Getting Ready...

Lord willing, our team will depart on Tuesday, July 24th for Trinidad-Beni, Bolivia. This year's team of 12 promises to be a great one. We're still in the process of collecting goods and materials to take with us and wondering how we'll be able to make everything fit in the limited space we have. And our spiritual preparation is continuing as well. Thank you to everyone who is praying for our team. I continue to be amazed at how blessed we are to have faithful prayer partners, vital members of our team, who will not stand on Bolivian soil but will nevertheless be with us. Mucho gracias!

And this year's trip will be bittersweet. This will be the first time in recent history that Homer Payne won't be traveling with the team. We will miss his leadership, energy, wisdom and kind and gentle spirit. I met with Homer a few days ago to talk about Bolivia. As usual he had many encouraging words but at one point he leaned over and said, "Pray for salvations". He has learned that salvation is really the key to successful teams and short-term mission trips. Seeing lives changed by the gospel, the good news that Jesus has died for our sins, is such a special thing. Just seeing one person enter into God's family is of far greater value than I can comprehend, but we can pray for many to believe in the Lord Jesus not just one. Will you please join our team in praying that many lives will be touched by the gospel and come into right relationship with their God and Creator?

"After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'"

We hope to offer encouragement to the diligent and faithful workers already in Bolivia - they are the real heros. Construction workers, educators, administrators, doctors, dentists, counselors, pastors and all the rest are tirelessly working towards sharing the whole gospel for the whole person. Laying down their lives day by day and living the Christ-life lifts the quality of life for the entire community in Trinidad - and beyond. Investing in today's youth really does build tomorrow's leaders. Please join us in thanking our heavenly Father for the faithful work already being done in Trinidad.

~ Dan