Day 2 in Yacuiba - July 21

For those who are curious about the ¨long bus ride¨ from Tarija to Yacuiba, it was an experience that we are glad is behind us...no pun intended. The bus was very good, and the driver was more than we could have expected, and the drive itself was beautiful. However, too much of even a good thing is not wise, and this was true on Thursday.

The terrain was mountainous, and the road wound around hairpin curves and blind corners up and down the mountains. This was not the ¨Road of Death¨, also in Bolivia, but could be considered the ¨Road of Injury¨. It is a single-lane, non-paved road, composed of dirt and the rocks that abound in this area. At intervals, the road is lined with rock fences, presumably because rocks are in such abundance. The vegetation looks as if it would be lush and green if this were the rainy season; there are large, leafy trees, and lots of bushes clinging to the hills in places you would never expect. While the road is very dusty, and we needed long showers when we arrived, the trees were not so covered in dust that one could not see the beauty that must be here when the leaves are fresh.

Sitting for so long, without reprieve, was difficult. A short break about the supper hour was a little heartening, and some of us were able to catch light naps along the way. For most of the drive, until lights were necessary, Leo (our driver) used the favourite Bolivian auto accessory, the horn, to warn potential oncoming traffic of our presence. I can´t emphasize how many times that happened. It was a comfort to be in the hands of such a capable driver, and be thankful that it was not one of us who had to drive. Praise the Lord for Leo. And he was very good-natured too.

We arrived in Yacuiba late Thursday night, stopped in at the church and then checked into the hotel before most of us ate a quick supper. We were very tired, and it was great to have a day of work on Friday at the church after a day of sitting. The church is Primero Iglesia Bautista Centro (First Central Baptist Church), and has an ambitious expansion project in progress. Perhaps that is the way of things in Bolivia; all the churches we have visited have been in expansion. Or perhaps they continue to step out in faith. The main level seems to have been finished some time ago, and the balcony is where the work is continuing right now. There are three or four projects for us to offer our help, and it is a stretching experience to ensure that we have the right translation from Spanish. The work is beautiful, and it is a joy to be in a building with such a scenic view of the city and the mountains. There is a fresh breeze in the upper rooms - probably something to do with the lack of walls - and perhaps because most of the building is made of bricks, cement and mortar, it is very cool. Friday, Dwight started working with the men who plastered the ceiling in one of the rooms - a Sunday School room? Bev hauled a lot of water for the project, and generally pitched in wherever needed. Ruth and Henry emptied a couple of rooms of cement blocks and rubble, and they were aided at times by Ray, Wayne, Paul, Karen and Nadine. Some of us helped with transporting morter and bricks. Various members of our group were able to help with building a brick wall. Most of all, we spent time getting acquainted with our Bolivian friends.

It is a testament to the commitment of the members of the church here that most of the labour we are seeing is volunteer. The men have taken the day off work, without pay, to work at the church with us. They never rush us, they let us try many things - when they could do it much more quickly or efficiently - but it is evident that their goal is to begin a friendship with us. It is the most important thing we have to do together. If we get some good work done on the building, so much the better. After working together for several hours yesterday (Friday), we showered, ate and returned to the church. Our Bolivian hosts had been able to accomplish much without us there, but never did anyone make us feel as if we were not helping. It is hard to explain; I initially thought that we would be working hard here to complete a construction project, and now I understand that the Bolivians can always build a wall by themselves, but this is a rare opportunity to become acquainted with their Canadian brothers and sisters. I have learned a lot by watching them struggle with English, and struggle to explain in Spanish until we understand - all without the use of a competent translator just two floors below. It doesn´t matter what the topic of conversation is; we are building more than a wall here.

Last night, Henry taught at the evening service. This week, there seems to be a crusade, with meetings each night. We were introduced at the end of the one on Thursday night. Based on the pastor´s comments, it was an appropriate sermon, and we pray that it is a blessing to the church, as it was to us.

Today was much the same as yesterday, with the exception that Karen and I returned to the hotel this afternoon. I wanted to post a message for you, but we are also still somewhat unwell. Please keep us, and Ray, in your prayers. Praise God that Marylaine seems to have improved considerably, and pray that she continues to stay well. Ray has improved somewhat, but is not entirely himself. Wayne, Paul, Bev, Henry, Ruth and Dwight don´t seem to have been struck by the same maladies, and we request your prayer that they continue to stay healthy. While we are playing hookey, we might work on that souvenir race...you never know.

Tonight, we will be meeting with the youth of the church, some of whom we have already met. Tomorrow, we will have a relaxed morning since the primary church service is in the evening. If I understand correctly, we will be working with the Sunday School at about noon, followed by a meeting with the leaders of the churches in the region. We will have another meeting at 4:00 for an hour, with our men meeting with the Bolivian men, and our women meeting with the Bolivian women. We will split up for the evening service, with Henry preaching at the First Baptist service and Paul preaching at another church - don´t ask me how to spell that one.

Tentative plans for Monday are to spend the morning in Argentina, attempting to see if Bolivia is really a better place to shop. In the evening, we will say farewell to our new friends in Yacuiba and take a bus ride to Santa Cruz. It will be hard to say good-bye, even after such a short visit, but we have been welcomed so warmly that I can see there will be some tears -and not just from Karen. We will spend Tuesday in Santa Cruz, hopefully spending what little money we will have left, and then Wednesday, we will begin the long journey home.

It seems strange that our time here is almost over. On the one hand, we want to see our families again, and be home among all that is familiar (especially when some of us are not feeling well), but on the other hand, we want more time learning what is happening here in the Bolivia church. Well, we have a few more days, and we intend to make the most of them. Please keep us in prayer as we make sure that we use our time effectively and to God´s purpose.

That´s it for now!

In Him,
Nadine for the Dusty Diez-perados