Bolivia Team 2011-2012

This is ME. reluctant team leader. I absolutely love the opportunity to pack up my life for a week or more and spend it working alongside Jorge, Waldo and the team that God so perfectly orchestrates. I'm so excited to introduce you to the rest of the team.











This is Katie. We lived together in 2008 in Bolivia. She has been there ever since and works with an after school ministry with under-served children. Katie has an incredible heart for ministry and has even learned Quechua--which very few people do. You can follow her ministry here.






















this is Annette and her husband Phil. Phil's not going to Bolivia, but now when she talks about "her honey" you will know who she's talking about. Annette was my very first Spanish teacher--I hope to make her proud! :) Her girls have also been wonderful friends for me and my sisters. This will be my THIRD mission trip with Mrs. C. She has also been to Uruguay, Chile, Mexico, etc...

This is my kid sister Jenny. She works at a Mexican restaurant and has forfeited her place to a major conference/concert to go to Bolivia. Can I just say how EXCITED I am to take one of my own siblings to Potosi?!!

Amanda and Limberg are newlyweds and are super excited to go back to Bolivia. Limberg is from Santa Cruz, Bolivia and Amanda is from Ohio. They met when Amanda lived in Bolivia for two years volunteering. They have recently committed to serving in overseas missions.

This is JULIE. She is going to the same University as Tee but she's studying Exercise Science.... She also works with Jenny and is the daughter of Nancy. Julie has been a long-time running buddy of mine. She spent last summer volunteering with an innercity ministry in Arlington/Dallas.

This is Nancy. She is a youth sponsor and works at the local highschool. She really likes kids and has impacted a good percentage of our community--I am convinced. :) Nancy has most recently been to Asia on a mission trip.

Teresa is studying Biology at the University here. She's been the motivation for a few bake sales and fundraisers. This will be her first trip to South America, but she went to Japan last summer.

This is Laura! She is from Bolivia and is studying to be a teacher--in case you can't tell! I've known Laura since 2008. She's been anticipating this trip since we returned from Potosi last year!

Jessi is a native of Ohio. I've probably known her since she was a baby! She's spent a year at a Bible school and is currently taking a break to save up some money and go see what God's doing in Bolivia!

Please PRAY for us!

We'll be gone from 12/31/11-1/12/12.

Also if you want to contribute financially to our team costs or with donations for the children please let any of us know!

Short Term Missionary Journal Entry:

Here's a journal exerpt from Ms. Laura.

So here I am sitting on my sleeping bag on top of a bunch of llama skins in a little pueblo of Tinquipaya in Potosi. After tons and tons of driving, 4 hrs to Oruro, 3 hrs hanging out on the flota, and then another 4 hrs to Potosi, and then 6 hours more of driving in the Nissan, we’re here! And, it’s been fanfreakintastic! I never got tired of the view, and I just want to cry at the beautiful creation the Lord has given us…
Fabulous seems like such a lame word to describe this experience so far!
Potosi was incredible, and the Lord showed me so much while I was there. Being able to serve Him there is a whole other level of service, and the people I met were and still are such a blessing in my life. It’s a beautiful thing to see how God is God everywhere we go, be it in the middle of the city or way at the top of the mountains in a little pueblo in Potosi.


Laura is studying Pedagogy at the Universidad Catolica de Cochabamba. Laura went to Potosi in January of 2011. She is looking forward to returning this January!

New Year Mission to Potosi [Belated Update].

From L-R: Doctor Jorge, David, Eduardo, Jed, Edwin, Kristen, Sylvia & Laura (Not pictured: Doctor Waldo)
From L-R: Eduardo, Jed, Dr. Waldo, Dr. Jorge, Laura, Sylvia, David & Kristen.

This was our team Jed & Edwin joined up with us at the last minute but we were so happy to have them along! It was amazing to see how God brought our team together. I've posted an update of our trip here and pictures here. Hope you enjoy! Jorge's asked if I'll bring another team so pray about it and let me know if you're interested. He asked about coming back this summer (Maybe July or August? If not, then hopefully in January again.). Oh the possibilities!

Team Member #5!

