I imagine that many of you have taken a few vacation days over the summer months to spend time with family and friends. I too was able to have a time of refreshment–my first real break since arriving in Bolivia last September.

The first week of July I traveled to Uvita, Costa Rica to spend a week with six of my friends from California. We relaxed in hammocks, tossed the Frisbee, swam in the ocean, watched dolphins, cooled off under waterfalls, ate cooked fish, drank fruit juices, explored small caves, and slept outside under mosquito nets. We stayed with Hugo, an amazing man of God who ministers to Bribis–a Costa Rican indigenous group that lives deep in the jungle. Hugo kept us well-nourished with fresh cocos and pineapples that he hacked from the forest with his machete.

Walking along the beach with my friends.

Eating dinner in Costa Rica. From left to right: Alison, Vicky, Susan, Hugo, me, Trevor, Christie, Dane, Aaron.

After the Costa Rican expedition, I returned to Bolivia with four of the six friends who came to Costa Rica. It was a sweet blessing for me to show them where I live and work, and introduce them to my Bolivian friends. We spent two days in Santa Cruz where I live and another two in Sucre–the constitutional capital of Bolivia.

Eating a traditional Bolivian breakfast food called a salteña in Santa Cruz.

Showing my friends where I work.

Enjoying coffee with a few of the El Alfarero Sucre team members. Sucre is where the first El Alfarero was founded. This week it celebrated its 17th anniversary.

Walking through Sucre.

A “chuquisaqueña” (a woman from Sucre) enjoying the view of her city.

Sucre is known as “The White City.”

In terms of ministry, the most exciting news I have to share is that I have begun serving one day a week at Talita Cumi. The name of the ministry comes from Mark 5:41: He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Talita Cumi is a Christian children’s home that cares for the orphaned, the abused, and the abandoned. It presently has 12 boys and 19 girls with ages ranging from 3 to 15. Talita Cumi has very few male volunteers, so it is my desire to help fill this gap–especially for the boys who need older Christian men who actively invest in them.

(For reasons pertaining to the safety of the children, I cannot post photos of them online. If you receive my monthly e-mail, you can see them there.)

The outside of the children’s home.

If you are interested in learning more about Talita Cumi or supporting the children with an offering, then go HERE.

Praises:
~ Serving at Talita Cumi has been a massive blessing for me. I thank God for the opportunity to play a role in the lives of the children.
~ I am thankful for the time I was able to spend with friends in Costa Rica and to show them around Bolivia.
~ Even though the university students have been on break (my English classes start again in a couple of weeks) it has given me the chance to spend one-on-one time with some of my students who live in the area.

Prayer requests:
~ Please pray for the children of Talita Cumi–that they would feel the love of Christ and entrust their lives to Him. In any other way that the Spirit leads you, please pray for them.
~ Pray for the workers and volunteers who serve at the children’s home–for physical strength to keep up with so many kids, for patience, and above all for abounding love toward the children.
~ Please pray for me as I launch the next modules of English classes. Many students (both old and new) have expressed interest in attending. Pray that I can share the gospel with love and courage.

Thank you!