Tuesday

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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.