This is our newest addition to the team:
Eduardo attended my church in Cochabamba. He is a mechanic. When I told him about the trip to Potosi and invited him to come along he promised to pray about it. Shortly thereafter, he wrote and said he wanted to go with us!

He is also good friends with the Hedvalls-the missionary family I became really good friends with when I was in Coch. He will also be good motivation for us to use our Spanish more and help him learn lots of English!

Introducing the Team!

We're excited to be representing you!

This is your team in alphabetical order:

David was part of the team last year. He's traveled throughout the world on military and missionary journeys. David's goals for this trip are to stay healthy, be able to communicate better in Spanish and to make it out of Miami on schedule.Kristen (that's me!), has lived in Cochabamba (for nearly a year in 2008) and has been back twice since on mission trips. I'm so looking forward to returning to Cochabamba and Potosi...!

Laura is from Cochabamba Bolivia. She is studying in the university there to be a teacher. Laura has been involved in children's ministry in Cochabamba.

Miss Sylvia is from Mexico and works as a Teachers Aide at a boys home. She has also travelled around the world on many mission trips. This will also be her 2nd time in Bolivia.

Please pray for us!!

Introducing Missionaries with BIG Hearts:

Katie works at the Friendship and Support Center along with the Porters, Quirogas and others... (See below).

Nate and Cindy have a carpentry ministry and build beds, cribs, tables and desks for schools, orphanages, and other ministries around Bolivia. Nate has expanded the ministry and has several boys who previously lived on the streets that work with him. A Bolivian pastor mentors these boys during and outside of work hours.

Nate and Kate are missionaries with International Teams. They support the Center, but their main focus is developing a support foundation for national ministries. They've been in Cochabamba about 4 years or so...
The Quirogas, Porters--along with others--work at Centro de Amistad y Apoyo (Center of Friendship and Support). This ministry is in a rough neighborhood. Many of the kids don't live with their parents (often instead with Aunts or Grandparents). They struggle economically as well as in school. The Center offers support with homework, teaches manners (and hygiene), shares the gospel and offers nutritional snack.

The Timmer family has been in Cochabamba for several years (I think it must've been about 9 or so?). They started International Orphanage Union which has three homes currently open and the capacity to care for up to about 35 children with their current houseparents. Other homes are under construction currently also... (This is the ministry I primarily helped with when I lived there). The Timmers also coordinate BAby WAshing on the weekends. They set up tents on the square, warm up water and bathe the babies who live on the streets with their moms. Then they give them new clean clothes, warm milk and fresh bread all in the name of Jesus.

Drs. Waldo (above) and Jorge (below) are founders of Red Vida de Esperanza (Life Hope Network). Jorge is a general practice physician and Waldo is a dentist--who incidentally has also been a clown (you'll see it once you meet him!). Both doctors travel frequently throughout the countryside providing medical care, spiritual encouragement and discipleship and assist local schools.

Operation Christmas Child

Dear Potential Deliverers of Christmas Cheer:

Here are some things that you should know for the trip:

1. You need a passport--obviously!
2. There will be a $100 deposit and application due as soon as possible. (By this weekend). If you have not gotten an EMAIL, send me your address via facebook, text, or otherwise and I will send you the attachments.
3. Flights are filling up and getting very expensive very fast. We need to buy our tickets soon--it's possible by next weekend... (from last Friday to this Monday tickets for Christmas week went up by $500!). I'll give you more info in the email.
4. Once we get plane tickets we will be able to start working on our visas. For your visas you will need a yellow fever shot, and a passport size picture. List price for the visa is $135, I think if we get the correct paperwork from the missionary we can get them for FREE! So pray about this too! (Speaking of shots...it would probably be a good idea to go to a travel clinic and make sure you have everything you need. I think they will recommend tetanus, hep A and B? and yellow fever. They will probably try to give you malaria meds too, but you can talk to me if you have doubts or questions...)
5. You also might want to stock up on some necessary things for the trip:

flashlight
acidophilus
big suitcases
sunblock
warm clothes for evenings/mornings in the mountains
etc...

I'll send you a more complete list later on.

Hmm, that's all I can think of now. I'll introduce you to the missionaries next time and give you a brief introduction of the area and kiddos.

Let me know if you have any questions!