tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51144134591501159882024-03-05T17:30:33.677-08:00Ballew Mission JourneyLowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-84094308501876986822014-02-25T19:48:00.001-08:002014-02-25T19:54:16.418-08:00Opportunity Strikes Again<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We are super excited to let you all know that a great opportunity to go on mission has presented itself once again! Our new church, Lifepoint, has had its sights set on Costa Rica for some time now. They have prayed and waited for an open door and a perfect opportunity to go on mission there. Not long after we returned from Bolivia, a family from Lifepoint, The Dawsons, whom we've known for almost 15 years, was praying and preparing to journey to Costa Rica on a vision trip. They'd known for a while that God was calling them, nudging them, pushing them to go. All of the cards fell into place and doors swung open wide. They left in July 2013 for Tamarindo, Costa Rica, to explore what ministry opportunities might lie waiting for them there. The original plan was to stay for about 2-3 months to get a good "feel" for the country, culture, language, and needs there. Thankfully, Scott was able to work from there, so their flexibility was definitely in their favor. After more than 8 months, they are still there and loving it! The Lord has connected them with a local church, Iglesia Casa Vida, that has already planted two new churches in neighboring villages, one of which is Playa Azul. <br />
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Lifepoint has planned to take a team of 12 down to Tamarindo and Playa Azul this summer, July 3-12, to help with various projects that Iglesia Casa Vida has planned, including a VBS for the kids and beachfront ministry outreaches. Lowell is leading this group, and I (Shay) am very excited that Aidan and I will be able to join him and be a part of the team! Why not the whole family, you ask? Unfortunately, this is not a family mission trip, but a church sponsored one and is only open to 12 adults (although we do have three mature teens going with us). We have agreed to let Aidan go, but he is well aware that he must raise his own money in order to go. As the leader of the team, Lowell's way is paid which is a huge blessing. I must raise a total of $1,500 to pay my way - which includes airfare, food, and lodging.<br />
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I'd love to once again involve each of you in being a part of God's great mission! All of you have so generously supported us as a family in the past and I am humbly asking that you consider financially supporting me as I prepare to go once again to foreign soil to minister to latinos. I knew coming home from Bolivia was not the "end", but only a beginning of new and different opportunities that the Lord has for me and our entire family! I am so happy that He has chosen to use us once again so soon after returning from Bolivia.<br />
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Would you prayerfully consider giving a one time gift, a monthly gift for the next four months, or simply lifting myself, Lowell, Aidan, and the other 9 team members from our church up in prayer? Please pray for all of us as we raise our funds, prepare ourselves spiritually and mentally, and grow to know one another better as a team. Also, please pray for the The Dawson family as they prepare for us to come and for the people that we will encounter while in Costa Rica. We all thank you in advance for your continued support of us as a family and for the incredible ways God chooses to use us for His glory. Please send in any financial donation to the address below and be sure to write: "Costa Rica Mission Trip/Shay Ballew" on the memo line. All contributions are tax deductible. I'd love to hear from you - please let me know that you will be praying by commenting here, or writing a quick personal email or private message on facebook.<br />
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For God's Glory -<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Shay</span></span></i></span><br />
<br />
Mail donations to:<br />
LIFEPOINT CHURCH<br />
2450 E. MAIN ST. #H<br />
LEAGUE CITY, TX 77573<br />
<br />
MEMO: "Costa Rica Mission Trip/Shay Ballew" <br />
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For more info about Lifepoint Church and the Costa Rica mission trip, you can visit our website at www.cometolifepoint.org<br />
<a href="http://cometolifepoint.org/">cometolifepoint.org</a><br />
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Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-51457672899237294962013-06-15T22:09:00.000-07:002013-06-15T22:11:30.029-07:00Ballew Mission Supporters' Reception! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We want to say thank you and share some photos, videos, and stories of our time in Bolivia with all of our awesome supporters, prayer warriors, and friends! Please join us next Saturday night, June 22, from 7:00pm-10:00pm (come and go) at Panera Bread - I45 and Bay Area Blvd. location. We will have coffee and dessert and share how you can continue praying for Bolivia and be a part of what God is doing there! This is our small way of showing everyone our appreciation for loving us and supporting us and making this amazing experience possible! Please let us know via email, text, or facebook pm if you plan to attend. We also have a small gift from Bolivia for each of our financial supporters.<br />
<br />
Shay: 832-803-6080 sballew72@gmail.com<br />
Lowell: 832-803-4041 lballew73@gmail.com<br />
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HOPE TO SEE EACH OF YOU THERE!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7_Z4Dh25sH5Tsloka5hBDDxAWewNI3RowrG8xDopZFh12OBzu5gEvKNqYYvdyZPNAkcqSwShK-p9CYD7ea9yK-dXCF1VzUN4Mtd547mrdaT8EVaBo-7KaM1ZUp7LUnLKn9X04dECCMsi/s1600/IMG_8068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7_Z4Dh25sH5Tsloka5hBDDxAWewNI3RowrG8xDopZFh12OBzu5gEvKNqYYvdyZPNAkcqSwShK-p9CYD7ea9yK-dXCF1VzUN4Mtd547mrdaT8EVaBo-7KaM1ZUp7LUnLKn9X04dECCMsi/s320/IMG_8068.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a hiking trail in an old, ancient Incan ruins site called "Incachaca" </td></tr>
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Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-22229196628310635852013-06-03T19:34:00.002-07:002013-06-03T19:34:25.719-07:00Home Again, Home Again...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Goodness gracious me! I can't believe I haven't written an update
since April 7! What a whirlwind the past (almost) 2 months have
been...as you can imagine! I suppose I'll just begin by saying, "We made
it "home"! I seriously wondered there for a while if it would really
all happen and come to pass. Things became quite stressful and
challenging trying to get out of our house in Bolivia, but thanks to my
amazing husband, it happened. We spent our last 3 weeks in Coch staying
in a missionary guest house that some other missionaries had just opened
up. We got to "break it in" and test the comfort level :o)! Let me tell
you, if any of you ever get the opportunity to go to Cochabamba,
Bolivia on mission, it's THE place to stay! It truly is a wonderful
ministry and so very needed in the city. They are putting all the funds
raised right back into other ministries and to help Bolivians in need.
Find them on facebook at "The Harvest Guesthouse".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzwXe7r3UecklE1FdnDZjk3mqMaXEPqyzUPK-BErwvt207HEiXT-8ZeSA3-EqmId_kxKDVfD31w1MJ6tL0uxR1-OT2aw34LdSC7CLP2tro7dpMLnmfQdWno7CwCbvMVp_JIjSebl9ObcG/s1600/IMG_2057.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFzwXe7r3UecklE1FdnDZjk3mqMaXEPqyzUPK-BErwvt207HEiXT-8ZeSA3-EqmId_kxKDVfD31w1MJ6tL0uxR1-OT2aw34LdSC7CLP2tro7dpMLnmfQdWno7CwCbvMVp_JIjSebl9ObcG/s320/IMG_2057.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lowell with Rick, one of his best friends here in Bolivia</td></tr>
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<br />
We
had an incredible despedida (going away party) hosted by some of our
best friends, TJ and Tammy Mitchell. We felt very blessed by the
presence of so many dear friends we made in Bolivia. It was
overwhelming! We enjoyed sweet fellowship, amazing FOOD, and a prayer
time led by TJ. We brought along our journal that friends had signed for
us at our going away party here in League City back in March 2011 so
that now, on the flip side, our missionary and Bolivian friends could
sign it. I actually just grabbed it out of a suitcase the other day and
read all of the words of gold that folks wrote for the first time! What a
treasure for ages to come!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd35muwXQN1-jYERmdIYwdu4b2y2xihO3utT1uxiu6RaboqVSd_4Vk48Ll_93mu4XiRPEbhEhwsGUcoruD5f8Cryrybml6tnX6co59RGpQQ6uRG9z-K6gyrNQe2fuOfoWkrEvN5nwnnaAK/s1600/IMG_2042.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd35muwXQN1-jYERmdIYwdu4b2y2xihO3utT1uxiu6RaboqVSd_4Vk48Ll_93mu4XiRPEbhEhwsGUcoruD5f8Cryrybml6tnX6co59RGpQQ6uRG9z-K6gyrNQe2fuOfoWkrEvN5nwnnaAK/s320/IMG_2042.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shay with some of her friends - both other missionary wives and Bolivian beauties! </td></tr>
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<br />
Our
