After some rest, each team had a breif meeting to discuss plans for the week. The water well team will leave early tomorrow morning for the jungle. They will take a 2 1/2 hour airplane ride on small private aircraft, and then a 6 hour canoe trip up river (motorized). When they get there tomorrow they will set up camp and get to know their hosts. Drilling will begin Monday. The transition home team will go to church, where I (Randy) will be preaching. After that we will see the transition home, the orphanage, and work on some preparations to begin first thing Monday morning.

Right now we are resting, showering, and getting ready to go for dinner this evening. I don't know the name of the restaurant we are going to tonight, but I do know this - it is a meat fiesta!

It is already clear that God has assembled a great team for this mission. We are ready to see 1 Peter 4:10 in action!

BPF Bolivia Team

2010-06-11T15:02:00.000-07:00

The team from Brazos Pointe Fellowship is officially on its way to Santa Cruz. Two members not pictured are John and Robert Rodriguez, who are meeting the team at the airport. Please be in prayer for our group as they travel tonight and tomorrow. They will hit the ground running when they arrive.

2010 Mission Trip

2010-06-07T11:19:00.000-07:00

A team of 15 leaves for Bolivia on Friday. This is an exciting trip! After a couple of days to acclimate and worship we will divide into two teams on the ground in Bolivia. A team of 8 will go DEEP into the jungle to dig a water well. What has come together for this is incredible and exciting! Read the story here:
http://aguayaku.org/en/blog/item/49-exploratory-trip-to-san-lorenzo-de-moxos
The other team will stay in Santa Cruz to work at the Ruth and Naomi Transition Home that BPF supported through our 2009 World Missions Offering. That team will decorate the home, do some counseling, training, nursing, and praying.
God has put together an awesome team of folks for this mission. Please pray for our team!

Some specific prayer requests:
-Pray for our final preparation this week
-Pray that the Water Well team connects with the locals and has success
-Pray that the Transition Home team connects with the residents and staff
-Pray for opportunities to share the hope we have in Christ
-Pray for our missionary partners and hosts - Danny and Vanessa Beams
-Pray that some bedding we have ordered for the Transition Home arrives before we leave
-Pray for health, safety, and transformation

Thanks for praying!

2010-03-03T08:56:00.000-08:00

We now have 18 people who have made deposits for our June trip! If you have made a deposit but haven't gotten me your application yet, then be sure to do that as quickly as possible. We will have a meeting in a few weeks to begin planning the details of our projects.

2010-02-10T14:30:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,

Just a quick update...so far we have 16 who have made deposits and signed up for the trip!

If you are still interested - it is definitely not too late to sign up. I will begin the process of nailing down airline prices in a couple weeks. So if you could let me know in the next couple of weeks then we will be able to purchase all the airline tickets at the same price. If not, you will still be able to sign up after that, but there is a chance that the airline tickets could be slightly higher.

We will schedule a meeting soon to begin equipping for the trip.

Also, here is a link to the application that we use for all trips through BPF. If you have not filled one out please fill it out and get it back to me. If you have filled one out in the past then you don't have too for this trip.

http://www.brazospointe.com/ministry/2009%20Mission%20Trip%20Application.pdf

I am so excited about this trip this summer! Thanks so much for your interest and passion for the ministry we have through BPF in Bolivia.

Thanks

Jason

2010-01-18T09:13:00.000-08:00

I'll be doing another interest meeting for the Bolivia mission trip in a couple of weeks. Here is the information below.

Just a quick reminder - if you have already decided to go then the first deposit is due on or before Feb.7. This will help me lock in the cheapest airline tickets so that I can make this trip as inexpensive as possible for you.

You can make a deposit by writing a $250 check to the Brazos Pointe Fellowship, marked "Bolivia deposit for _____" and either mail it to the church at 224 Plantation, LJ, TX 77566 or bring it by the office or the easiest thing to do would be give it to me or place in the offering basket on Sunday.

Bolivia Mission Trip Interest Meeting • Sunday, February 7th

Interested in joining the BPF Bolivia Mission Team?

