Prayers for Bolivia mission trips

#1 · June 9, 2005, 10:04 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on June 9, 2005, 10:04 pm
Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>
Dear Hope Chest friends,

This is just a quick note to ask you all to intercede for the country of Bolivia, and for my daughters who are scheduled to go there in less than two weeks.

Bolivia is the poorest country in South America, and has been continually wracked with conflict. La Paz, the capital, has been besieged with thousands of angry protestors for the past few weeks. These are poor Indians who want more control of the government, especially over the natural gas. As a result of these often violent protests and many roadblocks, there are food, water, and gas shortages in the city, as well as the rest of the country. There are also conflicts over drugs, because many of the poor farmers depend on their coca crops, which supplies the U.S. cocaine market. So, there is also anti-American sentiment among many. President Mesa, who took office in 2003 after a coup forced out the previous president, has himself been forced to resign, and Congress is in the process of choosing a new president. They had to move to Sucre as a temporary capital because of the crisis in La Paz. Due to the intense turmoil, the U.S. State Department has issued a Travel Warning advising Americans to postpone travel to Bolivia. The U.S. is also evacuating its non-essential embassy personnel. Many airlines are cancelling flights to Bolivia. The whole situation is a mess. If you would like more information, www.cnn.com is the only place that has provided any decent news coverage. I haven't seen anything on the ABC TV news, or on the Orlando Sentinel web site unless I really dig for it.

So, please pray FIRST for the country of Bolivia, that God would grant peace and prosperity to these suffering people.

Second, please pray for the Mission:X trips, which are in limbo at the moment. Julia's team and the medical team are at less risk. They are flying into Santa Cruz, then to Terija, and then taking a long bumpy bus ride south to Entre Rios. However, Mary's team is slated to fly into Santa Cruz and then on to La Paz, where they will be hosted by our sister church, Iglesia en La Paz (http://www.iglesiaenlapaz.org/). She is prepared for a certain amount of risk and adversity, but it doesn't seem prudent to send her there until conditions calm down. Our pastors are trying to keep in contact with the Pastor Johnny Dueri there to see what is going on in that part of the city, but communications are severely hindered by poor phone / e-mail service. Please pray for them all to make wise decisions. I know they are considering postponing the trips, and there may be other options.

Thanks for your prayers.

Blessings,

Virginia Knowles

www.TheHopeChest.net
  --  To subscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected]  To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected]  Visit my web site at www://thehopechest.net  

Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>

Dear Hope Chest friends,

This is just a quick note to ask you all to intercede for the country of Bolivia, and for my daughters who are scheduled to go there in less than two weeks.

Bolivia is the poorest country in South America, and has been continually wracked with conflict. La Paz, the capital, has been besieged with thousands of angry protestors for the past few weeks. These are poor Indians who want more control of the government, especially over the natural gas. As a result of these often violent protests and many roadblocks, there are food, water, and gas shortages in the city, as well as the rest of the country. There are also conflicts over drugs, because many of the poor farmers depend on their coca crops, which supplies the U.S. cocaine market. So, there is also anti-American sentiment among many. President Mesa, who took office in 2003 after a coup forced out the previous president, has himself been forced to resign, and Congress is in the process of choosing a new president. They had to move to Sucre as a temporary capital because of the crisis in La Paz. Due to the intense turmoil, the U.S. State Department has issued a Travel Warning advising Americans to postpone travel to Bolivia. The U.S. is also evacuating its non-essential embassy personnel. Many airlines are cancelling flights to Bolivia. The whole situation is a mess. If you would like more information, http://www.cnn.com is the only place that has provided any decent news coverage. I haven't seen anything on the ABC TV news, or on the Orlando Sentinel web site unless I really dig for it.

So, please pray FIRST for the country of Bolivia, that God would grant peace and prosperity to these suffering people.

Second, please pray for the Mission:X trips, which are in limbo at the moment. Julia's team and the medical team are at less risk. They are flying into Santa Cruz, then to Terija, and then taking a long bumpy bus ride south to Entre Rios. However, Mary's team is slated to fly into Santa Cruz and then on to La Paz, where they will be hosted by our sister church, Iglesia en La Paz (http://www.iglesiaenlapaz.org/). She is prepared for a certain amount of risk and adversity, but it doesn't seem prudent to send her there until conditions calm down. Our pastors are trying to keep in contact with the Pastor Johnny Dueri there to see what is going on in that part of the city, but communications are severely hindered by poor phone / e-mail service. Please pray for them all to make wise decisions. I know they are considering postponing the trips, and there may be other options.

Thanks for your prayers.

Blessings,

Virginia Knowles

http://www.TheHopeChest.net

  --  To subscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected]  To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected]  Visit my web site at www://thehopechest.net