travel back was fairly uneventful, which is exactly what you want when
you are traveling internationally with a family of 6! This certainly
doesn't mean it wasn't hard or challenging, but no major bumps or
serious issues along the way. We flew directly into Orlando to stay for a
week at a vacation home some fellow missionaries in Bolivia just bought
- to use as their home base when they are home on furlough, and as an
investment when they are in Bolivia. We were able to "do Disney" and
made it to the beach one day, which was absolutely splendid after being
in a landlocked country for over 2 years! Ahhh...the coastline! It was
pretty crazy going from 3rd world, developing, poverty stricken country,
to Orlando! Vacation capitol of the world, where everything is super
new and shiny and RICH!!! Whew. But, we had a great time and just felt
so blessed beyond belief to even be there and get to do that!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzCyjUkE8kDI2Got2bo6ofcIAoBX1QgLZDrgGLplQU3QYienRGcSEwTlYDzugO7bBn2JVU_0z36N6VxvKVHDM8jV9h-NI0hyphenhyphen_5BbdWZRXNHDkw6QZgoCiTu_1kHxHU7wpG8kZgUMe6fJA/s1600/IMG_2047.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzCyjUkE8kDI2Got2bo6ofcIAoBX1QgLZDrgGLplQU3QYienRGcSEwTlYDzugO7bBn2JVU_0z36N6VxvKVHDM8jV9h-NI0hyphenhyphen_5BbdWZRXNHDkw6QZgoCiTu_1kHxHU7wpG8kZgUMe6fJA/s320/IMG_2047.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys with a few of their best buds (all MK's...a special breed!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
As
you can imagine, we had some pretty sweet reunions with family and
friends once we returned to Texas. We spent time with my parents, my
brother and his family, and my oldest sister in Brenham, Lowell's
parents, sister, and nieces in Frost, my other sister and her family in
Denton, and were able to see some old friends along the way. It was
great to see how everyone had changed (kids) and how they reacted to one
another after more than 2 years. Funny. Teenagers are just funny :o)
After more than 2 weeks of traveling around and going from place to
place and living out of suitcases, the kids started begging to get
"home" to League City. So, we cut our travel time short and arrived to
LC on May 22. Some of you may remember me asking for prayer for a place
to stay until July. We had an old friend from our days at CCCC offer for
us to stay with her in her large house, so...we are settled, but not
really! We still have suitcases everywhere, still digging around looking
for stuff, still anxious to be really home and settled. We will be here
in her home until the end of June, although one week we will get to
attend a family camp at Mo Ranch with other families from our new
church.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdGLpkWk3n2AGgl21v6hmTVVj3kfDYkunIDCon4HUR-leY3rFhUOov6x2l-fs7RedcVI7sDA7kVD5DvFFCqqM4mP8LGiVFHbp9kaclxYdRLkkYEJtcLnKlVGw1VRI5Xpm0QlskLqsUQGX/s1600/IMG_2066.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdGLpkWk3n2AGgl21v6hmTVVj3kfDYkunIDCon4HUR-leY3rFhUOov6x2l-fs7RedcVI7sDA7kVD5DvFFCqqM4mP8LGiVFHbp9kaclxYdRLkkYEJtcLnKlVGw1VRI5Xpm0QlskLqsUQGX/s320/IMG_2066.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few of our faithful Bolivian students from youth group</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_cMOLLfQUtCSRlBiZERQs5cokdrdVKiPODELxmQjj5WWupdDjrF0dSm9SRvUk-3dePZ0doHSvMfHqGj0kIfBcGeiFcLaAPOLKTXjKGKH3ZJWZtJ8WlvTxf3OEPUuB2rsD9pZy657MdtK/s1600/IMG_2112.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_cMOLLfQUtCSRlBiZERQs5cokdrdVKiPODELxmQjj5WWupdDjrF0dSm9SRvUk-3dePZ0doHSvMfHqGj0kIfBcGeiFcLaAPOLKTXjKGKH3ZJWZtJ8WlvTxf3OEPUuB2rsD9pZy657MdtK/s320/IMG_2112.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">God was so good to bring Jake Beaty along to take over the youth ministry! You guys are in good hands!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Speaking
of our new church. Lowell officially began his new position as Worship
Pastor yesterday and led his first service this morning!! It was
LifePoint's 5 year anniversary big celebration service - so, it was
doubly special! I'm not sure if there is any way at this point to feel
more blessed, but we have already had our hearts just blessed beyond
measure by our new church family! WOW. I could just keep saying wow all
day long over the incredible things God has done and how he has used
folks from LifePoint to take care of us in huge ways. This church has a
big passion for missions and ministry and taking care of others' needs,
let me tell you! This has been so evident even before we arrived. We
received a donation of a CAR from a family, and many folks have offered
up furniture and help.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwK3sZg6Qw0RHqSMhHNsb0dvLUP6ekATAXhENzzz0RxZMJo6aRumlbRK-3N4wYN66OZxOxVO0KacGhh7NhFFddVJemqXa_3wJiOfxe4NimzcowbMufdnwgHL1rKlq1KvGpW2ZmPgSqr-sH/s1600/IMG_2079.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwK3sZg6Qw0RHqSMhHNsb0dvLUP6ekATAXhENzzz0RxZMJo6aRumlbRK-3N4wYN66OZxOxVO0KacGhh7NhFFddVJemqXa_3wJiOfxe4NimzcowbMufdnwgHL1rKlq1KvGpW2ZmPgSqr-sH/s320/IMG_2079.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good friends from the married couples' group Lowell and I were a part of</td></tr>
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<br />
I
just don't even know how to put into words the thanks and gratitude we
feel for all of you who have gone alongside of us on this journey that
God called us into. YOU made it possible, through the Lord's prompting
and provision. We are humbled and indebted to you. We do not feel like
this journey is ending, but rather opening a new chapter and starting a
new season! Please, if you'd like to walk it with us still, we'd love to
have you! I plan on continuing the blog (I rather enjoy writing) and
keeping everyone up to date with what miracles God is working in our
lives and in the world around us. We plan to continue being a big part
of what's going on in Bolivia and support our friends who remain there,
on the front lines. We might occasionally share what is happening in
their ministries or share needs they have so that you can pray and give
if God leads.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhg2NR_AUOwaLJUVRbN3qN_sxXJdSoNWsyir4B2_SS2rJaT3azTlNcyd6149foBNBVTfiNE2K-n-gnwYie8rHNtT7Bi7KuHBQr0noLJq6g93GYiE6siiE6C9kqTQTHEDNHKSmLWDKCae0/s1600/IMG_2090.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhg2NR_AUOwaLJUVRbN3qN_sxXJdSoNWsyir4B2_SS2rJaT3azTlNcyd6149foBNBVTfiNE2K-n-gnwYie8rHNtT7Bi7KuHBQr0noLJq6g93GYiE6siiE6C9kqTQTHEDNHKSmLWDKCae0/s320/IMG_2090.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miriam
was our amazing, hard-working maid...but a much better friend. She was
the most difficult person for me (Shay) to leave :o( Pray for this sweet
soul. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ziy3ReiAjdshMnnu4HTI1NKjJJ9oKra3HeFcrOIvtt8zyVVXlHcxU4MN3GgyPV0HAcNgDobkSRA0MLysYCOhqzkEVJzaGVhLrteSGcxuwj0kUdq5wF9q_LJX4xXAoDERImmLbbTueBIf/s1600/IMG_2115.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ziy3ReiAjdshMnnu4HTI1NKjJJ9oKra3HeFcrOIvtt8zyVVXlHcxU4MN3GgyPV0HAcNgDobkSRA0MLysYCOhqzkEVJzaGVhLrteSGcxuwj0kUdq5wF9q_LJX4xXAoDERImmLbbTueBIf/s320/IMG_2115.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia loved Miriam, and Miriam loved Olivia :o) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We
will soon be hosting a "Post Bolivia Missions Journey" night for all of
you locally who would like to come and hear more about our time there.
We will share photos, videos, and most of all, what God did and is doing
in Bolivia! Look for an evite and/or online invitation soon!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Fgnryedw3qV2TpfbjxgogI-V2PtmPJoDrR2RFwVAo86NzhxHWXTGKuo6cNYZ7MqyDdst5GXm1XpazpkbS_oXoCj_wy1ViD3TxSVcBYXSkWSB8WozTTLwTPQhuVPn2o4eZhMzb60LSMEo/s1600/IMG_2117.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Fgnryedw3qV2TpfbjxgogI-V2PtmPJoDrR2RFwVAo86NzhxHWXTGKuo6cNYZ7MqyDdst5GXm1XpazpkbS_oXoCj_wy1ViD3TxSVcBYXSkWSB8WozTTLwTPQhuVPn2o4eZhMzb60LSMEo/s320/IMG_2117.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here
we are with Edwin Almanza and his two children, Isabel and Nate. Edwin
played a HUGE role in us coming to Bolivia in the first place. God used
this man to lead us to Bolivia. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHf83PFEi3UzVxyQ-qmqDcCBsnVI4XTKyyY-ilS_oLPeEBN7MJ8YuSlBJQ21eFd7Tdkj1_-WMSX7XGUXDSXbi0AsDs2jdHwyZZy-piRA7O6h4Q1LZrz0xCPE8W3QNtdBFtXWJDxw922yS/s1600/IMG_2110.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHf83PFEi3UzVxyQ-qmqDcCBsnVI4XTKyyY-ilS_oLPeEBN7MJ8YuSlBJQ21eFd7Tdkj1_-WMSX7XGUXDSXbi0AsDs2jdHwyZZy-piRA7O6h4Q1LZrz0xCPE8W3QNtdBFtXWJDxw922yS/s320/IMG_2110.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lowell with some of his favorite musicians from the worship team - je je je </td></tr>
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Much love and blessings to you all! God is so GOOD! He is FAITHFUL, LOVING, and TRUSTWORTHY!<br />
<br />
In Christ -<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lowell, Shay, Aidan, Liam, Jude, and Olivia</span></span></i></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">*On a financial note</span></b>:
Our Ripe For Harvest acct. is currently still open and active, but will
be closed shortly. If you'd still like to make a one time donation to
us and receive the tax deduction, please send it to our RFH acct. asap!