We will be working on 2 projects this coming summer. First, we will begin our work in the Ruth and Naomi Transition Home for girls. This is a home for girls that graduate out the orphanage at 18, or are homeless, or are in a crisis pregnancy and need help. Our other project will be to take a team into the jungle region of Bolivia east of Santa Cruz and drill water wells for those that are in desperate need of clean water for their families.

If you are interested there will be a brief interest meeting after each service on Sunday, Feb. 7th

Trip Dates: June 11th - 20th

First Deposit due of $250: February 7th

If you can't attend and would like more information about this trip or Bolivia Missions in general contact Jason Beams at jbeams@brazospointe.com

Thanks - it's going to be a great trip this year!

Jason

Update on Transition Home

2010-01-13T09:59:00.000-08:00

This is an excerpt from from Danny and Vanessa's monthly newsletter:

Ruth and Noemi Transition House update: We have three new girls in the transition house this year. Juana, Fernanda, and Marina have come to us from Talita Cumi. Each have turned 18 and need to leave the orphanage. Bety recently decided to leave the transition house, so we now have four girls (including Paula, who has been with us for a number of months). Marizabel, the house mother, and Sara, our volunteer from Australia continue to work closely with the girls. We have had to move the transition house out of our formal rental property because of some legal issues with the property. Thankfully, we have found a new apartment that is in an ideal location next to the Centro de Vida crisis pregnancy center we work closely with. We have temporarily moved the girls into our old house, which is now the Agua:Yaku office and a mission guest house, until the new apartment is ready on February 1st. Please continue to pray for all of these girls, but especially for Bety as she tries to make a life on her own.

2010-01-04T08:04:00.000-08:00

2010 is here! Which means our Bolivia 2010 mission trip isn't that far off! The first deposit of $250 is due Sunday, February 7. Here is some more vital information about this year's trip.

WHEN:

Friday, June 11 through Sunday, June 20, 2010

WHERE:

Santa Cruz, Bolivia (and surrounding areas)

WHAT:

We will be working on 2 projects this coming summer. First, we will begin our work in the Ruth and Naomi Transition Home for girls. This is a home for girls that graduate out the orphanage at 18, or are homeless, or are in a crisis pregnancy and need help. We would like to lead a retreat for the girls as they transition several new girls into the home around this time from the Talita Cumi Orphanage. We could lead them in Bible studies, lead them in training sessions, maybe begin to teach them how to do certain crafts that they may could begin to sell and make an income. And then also build relationships with them and invest our lives in them to let them know that God cares, we care, and are praying for them.

Our other project will be to take a team into the jungle region of Bolivia east of Santa Cruz and drill water wells for those that are in desperate need of clean water for their families.

HOW MUCH: $1500 (estimated)

Pictures from Bolivia

2009-09-22T08:20:00.000-07:00

If you'd like to see pictures of our trip then go here.
http://www.pbase.com/beamsclan/bpf_2009

This is the church!

2009-09-19T13:18:00.001-07:00

5 men from BPF plus 5 missionaries standing before a group of 65 children and teachers in the middle of the Bolivian jungle about to pray a prayer of dedication for a water well that we are giving to them as a gift from God the giver of clean water and living water - THIS IS THE CHURCH!

What an honor it has been to represent Christ and BPF this week. We have been able to bring clean water to a people in an incredibly remote area of Bolivia (a 4 hour boat ride into the jungle). These people have no missionary or evangelical presence among them at all. They are an unreached people. Thanks for your prayers and for giving to this church so faithfully. This enables us to send teams just like this one to the remote places of the earth and share Christ by meeting some of the most basic physical needs like clean water, in his name, and to share with them why we have come, which is to let them know that they are not forgotten, that God loves them and cares about their needs!

So as you gather as the church tomorrow for worship, know that church really isn´t just about Sunday´s. The church is so much more. We gather to honor him and learn from his Word on Sunday but then scatter from there to take him with us where ever we go. Thanks for letting us take him this week to Bolivia! This is the church!

Jungle and Well Drilling

2009-09-19T05:43:00.000-07:00

To get to where we drilled the water well we had to take boats as there was no direct road access. The wooden boats were long and skinny. They were powered by small lawn mower type engines. We had a lot of gear with us and the boats would barely stay above water with us in them. The ride to the village was about 4 hours. Water leaking into the boat kept us busy - we had to bail water from the bottom every 10 minutes or so. We also had to fill the motor up with gas from cans a couple times. The ride lasted into the pitch black night and the boats have no lights so we used flashlights to spot and dodge debris in the water and to signal other boats passing by.

