Taking Up Where You Left Off
Some friendships never miss a beat. Four years after our last visit to Bolivia, that’s exactly what we experienced. Within hours of arriving, we were sharing meals, encouraging pastors, reconnecting with ministry partners, and stepping into discipleship training as though we’d never been away. God had been at work while we were gone—and we simply picked up where we left off.
Personal Connections
I (Bill) had been meeting weekly with a team of leaders, but there’s nothing like being together in person—sharing a meal, praying for concerns, going to the annual fair, laughing about good times and making new memories. Staying at the Baptist Centre proved to be the perfect choice. It became our home base, with pastors, leaders, and friends dropping by daily for conversation, prayer, encouragement, and counsel. Some of the most meaningful ministry happened not from a platform, but around a kitchen table.
Church Family
Another highlight was being with our home church, Muyurina Baptist, again. The Sunday after we arrived was their annual picnic/retreat, so we had fun, plenty of time to visit, and I (Bill) hit the ground preaching. A few days later I (Bill) shared with the men’s group. We were also there on a communion Sunday. What impressed me was their emphasis on overseas missions—they had a mission board of missionaries they support, flags all around the church, and were doing a fund-raising campaign. Why that should seem strange, I don’t know, except that we don’t really see that in Canada anymore.
Friends and Ministry Partners
It was great to see friends and colleagues again as one would expect. It was great to share meals with Patty Nacho, Goretty Jora, Tim and Kallie and Malena, but the pleasant surprise was our dentist, Dr. Guzman, and my badminton partner, Takashi, taking us out for meals. Dr. Guzman had the good news of becoming a Christian. Takashi had the wonderful news of now being married, expecting a baby, and having finished his Ph.D.
It was also great to reconnect and connect with national colleagues, the students at the seminary, and make some new friends.
The Emmanuel Foundation—Providing a Future
Reconnecting with Goretty and the children and mothers at the Emmanuel Foundation deserves its own special mention, especially for Janice. She taught music at the “Fundi” several days a week—up to 14 students a day. We had the opportunity to go to the “farm” for a day-long outing with a bus load of kids. We saw the vision for future ministry—a five-story building that will exist to serve the children and the 
community, with separate floors dedicated to classes, kitchen, health and counseling, library, sewing factory, etc, all focused on providing services lacking in that community.
Along a similar vein, we were also able to visit the staff at OBADES and staff and children at La Casa de la Amistad. The Casa could really use short-term (as in 2-years) volunteers to help with the children, who show amazing improvement when given the right attention.
Discipleship Momentum
The crowning highlight of the trip was a four-day event focused on discipleship. It was organized by the Evangelical Alliance of Bolivia and included numerous denominations and discipling organizations like: Alpha, Awana, Campus Crusade (CRU), Bible League, etc. The Baptist Union was able to send 20 of its key pastors committed to discipleship. At the end of the event, they selected Jaime Choque to promote continuing discipleship efforts at a denominational level and provided him with a team of regional promoters whom he will work with. Jaime, in turn, will be connected to national-level promoters of discipleship through the Bolivian Evangelical Alliance. So good to see concrete follow up, with a structure and detailed plans. It was more than just a high at an event. It concluded with follow-up that could be transformational.
Recognition for Years of Service
We hadn’t been back from Bolivia long when I (Bill) was invited to come to Mississauga (CBM offices) for a consultation on ministry with Latinos in North America. It was good to meet new people focused on Latino Ministry, but the office also had a surprise in store—recognition of Janice and myself for 20+ years of ministry with CBM. We got to add our names to a wall and received the applause of those in attendance. It has actually been 23 years with CBM, 35 years since I was ordained with the BCOQ (now CBOQ), and 41 years since we started serving at Eagle River Baptist Church. Time flies but God’s been good! Yes, all the time.
Upcoming Highlights
International Trip: Something for me (Bill) to look forward to is a ministry trip to Guatemala and El Salvador from September 11-21. The main purpose of this trip will be to conduct day-long training events for pastors, to motivate them to form discipleship groups with other pastors, their church leaders and congregations. I will be co-leading the events with Otto Rodriguez from Venezuela and local leaders.
Church Visits in Canada: In August we will preaching in and doing presentations on our work in: Lacombe Baptist (August 2nd) Moose Jaw First Baptist (August 9th) Red Deer First Baptist (August 23rd).
BTW: We did get in a European holiday in June—Vienna and Switzerland.
Praise: For a wonderful reception and fruitful ministry while in Bolivia, a relaxing vacation full of once-in-a-lifetime events, health, God’s faithfulness over the years to reflect on, and continuing ministry opportunities.
Prayer: Please pray for the upcoming ministry trips—international and national, that God will protect, bless, and use us. Pray for peace in our world (no longer a cliché, if it ever was) and for true disciples everywhere to be the peacemakers Jesus expects his disciples to be. (Mt. 5:9). Finally, our return to Bolivia reminded us that God’s work never stands still. Relationships had deepened, ministries had grown, and new opportunities were waiting. We didn’t simply return to where we left off—we stepped into what God had been preparing all along.
Thank you for praying, partnering, and making our ministry possible!
Bill & Janice