All info is here on the blog - address, auto draft, etc...However, if
you would still like to make a donation to us to help us get re-settled
back here in the states and are not concerned with a tax deduction,
please send to Lowell's parents as we are not yet back at our old
address: Lowell Ballew; c/o Robert Ballew; P.O. Box 293; Frost, Tx 76641 OR, hand deliver locally to Lowell and I over a cup of coffee or some good Tex-Mex!!!!! <br />
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Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-52607255636443499252013-04-07T20:04:00.001-07:002013-04-07T20:04:36.737-07:00The clock is ticking<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This will likely be the last post we make from Bolivian soil. From south of the equator. The countdown is on - we leave Bolivia exactly 3 weeks from Tuesday on April 30. Our flight out of Santa Cruz technically leaves on the first of May, but it's at 2 in the morning. We leave Coch in the evening on the 30th. Our Despedida has been planned (going away party), the invites sent out, 2 garage sales down, one more to go. Pick up day is scheduled for those who have bought furniture and other large items. The suitcases have begun to make their way out of storage. This is such a grueling, tiring process. We are NOT looking forward to leaving Bolivia, but we are so ready for this part of the transition to be over. We are heartbroken at the thought of saying goodbye, but we are overjoyed at the thought of saying hello to family and dear friends back home for the first time in over 2 years!! We already have a packed schedule upon immediate return. I'm not sure when life will slow down for us! We are so blessed to be able to spend a week in Florida as soon as we get back, just chillin', relaxing, regrouping as a family, and having some fun in the sun on the beach. We plan to spend the month of May traveling throughout Texas visiting family and some friends. Once we arrive back to League City, we hit the ground running! Lowell begins his new ministry position at Lifepoint Church on Sunday, June 2.<br />
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We have been praying for a place to stay for our first month back, since our current tenants in our house will not be moving out until the end of June. We have a strong possibility at this point, but nothing set in stone. Please pray that God would provide a place we can be comfortable but yet not be a burden on anyone else. We are looking forward to moving back into our old home and neighborhood come July! Not sure how many of you remember several years ago when we were trying to leave to come to Bolivia. The main thing holding us back was the fact that our house just would not sell! After 10 months of waiting and wondering if God really did want us to go, we were able to lease it, which in turn released us to be able to come. What an incredible blessing that we can now look back on - God didn't allow our house to sell for a good reason. He knew we'd be coming back. He had HIS plans, and we had ours :o)<br />
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We covet your prayers as we prepare these last 3 weeks to leave. It is so overwhelming but yet we know in the end, it will all get done! Pray that we can have some sweet closure time and that all loose ends would be tied within our ministries at the church, our home, with the sell of items, and travel plans. Pray for all of the relationships that we were able to build and cultivate to continue after we leave and that God would send others behind us, as he had sent others ahead of us! God is doing some very, very cool things here in the city of Cochabamba, and we look forward to sharing with all of you what we were allowed to experience and be a part of. And hope to continue being a part of.....<br />
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We will be holding an Open House of sorts for all of our friends, family, and supporters in the Clear Lake area once we return and get "settled". Be on the lookout for that invite and information.<br />
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Chau...one last time, from Cochabamba, Bolivia -<br />
<br />
<span style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lowell, Shay, Aidan, Liam, Jude, and Olivia</span></i></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYjNHPWHPb4tJUONbk8fjiyQ3UA_RoAB-e7k0nO9HL_iKs49fr0Y13bGeSFRAfELnvFJRoLROAK1sdCqJCGFE3ILy7qsVnU0T6_HJ6eTlc2hFpBf2B1rTOcpfdhJb8i6zFPdjAYWtnLQN/s1600/IMG_0533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYjNHPWHPb4tJUONbk8fjiyQ3UA_RoAB-e7k0nO9HL_iKs49fr0Y13bGeSFRAfELnvFJRoLROAK1sdCqJCGFE3ILy7qsVnU0T6_HJ6eTlc2hFpBf2B1rTOcpfdhJb8i6zFPdjAYWtnLQN/s400/IMG_0533.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating breakfast at the coffee shop "Alexandar's" in La Paz, Bolivia</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSswR2nSM0ZCd9sIcYfxFzpu8Z-CG0bTmGqaVno4Yf5gDWDuyR_k09fzMrzRn5wkkox7bIVD86blGOJh9bB4yiYonCOSw7yAmm0F4nykwKV0jm11xbKfYvwxPF7ShzHPUXXZOc8y7olJD/s1600/IMG_0586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSswR2nSM0ZCd9sIcYfxFzpu8Z-CG0bTmGqaVno4Yf5gDWDuyR_k09fzMrzRn5wkkox7bIVD86blGOJh9bB4yiYonCOSw7yAmm0F4nykwKV0jm11xbKfYvwxPF7ShzHPUXXZOc8y7olJD/s400/IMG_0586.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some precious tiny girls from the region of Potosi were left alone to dance and make money. Lowell and I both were grabbed by them to come dance! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgk8GHuZrV4JKrXCHTgZaYgJkm2ojrNE9xbCC4sBzIl42AH2yxOksddTdKBSRXrwfxGNoBf446Tqp6dzLX8sFQKmibwhaxT5Kc289BhESHctiY4K-_by0oxg-WcTB_SHSwv0F9ZeVUSWr/s1600/IMG_0642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgk8GHuZrV4JKrXCHTgZaYgJkm2ojrNE9xbCC4sBzIl42AH2yxOksddTdKBSRXrwfxGNoBf446Tqp6dzLX8sFQKmibwhaxT5Kc289BhESHctiY4K-_by0oxg-WcTB_SHSwv0F9ZeVUSWr/s400/IMG_0642.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Valley of the Moon outside of La Paz</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tzlHV-S0Pkm_5yW4eYfN50Lv40Bp4th0wB0PMHXayv4ZRx-HZejwlkZN0suS6RB7Yb9FdOfreEM5F1-JVBwSgUBrk7c8Nh0kwoeKqesC5Qt14cyyLv6-8jMyuIc191Yfcd23kyksyzpE/s1600/IMG_0978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tzlHV-S0Pkm_5yW4eYfN50Lv40Bp4th0wB0PMHXayv4ZRx-HZejwlkZN0suS6RB7Yb9FdOfreEM5F1-JVBwSgUBrk7c8Nh0kwoeKqesC5Qt14cyyLv6-8jMyuIc191Yfcd23kyksyzpE/s400/IMG_0978.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the shores of Lago Titicaca in Copacabana</td></tr>
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Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-43491242707698999602013-03-07T20:40:00.000-08:002013-03-07T20:40:18.304-08:00Deja Vu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Didn't we JUST do this? Didn't I just get through the process of going through papers, throwing things away, selling all (Ok, like 90%) of our belongings, packing, saying goodbyes, showing our house to strangers at a moment's notice, and hi-tailing it to another country? Surely it must have been only months ago. I know it's not possible that this journey started 4 1/2 years ago, and that I went through this same process on the other side of the equator over 2 years ago. It can't be.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EMnXt_NxzvNUJB3rJFmu6AVJFavJYfSLKUq5pCxqoVL8erKDRYDEGt4ZjdYyYzRGKb9W9VAHMuoF6Yq7MikhKpVb4fQ-e66UrmjDgDCfR9tV4fIl0NClyqomJnQrnw6PgPI5nMncpY9M/s1600/IMG_8816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EMnXt_NxzvNUJB3rJFmu6AVJFavJYfSLKUq5pCxqoVL8erKDRYDEGt4ZjdYyYzRGKb9W9VAHMuoF6Yq7MikhKpVb4fQ-e66UrmjDgDCfR9tV4fIl0NClyqomJnQrnw6PgPI5nMncpY9M/s320/IMG_8816.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia w/2 of her beautiful Bolivian friends who are being adopted by another missionary family</td></tr>
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Alas, yes, it has. And our time here in Bolivia is very quickly coming to a close. It is a very strange and awkward and emotional season for me - for us. We are faced daily with the battle of choosing to "be" here and make the best of our last weeks or choosing to do one or many of the thousand little things that need to be done in order to leave on April 30. We want to make these last days count, to have fun, to enjoy Bolivia, to be used by God, to be productive and make an impact, to "leave our mark" so to speak. We want to seize the last little bits of opportunity we have to help, to serve, to travel and see parts of this beautiful country yet unseen by us. However, we can't do it all. I've just come to this conclusion. There is no way we can accomplish all we'd love to in the next 7 weeks! We simply have to give our time to God, to ask for his guidance daily, and trust that He will allow those things to happen that HE wants to happen and that He knows need to happen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwa3Lw1yy3Ao2VvWbKA7ZRMzYcyiZ830aNDEkucl_OS_C4LQZ30Atl502QUPMSXVHZ6ahIxuDrt2b3xRslKOwUfqC97Ls8T7DQVKeqyxdDAC72MzdTJsgaYwAR4pmTbS3y1ELQJ7ROk6hK/s1600/IMG_8862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwa3Lw1yy3Ao2VvWbKA7ZRMzYcyiZ830aNDEkucl_OS_C4LQZ30Atl502QUPMSXVHZ6ahIxuDrt2b3xRslKOwUfqC97Ls8T7DQVKeqyxdDAC72MzdTJsgaYwAR4pmTbS3y1ELQJ7ROk6hK/s320/IMG_8862.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 of our precious Bolivian students from youth group</td></tr>
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<br />
So, we are deep in the throngs of preparing to leave. It's unbelievable what we have accumulated in just 2 years here! The word is definitely out that we are leaving, so folks have been asking to look at and buy all of our stuff. We will be having official "sales" towards the end and are quite confident that we will not have difficulty getting rid of everything. This process is hard and sometimes grueling (for me, Shay) and more emotional than I expected. It is sad to be leaving a place that has become very dear to our hearts, but we know God still has great plans to use us for Bolivia's sake! Of course, the hardest part is the thought of leaving the people. We have made some incredible, amazing friends here - both Bolivian and other missionaries - and it will be heartbreaking to say goodbye.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWD6lUevzK6viljdPYL7Mbe7F93m0TjfBfBKOXH4p1h1_KpF3QUwhJGIcnP80e-Vdj_DWCydoH2GlViIH1vBJLOwB13vTG-hFeBHSkYSYgePHvP3Ec7cL3VNCua9lp8pI7dDlHWOR4pXAs/s1600/IMG_8968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWD6lUevzK6viljdPYL7Mbe7F93m0TjfBfBKOXH4p1h1_KpF3QUwhJGIcnP80e-Vdj_DWCydoH2GlViIH1vBJLOwB13vTG-hFeBHSkYSYgePHvP3Ec7cL3VNCua9lp8pI7dDlHWOR4pXAs/s320/IMG_8968.JPG" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jude loving on one of the sweet orphan babies at Casa de Amor (just 1 of 1,000's in Cochabamba alone)</td></tr>
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As we prepare to leave, we continue on with the youth ministry and music ministry at CIC. We are preparing to leave well and are seeking ways to transition the leadership of these ministries to new leaders and volunteers. Please pray that it will be a smooth and flawless transition for both and that the folks who have already committed to help will be faithful and blessed by God to do what needs to be done.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRrggmgXhxfqe5kcCrAFt1BFpEQUvbYaMfCve4DHHE34KPVPmFinI8uz4vUQo18iZs4MF0LVP6bjTiDhyphenhyphenrsExctkEZa8Lu70rAKzw9yGgr-_Ka_r-MPY_IenCgxszOGdf4fjY3RakGjBg/s1600/IMG_9674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRrggmgXhxfqe5kcCrAFt1BFpEQUvbYaMfCve4DHHE34KPVPmFinI8uz4vUQo18iZs4MF0LVP6bjTiDhyphenhyphenrsExctkEZa8Lu70rAKzw9yGgr-_Ka_r-MPY_IenCgxszOGdf4fjY3RakGjBg/s320/IMG_9674.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A man from the small village of Tarabuco in their traditional native dress</td></tr>
