May: Finishing the Year

The word most thrown around at the end of school years is "bittersweet". It is bittersweet to say goodbye to another group of seniors. It is bittersweet to say goodbye to everyone else until August. It is bittersweet leaving your home and returning to your "other home" back in the States. However, it is a much needed break and opportunity to breathe a little and see family and friends we don't get to see for most of the year. The school year ended on May 31st, and we said our bittersweet goodbyes to another school year in the books. We are thankful for the memories and the people that filled them. We will miss many that are leaving either Highlands or Bolivia, as the end of the year always brings departing staff as well as students. Mark said goodbye to a group of seniors who were freshman when he first started at Highlands. Audrey said goodbye to two of her closest friends and coworkers in La Paz.

This school year was the first "normal" school year that both of us have experienced while here in Bolivia. Mark's first year was riddled by the pandemic, and things haven't really returned to normal in Bolivia until this year. Looking back we can't help but be thankful for what God has done and continues to do. We think that is an important key to doing any ministry as one must keep a Godly perspective. We have so much "sweet" to be thankful for amongst the "bitter" of the bittersweet endings in each year completed.

Mark was especially blessed to get three visitors at the end of the year. It was a great joy to be able to finally share Bolivia with some of his closest friends from the States. Amongst that sweet time came a bitter moment where Mark had his backpack stolen on the bus ride home from the Salt Flats. He lost his wallet and cellphone in that tragic event, but was very blessed to have his supportive friends by his side on the road to recovery. Since then we have recovered most of all that was lost. All in all the visit was incredibly refreshing for Mark at the end of a long year. Although he will miss the students and teaching in the classroom, he is thankful for the summer break and time to reflect on the year.

Audrey is now one year away from completing her degree, and in the Spring semester she will start transitioning into the guidance counseling position at Highlands. She is also in charge of New Teacher Orientation which has given her a little bit of work over the summer break and will require us to return to La Paz on July 22nd to welcome the new staff. So here we are, back in the States, visiting family and friends. We hope to make the most of this time that God has given us, and we would love to see people and connect with people while we are back. The time off from the school is always good to reflect and count our blessings. We are also seeking to prepare ourselves for another year at Highlands and planting our roots in Bolivia. Please be in prayer for wisdom in that and for God's guidance and provision as well. We are dependent on Him and do not want to do anything apart from Him.