A Ch'airo Christmas

This is the first post for 2013. WOW! Where does the time go? This year will bring some major changes into our lives, some of which we already know about and others that will come along unexpectedly. But in every case, God knows how to lead us along good paths. So 2013, here we come!

I wanted to give you a summary of this year's Christmas events. This post will be more of a personal nature than ministry focused but I hope you'll stay with me.

Christmas was, of course, the major event of the Christmas season. The Saturday before Christmas I hosted (with help from Niki and the Canny's) a party for the Bible Institute students here in Santa Cruz. I spent the week before trying my hand at some different Christmas goodies. While there were not as many attending as I hoped, we had a good time visiting together, playing some games, eating and reading and thinking about the Christmas story. We ended with a time of Christmas carols (in Spanish, of course). I have been encouraged about the number of students that studied this past year and look forward to all that God will do this year. There will be major changes in the program. More on that, perhaps, in another post.

This was our first Christmas without at least one of the kids from the States being with us but our house was full nonetheless. The Wolheter family from Cochabamba came and spent almost two weeks with us. That meant lots of games, laughter and noise. (Jenny still laughs when she remembers how she used to think that our kids were noisy!). Christmas Eve we all attended the Christmas Eve service at the Trinity International Church. It was good to sing carols and hear Scripture readings in English. Our son Mark, with Bryan Canny, sang for the first time in public. He did a really good job and it was a huge step for him. I thank the Lord how Mark surprises me in different ways that show his growth in grace and faith.

Following the service our family headed over to the Talita Kumi children's home. We had been invited to attend their service and share in a traditional Bolivian meal for Buena Noche. The kids had a short program with music and drama followed by a good meal of chicken, beef and pork with rice, potatoes and salads. Then there were presents for all the children in the home. The evening closed with a fireworks show.

We did not stay for the fireworks but went home after the dinner to have a quiet gift opening with the three of us. That night as we settled into bed, the fireworks began. It is traditional in Santa Cruz to set off fireworks at midnight on Christmas Eve. For a short time the Silent Night becomes a very loud night.

Christmas Day was a quiet day with friends and lots of food.

The following Saturday was another party, this time for the volunteers from the tutoring center. I enjoyed being a guest at the party and not the host. Molly and Bryan were the hosts and did a very nice job. The party included games, food and a time of prayer for the kids who attended the center this past year.

New Year's Eve we did the usual and stayed up to see the new year in. We also enjoyed the fireworks administered by James and Bryan. Another tradition, fireworks on New Year's Eve. Except for the ones that threatened the onlookers the display was fun and the kids especially enjoyed it.

One event that added a bit of extra excitement for us was the announcement from Heather (our oldest daughter) that her novel had been published on Amazon for Kindle. It is now also available in paperback. Called "The Viscount and the Vicar's Daughter", it is a Christian romance novel written in the style of, and set in Victorian England. Here is a link that will take you to the page on Amazon. She writes under the name of Heather Diane. 

http://www.amazon.com/Viscount-Vicars-Daughter-Heather-Diane/dp/1481841874/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_3

I mentioned that changes were coming this year. First and most importantly, we are going to be GRANDPARENTS. Our son Daniel and his wife Naomi are expecting their first child (a boy) somewhere around January 30. I say around because I know enough to know that the doctor may set a date but the kid will come when he wants to. If you are already a grandparent then you understand. If not you probably won't understand the excitement and feeling that comes with this. It is really different from anything else I have experienced. I thank the Lord and am eagerly awaiting the birth of the little guy.

The second change is that it is our time to return to the US for deputation ministries. April 16 we leave Bolivia to fly to Indiana. The first order of business will be to meet the grandson and then onto other things like finding a place to stay and buying a car. We are planning at this point to headquarter near Marion, Indiana. We plan to be in the midwest June through December, with a foray into Montana sometime. Then we will be in Oregon and Washington January - April. After that we hope to make it to Pennsylvania as well. If you would like to have us at your church please ask your pastor to contact us as soon as possible and we will schedule a time. Also, if you would like to host a home meeting with us let us know as well and we will happily set that up. Our email is gordon@ecmissions.org. We really would appreciate your prayers. One of the changes in the mission is that each missionary is now responsible for most of his own scheduling. In the past the mission did most of it and we filled in the holes but now we are doing most of it ourselves. I am trusting that God will help me with this so that we can have an affective schedule.

