“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” --Psa 100:1-5 Friday afternoon we said our good-byes to everyone at the project work sites and made our way back to Santa Cruz (1&1/2 hours by car). Friday evening we had dinner with Danny (Well drilling) and Vanessa Beams (Half-way house for the 18+ orphan girls. Saturday morning we went to an orphanage ministry EFCCM is involved in. In the afternoon some went on a wild ride to a waterfall in the foothills, others went shopping--important things like gifts for grand children back in Canada! Sunday we went to a Spanish church plant. We sang for them and Warren interpreted for us. They are doing a great job with their Sunday School and youth. Thanks so much for your interest and prayers. God answered abundantly!

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Php 1:3-6) Here are the Missionary families that we were privileged to serve with and that you helped through your prayers.

"But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us fromall sin." --1John 1:7. What a great message to beam out from the 400 foot RTM tower. Here is a picture of the entire team in front of the Radio Station where we all stayed in very comfortable rooms. We were so blessed! We have many more people to thank than I can put into the blog but special thanks do go to Jackie and Warren McCaig who coordinated everything here in Bolivia for us. Also special thanks and appreciation to Jake and Dorothy Fehr (Radio), Jake and Mary Neufeld ( Women's Shelter) and Rudy and Erna Friesen (Bridge) who shared their lives with us as well are their ministry projects. We thank God for each of you and the many who work with you as God keeps his promise to Abraham to bless every people group through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thanks for inviting us to partner with you in the work of the gospel here in Bolivia. See next blog for pictures of the missionary families. --Len

"Submit to one another out of reverance for Christ -- clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Ehp 5:19 & 1 Pet 5:5. The other major project we had the privilege of helping move toward completion was a ministry center called simply, "The Bridge." This is just a couple of kilometers north of the Radio Station and will serve as a spiritual and life skill training center. It has a large open area as well as kitchen and class rooms (Many sets of dishes & cutlery and other items were also provided by the team for the Bridge). The opening event for the Bridge is in early June when several of the Low German Bible Teachers who provide Low German Bible teaching for RTM will travel down from North America to teach a Bible Conference. The evening meal will be provided and 300-600 are expected to attend from the radio ministry that reaches into the Colonies. Pray that God will do a great work in the lives of Low German speakers in this opening ministry. Pray for Rudy and Erna as they lead this ministry. Praise!

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." --Eph. 4:32. Well, here is the women's shelter headed for the grand opening on the 3rd of April. This project comes as a result of the radio ministry (next post) That has brought the gospel in Low German to the Old Colony Mennonites (50-70 thousand). This has brought hope to women and children sometimes trapped in extremely abusive situations. Now they will have a safe haven to where they can escape and know they will encounter the love of Christ. Our team was able to bring all the place settings of dishes and cutlery and many of the smaller kitchen appliances. Thanks to all who helped. One of our team families supplied the resources for a milk cow, beaf cow and flock of chichens. Behind the shelter they already have a 15 acre papaya orchard that is already in major production! Other Canadian donors have supplies funds for furnishing the living and sleeping areas of the shelter--all and expression of the love of Christ to those who are coming out of darkness into His wonderful light and grace.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" --Eph.4:2. Friday morning was a real dash for the finish line. Gutters went up. Ceiling tiles and sand bags, paint inside and out and lots of cleaning. Jake and Mary hope to have the official opening tomorrow, April 3rd.

"Encourage one another and build each other up" --1Thes. 5:11. Thursday morning and after lunch at the colony everyone was flat out at the work sites as we only had Friday morning left to finish our part of the projects.

Col 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. . . with gratitude in your hearts to God." Today after a very busy morning of work we were all invited out to a Mennonite homes on a colony about an hour northeast of us. Through Radio and later home Bible studies they had understood the gospel and given their hearts to Christ. Lisa heard we had come from Canada to help with the work and just wanted to have us come for a meal. They completely filled their small living/dining room with tables and borrowed chairs and serves us a beautiful chicken dinner. We had a wonderful time with them and were able to present her with a little gift bag. Lisa and Henry have three boys. God has so blessed them they just wanted to bless us!

Rom 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Tuesday evening three of our Low German speakers were invited to travel about an hour and a half east to one of the Mennonite Colonies for a Bible Study. It was already raining and and the roads are not gravelled here. Everyone was extremely thankful for the 4X4 they were traveling in. The group was smaller because of the rain but they still had a good Bible study led by Jake Neufeld. An unforgetable experience. The father of the family gave his heart to Christ about a year ago and only wishes he could grow in his walk with Christ faster!

