The Fishers in La Paz, Bolivia

Some of you may have heard about Bolivia on the news, so just thought we’d let you know what the situation is like here. We have been mostly unaware of what has been going on because we don’t have a TV and don’t read the newspaper in Spanish. We did stock up on some food last night at the suggestion of a Bolivian friend. Today we checked the internet news and talked to a few friends who have lived here awhile and realized the situation is escalating with the ambassadors being respectively kicked out of Bolivia and then the US. At this point, life is normal, and we just have to wait to see what happens. We will stock up on water and more food tomorrow. We are in no immediate danger where we live, but if diplomatic relations between the US and Bolivia continue to break down, then that will not be good news for our school and many of our friends who work with American government agencies, NGOs or relief agencies. Our passports are currently with the Bolivian government. We are supposed to get them back on Tuesday, complete with a new visa to remain here until June. Please pray that the political situation does not affect that approval or prolong the time they hang on to our documents. We’d certainly feel better having those with us.

Things have been mostly peaceful since we have been here, so it is easy to forget about the instability that has plagued this country for so many years. We are not so concerned about ourselves, knowing we can probably evacuate if needed and return to our “regular lives” in the States. But we are burdened by the thought of the many Bolivians and American missionaries we know who have no other life to go to and the effect that unrest could have on the school, just as we are growing and making progress in so many important areas. We have to remember that God is not surprised by this, and it is out of our control, so we have to be faithful to serve here in the ways He has called us to, whether that is for a few more weeks or the rest of the school year.