When things happen, they happen fast

Things are ahappenin’. We arrived back from Patajusal with renewed energy and promptly told our teachers that we were planning to leave the end of April. Of course, that gave us a different attitude towards school and it took a few days to get back into the study mode. I decided that I would learn as much grammar as I could and would leave the vocabulary until we moved. I want to finish the second textbook before we go. We are fortunate that we can set our own goals. There are some missionaries that must go so school until their mission board says they are proficient enough to work in the field. Our teachers are very cooperative and are working in the areas that we need.

And we bought a truck. We had looked at vehicles before Christmas but did not make any decisions. After being in Patajusal we tried our Spanish in Santa Cruz—and we did quite well. The majority of the questions were asked and answered in Spanish and then at the end an English speaking person would come and explain the extra details and ask any questions. We found that we had comprehended most of what was said. Talk about being on Cloud Nine! We asked them to send us quotes and we would decide. In the end we bought a Chevrolet LUV diesel pick up truck. Ironically, we bought it here in Cochabamba where it was over a thousand dollars US cheaper. It is a 2005 and we think that there is a surplus of the particular model. Air conditioning has to be installed so it will be a couple of weeks before we get it.

Last weekend Jake went back to Yapacani and rented a house beginning the middle of April. We thought it would be better to have our own home base in the city rather than staying with other people all the time. I do like my privacy. So what we rented were three rooms in a row with a bathroom at the end. None of the rooms have doors into the other, so we have to walk outside to get from room to room. Pete and Linda lived in this place for about a year so we know something about the place and the landlords. We will have electricity in the rooms but the water is out in the garden area. All the rooms are simply rooms – no such thing as a kitchen. Usually a family will live in one room and share the washing facilities and the bathroom. But we are renting all three, the same as Pete and Linda did.

Jake also went back to Patajusal and found another piece of land. This one is close to the centre of the community, has a well, and is higher land. The owner is a single guy who we think has moved to Yapacani. Dienisio is going to check things out for us at the end of the month and we should know more then.

And we have found someone with whom to work. Dienisio is a good friend of Pete and Linda and was instrumental in the growth of the church in Challe Vito. He is a good farmer but has been having some serious health problems so the destiny of his farm is in question. For the last year he has been working with World Concern and has also been working with some of the small evangelical churches in the area. Although there is no established church in Patajusal, he has been working there also. He has a great enthusiasm for the Lord and for the work that we will be doing. We are so thankful for him and his wife, Viviana.

Things to pray for:
The continuation of our language studies
That the ‘right’ piece of land will be available to us
Dienisio has a wife and three girls. He has recently moved into Yapacani so that his daughters can go to school. Aside from that he has had health problems for the last couple of years. He is coughing up blood. He is gone to a number of doctors, both locally and in Santa Cruz, but they have not been able to find anything. They have tested him for both TB and chaugas. We ask that you pray that someone will be able to find out what is wrong and that he can regain his health.
Thanks for the friends and support that we have here in Cochabamba.

Sorry, guys, pics next time. Jake didn't take the camera.