Under our "serve one another" command we have all enjoyed taking our turn in kitchen duty. It is always two of us, usually a couple. Here are Ron and Ursula who cooked us some tasty meals on Monday. The "Ranch House" (the cookhouse-Dinning room which holds about 20 comfortably) was the first building that was put up at the RTM (TWR) property. Now the Studio is in the New Building where we all sleep--we'll show you that later. The kitchen doesn't have a lot of counter space but as you can see (with Lou smiling) it is quite adequate.

Rom 15:7 "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Tuesday was another productive day at the Bridge and the Women's Shelter. However we have some highly qualified electritions, so Art and Randy stayed at the Radio Station and put in a new three phase service for the property and balanced all the phases so needless to say, Jake Fehr is very thankful. All of us are enjoying the benefit! Please continue to pray for our health. two of our numbers, Karen Friesen and Jewel Schartner aren't feeling well. Thanks for joining us. --Len

Rom 12:16 "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." Monday was a another great work day. Things at the "Bridge" are moving right along. Ceilings all up, lights and other electrical all done and painting getting close. Painting is directly on concrete and is a lot of hard work. Filling and sanding,sanding...sanding!

Hi,

I had written something up earlier, but we lost internet connection and it disappeared. I and two others finished putting in the ceiling tile today at the Bridge. I think that will wrap up the work at that place for now. Some of you have asked about the knee problem, it is very strange, it still hurts a bit when I am walking and I can feel that it is not right but from the start down here I have been climbing scaffolding and ladders every day and it does not seem to get worse. I am up and down a ladder 150 times in a day so it really is remarkable how it is doing, I know it is because of the prayers. I am looking forward to sharing some stories of the people here when I get back home.

I was on the radio the other night and gave a short sermon by way of an interpreter who spoke Low German. It was fun and interesting to do. One man who stopped by the radio station today said he had heard me speaking.

Right now it is cloudy and beginning to rain. Well, it is supper time so I am going to close for now.

Thanks for you prayers, talk to you again in a couple of days.

Steve

Sunday morning we all went back to the Ibnias EFC for their 9:00 Morning Service. It was most enjoyable. About 85 people were there. Great worship. They also had us sing three songs. Ron Boshman from Lethbridge led us. We sang "I Have D.ecided to Follow Jesus," "I Stand Amazed," and then the men sang "How Great Thou Art. After Testimonies--a couple of people had given their hearts to Christ this week!--and prayer, Pastor Norm preached in Low German! We were all really thankful for hour well he did. That evening several members gave their testimonies on the radio, the team sang their songs and Pastor Norm preached from 11:30 to 12:00 midnight. A full Sunday to say the least!

Saturday afternoon we all went to the EFC church located near the Women's Shelter project for a special Mennonite picnic get together called a "geiso." This is the name of a special soup cooked over a campfire in cast iron pots. The soup is served with buns and something to drink. It was a really good social time meeting a lot of the Low German Mennonites who have become Christians. There were about a hundred people there counting the children.

I urge then, first of all, the requests, prayers, intersession and thanksgiving be made for everyone. . . pray for one another. I Tim 2:1 & James 5:16. What a blessing to thank God for each other as we go off to work on these projects. Here is Ernie from Vernon setting the hinges on the 12 hardwood doors (without a router!) for the "Bridge" ministry center.

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." -Eph. 5:21 What a delight when we recognize the presence of Christ in all our relationships! Sorry about the delay in the Blog, but the internet has been down for a couple of days. So here goes. We want to jump back to Wednesday evening because several of the team got to minister on the RTM (Trans World Radio) live broadcast in Low German. Tonight several more of the team will be giving their testimonies. Please pray that God will bless local people throught this ministry.

Gal 5:13 "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love." We continue to thank God for all of you that are part of the team through your prayers. We are getting lots done and thankful for many hands. The goal is to have the Women's Shelter official opening on April 3rd, soon after we leave and to have the Bridge Ministry center open sometime in May. So the outside of Building are being sealed and painted. Walls are being sanded and painted. Suspended Ceilings are being hung. Electrical wiring being done. Doors hung. And meals being prepared. We'll try to include enough pictures to help you visualize the fun and challenge we are all enjoying--not to mention the sore muscles, sweat and camaraderie.