I think that something needs to happen – either good or bad – to inspire us to write – and that is what happened to me...
One good piece of news is just seeing how the construction of our boy’s workshops is advancing day by day – it is probably 75% finished...
The other good news is a dream come true. Ron L., a fellow believer (American), has lived here and worked for decades in agriculture and ranching. Recently he has been through a very tumultuous time - the government abusively confiscated his main ranch (1000’s of hectares). Ron was interested in our boys’ project (who it was directed to and how we planned to work – knowledge of God, technical trade training and sports). Almost as soon as he saw the construction site he showed his approval by offering to build a small soccer field –for 5 or 6 players per team – with synthetic grass (Marco’s dream)... Not only that, he is buying the lot next door so that the field can be official size – and include bathrooms, showers and change rooms.... Isn’t that incredible!!!
This, for us, was only a dream... that we thought might be possible only in the very, very distant future... (One of the reasons why Marco always wanted a synthetic field was so that we could rent it for a low hourly rate – and help the workshops be self-sufficient in the future...)
Now some of the bad news... I’ve been asking around and looking for qualified Christian instructors for our workshops – in auto electronics, welding, carpentry... and unfortunately they are very busy – or their testimony disqualifies them (they aren’t just going to teach a trade – but be mentors/guides to the men who come, so their testimony is so important...)
The other bad news is that we underestimated the total costs (and money for the construction is running low)... this happened for a couple reasons...
- we thought there’d be 6 men working on the construction and there are 10...
- we’ve had to break down and reinforce the columns in the wall around the property because they were badly made (and high winds made them dangerous) (This is the wall that was already there when we bought the land.)
- we had to bring in many, many dump trucks of fill because the land was low after the road was paved... This made it necessary to raise the walls as well...
- we are improving the apartment on the second floor to make it more suitable for a family who will be living there, taking care of general maintenance...
- there has been scarcity of materials (iron, wood, cement) which has affected the price and slowed down the construction’s progress...
Which put all together means still another 2 ½ months of construction... when we hoped we’d almost be finished...
Dear brothers and friends... I am infinitely thankful for each one of you who have, in one way or another, supported this project... with your prayers, your encouraging letters to me and financially... I am also thankful to the young people who have come (or would like to come) to be a part of this project... but more than that, right now we have a tremendous need/desire for Christian men with experience in life and instructors in the areas mentioned above (or others). These men would become the “molders” of a new generation of technicians who could become the next leaders for our shops in the future...
I want to remind you that Avant Ministries hasn’t left Bolivia! We are here – more than ever – and like our brother Ron, whose adversities have only strengthened him, we have dedicated our time and our lives to serve those who are so lost here in Bolivia - and have so many needs.
May the Lord never allow the provocations, intimidations and injustices of these days to frighten us or make us run from the purpose we have been called by HIM to fulfill.
Marco...
(Just a little P.S. from me... I look at the workshop project and I’m amazed... After our disappointment in having to give up our first workshops four years ago, the possibility of ever getting other shops set up and running seemed very, very distant...almost unattainable with such high priced real estate in our area of the city... Avant Ministries was given a very generous donation – directed towards the boy’s workshops – with a message that went something like this... “This isn’t all that you need... but this is “seed” money – a start – and we pray, trusting that God will multiply it – to meet your needs.”
The mission sent a letter out, presenting the project... and many of you responded to that... the seed sprouted... and grew... When Marco found the land for the workshops – the money was almost exactly what we needed to buy the land... The other donations/monies that we’ve been saving up over the years will almost exactly cover the basic construction fees... What we don’t have is money for finishing things like painting, varnishing (any work teams want to come down?) and set up...
I have to admit that I’ve rolled my eyes a couple times at Marco’s dream for a little soccer field – a synthetic one at that – it just seemed like an unattainable dream... that there’d always be more pressing, “necessary” needs... I never, ever, in my wildest dreams imagined it coming true... and to see it being given – just like that... from someone who we never, ever expected anything from... we are shocked, humbled, thankful, in awe... without words... wow... and not just the soccer field but the icing on the cake too – changing rooms, bathrooms etc...
Why? Because of God’s amazing love and mercy for those who are so lost and trapped in darkness... because of Marco’s promise to serve God out of thankfulness for what He did in his life... and because of YOU... who so faithfully pray for us... sustain us... and support us... HOW CAN WE THANK YOU?????
Thanks seems very small...
but... it comes from the bottom of our hearts...
Lots of love, from Corina (and Marco... and Keiden of course!)