The faith-filled Compassion International workers at the Friday retreat--the Holy Spirit was present and at work among us! God is always good!
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Team building at the Compassion International Staff retreat day on Friday
Hola hermanos y hermanas! (brothers and sisters) Thank you for all of your prayers for our team during our days in Cochabamba and Mineros. On Friday I had the great honor of leading a retreat day for the Compassion International Staff workers who serve at the Mineros Compassion site. The retreat was at a beautiful resort outside of Santa Cruz that provided a joyful and peaceful atmosphere for Bible study, team building, reflection and fun! Our themes were growing in Christ-like character, growing as a team, the gift/discipline of daily Bible reading/prayer and intentional encouragement of fellow workers. God gave us a beautiful weather day as well! In this photo the team was making a string maze of encouragement to visualize how God has connected their lives and how important the gift of each person using their spiritual gifts to serve others. We focused on Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12...' two are better than one and a cord of three strands is ...
The Compassion staff is incredible...a heart for children and the Lord
Hola! This has been an amazing trip seeing God’s grace at work in Cochabamba and Mineros. It is hard to believe that we leave today and tomorrow at this time, we will be stateside. The Compassion staff is incredible—some of the most dedicated church workers and volunteers I have ever met. They have a heart for children and for the Lord. Yesterday, in addition to the two sessions with the Compassion children, Kerry, Kathy and I had the blessing of teaching during the Women’s Bible Study. We each taught about one of the names of Jesus. In teaching about Jesus as the Bright Morning Star, I was reminded that, even though I live on the other side of the world from these women, we still see the same sun and have the same Lord. Marcos and I were blessed to be able to sing and play with some of the worship team members and to learn some of the songs we sing at Our Savior in Spanish. Last night, we went to a park for an outreach event to the com...
Mark with the family of his awesome Compassion child! Read below about their interactions together. What a gift!
Hello from Mineros! Tuesday was filled with soccer and activities. We were very blessed to be able to use a soccer field directly across from the Compassion center. It has definitely been hot and humid but we are all doing well. The children are full of laughs and smiles and just want to be around us. Micah, Hannah, Jessie and Sophie have been great with all of the kids and it has been my pleasure to get to know them better. After the soccer we were able to sing songs and do our skit for the kids. Greg definitely gets the Oscar for his role as the paralytic. Kerry is the master of gimp and the kids follow her around like the pied-piper! Levi has some skills on the soccer field and Kathy has been giving hugs to all the kids. Paige is a master with a frisbee and Mateo’s energy and passion for these children is infectious. Having James and Ivan San Martin with us has been a tremendous blessing. Both Ivan and James will help whenever asked and to watch them interact with our tea...
We are seeing God answer your prayers...by Kathy Kishbaugh
Hola from Kathy! It is Wednesday morning in Mineros. Yesterday was a full day. The Compassion Center is set up so that there are two groups of students each day. One group comes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 – 11 a.m. and another on Tuesdays from 1 – 3 p.m. (mas o menos). On Wednesdays and Fridays there is a third group from 9 – 11 a.m. and the fourth comes the afternoon of those days from 1 – 3 p.m. (mas or menos). There is a small soccer stadium across the street from the Compassion Center so we spent the first part of our morning and afternoon sessions over there. Some of the children participated in the soccer clinic and others chose to stay in the stands and color or make gimp bracelets. After soccer/crafts we came back to the church for songs and a skit. Yesterday we acted out the story of the paralytic. The children loved participating. Most came up and acted as the crowd surrounding Levi who was Jesus....
Wonderful to see how much of a heart for the Lord they all have...
Hola! On Monday morning we hiked the Andes Mountains and two little dogs followed us down. It was amazing to see the beauty of Cochabamba from so high up. After saying a sad goodbye to the San Martin family at the airport, we arrived in Mineros Monday night. The past two days we have been with the Compassion kids and meeting some of the families who are sponsored by members of our church. It is wonderful to see how much of a heart for the Lord they all have. Sophie & Jessie
Hilarious dramas! We have been acting out some of God's Bible lessons to share His word with others! In this photo, Greg was the foolish builder in Matthew 7 that did not build His house on the Rock--the promises of Jesus! And so as the rain fell and the winds crashed, the foolish man's house falls down. Look out Greg, here comes Levi!
Our team with some of the amazing members of Florida Norte Evangelical Church in Cochabamba after Sunday morning worship. What an honor to have 4 days of encouraging, celebrating, teaching and learning! The Holy Spirit is doing good things in their midst! What an honor to spur one another on to follow Jesus faithfully and to share His love and truth with a world in need of Good News!
We have arrived safely in Mineros and are so thankful for a beautiful travel day! We are so excited to begin working with the Compassion International children tomorrow!
Thank you for all of your prayers! We arrived safely in Mineros earlier this Monday evening after a beautiful travel day from Cochabamba. James and Ivan San Martin traveled with us and we are so thankful that they are here. Pastor Esteban and Evelyn were at the airport to greet us--what joyful faces to see! We are so happy to be here with these precious children and especially Pastor Esteban and Evelyn. In 2002, during Our Savior Lutheran Church's first missions trip to Bolivia, Evelyn was a young teen girl worshiping with her family at Florida Norte Church in Cochabamba. Now she is the director of the Compassion International Ministries here in Mineros for over 600 children and Esteban pastors the church that is connected to the center. We are humbled and honored to be here. Keep praying--God is hearing your prayers and working through them, by His grace. In Jesus' love, Mateo Beish
Kerry and our teens did an amazing job sharing God's Word Saturday night at the youth/young adults gathering. They shared about the challenges of living for Jesus in today's world and how God will help us love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength as we ask Him! What an awesome God! (P.S. Kerry's hats were a great illustration--can you guess what they were used for?)
We were honored to have time at the 'Kumi Levantate' children's center on Saturday afternoon, run by the amazing Jose and Elizabeth in the photo with Matthew. They have transformed their home into a center for children with special needs and other challenges. They are faith-filled servants of Jesus!
'A series of new experiences' by Levi Kishbaugh
Buenas Dias The first two days here in Cochabamba have been a series of new experiences. The mountains are beautiful and the San Martin’s are wonderful hosts. Last night we attended worship at Florida Norte and got to experience the welcome line. Such loving and welcoming people. It was a great time with the kids this morning. Thank you so much for your prayers as we continue or time here. Levi
'God has truly been with our team every step of the way' by Greg Scruton
Buenas Dias! God has truly been with our team every step of the way. From the travel to time with the children today all has been fantastic. There were a lot of laughs and fellowship while playing soccer and doing arts and crafts. The food has been fabulous and the conversation around the table great. Thank you all for your prayers. Greg
Even though this is my fourth time here...by Marcos Vermont
Buenas Noches! Today was wonderful day at the soccer field with all of the kids. We were able to play two games at the same time with the older kids and also the younger kids. Then we performed a magnificent skit about Moses and Pharaoh. I must say that Jessie as the burning bush was an Oscar winning performance! Even though this is my fourth time here it is always different with each team. We are having many laughs and being blessed by the San Martin’s and Milu who is cooking for us. Thank you so much for all of your prayers for protection and for a blessed time. Maybe when we get back we will tell you about the chicken foot that Greg discovered! Gracias a Dios, Marcos
