Getting Back & Getting Closer

After our Christmas break plans were rewritten by Covid, we eventually made it back to La Paz. Returning on January 17th, we were fortunate to not have missed any school because the plan was to start the semester completely online anyway. It was an unwanted reminder of how much Mark dislikes virtual school. However, good news arrived last Thursday (Feb. 3rd) as we welcomed everyone back on campus. For the first time since March of 2020 we are finally back to 100% capacity four days a week! (Wednesday remains a cleaning day, and everyone stays home.) It is another inch closer to getting back to normal.

School hasn't been the only change though, as we currently are writing this from our new apartment. Some of the pieces fell into place for us to upgrade to a bigger apartment and we seized the opportunity. While the apartment is much older, it is much bigger and will allow us to host more events and it creates a space for more ministry. This Thursday we will be starting and hosting a "couples bible study" for some of the other couples on campus. This is a huge blessing as we could uncomfortably host one couple in our old place. Like most things there is always an adjustment period, but we have no doubt this was the right move going forward. While the view is not as good as our last place, we do have a guest room and so any of you reading are always welcome to come visit!

In addition to the guest room we also have an office that gets plenty of use between Mark prepping his classes and Audrey taking classes online. It has been one more little blessing to be thankful for.The location is very comparable and we are living in what many consider a "typical Bolivian apartment" when it comes to La Paz. The building itself is one of the first ones built in a labyrinth of apartment buildings. As a result of having more space we have gotten a chance to finally invest in a stationary bike. It serves as a comfort for Audrey because she grew up using one at her home. It's one more thing to help us settle in and promote the feeling that this is our home. (It also helps keep us from getting too fat from all those delicious Bolivian dishes)

So as we start the new year, new semester, new bible study, in our new place, we can't help but give thanks to God for the many new blessings that he has brought our way. We feel that this is where the Lord wants us, and we continue to build Christ centered community as best we can. The church we have been attending asked Audrey to volunteer with the children's Sunday School, and we feel this is just another way in which the Lord is using us here. Mark is thrilled with having all the students back on campus together, and he continues to pour into the kids at Highlands. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to pursue more ministry opportunities and more ways to improve our Spanish.

We try to see each day as another opportunity to grow and inch closer and closer to the goal that God has for us here. We desire to serve the Lord and spread the Good News about His love to the Bolivian people. We often feel far from from useful, or like we are falling short, but we know that this life is a process. We cling to Him and trust that the Lord will continue to mold us, shape us, and use us no matter what stage in the journey we are in. Thank you for taking the time to read about our lives. We appreciate any prayer and support that the Lord places on your heart.