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We have heard that "re-entry" can be hard, even after a short time, so please pray that God would prepare our hearts and minds and attitudes for the change. Our lives are forever changed, our perspectives new, we have seen much and felt much during this journey. We hope that these experiences will cause us to love more, serve more, hope more, and help move others to action. There is so much pain, hurt, poverty, sickness, and perverseness in this world. We cannot be simply content to sit in our comfortable suburban homes and live our busy activity-filled consumer minded lives while there are 80 year old women living on the streets, newborn babies found in riverbeds and dumpsters and cornfields, pre-teen boys washing windshields to earn pennies to buy glue to sniff, 1,000's dying every day without Jesus. We. just. can't.<br />
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Lord, show us what to do and how to live.<br />
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With much love, blessing, and hope -<br />
<br />
Shay, Lowell, Aidan, Liam, Jude, & Olivia<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZgTwGwxFeTGcuQwRa1Q9UVDfFFwvcojpFUi_6rivD1K-s5-IhdjWktYBs757F9TgSampRpt9fHoYO8DwktPnrPOPlX1sGfbOosKcMaMWhTgltKoF2K1bxoD1UJz4bbnAEXTmGQlafXvN/s1600/IMG_9800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZgTwGwxFeTGcuQwRa1Q9UVDfFFwvcojpFUi_6rivD1K-s5-IhdjWktYBs757F9TgSampRpt9fHoYO8DwktPnrPOPlX1sGfbOosKcMaMWhTgltKoF2K1bxoD1UJz4bbnAEXTmGQlafXvN/s320/IMG_9800.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A despedida (going away party) we hosted for our dear friends, The Gordons, who are moving on to ministry opportunities in Colombia</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: magenta;"><b>P.S.!!!!! TO OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS:</b></span></u></span><br />
We want to humbly remind you that we are living on full support through May 31! Our account with Ripe For Harvest will be open and active until then. Lowell will not begin receiving a paycheck until June with Lifepointe Church in League City. If you would like to give a one time financial gift to help with our transition back into life in the states (we will need to purchase 2 cars, clothing, and an entire house full of furniture :O!!!) please feel free to send a check to Ripe For Harvest (w/tax deduction) or to Robert Ballew (w/out tax deduction).<br />
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Ripe For Harvest World Outreach Lowell Ballew<br />
P.O. Box 487 c/o Robert Ballew<br />
Monument, CO 80132 P.O. Box 293<br />
Acct. #304 Frost, TX 76641<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbpybVMHYunEkKYgrTcRL2WwPVtAK8JGlyE8qwFNVQdnjSbB7IeMeWN0V9tq-NEnBmFDDCVsx0N4li6ngasB6TNg7fD_6_wvfxwaTVOE7ag4dGWLCAuynZz91ELNJRJJjqwP5auoZ134S/s1600/IMG_9529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbpybVMHYunEkKYgrTcRL2WwPVtAK8JGlyE8qwFNVQdnjSbB7IeMeWN0V9tq-NEnBmFDDCVsx0N4li6ngasB6TNg7fD_6_wvfxwaTVOE7ag4dGWLCAuynZz91ELNJRJJjqwP5auoZ134S/s320/IMG_9529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidan learning all about Bolivian history at Casa de Libertad in Sucre, Bolivia</td></tr>
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Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-4449907149648997732013-01-05T19:51:00.000-08:002013-04-07T20:08:03.858-07:00More change & transition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In case you haven't heard the news flash...we are moving back to the states in May. Yes, you are correct in thinking that we were just going to go home for a "visit" and then return to Bolivia to continue serving. Well, that's what we thought too. We were perfectly prepared to stay here in Bolivia for as long as we felt we needed to be. Apparently that time is shorter than we thought. Our original minimum commitment was 2 years. That 2 year mark will be March 31. Lowell and I began praying about what God would have us do once our minimum commitment was up. He felt a very strong pull to move back to the states for some reason. I wasn't surprised or shocked or angry. I came here with a very open mind to stay long term or return once our time was done. However, once we really began thinking about it and praying about it and talking it over, the thought of leaving this place we've called home for almost 2 years, the thought of moving back to the states, the thought that our "time here might be over"....was very overwhelming for me. I prayed, I cried, I journaled, I read God's word. It started to become clear to me, too, in my heart of hearts, that we were being asked to go "home".<br />
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And then Lowell was offered a job. Wow. Just like that?! Yes, we really felt like that was the deal that sealed it. The confirmation, if you will, that we were indeed to move back. It all seems so crazy to me. That we did all this for only 2 years!? And boy, has it flown. I mean, I know we still have the last 4 months and I so do not want to discount those, but man...when a journey like this enters a new season/stage, where you see the end in sight, you just start having thoughts like this: "What have we accomplished while here?"; "Did we do any good?"; "What did we learn/what did our kids learn?" "Did we spend our time well and were we good stewards of the money our supporters gave us?"; "How's my spanish after 2 years...??", etc, etc, etc...!!!! You know, for some of those questions rolling around in my head, only God knows the answer. And I just have to accept that. I have to trust that those seeds that he allowed us to plant (and are GOING to plant in the next 4 months!!!) will grow into fruition and that He was gracious enough to use us for His glory and to further His kingdom here.<br />
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Please be clear that we were in NO WAY looking for an "out" in this journey. We have loved every crazy, wild, hard, rough and tough moment. We love being here and we love Bolivia, especially the people. Oh, the people. Ok. I can't go there. Tears welling up. Yes, it has been a challenging journey, but isn't life hard no matter where you are on this planet? I will honestly say that it has been the most difficult on our kids. They are mighty troopers. They are my heroes. We chose to do this crazy mission right smack dab in the middle of the boys' pre-teen/teen years. I won't lie and say that their hearts and emotional state didn't have some significant influence on our decision. It was very hard on Olivia more in the very beginning, but now I really think she loves it here and will be very sad to go. Her age (4 when we left) was a better time to go if you're going to go, although I think much older than that and it gets really tough.<br />
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Another thought I'd like to share is that Lowell and I both feel very strongly that just because this phase or stage of our mission journey is ending soon, that does not mean that we are "done". We plan to forever be involved in missions, whatever that may look like. We look forward to being able to pray for and support our local church here, the many missionaries that have become dear friends to us, and possibly plan and lead short term teams down!<br />
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Anyway, we had a great visit with Lowell's parents while they were here! We were able to travel to a city named Sucre which is my favorite city in Bolivia (so far!). We took tons of photos! I am working on putting them all into my flickr account, so I will link to that from here.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Shay</i></span></span></div>
Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-82426874198057505582012-11-30T10:50:00.002-08:002013-04-07T20:12:36.254-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> MERRY CHRISTMAS! FELIZ NAVIDAD! </span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Whenever it comes time each year to write an “end-of–year”
update on our family’s adventures,
I always spend a fair amount of time just sitting and staring blankly at
the screen. I mean, really, how on earth can one possibly condense one entire
year of a family’s life onto one, blank, white sheet of paper? It is always so
very difficult for me to summarize and pick out the few significant moments to
write about. At first, I had the brilliant {ridiculous} idea that I would just
do a photo album of our year for you – here, on paper! Ha, ha, ha!!! Three full
pages later of tiny, squished-to-fit photos with captions I came to the wise
conclusion that not one of you (ok, two…mom and MIL!) would appreciate
receiving a 3 page Christmas newsletter and would promptly throw it in the
trash, and that if anyone REALLY wants to see that many photos of our year, we
will kindly direct you to visit our facebook pages :o)http://www.facebook.com/shay.ballew/photos</span></span></span></div>
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December marks our 1 year, 9 month anniversary of being in Bolivia. Just
a few short months from now we will celebrate 2 years. Some of you who know
that our minimum commitment here was 2 years may be wondering what our next
step is. For now, we continue to
do the work that we feel God led us here to do, which is leading the worship
and student ministries of Cochabamba Intl. Church. We are continually praying that
the Lord will lead us and guide us into what HE has for us. We are open and
willing to do whatever He calls us to do, whether that be to stay or leave. At
this point, we do not feel a strong, clarifying pull either way, so our
tentative plan is to come home for a 3 month visit next summer, and return to
Bolivia, for as long as God has planned. There is much work to be done here,
that much is evident. There are also many effective ministries, projects,
foundations, and opportunities in place for one to serve, volunteer, or devote
their time to. In addition to serving at the church, we try to help out in
several of these various ministries or projects as well, as much as we can. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> We went
back to homeschooling the kids this year so they no longer attend the MK
school, Carachipampa. There are positives and negatives to this choice, as with
any. We must make more of an effort to get out and get “into” the culture and
use our Spanish. It does afford us the opportunity to get involved in more
projects during the week and obviously guide the kids’ learning more. There are
several other missionary families that homeschool so we get together frequently
for good social time (not to mention support and encourage each other!) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> How can
we possibly express our gratitude to each and every one of you that have loved
us, prayed for us, supported us, and given to us financially to make this
journey possible? There just will never be words enough to say how humbled and
thankful we are for your sacrifice and gifts. We do not ever want to forget
that we are here because of your generosity! That we “get” to live this journey
and adventure that God has us on with your help. And no other way! We love to
pray for our supporters and thank God for you. We humbly ask that you continue
to support us in this mission, and that if you feel led to give a one-time end
of year gift, please do so using the information below or click on the "give" button above. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> We look
so forward to keeping you updated on what God is doing here in Coch and in our
lives! </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Feliz Navidad y Bendiciones<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>por el año Nuevo</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Ballew Family - Lowell, Shay, Aidan, Liam, Jude,
