The last of the pictures...I think.

Here are some pictures that Adam took on the trip.

And here are some pictures that Andrea took.

More pictures from Bolivia

These ones are from Janelle.

Click above or click here.

Pictures from Bolivia

Here are some pictures that my friend Matt took on the trip. You should be able to watch the Film Loop here, or on by clicking the mini film loop below.

There are only about 15 in this set, so hopefully there will be more.

Bolivia Mission Trip - Post Trip Letter

The city of La Paz in Bolivia sits in a valley that ranges in elevation from 10,000 to over 13,000 feet. The economy isn’t the greatest, but the view is spectacular from anywhere in or near the city. Houses are built anywhere there is land, even up exceptionally steep and unstable slopes that most engineers would cringe at. There are over 8 million people in Bolivia and over 67% of those are considered to be below the national poverty level. Almost 2 million of those people live in the city of La Paz. Nearly every car on the road is some sort of public transportation from microbusses and mini vans to taxis. Getting around the city is incredibly easy considering a bus only costs 1 Boliviano (about 12.5 US cents), and a taxi is anywhere from 6 to 12 Bs. ($0.75 to $1.50 US dollars).

Needless to say, my time in Bolivia was amazing. We spent most of our time in the city of La Paz hanging out with a group of shoe shiners who weren’t exceptionally well off. (The average shoe shiner makes about $200 US dollars a year). We ate with them, played with them, walked with them, talked with them, built relationships, and basically lived life with them. Most of our time during the day was spent repairing a building that served as a refuge for the shoe shiners. It was a place where they could go to get a meal, wash up, and even store some of their things. It was hard to get a lot done in just two weeks, but we did manage to fix up and paint all of the tables and benches, repair all of the light fixtures and electrical work so they could have lighting, as well as sand and paint all of the walls. It was obvious that the work we were doing was speaking to them, even when we didn’t say a word. It was a great way to show them personally that God loves all of his children.

The last three days of the trip we took nine of the shoe shiner guys with us on a backpacking trip into the Andes. The first day we hit a summit over 15,800 feet. A little ways down from there we had lunch by a lake while it snowed, and thundered as the fog and sun rolled in and out. It poured most of the second day of hiking, but we found a small soccer field about 30 minutes outside one of the villages we went through and couldn’t resist a game of soccer and Ultimate Frisbee. It was hard not to see God while playing in the rain on that small field in the middle of those huge mountains covered in trees way up in the clouds.

One of the greatest things I heard while I was gone was a quote from one of the shoe shiner guys named Ramiro, who was actually quoting another guy who had left before out team arrived. It went something like this: “People will come and go in our lives. The only relationship that will really last is one with Jesus. I’m just glad you guys are here for the time that you’re here.” God is amazing. Thank you so much for supporting me, and allowing me to experience God’s splendor.

If I get a hold of some more pictures from the trip, I will post them here.

Pre Bolivia Mission Trip Support Letter

It took me six years, but I just graduated from college, and I decided it's about time to give an update on my life. I finished school with two degrees; one in Computer Science, and one in Electrical Engineering. For the summer, I'm going to be working part time, and doing some traveling to visit friends and attend weddings. During all of that I'’m going to be looking for a more permanent job/career. God has also called me to go on a two-week mission trip to La Paz, Bolivia on the 4th of September.

In Bolivia I will be working with a group of other Mines alumni. We will be building a school, doing some street ministry, playing with children, and whatever else God calls us to do. This will be a great opportunity for me to grow in my relationship with God, as well as to minister to others who are in need.

I'’m sending this letter to you to ask you to support me, in prayer, with finances, or both. If you would like to pray for safe travel of the team to Bolivia, and for the hearts of the people we will be meeting, that would be amazing and very appreciated. If you're interested in helping financially, e-mail me and I'll tell you more.

Please feel free to write me back, e-mail me, or call me if you have any questions, or comment, or if you just want to talk. I would love to hear what is going on with you.

Eternity...

For the last five summers I've worked at a Christian summer camp for kids; Timberlake Ranch Camps. As far as I can remember, I have shared a set of verses called "Romans Road" with all of the kids that I have been a counselor for. I figured this was something that I should make available for everyone else I know, because it summarizes the reason that I have the faith that I have. These versus are as follows:

Romans 3:8
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9-10
That if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe, and with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

The great thing about grace is that it makes life unfair. There is nothing that any of us can do to be good enough to get into heaven. God loves us all, and Jesus died for every one of us. It's our choice whether we accept that or not.