CHANGE SOME LIVES, INCLUDING YOURS
Are you ready? Is this the time you finally satisfy that
urge to go out into the world on a mission to serve the Lord, help your
brothers and sisters in this global village, deepen your faith and change some
lives, including yours? The Bolivia
“Encounter With Christ” Volunteer in Mission Team (now jointly sponsored by the
CT/NY and Central CT Districts) invites you to prayerfully consider joining us
on the next trip that departs for Cochabamba, Bolivia on Friday, January 28,
and returns on Saturday, February 12, 2005.
As you contemplate saying ‘Here am I, send me” (Is 6:8), you might
meditate on these two testimonies arising from past VIM trips to Bolivia:
- (Help change someone else’s
life.) Several months after the VIM Team
worked with members of the local Bolivian congregation to complete a new
church in Cochabamba, one of the key local construction workers shared his
experiences at a small group meeting.
He said that the week the VIM team arrived he had just returned
from 2 years working in a distance city, suffering with serious back pain
and depression. He was in a dry
spot in his life in Christ, but he decided to join in the work with the
VIM team, although he didn’t feel like doing it. He indicated he
believes that, through the VIM’s presence/witness, God healed the pain in
his back and renewed his spirit and his faith. When the next CT/NY District VIM team arrived the following
year, this brother was serving the Lord as president of the congregation.
-
(Change your life.) A member of a prior Bolivia VIM team, who had made that trip
despite family problems and an uncertain job situation, responded to the
invitation to join the next team with the testimony that: “..my trip to Bolivia changed my life
and my outlook on the world. I am involved in many local
organizations…and intend to organize an event for Americares this coming
spring. So I have begun to make changes in my life. I made
many great friendships in Bolivia, especially the children. I would
hate to miss an opportunity to serve them again. I guess what I
would say at this point is sign me up….. Once again I will have to
put this in God's hands.”
Our “Encounter With
Christ” currently is planned to include:
- Work
on one or two church construction projects
- Training of daycare workers
- Vacation bible school
- Work with a medical clinic
- Worship and study opportunities
- Fellowship, team building, and
- Contacts with many of the
people we support on an ongoing basis with
o
Financing
materials for housing to fight Chagas disease in mountain villages
o
Sales
of hand-sewn and hand-woven goods in our Bolivia Boutiques
o
Seed
money for self-help businesses such as a bakery and a women’s credit union.
We have a strong core
group of team members, but we still have openings for another 5-6 people. We need people with all kinds of skills who have a passion
for mission (including those who think they don't have skills we can use,
because the Spirit always finds a way).
To best accomplish the work
outlined above our most-critical needs at this time are persons with
skills/experience in the areas of:
- Daycare
and/or nursery school teaching
- Construction
- Spanish language translation
- Music (vocal and/or
instrumental—for informal worship, VBS, teacher training, etc.)
More information is on
the following page and an application form for the team follows that. If the Spirit says “GO”,
send a completed application and deposit check to Bob & Ginny Stevenson at
the address shown on the form. Applications
are needed by mid-October when our team list is due to the airlines. If you have questions, please contact Bob
& Ginny at e-mail manofnotes@snet.net
or telephone (203) 380-8622.
Where
is Bolivia?
Bolivia is a
beautiful country sandwiched among Peru, Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil and Chile in central
South America. Its climate and
geography range from the icy peaks of the Andes to the steamy Amazonian forest. While Spanish is
the official language, there is a large indigenous population who speak Quechua,
the language of the Inca people.. The
language of the Aymara people, living in the high plains, predates the Inca language. Due at
least in part to its landlocked position, Bolivia is the poorest
country in South America with 66% of the population living below the poverty line.
You Have Questions
What requirements
must I meet?
You need to bring a loving heart, willing hands and the ability to be
flexible as plans develop and change.
Where in Bolivia will we be?
We are scheduled to be working in the city of Cochabamba in central Bolivia
What kind of work will we be doing?
Our expected activities are
listed above, but we remain flexible because we respond to the needs of the
Bolivians and these may change. Things we have done on the past include the following. We built a sidewalk around and put in concrete floors on the ground floor
of Bethel Church. We fenced, installed basketball
hoops and painted lines on a sports field
at Bethel. Some of us have run Vacation Bible Schools, others provided a workshop
for church daycare workers. We tied rebar, mixed and poured concrete for the
second floor of a new church. Whatever we are asked to do we will have the opportunity to work side by side with our Bolivian friends to improve
lives.
Where will we stay?
We will stay in dormitory rooms
at the American Institute, where they take excellent
care of us.
What is the full cost?
The cost for the trip is $2000. Your
extra
expenses will depend on your need for a passport and the extent to which you
also need shots as recommended by travel
medical specialists.
What about the weather?
Think Orlando in January--temps from 40-85. It could be rainy or dry.
Will we have time
to shop?
While this is a working trip we
will build in some shopping opportunities. We will visit a cooperative for
Alpaca goods as well as the open market.
Will we travel
outside Cochabamba?
We will try to visit one of the
villages where they have been building new, safe houses with financial help
from our district and conference. We will also plan to have
a day in or near La Paz on our way home.
Any other questions?
Please contact us by phone,
snail- or e-mail. Hope to hear from you.
Bob and Ginny Stevenson
YES!!
I want to be a part
of the Encounter With Christ team leaving for Bolivia on Friday,
January 28, 2005 and returning on Saturday, February 12.
I understand that the cost of this two week mission will be
$2000. I am enclosing a check
payable to CT/NY District for $100 to reserve my place.
This may be refunded only if I am not selected for the team or if I cancel my application
by October 20, 2004.
Name and Address:
________ .
.________
________ .
Telephone ________ .
Cell Phone ________
E-mail _______
Please
complete form and send with check to:
Bob and Ginny Stevenson,
316-A
South Trail, Stratford, CT 06614
Questions? E-mail us at vstevenson@snet.net manofnotes@snet.net or call us
at 203-380-8622
Skills
and Experience
Previous Volunteer
In Mission Trips - Locations and years: ____________________.
_________________________________________________________________
I have the
following skills that may be useful on our mission:
Building skills: ___________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Spanish language
skills: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Skills working
with children: ___________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.
Music skills: ______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.
Other skills: _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________.
I am willing and
eager to learn: ________________________________________