& Olivia</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Stateside address (non tax deductible gifts): Mission address (tax deductible gifts):</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ballew Family Ripe For Harvest</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">P.O. Box 293 P.O. Box 487</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Frost,TX 76641 Monument, CO 80132</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> *NOTE <span style="font-size: x-small;">acct. #304 Lowell Ballew<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>on check*</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Field address<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (notes, c<span style="font-size: x-small;">ards, <span style="font-size: x-small;">packages only)</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">La Familia Ballew</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Casilla #6505</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Cochabamba, Bolivia</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">South America</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.theballews.org/"><span style="font-family: Arial;">www.theballews.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.ripeforharvest.org/"><span style="font-family: Arial;">www.ripeforharvest.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.cicbolivia.org/">www.cicbolivia.org</a> </span></div>
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Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-75389786241006985262012-10-13T12:00:00.000-07:002012-10-13T12:00:19.117-07:00Happy Bolivian Babies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Howdy, all. It's October already. Smack in the middle of springtime here in Bo. As long as we are here, I will never get used to the backwards seasons. Oh, how I miss fall. You know, REAL Autumn? Like you all are experiencing back home. Orange, and brown, and gold, and deep dark hues of red. Pumpkins, and squash, and gourds, and hay. Scarecrows, and costumes, and candy corn...not to mention caramel apples. Cool breezes, a nip in the air, chilly nights, and sweaters. Spiced tea, pumpkin spice lattes, carrot cake muffins, and cinnamon candles. Oh, gosh, I really, really miss this time of year back home. Enjoy it all for me, friends! It will be a very long while until I can experience it again. Springtime in Coch means heavy winds, warmer weather, bright sunshine, and the impending, coming rainy season. Yes! This is all good. How can I ever complain about the amazing weather here? The climate is incomparable. So lovely to be cool in the shade, and warm in the sun. And when the rains come, all of the dust and dirt will be washed away and the air will be clear!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GDzaOD7wMfQMOYSBoIAvozG-TlDs6e3FgEhZPhVUZLiNTmFeq_3WOyPXE3qn6D9TrukaSHnsOsQ9UIE7JYI87vaP7oarv4Am0w29E8OYk1RpsUh1rDLe_LS-eVAnjRcysVeRgVm1gnOm/s1600/IMG_8268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GDzaOD7wMfQMOYSBoIAvozG-TlDs6e3FgEhZPhVUZLiNTmFeq_3WOyPXE3qn6D9TrukaSHnsOsQ9UIE7JYI87vaP7oarv4Am0w29E8OYk1RpsUh1rDLe_LS-eVAnjRcysVeRgVm1gnOm/s320/IMG_8268.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hope I never grow tired of the amazing sunsets we get to enjoy this time of year from our dining room window! </td></tr>
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We have been in the throngs of school now for just over 6 weeks and of course it has not been without it's challenges. The boys are doing a good job of taking more responsibility getting their schoolwork done in their "PACES" (Ace Homeschool Curriculum....a new path for us), and really only need us to help when they get stuck or don't understand instructions. Olivia is in need of one on one attention right now since she is learning to read and cannot read any of the instructions in her workbooks. She is learning how to take instruction from Mommy and Daddy as her teachers and working really hard on sitting still and staying focused!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRMG36Nwj7CUNtMtzLM5x1juJjZpPhfUdl-zmBXxfZXE4uKWe3n_n5wLRd9b7zYYCMqthPXzUOq6nqwMiX1ftRThk2kD6xPPzd_HcWKGRsCSTiZZaiv2OAn6mvIEQv9LAoW8Q9PCNweWF/s1600/IMG_7883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRMG36Nwj7CUNtMtzLM5x1juJjZpPhfUdl-zmBXxfZXE4uKWe3n_n5wLRd9b7zYYCMqthPXzUOq6nqwMiX1ftRThk2kD6xPPzd_HcWKGRsCSTiZZaiv2OAn6mvIEQv9LAoW8Q9PCNweWF/s320/IMG_7883.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's nice to be able to have "homeschooling lessons" like this with Olivia. She helped me put together some "bags of blessings" to hand out to street kids who beg for money on the streets. </td></tr>
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We have been able to help out with a ministry here called "Baby Washing" in the main plaza a couple of times this past month. This takes place every Sat. and tents are set up along with many bins of water to wash, rinse, dry, and clothe babies, ages newborn to 5, with a new set of clothes. Most of the folks who take advantage of this amazing ministry are indigenous peoples who likely have no home or at least no running water in their "home". I have a feeling that most of these moms who come are single and desperate, with no jobs or skills, including reading or writing. They come to have their babies washed once a week. I mostly helped out with dressing the children and Livi helped me with that. Lowell and the boys help with set up and tear down and playing with some of the older kids who have their hair washed. Please pray for these mamas, not only for their physical needs, but of course that the love of Jesus would be so evident in the volunteers that it change lives!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjgT_4p_4gxnrHUcR76uH-Nf5gW5oHh3GI-KtSCtHJ2G6myK9BbUFIqnKsC4ghN60j8rqY_LcfD1YqtrSZYBEpsK23DesTrPftWSc16DhEsOiQlwAYdxvk_LBnKwXbw2zE6UxEAASjIst/s1600/192620_10151266325517189_2080397607_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjgT_4p_4gxnrHUcR76uH-Nf5gW5oHh3GI-KtSCtHJ2G6myK9BbUFIqnKsC4ghN60j8rqY_LcfD1YqtrSZYBEpsK23DesTrPftWSc16DhEsOiQlwAYdxvk_LBnKwXbw2zE6UxEAASjIst/s320/192620_10151266325517189_2080397607_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here Olivia and I are helping transfer the babies back to their mamas after they bathe and dress them.</td></tr>
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Last week we took a fun day trip along with two other families to a part of the Chapare jungle region called Inca Chaca (which means bridge of the Incans). It is a beautiful place with typical jungle vegetation, rivers, waterfalls, and swimming holes. It was life-giving to get out of the city and get into nature and enjoy God's amazing creation! The kids had a blast swimming and hiking and exploring and I had a blast watching them come alive in their element! We are trying to regularly get together with some of the other missionary families that homeschool for our kids to have social time and build friendships here.<br />
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We made some exciting changes in the auditorium at our church, at Lowell's leading and suggestion. The direction of the stage and seating arrangement was reconfigured and it looks awesome! This may sound trivial, but simple things like this really do make a huge difference in how a service is conducted, how things are perceived by newcomers, how the music sounds, how easy (or not) it is for people to find seats when they walk in, etc...Lowell was given the permission to make these changes and to invest in some lighting and possible new sound equipment for the music ministry. These are all wonderful advances in this growing ministry and I believe God is using Lowell and his knowledge to do some exciting things for the Music and Worship Ministry of CIC! I was also able to do my very first stage design, which was fun and brought back great memories of serving in that area at CCCC. I look forward to doing more of that and discovering creative people in the congregation that can help.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the new set up, although now the projector screen is centered. Here is Shay teaching the students at youth group.</td></tr>
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Lowell and I have been able to get back involved with the young couple's bible study now that we are homeschooling again. Right now we are doing a book study of the book Powerful Promises for Every Couple by Jim and Elizabeth George. Each week one couple hosts and leads the discussion of a chapter. Well, Lowell and I are hosting and leading this Monday night!!! THIS GROUP IS ENTIRELY IN SPANISH! Please pray for us as this will be our first time leading anything in Spanish. We feel very inadequate to do this, but we also know that this is a very loving, forgiving group and it's a great place to start and practice! I have been working on translating the chapter into English first, so I can understand it well before leading a discussion on it!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shay at a retreat for the wives of the young couple's bible study </td></tr>
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We are looking forward to another visit from Lowell's parents in December! Our year end newsletter will be coming out via their snail mail before they head down to visit us again for Christmas. We truly do hope that until then you will be blessed and thoroughly enjoy all that this season has to offer. Again, we are so humbled by your support, love, and encouragement of all that we are doing here. God is so good!!<br />
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Shay, for the family!<br />
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Prayer and Praise:<br />
1} We have our two year visas and our passports back in our possession!! This feels so great! Also, we were able to begin the process to obtain our new carnets, which are Bolivian i.d. cards, and should have them within 30-45 days. After we get them, we can renew our Bolivian driver's licenses!<br />
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2} Continue to lift us up concerning homeschooling. It is not the easy road, but is what we feel God led us to do this year. Pray that the kids would be highly motivated, independent learners and would be cooperative and diligent and maintain positive attitudes (not only about school, but Bolivia in general)<br />
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3} Pray for private Spanish tutors for us all, or at least good Bolivian friends to practice with :o)<br />
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4} Growth for the music and youth ministries that we lead. Ministry opportunities for us to serve in as a family.</div>
Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-90178664476248573202012-08-17T12:22:00.000-07:002012-08-17T12:22:04.558-07:00Praise Report! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Just a quick note to say thanks to all who prayed for our visas/passports to be ready soon! We received them from our lawyer on Monday - at almost 3 months after we applied for the 2 year visa! We are so thankful to have our passports back in our possession and to be legal for another 2 years. This means we can leave the country for under 90 days and come back in and not have to re-apply for new visas within these next 2 years. Our future plan is to come home for a 89 day visit (;o) next summer (June/July/August) and then return to Bolivia to continue the work God has for us to do here until He tells us to come "home" or move on to something different. Once the 2 year visa is up, we then apply for a 5 year visa. We don't know at this point if we will be here that long or not. Solo Dios sabe....<br />
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I might as well give a report on our first full week of school here. So far, so good. However, it was not without tears, whining, and the normal frustrations of homeschooling. The curriculum we ordered for Jude arrived today! Our friends who were in the states graciously lugged them all here for us. Ironically...the books were ordered from a place in Lewisville, TX (just hours from our home, 1 hour away from my in-laws, and less than 30 min. away from my sister's home), were sent to Arkansas to the place our friends were staying, then with them went from there to Florida, from Florida to Panama, and finally from Panama to Bolivia. Believe it or not, it's much cheaper to do it that way than have someone mail the books to us straight from TX.<br />
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Tonight we have organized a Back To School Bash for our youth group in which we will have a scavenger hunt, food, drinks, and ice cream sundaes!! Pray that we have a great turnout, much fun will be had, and that the students start coming back on a regular basis. I'm planning on presenting our idea for a student leadership team next Fri. at group and praying that God will raise up the student leader's He wants to be a part of it.<br />
