Bolivia Update

Bolivia's, and potentially all of South America's, water supply is endangered by a ruthless businessman and major force in the criminal organization Quantum. No wait, that's just the plot for the new James Bond movie. Well, at least Bolivia's getting a little screen time.

But more negative press is not what the country needs right now. Bolivia has been making many headlines in the past few months as U.S.-Bolivia relations have soured dramatically.

In late 2005 Evo Morales, the leader of the political party - Movement Toward Socialism and spokesman for, and former farmer of coca (the raw material for cocaine), was elected as Bolivia's first indigenous president. Since the election, Evo's alliance with Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's unwelcomed crackdown on coca production has caused much strife between our government and theirs.

In September Evo expelled the U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, Philip Goldberg. Angered U.S. officials responded by kicking out Bolivia's ambassador, Gustavo Guzman. Martial law was declared in Bolivia after a number of deaths occurred during street riots brought on by the social and political unrest. Days later all U.S. peace corp volunteers were removed from the country.

This month Evo suspended U.S. anti-drug operations. In turn the U.S. added Bolivia to it's anti-narcotic blacklist, causing a cut in trade preferences that could cost South America's poorest country as many as 20,000 jobs. And most recently in the back and forth, Bolivian officials are calling for the U.S. to extradite their former president Sanchez de Lozada who currently resides here in Maryland.

All this to say, Bolivians are facing difficult times of potentially increasing poverty, possible civil war and continued national uncertainty. The more their situation deteriorates the more I look forward to sharing with them veterinary skills to stabilize their financial situation and enhance their quality of life, and Jesus who offers a peace that surpasses all understanding.

"...by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7

A Little Sentimental

I was thinking about sharing a story that moved me yesterday, but in reflecting on it, other recent gestures that have touched my heart came to mind. So, I'll share them all.

• The compassion of a co-worker who was bit in the face so badly by a dog that we spent six hours in the emergency room, but her questions continued to focus on the dog's well-being.
• The obedience of a couple who gave to the church sacrificially in the face of daunting medical bills.
• The sovereignty of a case of Mosaic water bottles I took to my apartment's office two months ago just now reaping fruit in a way that clearly looks like God's perfect timing.
• The love of a friend from Jefferson Street Baptist Center, a homeless shelter in Louisville, that has contributed to my Bolivia fundraising not once, but three times!

And finally, a connection on the drug-infested streets of Southwest Baltimore yesterday. As we ventured back out to share the gospel and cookies with the ladies (refer back to my blog entry from Oct. 13th), one in particular stuck with me. Wearing only one shoe and proudly displaying an "I Voted" sticker she proved to be gentle, but not wholly lucid as she answered the question, "Who'd you vote for?" with the unprecedented running mates, "Biden and Palin." She then told our group that we should run for something; she'd vote for us. Later, she walked up to a couple of us talking and praying and complimented my necklace and asked if she could have it. Quickly, before I could talk myself out of it, I took it off and put it around her neck. She gave me a long hug and came up with tears in her eyes and with more clarity than I'd seen from her she said "Thank you, you touched me." As she continued to hobble around distracting others asking for anything: money, a drink, climbing into our van for a ride, I refused to let myself regret my hasty decision.

And this morning I'm still glad I did it. It makes me think of a friend who has trouble denying money to beggars, and my recent critique of his unwise use of funds. Even if we're being used, our loose grip on these possessions is admitting they're not really ours to begin with. Maybe she won't be reminded of Christ's love when she wears the necklace, maybe she's already lost it, but its absence will continue to remind me of God's unfailing love for her.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -Matthew 6:21

A Good Problem To Have

Problems never feel very good, but I can't deny some are better to have than others. For instance, when we realized we needed more programs and connection cards at Mosaic last Sunday because we had by far our largest attendance since the launch service, it was a good problem because it came with a simple solution; print more cards and programs and open up more rows in the theater.

A more vexing problem came up today when I found out Mosaic's enthusiasm for serving on Thanksgiving has now breached capacity. Yesterday I actually had a girl who works in my apartment complex's front office ask if she could join us with a few friends. She's never even been to Mosaic, but she heard about our plans through her assistant who came last Sunday for the first time. How could we say no to a request like that?

But, it turns out the Ronald McDonald House can only accomodate a mere 12 volunteers. Mosaic's ever-growing list now holds 24 eager servants. Getting people excited about serving is one of my life's passions, turning them away once they've shown interest is tragic. So, it looks like we'll have the opportunity to spread God's love through even more venues this November by contributing to Bea Gaddy's 27th annual Thanksgiving feast for the homeless. And now with possibly 2 different serving times we may be able to accomodate even more volunteers who had conflicting plans for the Ronald McDonald House schedule. It's so nice when problems turn out to be God's way of reminding me that He knows what's best, and He can do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine.