Bolivia

When we began the process in 2011 of applying to become missionary associates to serve a 2+ year term in Costa Rica, we knew that it was only the beginning of our life in missions. We wanted to take this time to learn more about missions and ministering cross-culturally. 

We finally arrived in Costa Rica in January 2014. We immediately began learning Spanish and culture. We also began developing friendships among the nationals. After our time in language school, we began serving in a number of capacities under missionary Mary Mahon. This has included a lot of work within children's ministry and more specifically a lot of work with our Latin America ChildCare schools.

In November of 2015 we found ourselves at a bit of a crossroads. We realized that we had to begin thinking and praying about what our future would hold. We knew we would want to transition to full-time missions. What we didn't know, however, was where we would serve.

A Seed Planted

During the week of Thanksgiving 2015 we attended a regional retreat in Mexico. While there, I felt a number of the messages directed at us. I felt like God was preparing us for an upcoming transition. Then the unthinkable happened. For the first time in my life, I felt like God began to put a specific country on my heart. Out of a seemingly chance poolside meeting with a missionary, God began to lay the burden for Bolivia on my heart.

The crazy thing was that I had never considered Bolivia before. In fact, it's probably the Latin American country I would have been most likely to forget before all this. But I left the retreat feeling that God was burdening my heart with this country.

Confirmation after Confirmation

At the airport on our way back from the retreat, I was having a conversation with a missionary friend who works with pastors' kids here in Costa Rica. God had began putting that ministry on my heart as well. I asked him if he knew of any countries with a need for that ministry. His answer was Bolivia. Okay, I'm listening God.

While talking to the director of LACC about potentially working with this ministry we love so much moving forward we asked him where their biggest need is. Yep, that's right...Bolivia.

The area directors for the Andean where Bolivia falls seemed very excited when we told them what God was putting on our hearts. The wife told us she was hoping that was the country we would say when she learned we wanted to go to their area.

Through a number of means and methods, God kept confirming Bolivia. I kept seeing its name and it seemed to be the answer to every question.

Putting the Pieces Together

Where are we now? Well, trying to put all the pieces together.

We're in the application process to become career missionaries. We don't see any reason this won't be accepted, but we're praying God's will be done and favor through the process.

Polly and I just returned from a quick visit to the country where we were able to meet with national leaders, pastors and a couple of our missionary units there. The biggest question is where we will live within Bolivia as we are weighing to options very seriously.

Nothing is official. Nothing is definite. No ministries are determined. But our heart is burning within us. God has even given us a vision: to see entire families made whole.

Why share something so indefinite in reality? Because it's so definite in our hearts and we would love all the prayer for favor and wisdom in this situation as possible. We will be okay if God ultimately leads us a different way, but unless He does we're all in on Bolivia.

And if everything goes to plan, we hope to arrive there in Summer/Fall 2017 after spending about a year in the States sharing our hearts and raising partnerships both financial and in prayer.