We made a small campground about a 100 yards from the river after we landed at the village. The village (called Nuevo Caperneum) consisted of a couple of wooden huts in the jungle and a concrete and brick school that 60 students attend. The students (age range from infants to teenagers) came from up and down the river and stay at the school long term. Six teachers teach, feed, and take care of the children. We were touched by how friendly the students and staff were and how happy they were that we were there to help. There is no electricy in the village, and the only source of drinking water is the nearby murky brown river.

We placed the well in the school yard. We started by pumping water from the river into temporary pools. We pour this water down the well as we drill to fluidize the sand and clay that we dig up. We set up a frame and pulley to suspend the drilling pipe. We started the actual drilling on Tuesday morning and were able to dig about 35 meters the first day. The second day was much slower due to some thick clay and hard sand layers. We started earlier and drilled into the night and finally reached a sand layer that would likely produce fresh clean water at 51 meters (about 150 feet). We had a lot of help on the drilling from the students and teachers and enjoyed interaction with them. As Ronnie mentioned in his post the well produced a small amount of water the next day. Danny tells us the well will produce more water in about a week. Our prayer is that the village will have abundant clean water.

A small luxury in the jungle each night was a bath in the river to remove the thick mud that caked on our clothes and skin during the drilling process. We had to be on the lookout for rays, anacondas, and pirannha in the water (the day before we arrived one of the teachers was stung by a ray). Another treat were our campground meals cooked by Angelica who is part of Danny´s drilling team. Other members of Danny´s team included Irai (from Brazil), Carlos (from Colombia), Thomas (from Belgium). We became close friends with each of these folks and learned a lot of culture and Spanish from them.

After 10 more hours of boat and truck travel we´re now back in Santa Cruz, Bolivia nursing our numerous bug bites, achy muscles, and sunburn. Sleep last night was a major blessing. Today we will spend some time seeing Santa Cruz. We leave for Miami and then Houston on Sunday morning. Thanks to everyone at home for your thoughts and prayers.

==Posted by Wes Heinlein and Jay "The Well Man" Wellman==

What An Incredible Week

2009-09-19T05:05:00.000-07:00

We finally arrived back in Santa Cruz late last night after 3 days in the jungle. What an experience! The team is all well, with the exception of hundreds of itching bites each. Last night in the hotel was like heaven.

The good news is ... we got the well drilled. It was extremely tiring work from morning until evening. The locals pitched in alot at the beginning, but as the new wore off, much of the labor rested on the team and 2 or 3 locals. When the reached what I believe was a depth of 51 meters, the call was given .. ¨"Alto!" .. and we were overjoyed. After some more work, it was time to test the well.

We initially got water, but then it stopped. We tried again later and got the same result. Danny Beams, Missionary on Sight, said that this happens sometimes, and that he was certain that the water production would improve as they used it and new tributaries to the pump were formed. So the well was a success, it´s just going to take some time.

I have much more to say, but computer time here is in demand so I will go for now. Thank you so very much to all of you who have been praying for us. The boat rides to and from the village were long and hard, but God was gracious to us in so many ways. Lots of stories to tell.

Today, I will finish some interviews for the Transition Home with Vanessa Beams and we will have some very exciting things to tell you about it, and how Brazos Pointe Fellowship can partner with that part of this incredible ministry in Bolivia.

I´m ready to come home. I miss my family.

== posted by Ronnie Whitehead ==

Welcome to the Jungle

2009-09-14T19:16:00.001-07:00

The team arrived safely in the village after a few hiccups. They had some car trouble early on that had them arriving at the boats late, which had them arriving in the village late and getting camp set up later than anticipated (Sounds a lot like our experience last year!).

The mission trip beattitude is: blessed are the flexible for they will never be bent out of shape!

When you're in a developing country hiccups like this are to be expected.

