Time to Celebrate!

On Friday we finished our first generation of T-Net training with 22 Bolivian pastors and leaders. They had faithfully followed an almost 2 year process including 5 weeklong training seminars. We learned together about real discipleship: leading their churches through a process of change.

My partner in ministry, Hernan Salazar, tells me that starting and finishing a process like this is EXTREMELY UNUSUAL in Bolivia. Seminars come and go. Getting a pastor to stick with a project is very difficult. We started with 40 pastors and of the 18 who were not able to finish the last module this week, several are committed to coming together for a make-up week in the near future.

We had a great time of celebrating together and looking toward the future with the pastors. Please pray with us for the pastors as they work hard to implement the material they have learned.

Blessings,
Ron

P.S. We moved in to the new house! Only broke one plate!

Moving day is almost here

We are in the home stretch with our new house in Bolivia. That's Jeanie in the picture a few weeks ago at the house. We are scheduled to pack tomorrow and move on Friday. I thought I'd give you a few ideas of what the experience has been like. In many ways it's like buying a house and moving in the U.S. Then on the other hand it's very different:

In both the U.S. and Bolivia, you have to pay for the closing costs. In Bolivia you pay in $100 dollar bills.

In both the U.S. and Bolivia, you should get an architect to design the remodel and addition to the house. In Bolivia, the design cost was $70 US.

In the U.S. you need a building permit. In Bolivia, well ... they are really only minor changes.

In the U.S. you call the phone company and arrange for service at the new address. In Bolivia, you go to the phone company's office with the former owner and plead with them to allow you to keep the line that is already in the house.

In the U.S. the contractor will "ding" you for every little change order. In Bolivia, the contractor has been suggesting little improvements. No charge.

In the U.S., you might call a security company to install a system. In Bolivia (at least in the country), you take the german shepherd guard dog to the vet for a checkup.

In the U.S., tropical hardwood details would be extremely expensive. In Bolivia, what other kind of wood is there?

It has been a great experience. I have been so impressed with the hard working crew and their high level of efficiency. The project is coming in on time and on budget. I'm not sure I could count on that in the U.S.

Blessings from Bolivia,
Ron