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Muchisimos Gracias por todo -<br />
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<i style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shay</span></i></div>Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-23198470022220454482012-08-09T14:52:00.000-07:002012-08-12T20:46:18.546-07:00Summer (Winter) Break 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Wowzers! It has been too long since our last update. Sorry, folks. I guess the laziness of this break really got to me. We have enjoyed the time to just "be" after a really hard year. We really took it easy and just chilled at home most of the summer (ok, I can't call it summer because it just flat isn't!). We tried to do some fun things around town with the kids so they wouldn't be cooped up the entire time. I had to come up with a daily schedule for us to follow so that they wouldn't be glued to the xbox for hours on end! This included daily chores, much to their chagrin. A few opportunities we had this break were: 1. Visiting several parks in the city where the boys could ride their skateboards and Livi could ride her bike and scooter. Cochabamba really does have some great public parks for which we are thankful. 2. Checking out the local Museum of Natural History. It was quite small but really very interesting. The coolest part was seeing a stuffed condor, the national bird of The Andes. 3. Since we were unable to travel outside of the city (our passports are still in La Paz at the immigration office, awaiting our 2 yr. visa stamp) we decided to stay a couple of nights at a local hotel as our mini-vacation. It was a beautiful place and we had a great time relaxing and letting the kids swim in the heated indoor pool (winter in Coch = freezing outdoor pool water!). 4. Helping a short term missions team build a house for a Quechuan Pastor, his family, and his brother's family. Lowell posted some photos of this project on facebook at this link: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151172601217189.509467.637202188&type=1<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at our in-town mini vacation - the kids were so excited to pose for the pic</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lowell and a missionary friend, Rick, laying bricks to build one wall of the Pastor's house</td></tr>
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We have continued to meet with the youth group at church throughout the break, even though many, many of the students left for the summer, or graduated and left for good. Our numbers have been few, but we have enjoyed meeting every other week to discuss "What the Bible Has to Say About....." certain topics that the group chose, including Sex, Drugs/Drinking, Dancing, Love/Marriage/Dating, Music and Money. On the off weeks, we planned fun events for the kids to participate in. We are looking forward to a new semester with the group and having our numbers increase again. We will be starting a new series of discussions on Christian living with the students and hopefully will see our goal of a student leadership team realized. Please continue praying along with us for this multi-national (Bolivians, Canadians, U.S.A.ians) group of young people that God has put us in leadership over.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honoring a great group of Seniors - a huge loss to our group, but an awesome gain for the world! </td></tr>
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Lowell had an increased role with the music leadership at church this summer as well since one of the three leaders is on furlough (home assignment) in the states for 6 months. The third was also visiting the states for 2 weeks so he didn't get a break for awhile! He has been trying to recruit some new band members and build relationships within the music ministry so he's excited about possibilities for growth. He's had meetings with the Senior Pastor and the elders to present some ideas he has about doing church/ministry more effectively - all things he learned so well at CCCC.<br />
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Of course we celebrated Jude and Livi this summer! Jude turned 11 on July 22 and we had a family style party at the house. Livi turned 6 on Aug. 3 and we had the most pinkeriffic slumber party ever! I had a blast planning and decorating for her party. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jude really did turn 11...I just only had 7 candles in the house! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia and her pals...all dressed in pink for her pinkalicious party! </td></tr>
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So...as you all are in the "back to school" mode in the states, we are here as well. As stated in my last update, we will be homeschooling the kids again (yes, ALL of the kids - Jude had a change of heart). As this will be our first experience homeschooling in another country, I am just a little on the nervous side. There is no such thing as homeschooling in Bolivia, so it is very difficult to explain or for a lot of people here to understand. And although we do know a few other missionary families that homeschool, the support and resources are basically nil. However, I am excited about the possibility of being able to find more ministry opportunities to be involved in as a family or for the kids to do. We will be looking to get out of the house quite a bit so we do not fall into the trap of living in a nice little bubble. We must still seek out relationships with Bolivians, work on our Spanish, and get to know this culture better. So far, Olivia is enrolled in dance classes 3 times per week, which gives her a great opportunity to make Bolivian friends and build her Spanish skills. It also is a perfect opportunity for me to build relationships with the moms and practice my language skills as well. The boys just haven't gotten into soccer (which is like baseball here...extremely intense and they start at age 3), so we are looking for a possible sport or other activity to get them involved in for relationship building and language learning. I've heard a rumor of a baseball league and Lowell and the boys did meet a man that has a really cool "ministry" (don't think it's Christian based and he's not a missionary, per se) to street kids here. He is from New Mexico and he and his wife help get kids off the streets by providing a place for them to come hang out, skateboard, learn skills such as playing an instrument or recording music, or entertaining, such as juggling or clowning. Sounds like a perfect fit, so we shall see. <br />
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Much love and blessings to all. We appreciate your prayers and financial support more than you will ever know.<br />
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<div style="color: orange;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">The Ballew Family</span></i></div>
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Prayer Requests:<br />
1) Homeschool - beginning Monday, Aug. 13. Grade levels are 8th, 6th, 5th, and Kinder. Pray for the kids to be motivated to learn and to ease into the new schedule well. Pray that Lowell and I will be good "teachers" for them and love them well, above all else.<br />
2) For our 2 year visas to be granted and our passports to be sent back to us A.S.A.P.<br />
3) Growth for the student group (ThE MiX) - in numbers and spiritually. That the Leadership Team would be realized soon!<br />
4) Language. Our Spanish is just not nearly as good as it should be. We need more practice and formal instruction, but cannot afford to return to the school we used to attend. Pray for language helpers for us all.</div>Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-23742410690055131502012-07-12T08:08:00.001-07:002012-07-12T08:08:32.224-07:00No Left Turn<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I do plan to write a June/July update soon, but this isn't it. This is a story. Quite often (pretty much daily!), I think to myself, "Wow, I really should share that story on the blog." But, life happens and I don't take the time. Something happened to me (Shay) yesterday however, that I really wanted to share. I had my first - well, technically second - run in with a Bolivian police officer. Here's the whole story in a nutshell:<br />
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Aidan and I had gone down to La Cancha to get haircuts from our favorite stylist in the afternoon. You don't realize it, but this simple "errand" takes a lot of planning here. First, you must think about the right time to go (after 3 pm when siesta time is over), next you must think about how to get there - in a taxi? a trufi? a micro? or...drive your own car? Well, my first thought was to take a trufi. Trufis are like taxis, only slightly larger vehicles (typically a mini van) and have a fixed route - meaning they only go certain directions/ways/streets/locations, etc... We have a trufi line that goes right by our house and goes down to La Cancha, so it's quite convenient. Plus, they are really cheap. However, any time I think about taking a trufi, honestly, I groan and whine inside. They are usually slow, jam packed, dirty, and stinky. On the other hand, taking our own car was risky because it is extremely difficult to find a parking spot anywhere downtown or in La Cancha. Well, after deciding to take the car, we made our way down and ended up finding a decent spot that was only a few blocks away from the hair salon. We got our haircuts and left the scene. Here's where the story really begins. You really can't understand this unless you've lived here and know the area that we were in, but it is a very, very busy, crazy, chaotic, area where the streets are all either one way or you are forbidden to make left turns, etc. I have actually only personally driven down there once before. I have ridden with Lowell a couple of times and been in a taxi or trufi once or twice. All that to say, I really (really!) don't know all the traffic rules down there or which way the streets go or where you can turn and not turn. It's all so crazy...and much like a lot of stuff here, doesn't make any sense to me. The first main street we came to, I couldn't turn left on, second main street, I wasn't sure...didn't see a no turn left sign so I thought I'd go for it because no cars were coming. BAD IDEA. Problem was, if I kept going straight, I'd go deeper and deeper into La Cancha. Believe me, you do not want to get stuck in the depths of LC in your car. So, I made a lightening fast decision to turn when I had the chance. Whoa. Two police officers started blowing their whistles at me and yelling something at me and pointing over to the right. Of course, I had no idea what they were saying except for, "you can't turn left here!". So, I stop and try to back up into the lane to go straight. Another bad idea. I was so flustered and I had no idea what he was saying, so I just went ahead and went straight (for Cbba residents, what I did was turn left onto San Martin from Aroma - f.y.i = don't ever do it!!!). So...I drive along for several blocks, not thinking there was any problem when a po-po comes up beside me on his moto telling me to pull over. Oh, STINK. I immediately started praying for God to intervene and help me! I was scared to death. I acted totally dumb and asked him what the problem was. It would be impossible to tell you how our "conversation" went from that point, but basically it was very hard and stressful to try and communicate with him. I was almost in tears. When he saw that my license was expired, I tried to explain to him that I couldn't renew it until I received my new 2 year visa and that we had payed for those already and they were in process. I showed him my receipt for that, as my lawyer had advised us to do in case of any trouble like this, but he wasn't accepting it. He wanted to take me to transito (the police station, basically) right then. You see, the Bolivian process of paying fines for traffic violations is completely different than what we are used to in the states! They do not issue a ticket, then you go pay it on your own time. No, they take you in right then and there and you pay the fines at the office. Well, this scared me to no end and I argued with him that I could not go to transito right then and eventually told him I would go, but not without my husband. So, he asked where my husband was, where our house was, and said, "Ok, let's go to your house and get him!!!" What?!! I was like, um...ok, that is so freakin' weird, but Ok!! At that point, I just needed Lowell with me, so I was willing to drive all the way to my house with the guy following me to get him. I called Lowell once we start<br />
