BRINGING BOOKS TO LIFE IN BOLIVIA

JOINT MINISTRY RESULTS During the past six months, there has been social unrest. In addition, the cost of food in our region has increased dramatically. These, coupled with other things, have resulted in public demonstrations by the people. Nevertheless, we were able to attain our goals in the following areas.

LITERACY In partnership with WorldShare, we have six sponsored literacy workers.  In the last six months we have completed the Quechua literacy teaching process with 73 participants including six in the basic level, 16 at applied level, and 51 at advanced level. All the students passed. We finished well ahead of our goals for 2011 with a total of 409 participants in 31 centres.

By the end of September we had done follow-up supervision of the 31 teaching centres where we evaluated the participants in reading, writing and comprehension. In the second term, a centre closed in Pumas Andinos and a new centre was opened in the P’akachani community.

CHURCH LEADERS TRAINING In the second term, we trained leaders for integral mission in 17 more centres. This was almost double our goal. ‘Integral Mission’ is an approach to evangelism that cares for the entire person including their spiritual needs. Altogether in 2011 we were able to train 360 church leaders in integral mission who are now serving in leadership roles, guiding and preaching in the churches and local congregations and serving as leaders in veterinary care, farming and health.

EVANGELISM & OUTREACH In the second term, we strengthened the
final 13 local churches in missions through the programmed activities. In summary:-

· 31 churches were supported through meetings, anniversaries,
retreats and visits to 430 families to strengthen them in their faith.

· 50 people put their faith in Christ and 58 people were baptized

· 10 children were dedicated to the Lord

· Four Christian marriages were conducted.

FARMING & LIVESTOCK In the second term, we trained and provided farming equipment to six communities. We have worked to provide practical skills to the people and train them in fumigation of their crops. Through this programme we helped 102 participants in six Quechua communities. The beneficiaries are very happy and thankful to WorldShare for your support in providing seeds. In the second term we provided practical training for 58 participants and provided equipment to de-worm animals in four communities. So far this year, we have conducted the de-worming of cows, sheep, pigs, donkeys and llamas in 18 commuities—a total of 1,591 animals. The participants expressed their thankfulness to WorldShare and QLP. They are very happy and satisfied.

HEALTH In the second semester we trained more than 80 families in illness prevention and hygiene. In 2011, we sponsored 150 families to receive training in first aid. This number is also far more than we planned on.

These results are for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many families express that their lives have been dramatically changed. They are thankful to the Quechua ministry and WorldShare for the prayers and financial support that make it possible to reach their people with the Gospel. They say, “God bless the Quechua project because it teaches us to love our neighbours.”

KINGDOM OF GOD RESULTS Thanks to all the hard work of the QLP personnel, we have been able to obtain results for the Kingdom of God. Starting with the leaders and facilitators, we have improved and transformed the spiritual lives of many families. Many of them are in the process of changing their lives to have a life in Christ Jesus. We come into their homes, sharing about the Bible, praying along with the family, getting deeper into their problems and providing advice from God’s Word. This is when the Holy Spirit works and they surrender at the feet of Christ. Many Quechua families share about their weaknesses, problems, needs, and their decision to be reconciled to Christ.

In Uncia North Potosi, a woman started to come to the teaching centre. She gave her testimony and said, “I have been very sick for a very long time. My husband is tired of me. He despises me and leaves me alone. I have no money to go to the doctor, and even though I am sick I came to the teaching centre because they are teaching about the Bible.” She gathered all of her strength and put all her trust in the power of the Lord. We visited her home, prayed with her and asked for God to heal her. Now she is healed and very active in the church. This sister testified that her life has been transformed since Christ came into her life. She says, “Thanks to the Quechua project that came to my house and church, now we live together with my husband and children.”

The communities we serve are full of pagan customs and idolatry. They are not easy to reach and present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to, but the Lord has called us and sends us to help the ones in need.

MINISTRY GOALS

It is our goal to reach new Quechua communities, strengthen local churches in communities where we work, place local leaders in integral mission there, and to win souls for the Kingdom of God. For the next term, our goals include:

· Train 200 people in three levels of literacy at 18 literacy centres.

· Strengthen the local churches through 15 meetings, 20 anniversaries and retreats, 300 evangelistic visits and 300 other events including reconciliations, conversions, baptisms, weddings and child dedications.

· Train 150 church leaders in integral missions in 20 teaching centres.

· Reach five communities with agricultural and livestock training

· Provide health training to 100 people

· Construct four new operational centres in Quechua communities.

· A supervision trip, going around to the Quechua teaching centres and evaluating participants in their learning levels.

· Went to the P’akachani community to promote the Quechua project, identify new leaders in the community and churches, and attend the inauguration of the new operations centre.

· Travelled to the centre in Pumas Andinos to close the operation, due to internal problems in the congregation and lack of participants.

In every activity that I participated in there were difficulties, especially while travelling. There are often problems with the local people, blockages, social protest rallies, and the weather. The political and economic crisis (rise in food prices) has impacted our budget. Changing Government literacy policies have brought confusion to the participants. I am always orienting them about the objectives and purpose of the Quechua project. We are also working at a spiritual level, applying biblical principles and values to strengthen people’s faith in Jesus Christ. 

FAMILY NEWS I live in Oruro together with my wife Salome. We have been
married for 32 years, and we have a little daughter Melitza, three years old, whom God sent to complete our marriage. We are very happy, even though Satan wants to bring physical illness. We go through difficult moments and sometimes we have been sick—first my daughter, then my wife, then me. Even now I am under medical treatment. I give thanks to God for my family, His blessings, and the Quechua ministry. I thank the Oruro New Belen Church, of which I am a member, for their prayers.

We pray the Spirit of God is moving in your family. God has made us a family to help each other in meeting the needs of the poor, and to bring support to improve the basic living conditions of Quechua families. Our God is always guiding us in the work and in our responsibilities. He teaches us to have faith, hope, and love to reach our objectives. Thank you for your support and prayers. May God bless you!

PLEASE PRAY...

· for the development of the Quechua Literacy Project in Bolivia.

· for the Quechua families who are poor and in need.

· that our goal to produce and print literature would become a reality.

· for my wife and daughter.

· for the literacy teachers and their families.

· that God would provide the resources needed for each project.