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Sunday June 17, 2018 Asamblea De Dios Bolivia - Municipality Puente San Pablo
The pastor's message was current, strong and clear of the concern for the young and
the influences from the outside. Not unlike what may have heard a generation ago.
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| Song and community was friendly |
San Pablo is three hours from Trinidad, on the road to Santa Cruz. The plane flight from La Paz to Trinidad is less than a hour. Samarian Purse built the San Pablo Church with voluntary support a few years ago. Some thirty minutes down a gravel road, past newly cleared fields of rice, soybean and corn is the village of New Dawn (Nueva Aurora).
The new Nueva Aurora Church will allow congregation members to participate weekly at Sunday, though the week, Sunday School programs and members needs will be met. Before travel to San Pablo limited worship to once or twice a month. The new church in Nueva Aurora will benefit many.
Team members made the trip not as a romantic adventure, but to make a difference. Samaritan's Purse believes in sharing the gospel. Many team members have talents which helps does that. Also the resilience of a community is as much a credit to the love of family as God's love. Programs that help mothers better care for infants, fathers care for his wife and new born, hand washing stations at schools, safer water supplies for communities all support the welfare of the family. Finally development programs that encourage better use of resources for greater profits, healthier food to eat and sell, in some cases finally having anything to sell made the exceptional finally the norm. The average small landholder should have the opportunity to enjoy some of the same things the large operators in the Department enjoy now. By sharing our knowledge, labor and skills, as an volunteer we are helping these people realize a little bit of their own hopes, dreams and aspirations.
It was not all work! Fellowship grew daily from sharing meals, excursions to river, town and La Paz. But our meals was a big part of the adventure. This has been the only event I have gained weight.
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| Great Food & Fellowship with Abby SP Intern |
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| Team with pastor's family provide meals in San Pablo |
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| Late night Steak Snacks |
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| Last meal with Samaritan's Purse Staff |
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| Shopping in La Paz |
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| Catching a rooftop sunrise |
Still why go?
I have believed for over twelve years that a greater purpose must be out there. I had a need to do something useful. I believed if I had the health to travel and my skills and ability could serve then it was something I needed to do.
In 2014 I made the first trip guided by the bible passage from Ephesians 2:4-10 10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them"
After 2016 I did feel the release from the need, but still I believed this was something I should do. At that point I made three trips in a year to Africa. The results of the last trip, to Liberia, was posted here on the blog as Sept. 2017. I also plan to post the May 2017 development trip to Guinea which demonstrated benefits of drip irrigation later on the Development Blog.
This 2018 trip to Beni was important to keep me grounded. The bible passage I have found that describes the lesson is: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 7 even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Simply put you may have done OK, but do not get a big head. There will always be one more job to do.
My group from North America helped for two weeks. Now the good people of San Pablo and Nueva Aurora with their faith, strong family ties and the leadership of the local Samaritan's Purse staff can move forward to do god's work and help meet human need.
 Sharing the gospel is a primary objective. |
| Emily makes a testimonial Saturday Night Nueva Aurora (New Dawn) Community Center - Grace Wright, Samaritan Purse Cultural Aide Translates Working with children is an important part of the exchange |
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| Children from local school sing at Nueva Aurora Community Center |
Team members participated where their talents were best to share fellowship and the gospel.
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| Team Games - The water cup race |
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| Team Organization |
 Nueva Aurora Church Construction Project 2018 |
| Alberto - Local Mason, Land Owner, Tapioca farmer, and our fishing guide. Last Day Nueva Aurora Church Construction Project- Footings poured and four walls raised. |
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| Day One Church Site Nueva Aurora. Location 15° 40' South, 64° 55' West; Yes it is south of the equator! |
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| Columns with deep footings in place |
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| Forms set and concrete poured |
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| Tying iron rebar This tedious job was already completed for the footing, but the columns and horizontal sections were completed |
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| Local trees provided lumber. Milled by hand with a Stihl Chainsaw |
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| Lumber from one log for church rafters |
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| "The Pit" Provided the earth fill needed for the church floor. All building on the Llanos de Moxos savannas and wetlands must be raised above water levels. |
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| Not all Work! Local family provided a TV so workers could watch one of the World Cup Football matches |
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| Prepared a noon meal at the farm home in Nueva Aurora |
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| Local girl helps on a Saturday |
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| Packing the Church floor required days packing each wheelbarrow load of earth |
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| Building the wall. Mixing brick mortar, cutting, hauling and laying bricks required many men. |
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| Last score of brick before framing columns The outline of the west windows forming. |
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| Pouring Cement into a column |
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| Fransico, Samaritan Purse Beni Religious Director, on site entire time. When not working as a master building, spent time on phone coordinating for material, labor or the next project. |
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