It's hard to encapsulate all that September brought to us, hence we have included many pictures to assist in our attempt. We feel incredibly blessed to have a month of ministry opportunities, encouragement from a familiar face, and good health for Audrey and the baby growing inside of her. God is moving in so many ways, and we praise Him for the blessings brought in this past month. We were extremely blessed to have a special visitor come be our speaker for Spiritual Emphasis Week and be our speaker for the Highlands Staff retreat.
Mark has known Sam Killins since he was in middle school, and Audrey met Sam when she served on two different short term mission trips to Bogota, Colombia, where Sam was a missionary. Now he is serving as a missionary in Venezuela and Colombia. Sam was able to come down and bless us with encouragement for our staff, as well as a challenge to the students to be "in the world, but not of the world" (John 17).
It was a lot of fun having Sam come to school, deliver God's word daily, have Q & A's sessions during classes, and bond with our students through soccer and basketball. Spiritual Emphasis Week concluded with a staff retreat in the Yungas jungle region where Sam brought messages of encouragement to our staff, and was able to share his experience as a missionary, as well as his appreciation for christian education as he too went to a similar school in Colombia while growing up. Sam was like Titus in bringing us a message of encouragement. It was a very special time being able to share Bolivia with Sam, after he has shared his homeland of Colombia with us several times. Mark introduced Sam to many Bolivian foods, to the game of padel (which is a growing sport in Bolivia), and they even got a chance to attend an El Classico soccer match together. It was especially special to have Sam come into Mark's classes and share with the students, who really responded to him and his Colombian accent as he shared exciting stories of boldness in sharing the Gospel.
The following week brought a yearly tradition of the 23 mile Takesi hike with the 9th and 10th graders. This is always a highlight of the year, and this year was no different. God worked mightily in working through his creation, and in the hearts of the students. The 3 day hike was filled with engaging gospel centered conversations, questions, and testimonies from the teachers. It was an opportunity to not only deepen many of the relationships, but answer thought provoking questions while hiking the trail and reflecting around the campfire.
God granted safety and held off the bugs and bad weather as a group of 19 students and 4 teachers, including Mark, hiked parts of the old Incan trail. They reached heights of over 15,000 feet and ended the hike at round 6,000 feet. It was an opportunity to persevere and overcome alongside the students. After the hike the students feel as if they have "been to war" alongside their teachers and many relationships are deepened as a result.
Understandably Audrey remained home and instead has done a lot in her new role as guidance counselor and head of the National Honor Society. She organized the induction ceremony for the incoming members, and continues to help guide and assist many of the students in their pursuits. She has really stepped into her new role well, which includes the unfamiliar task of co-teaching College & Career class and running NHS. She continue to serve as the head of the MemberCare team as well, and has done all this while 5 months pregnant. She truly is a superhero and her hard work and dedication to always do things with excellence really impresses the kids. Please continue to pray for her and the baby. Mark traverses the mountains again for another hike in October with the 11th and 12th graders, and Audrey will hold down the fort while he is gone. Until then the time will be filled with a busy season of sports. Mark is coaching the basketball team, and they have been accepted into the Pluralnacional Tournament for the first time in Highlands history. This tournament features schools from all across Bolivia.
The basketball boys are currently 2-0, and are winning in strong fashion. It's a great opportunity for the school and for Mark as he is able to pour into them as coach and not just as teacher. The Lord is really working at Highlands and through the many opportunities of classes, sports, hikes, chapels, and discipleship groups. Please keep us in your prayers in this way. We are committed to the daily grind of service through all the different avenues that Highlands provides, and we pray that the Lord will be working in and through sinners like us to show the love of Christ to all who come through the school.
Thank you for taking the time to keep up with our lives and ministry here in La Paz. Visitors always welcome!
Awesome to hear about Sam's visit!