This turned out to be longer than I anticipated. Thanks for hanging in there with me. I wish for each one a Happy New Year filled with all the best that God has for you.

Wedding Bells, Acts of Congress and Anniversaries

Weddings are always a fun affair. Smiles and best wishes, fancy clothes and fancier food. A late start usually happens in Bolivia. At this particular wedding the groom was there in good time but the driver of the car bringing the bride couldn't find the church. And someone really should have informed the master of ceremonies that she wasn't there yet before they began the procession. O well. It all works out in the end.

This little flower girl was intrigued with her dress.

No one hardly noticed that the bride was missing her train. It came off in the hands of the little lids who were supposed to be helping her down the aisle.

It was a very pretty night for a wedding reception held at the brother of the groom's home. Not an overly large affair, there was still a good representation of family members from both sides of the couple.

Cake anyone? We didn't have any. We left at mid-night. The party didn't break up until around 3 am.

The one thing that really impressed me was that the couple seemed happy. Bolivians often seem to wear solemn expressions at even very joyful occasions. And the groom seems to be a more serious type yet that evening they were all smiles. My prayer is for all the best for them as together they seek and serve the Lord in the years to come.

Many congratulations to the happy couple.

Then came the congress. You have heard the expression that it will take an act of congress to . . . . Well the congress of the Bolivian Evangelical Holiness Church met in La Paz for its annual meeting to take care of business and to pass a new three year plan for the church. After some debate and give and take the new plan was indeed passed. It comes as the result of an intensive study that the church did the year before to get a realistic look at where it is, its strengths and weaknesses. The new plan tries to build on the strengths and correct the weaknesses. It is an intensive and deliberate effort to improve the church's ways of bringing believers to maturity. If successful and taken to heart it has the potential to revitalize the church. Time will tell. But we do pray that God will bless this initiative and bring real fruit as a result.

The banner of the church was brought in with pomp and circumstances at the beginning and retired at the end of the congress.

Vice president, Cesar,  speaks to the congress. He was later re-elected for another term, as were all the members of the national board up for re-election.

Fried trout was lunch one day.

Pastor Fimo Ramos of Santa Cruz was ordained at the congress.

Praying for new graduate pastors.

I was privileged to preach at the closing meeting on Sunday morning.

These pretty hand made shawls caught my attention.

Cristian was among the new officers elected this year. His father, now deceased,  was a very active minister in the denomination. It is good to see one of his sons sharing his vision.

Anniversaries come in different sizes and shapes. The first anniversary was of the Dios Es Amor (God Is Love) Church. It was a nice celebration of another year of ministry. The festive spirit was enhanced by the new windows finally installed after many years of only having holes in the wall. And a fresh coat of paint made everything look new.

Decorated for the occasion.

I preached.

Dedicating children is always one of my favorite things to do.

The second anniversary came about 10 days later when the pastor of the church, along with his wife, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Their children planned a surprise party for them which, against all odds, they managed to pull off without the parents suspecting anything. Every successful marriage deserves a celebration and 25 years is a special landmark. I pray that their example is not lost on their children and friends.

Topping off this string of events was the district junta which also happened to be scheduled for the Dios Es Amor church. Lots of music, preaching, celebration of the Lord's Supper and installation of the new officers for the coming year filled the allotted time for the event. It has been a good year in the district (not without some challenges) and I anticipate that the coming year will show continuing growth and maturity among the churches.

New officers being installed.

Bryan and Molly gave out certificates of appreciation to the volunteers that helped at the tutoring center.

One of the volunteers receivers her certificate.

Niki and my little girl friend. Masiel Saraí, the daughter of a single mother, always has a  hug and or kiss for me. Pray for a loving father for this little girl.