'/0ed off and was a complete basket case! I explained to him through tears what had happened and that I needed him to help me and that we were coming to the house to pick him up! He immediately called our lawyer once I hung up the phone with him to ask for advice.<br />
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PART 2:<br />
After driving for a while (we live a far distance from LC), the officer pulled up beside me again and asked again where my house was. When I told him again (this time, my brain worked a little better and I told him the name of our neighborhood and he finally realized how far it was!), he asked me to pull over again. I did so, and we had another agonizing "discussion". He told me that he could not go all the way to our house and that we needed to go to transito immediately. I told him that my lawyer could speak to him and explain to him the reason for my expired license. See, he was going to make me pay a fine for turning left where I wasn't supposed to (totally was my fault, I did it. But, I totally really didn't know I couldn't. However, I was prepared to pay that fine) AND for my expired license. Wasn't going to pay that fine, because my lawyer had clearly told us that as long as we showed our receipt for our 2 yr. visas, that there would be no problems. Ugh. He talked to my lawyer on the phone, and after that long conversation, she said something to me that I didn't understand at all. She asked if I had copies of my passport and carnet with me (um...no! I'm a resident here, not a tourist). I said, I have some at home, Lowell can bring them to me or I can go home and get them for the guy. I was guessing she had made some arrangement with him, but I was clueless. What I understood, was that I was to wait there while he called his boss to "explain" things and see what he suggested. In the meantime, I called Lowell again and told him I had no idea what I was really supposed to do. He said, "Babe, just go to transito with him and pay the fines. I'm sure it will be fine." I said, ok...but you have to come meet me there! After getting off the phone with Lowell, I told the police officer that I could go with him to transito and pay the fine. I could tell he was extremely exasperated and frustrated with me at his point at not understanding anything that was being said or arranged!! He said, "NO! It's all ok. You can go home. I am going to explain the situation to my boss. I will explain to him that you are a foreigner and did not understand the rules or anything I said (or something of that nature)!!"<br />
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I was relieved to say the least. I honestly believe that it was whatever my AWESOME lawyer said to him on the phone that made him change his mind! She probably told him to have pity on that dumb, ignorant gringa who was clueless. Not sure, but either way, I am extremely thankful for her and thankful that the Lord was watching out for me. I honestly can't stop thinking about the whole situation - it really shook me up. I have a hard time knowing that I did something wrong, was caught, and didn't have to pay for it. I feel like I really want that guy to know that I was willing to pay the fine I owed, but that I was freakin' scared to death to go to transito with him!! He was being a very good officer, because he refused to take my money personally (which I had offered him at least 3 times). And, he in no way was being mean or rude to me, either. He really was simply a good Bolivian police officer trying to do his job well. For that, I credit him greatly. <br />
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All in all...just another crazy day here in Coch. I'll try to post more "daily life" stories here more often.<br />
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We Love you all!!<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shay</span></i> <br />
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Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-29370498277938458902012-05-20T12:55:00.002-07:002012-05-20T12:55:45.290-07:00April/May 2012<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The month of April and May (so far) have found us very, very busy! We are winding down the school year, which ends June 6 with a closing program and graduation. We are all ready for the break, of course! Every April, Carachi has its annual "Field Days" and it was a total blast to get to participate this year. The entire school is divided up into 3 teams - Red, Yellow, and Green (the colors of the Bolivian flag) - and for the remainder of the time that you are at the school, you are a part of that team. Each student is required to compete in several events and points are earned for each place they finish in. Our boys loved the entire experience and proved themselves to be excellent athletes and fierce competitors! Many ribbons, medals, and trophies were won, and Jude broke a school record in the running long jump for his age category! The best history making news of all - RED team won after 16 long years!!! What's the big deal, you ask? WE are on the red team! This proud Mama can't help but believe that her boys had something to do with it. It was a very emotional time for those students who have been on the red team their entire school career at Carachi and never experienced the blessed taste of Victory!! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The purple ribbon is for his record break! He also won 2nd overall in his age group - his best buddy beat him for 1st by ONE point!! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidan proved himself to be a great sprinter and long jumper (long legs DO come in handy!)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awards ceremony - Liam tied for 3rd place overall in his age group</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Bolivia celebrates its Labor Day in May so we had a couple of days off of school, which made for a 4 day weekend. We took the opportunity to go on an adventurous road trip with some great friends - The Discua Family - to the Salar de Uyuni. This is an area of Bolivia in the altiplano (the high plains) region, in the department of Potosi. The salar is the largest salt flats in the world and we feel so blessed to have gotten to see this amazing, awe-inspiring creation of God. We took some incredible photos - if you are interested in viewing all of them, you can click on one of the following links to see my albums.<a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3971296160758.176722.1231111516&type=3&l=86e18bc0d9">http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3971296160758.176722.1231111516&type=3&l=86e18bc0d9</a><br />
OR here: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3980272185153.176857.1231111516&type=3&l=75a47d7006">http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3980272185153.176857.1231111516&type=3&l=75a47d7006</a> <br />
OR HERE!!: <br />
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http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4013673300160.177388.1231111516&type=3&l=f35357ffa7</div>
It was a blast to have this one last Hoo-Rah with our friends before they returned to the States to do ministry in California. They served here in Bolivia for 8 years but felt the Lord's call to return stateside. We will miss them tremendously. Ask any missionary and they will tell you that one of the hardest things about being one is having to say "goodbye" so often to dear friends and family. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Discua and Ballew boys = TROUBLE</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lowell giving me a smooch on the head</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've got Liam on the tip of my foot! </td></tr>
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Since the last update, Aidan has celebrated his 14th bday - as you can see, he is about to surpass Lowell in height. Every birthday, I find it harder and harder to believe that my babies are becoming young men!<br />
After much prayer and thought, and listening to our kids voices (I mean, listening to their hearts, with our hearts), Lowell and I decided to give them the choice of how they are educated next year. If you've kept up with our ministry updates, then you know what an extreme challenge it's been for our boys (and our whole family) to transition from a homeschooling family into private christian MK schooling. And that was only one of the many transitions we had to deal with. So...after TELLING the kids what they were going to do for the past 3 years or so, we felt convicted to allow them to choose their own path for education for the next school year. At this point, Aidan, Liam, and Olivia have chosen homeschool, but Jude chose to return to Carchipampa. We are hoping and praying that this will open up more opportunities for us to serve in ministry areas as a family and get out and about in the city and country more. Pray for us as we prepare ourselves for this journey again!!<br />
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PRAYER REQUESTS:<br />
1) Unfortunately, Lowell was the victim of pickpocketing the other day. This is common here, and you always have to be on your guard - especially when going to certain parts of town. His entire wallet was stolen out of his front pocket. All important i.d. cards, driver's licenses, credit cards, insurance cards....everything was in there. No cash was taken. The day before this happened, his debit card was "eaten" by an ATM. Mine was eaten also about a month ago. The urgency of this? Our debit cards are what we live on here! It is almost strictly a cash society so we depend on getting cash to pay for everything with our cards. We cannot use our debit cards here to pay for things because our bank is still in the U.S. We can use our credit cards for certain things - the large grocery stores or nice restaurants - but of course we try not to use them except for emergencies. Thankfully, my new ATM card will be here on Tuesday, delivered by a good friend of ours who is a missionary here, but is from Texas and was there for two weeks sorting out visa issues.<br />
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2) Speaking of visa issues! Our 1 year visa has expired and we have applied for our 2 year (which is the next step in the visa process). So, we are without our passports while they process our request in immigration. Please pray it would be quick and that we would have our passports back asap with the visa! It's slightly nerve-wracking being without our passports and a current, valid visa. Along with an expired visa, we now have an expired driver's license and expired carnet (a Bolivian i.d.). (and yes....all of this was in Lowell's wallet that was stolen). We do have a "voucher" to show in case the need arises that we have paid for our 2 yr. visa and that it is in process.<br />
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3) Pray that we would be prepared to do homeschooling again - in every way. Academically, emotionally, spiritually.<br />
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4) Please continue to pray for the youth group that we lead at church. Pray for growth - both in numbers and spiritually. We feel like we haven't been able to put as much time and energy into this ministry with the pressures of school, so we look forward to the break so we can devote more time to it. We had a large group of Bolivian students come for the first time this past week and we were so very pleased! Pray that at least some of them will begin attending weekly and that the "regulars" would make them feel welcome and at home. <br />