The good news is that they are there and ready to serve! They will start drilling in the morning. Some really good news, is that the villagers have cancelled school this week so that the teenagers can help drill the well. This is good news because our guys can certainly use the help, but even better it shows the level of partnership and ownership that we desire in all of our missions ventures. This is huge! And, I am sure the teenagers enjoy the week off too!

Pray for our team...God has provided the opportunity for them to work side-by-side with the natives of this village. Pray for success in drilling and pray for success in building relationships that point these people toward God.

God is good...all the time!

Sunday Morning

2009-09-13T05:47:00.000-07:00

We are about to head to church. Sleep was incredible last night. Work begins later as we head towards the river.

The time spent at the Transition Home went great. Vanessa has put a great work together. I was able to shoot some video and get some interviews. I met one of the girls, Betti, and talked with her about what the home has meant to her. I can't wait to put this story together. There is so much the Brazos Pointe can do to help. Later this week, Jason and I will sit with Vanessa and talk specific vision for the future.

= posted by Ronnie =

Visited the Transition Home

2009-09-13T04:34:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

We had a great first day here in Bolivia. Yesterday evening we had the opportunity to go and visit the Transition Home. This is a home that Vanessa, my sister-in-law helped start 4 months ago that will be a place for girls who are from an orphanage and want help in getting their life going on a solid foundation. Also it is a home for girls that come from the pregnancy crisis center here in Santa Cruz and want a safe place to live while they are pregnant and are preparing for a life with a baby. It is a great home that will house up to 9 girls. They have 3 girls living in the home now and will be placing some more girls in the home in the near future. Ronnie was able to shoot some great video of Vanessa talking about the vision of this home, an interview with the house mother about all they doing to disciple these girls and prepare and disciple them. We also were able to interview one of the girls from the home and here her story. I can´t wait to get the opportunity to share this video footage with you once we get back.

Today, we are about to go to church here in Santa Cruz with my brother´s family at an international church where everything is done in 2 languages Spanish and English. Then this afternoon we are headed out of Santa Cruz to our location in the jungle to dig water wells. We are having blast - thanks for your prayers!

Jason

Email from Wes

2009-09-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

Things are going great. We had smooth flights to Miami, La Paz, and Santa Cruz. The mountain views from the plane in La Paz were incredible. We're chilling at the Beams' place after a nice big breakfast. Taking some time to relax. Getting ready to do some good work here. Hope things are well at home. Wes

2009 Team

2009-09-12T17:44:00.000-07:00

Jason Beams
Greg Bunker
Wes Heinlein
Jay Wellman
Ronnie Whitehead

We arrived in Bolivia

2009-09-12T14:01:00.000-07:00

After a long plane ride, we finally made it to Bolivia. We spent the afternoon with Danny, Vanessa, Nathaniel, Luciana, Isaiah. It was so good to have an awesome breakfast waiting for us.

After checking into our hotel, we went to these awesome SAND DUNES. Wes is definitely the champion Sand long jumper, Greg wins the SAnd boarding competition, Jason needs oxygen, Ronnie took pictures, and Jay stayed at the hotel and caught a precious nap.

After dinner we will go to the Transition House and listen to Vanessa´s vision. The first day has been exciting. Pray for us tonight that we can see how Brazos Pointe can effectively partner with the the Transition Home and help them reach more young ladies for Christ.

= updated by Ronnie =

And They're Off!

2009-09-11T21:00:00.000-07:00

Our Bolivia team left this afternoon. One of the many great things about Bolivia is that it is only one time zone away and one hour different from home! So, as you are praying for them...it is about the same time of day.

On this year's trip our team will go deep into the jungle to dig water wells. They are going to such a remote location that they will even have to canoe several hours to get to the location! What a great adventure.

Another really big element of this trip is that the team will tour the Ruth & Naomi Transition home in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. This is a new venture that our partners, Danny and Vanessa Beams, have started. It is a safe place for orphaned or abused young women. We are getting in on the ground floor of this new ministry. It will be awesome to hear about what the group sees.

Communication will be very limited because of the team being so deep in the jungle. However, check back often. We will update with everything we know, and the team will post before and after from Santa Cruz.

Thanks for praying for this mission! Pray for health and safety, but more importantly for abundant fruit in this ministry!