April: Continuing to Build

Most of April was spent in preparation for Bolivia Day, which is a Saturday that features each class performing a traditional Bolivian dance in the traditional Bolivian garb. Even the parents and the teachers had practices and prepared a dance. It is a big cultural event for the community and it felt like April was dominated by its preparation. When we look back at April, there were a lot of opportunities to build relationships around cultural experiences, Bolivia Day being the biggest.

Lots and lots of practices, costume issues, and overall planning went into Bolivia Day, but on April 29th it all came together. It was fun seeing all the people come out to be a part of it. There were authentic Bolivian foods, like anticucho (cow heart), to go along with the Bolivian dress. It was truly a tasty sight to take in. Everyone did really well and it was awesome watching the kids smile as they finally got to put all that practice to use in the real performance. The costumes were elaborate, as you can see, and although we don't have any videos just yet, we can say that the dancing was a blast. I think the parents and students enjoyed seeing the gringo teachers dressed up in the traditional costumes and performing a traditional dance that is over a thousand years old.

While Bolivia day was maybe the highlight, April also saw some good opportunities to do ministry with the students. In Mark's Latin American Studies class, an elective he teaches last period to seniors, the students put on an apthapi (Bolivian picnic). The end of the year usually presents great opportunities to talk with the seniors as they finish their last quarter of high school before going off to the "real world".

Please keep in your prayers these conversations and opportunities to speak truth and wisdom to the seniors before they graduate and leave. Another cool opportunity that Mark had was to take a group of twenty students to a less developed neighborhood and support them as they taught English to 4th, 5th, and 6th graders at a public school. The shoe was on the other foot as Mark got to see his students in the the role of teacher. They did really well, and Mark had some good conversations with the students afterwards about the challenges they encountered as they taught and managed the classroom. Many of these students mentioned the difficulty of discipline in the classroom and the energy that it takes to teach kids. Needless to say, Mark enjoyed hearing their "complaints" and it was a cool opportunity to serve with them. Most likely this will be a continued ministry that Mark will do with the National Honor Society students.

The last month of school is always an interesting one, and often a reflective one. Please keep us in your prayers as Audrey finishes her semester of classes (May 14th), and as we finish our semester at Highlands (May 31st). We both feel pretty exhausted, as do most of the staff and students, but we want to model Christ-like excellence every day. For that we need God. We don't want "finish strong" to just be some cliche thing we say or intend at the end of a school year, but truly something we do. So we recognize the need for more Christ in our lives and more dependence on Him. James 1:12 - "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." Our trial seems to be tied to exhaustion, weariness, and stress. However, we desire earnestly to build God's kingdom here at Highlands and in La Paz, even if that is an arduous, long-term, and consuming call. May you also finish the race with endurance and fight the good fight of faith in whatever call God has placed before you. As we celebrated three years of marriage on April 28th, we ask for continued prayer and guidance for us in our marriage and calling to follow God wherever He may lead.