It all started two years ago. The kind-hearted people from Canada left some money behind for the community to build a school. However, the community was not ready to build the school so the money was sent aside for as a fund that could be used for revolving loans.
The first loans were given out a year and a half ago to the women to purchase pigs. The idea was that after a year the pigs would have piglets and either the mother or the piglets could be sold. The pigs and piglets; some were sold. But the majority of the women did not pay back the loans, instead using the money for the family. Whether they did not understand the loan concept we will never know but the incident triggered the establishment of a Credit Committee.
The regulations of the Credit Committee were instituted at a monthly meeting. This committee consisting of three men set up further guidelines regarding the borrowing of money and drew up a standard application form. From our point of view, the amount of money borrowed is a pittance but this small amount can make a huge difference to the farmers.
In the first year of the project under the direction of the committee, each farmer will be able to borrow 1000 bolivianos or the equivalent of just under $120. Most farmers will use this to mechanize farm. This means that they will hire a custom farmer to work the field and seed the rice for the first year. Then next year the custom farmer will use that land for soy and plant the rice in exchange for rent. The greatest expense occurs in the first year and many of the farms are just ready for mechanized farming.
Jake was appointed President of the committee so he, along with two other farmers, will evaluate the applications. This process has enabled Jake to meet personally with most of the farmers and he has been impressed with their interest in the project and their knowledge of money management. Most have been able to reserve money for planting the crop but are only short the amount needed for the chemicals, usually around $100.00. We still are not sure if all of them keep their money in a sock or in a hole in the ground!
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Friday, November 03, 2006
Open air church services
When we arrived in Patajusal we had no idea about the faith life or the church life of the people. Although we had heard many stories about Andean religion we did not know if the people were strong in their cultural religion. However, we did know that there was a church in Chiavitto, about three quarters of an hour away, where people we knew attended.
Within a few days, Dionisio, the man from Chiavitto, contacted us and welcomed us to the community. He was helping construct a new church at La Pista, about a half and hour away – if the roads were good. Earlier in the blog I have talked about that church.
Since that time there has been great interest in establishing a church in Patajusal. The distance to La Pista is a barrier, even when the roads are good. Inquiries have been made for land within the center of the community but it is too expensive. One of the farmers has agreed that a church can be built on his land. They would build a small wood building with a roof of matacu, the local palm leaf. We have offered the use of our facility but distance again is an issue.
There are three families who attend church on a regular basis, either in La Pista or in Patajusal. When a service is held in Patajusal the attendance increases, especially if there is a workshop or Bible study. We meet under a shelter of matacu to keep us out of the sun or the rain, or else under a mango tree. The service starts when most of the people are there which usually means when the truck arrives. One of the men of the community will start the service with singing. Most of the singing, accompanied by
guitars and local instruments, is done in Quechua with some Spanish songs added for our benefit. I am not a musician but it seems like the tunes to all the songs are very similar and have a similar beat. There is great enthusiasm and the volume of the singing of our small group would challenge many North American churches with much larger congregations. The community service centers on singing and prayer with a little bit of additional ‘preaching’. It is a service of praise.
Dionisio comes to lead workshops or Bible Studies once a month. Because the churches of Patajusal and La Pista work closely together, we benefit from his leadership twice a month. We are divided into groups and work through the theme which 
Dionisio is presenting. Sometimes the material is easy for the people to understand, other times it is not. Since this is an oral culture, any of the people are illiterate or have great difficulty with reading and writing, making comprehension harder. Sometimes we see men with their Bibles upside-down or on the wrong page trying to follow along. It tears at our hearts. In spite of this they are eager to learn and we enjoy sharing. It is humbling when asked to interpret a passage in Spanish so that they can understand.
We are eagerly awaiting the construction of our building so that we can begin literacy classes and Bible studies for men, women, and children. It is a challenge and I often wonder if I am capable. It will require a lot of prayer support and strength that only God can give.
We are also anticipating that Dionisio will become part of our team in the future. It has been our desire to work with a local person who understands the language and culture, and is respected in the community. Dionisio has these qualities. He is a gentle, wise man who loves the Lord and wants to share God’s love. He is presently working part time with another organization but that position ends in December. His funding for his church work also ends at that time. We are praying that he will continue providing local leadership and training to the churches in this area. We are willing to provide materials, leadership and guidance for his work and are hoping that other funding will be provided for his vehicle. We would also like to remunerate him for some of his time. Presently he does all his church work without pay. He supports his wife and three girls from the income from his farm, but that is not always easy. Supporting Dionisio and his work is another way that you can become involved.
Within a few days, Dionisio, the man from Chiavitto, contacted us and welcomed us to the community. He was helping construct a new church at La Pista, about a half and hour away – if the roads were good. Earlier in the blog I have talked about that church.
Since that time there has been great interest in establishing a church in Patajusal. The distance to La Pista is a barrier, even when the roads are good. Inquiries have been made for land within the center of the community but it is too expensive. One of the farmers has agreed that a church can be built on his land. They would build a small wood building with a roof of matacu, the local palm leaf. We have offered the use of our facility but distance again is an issue.There are three families who attend church on a regular basis, either in La Pista or in Patajusal. When a service is held in Patajusal the attendance increases, especially if there is a workshop or Bible study. We meet under a shelter of matacu to keep us out of the sun or the rain, or else under a mango tree. The service starts when most of the people are there which usually means when the truck arrives. One of the men of the community will start the service with singing. Most of the singing, accompanied by
guitars and local instruments, is done in Quechua with some Spanish songs added for our benefit. I am not a musician but it seems like the tunes to all the songs are very similar and have a similar beat. There is great enthusiasm and the volume of the singing of our small group would challenge many North American churches with much larger congregations. The community service centers on singing and prayer with a little bit of additional ‘preaching’. It is a service of praise.
Dionisio comes to lead workshops or Bible Studies once a month. Because the churches of Patajusal and La Pista work closely together, we benefit from his leadership twice a month. We are divided into groups and work through the theme which 
Dionisio is presenting. Sometimes the material is easy for the people to understand, other times it is not. Since this is an oral culture, any of the people are illiterate or have great difficulty with reading and writing, making comprehension harder. Sometimes we see men with their Bibles upside-down or on the wrong page trying to follow along. It tears at our hearts. In spite of this they are eager to learn and we enjoy sharing. It is humbling when asked to interpret a passage in Spanish so that they can understand.We are eagerly awaiting the construction of our building so that we can begin literacy classes and Bible studies for men, women, and children. It is a challenge and I often wonder if I am capable. It will require a lot of prayer support and strength that only God can give.
We are also anticipating that Dionisio will become part of our team in the future. It has been our desire to work with a local person who understands the language and culture, and is respected in the community. Dionisio has these qualities. He is a gentle, wise man who loves the Lord and wants to share God’s love. He is presently working part time with another organization but that position ends in December. His funding for his church work also ends at that time. We are praying that he will continue providing local leadership and training to the churches in this area. We are willing to provide materials, leadership and guidance for his work and are hoping that other funding will be provided for his vehicle. We would also like to remunerate him for some of his time. Presently he does all his church work without pay. He supports his wife and three girls from the income from his farm, but that is not always easy. Supporting Dionisio and his work is another way that you can become involved.
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