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We love and miss you all! Blessings!!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Shay, Lowell, Aidan, Liam, Jude, and Olivia</i></span></div>
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</div>Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-69437058555767143932012-03-30T20:16:00.001-07:002012-03-31T15:16:24.119-07:00ONE YEAR UPDATE!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> "What?! Seriously?! You've got to be kidding me. One year? You guys have been here a year already?!!" Yeppers. This was the response recently from a friend we met just a couple of weeks after arriving last April. He just couldn't believe it! And honestly, it is so hard for us to believe as well. I have to say that for me (Shay), this has been the fastest year of my life! No lie. We plan to celebrate in style with the fam and honor our kids for being true champions. We plan to praise the Lord greatly for His constant love, provision, and blessings. We plan to look back and see how the Lord has worked in our lives and changed us. We plan to record all of the wonderful things He has done!! Initially, our plan was to take this first year to adapt to the culture, learn the language, build relationships, and really seek out exactly what the Lord wanted us to do with our time here. So far, I believe we have accomplished those goals (with God's help and guidance, of course). No, we do not speak Spanish fluently like natives...yet. Yes, there are many, many things about this culture that bug us and frustrate the heck out of us and that we will never agree with or understand. But, we have adapted and learned to be flexible and learned to deal with whatever comes our way - even at a moment's notice. Hopefully, when we do, we are doing so lovingly and graciously and through our actions and words, are sharing the love of Christ. We are abundantly blessed with friends here and continue to build relationships with folks at church and school and out and about in the city. We feel led, at this point, to continue helping lead the music and worship ministry and youth ministry at CIC and to finish out the school year at CCS, teaching art, music, leading chapel worship time and coaching basketball. We will serve and help in any other capacity the Lord leads us to throughout our next year in Bolivia. I (Shay) still desire to volunteer at one of the local orphanages that a friend of ours runs, but the way just has not been made yet. Our desire, as a family, is also to participate in more ministry outreaches, within the city and in the outlying jungle or mountain areas of Bolivia. We can't wait to see what our 2nd year in Bolivia brings!!!! Here are some photos to enjoy......<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFY0GWXojnuldztRfPX5RlgNQRKgBvIzQumGn3ghsNIL0qyeut-xsz_Si0aQnGCfdcqPb9OAihyfUrMdykv4AR1CgmrBCtp_7dQwc9D79wItOtbiH8I-oMvBUV_-4XlOIPcGqN4If8C_k/s1600/IMG_6189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFY0GWXojnuldztRfPX5RlgNQRKgBvIzQumGn3ghsNIL0qyeut-xsz_Si0aQnGCfdcqPb9OAihyfUrMdykv4AR1CgmrBCtp_7dQwc9D79wItOtbiH8I-oMvBUV_-4XlOIPcGqN4If8C_k/s640/IMG_6189.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia with our pet bunny, Peter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyEykwnjcvIHpVjRJVuGHQs7xW2-ug1VYdCkjuLx4l6iT6Yz3CxCXtuqUmWH_oAtyM133SFXcVkKwl68RDK0-sKOcKbQKxj-o0TFS3kpanT_pfjWzEwVMPxSGydFuCTSy_J-QxI5_kbYJ/s1600/IMG_6233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyEykwnjcvIHpVjRJVuGHQs7xW2-ug1VYdCkjuLx4l6iT6Yz3CxCXtuqUmWH_oAtyM133SFXcVkKwl68RDK0-sKOcKbQKxj-o0TFS3kpanT_pfjWzEwVMPxSGydFuCTSy_J-QxI5_kbYJ/s400/IMG_6233.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And...Olivia with Maddie, our now inside doggie. Yes, sometimes she loves the pets a little too much!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndVgERBQ21X36mqcpiOD3-m9_9fEQX-1LD26X0BtMunWrsJtlXItlXRg8hYfJqQCUxOY5Pfk0AeJ7NgadaicwBpJpUb53C5YLaBBs1cm26VGaHHDAKccQ-7OMcOcJNbuDm9QApXzEQAjp/s1600/IMG_6238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndVgERBQ21X36mqcpiOD3-m9_9fEQX-1LD26X0BtMunWrsJtlXItlXRg8hYfJqQCUxOY5Pfk0AeJ7NgadaicwBpJpUb53C5YLaBBs1cm26VGaHHDAKccQ-7OMcOcJNbuDm9QApXzEQAjp/s400/IMG_6238.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the best views of Mt. Tunari we've had from our 3rd story window this year! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlUhFN43AsoJ5Ap4dX0ytwZ4bLe3p0lkymHpkWepLSlXJ6hjpXQQihtIzBKYxKGbGgoffVRzSDL0u-orxwWI7YL1GAmL-7YMY4Cwmi4E4Zxp9cTjoIS2ruawQcLby0_JsMYns7vj3Lmr2/s1600/IMG_6242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlUhFN43AsoJ5Ap4dX0ytwZ4bLe3p0lkymHpkWepLSlXJ6hjpXQQihtIzBKYxKGbGgoffVRzSDL0u-orxwWI7YL1GAmL-7YMY4Cwmi4E4Zxp9cTjoIS2ruawQcLby0_JsMYns7vj3Lmr2/s400/IMG_6242.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And...one of the many amazing sunsets we are blessed to enjoy almost every evening out our dining room window. God is such an incredible artist. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSE-Qc3F1JDiNky71e4m0lIZwKLGlIYIad_nEkrI39dxhRfevq2F_GysKnfE6pGCyyVL4jqj0p7Qqh60PTwTZAU820sUWZRhZotahK06YTX52S40PKTXBRC0FUZ0GFwC_QC9tDxWJ63fIH/s1600/IMG_6386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSE-Qc3F1JDiNky71e4m0lIZwKLGlIYIad_nEkrI39dxhRfevq2F_GysKnfE6pGCyyVL4jqj0p7Qqh60PTwTZAU820sUWZRhZotahK06YTX52S40PKTXBRC0FUZ0GFwC_QC9tDxWJ63fIH/s400/IMG_6386.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lowell leading worship at Cochabamba International Church</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb93UJ8N5BUCMAN2oJNHPSFwZ-BZrYzv52o_fkOZI8xmQBzaB9gE2w66vHFgkCWppSlr9HaInSUq15iL1m0xNnxZqBD-LKEjRZsTocL03FndF8k-fZLwNLghofefmc3_14Gy7K-Q1R1iJI/s1600/IMG_6391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb93UJ8N5BUCMAN2oJNHPSFwZ-BZrYzv52o_fkOZI8xmQBzaB9gE2w66vHFgkCWppSlr9HaInSUq15iL1m0xNnxZqBD-LKEjRZsTocL03FndF8k-fZLwNLghofefmc3_14Gy7K-Q1R1iJI/s400/IMG_6391.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidan playing drums for the main service at CIC </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqjbOnDgsZvEs93IJ4-fb1f3QPeq99yPR-n3mPhMIq8vrlju8zEAlZohW-Gi8zb-NtMthnutnoRhIXaLmSdt_V44uqFs1KbJ6Utoqhyphenhyphenjwn0IMnfF4qN_MM6hCVElOrVJZSnhzsPILZpkT/s1600/IMG_6394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqjbOnDgsZvEs93IJ4-fb1f3QPeq99yPR-n3mPhMIq8vrlju8zEAlZohW-Gi8zb-NtMthnutnoRhIXaLmSdt_V44uqFs1KbJ6Utoqhyphenhyphenjwn0IMnfF4qN_MM6hCVElOrVJZSnhzsPILZpkT/s400/IMG_6394.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical Sunday morning worship service at CIC - a beautiful mixture of nationalities and languages, all worshiping together! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYm90XbfzJ1wdeU5hzVG1ZVAe-StIn5cz1JRxlx_3pbCMNPGKvKtsBuPdFNnwahGxHYh5AncdmEo75Z8RnVZok7KNjF63LKG4iE2XIoaRPgMJw6BrCZjv78qh-a6qQOlK4vs6q2ofWT6hS/s1600/IMG_6407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYm90XbfzJ1wdeU5hzVG1ZVAe-StIn5cz1JRxlx_3pbCMNPGKvKtsBuPdFNnwahGxHYh5AncdmEo75Z8RnVZok7KNjF63LKG4iE2XIoaRPgMJw6BrCZjv78qh-a6qQOlK4vs6q2ofWT6hS/s400/IMG_6407.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how we roll in Coch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3FJbTf8zZLkLt_7d1huOYe-wjpSOWCMoESogYVnpQ4OdvAJ4ETwwtFslsGkT2Gzj9IMJpi_Bep0K_lGH0_NPx7QdkeqzF5YHxndht9xkYU80fa5emMF7H_aLwzCswMAPl25-3hf-YGQX/s1600/IMG_5273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3FJbTf8zZLkLt_7d1huOYe-wjpSOWCMoESogYVnpQ4OdvAJ4ETwwtFslsGkT2Gzj9IMJpi_Bep0K_lGH0_NPx7QdkeqzF5YHxndht9xkYU80fa5emMF7H_aLwzCswMAPl25-3hf-YGQX/s400/IMG_5273.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shay's art room at Carachipampa Christian School</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJV6fSBMtm4tIaUq2tzBGs3SaM3Z9IkmPfHxh8-QGN8CZBwmRUTUIqwlSMWww_X-4CqYoK7-nlnoiSoedKMIkhtYYd5nU5195KuL6BUZJ47__9KAxYL1PA_fyCC8GhcVs0yp-yLALfnq0u/s1600/IMG_6052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJV6fSBMtm4tIaUq2tzBGs3SaM3Z9IkmPfHxh8-QGN8CZBwmRUTUIqwlSMWww_X-4CqYoK7-nlnoiSoedKMIkhtYYd5nU5195KuL6BUZJ47__9KAxYL1PA_fyCC8GhcVs0yp-yLALfnq0u/s400/IMG_6052.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam lovin' on a sweet orphan at Casa de Amor (house of love)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXi2LxzMhiX0_C8llKX5ANgjEm1HcuYNjBsCC0_FLHcIdayPQGHkdHPg_WQJxtbjvQmd3cxjJAm8Q7lBjzAbRGabZIwWHyUz-UAlmXFOiId28Pb5hRlZnfRNv2bSMEdOkQCm6n-iE6UgW3/s1600/IMG_3910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXi2LxzMhiX0_C8llKX5ANgjEm1HcuYNjBsCC0_FLHcIdayPQGHkdHPg_WQJxtbjvQmd3cxjJAm8Q7lBjzAbRGabZIwWHyUz-UAlmXFOiId28Pb5hRlZnfRNv2bSMEdOkQCm6n-iE6UgW3/s400/IMG_3910.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who looks most scary? Jude, Shay, or the totem pole dude?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please pray for this beautiful city!<br />
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</tbody></table>We just can't find a way to express our deep thanks and gratitude to all of you that have supported us in this journey! We know that it would not be possible for us to be here without your love, support, and prayers. Please continue to let us know how we can pray for you - we love to lift our supporters up in prayer and know what is going on in your lives back home. And we humbly ask that you continue to pray for us and send us an encouraging note via email or facebook every once in awhile. You have no idea how it strengthens us to know family and friends back home are thinking of us and praying for us. A HUGE special thank you goes out to those of you who have taken the time (and spent the $) to send us care packages. They are exactly that! CARE...in a box (or envelope)!! It makes us feel so loved, cared for, and not forgotten!<br />
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Woot Woot!! Here's to our first successful year in Bolivia!! YAY GOD!!<br />
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Un fuerte abrazo y un beso para todos (a big hug and kiss to everyone!! yes....we greet almost everyone with a kiss on the cheek here, just like the Bible says!) -<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;">Shay</span></i>, for all</div>Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-90367883242764222462012-02-04T15:40:00.000-08:002012-02-04T15:40:12.428-08:0010 Month Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Today (Jan.31) marked our 10 month anniversary of being in Bolivia. One year ago we moved out of our home in League City to stay in a temporary duplex until our date of departure. It is truly hard to imagine that our 1 year anniversary of being here is just around the corner. Time flies when you're having fun, right? Or at least when life is crazy and you've turned your world upside down and started over from scratch in a foreign land and just tried to live moment by moment to survive and thrive. Whooh. Here we are...beginning a new year in our new country and wondering what on earth God has in store for this family of ours here in this place. Why are we here again?! Oh, yes! We did this crazy, insane thing because God told us to! No matter what, we said. No matter how hard. No matter how rough and tough and ugly it gets. And it has - gotten that way, I mean. At times. Otherwise, on the other side of the pesito ( that would be a little tiny coin...) there have been wonderful, beautiful, fun, productive, positive times. Moments when we feel all cheery and good and that things are just "right", you know? I won't lie, this life we have chosen isn't easy, and it's not all rosy and grand. However, we have to know that God is good. God is great! He called us here and He has a purpose for us. He is not going to leave us or forsake us. He is with us. He will lead us and guide us into His perfect plan and will for us. As we lean into starting a new year here in Bolivia, I have asked the Lord, "What do you want with us this year? What shall we do? What things, Lord, can we accomplish for you?" We want to make this time worth it. Worth all of the sadness and heartache and missing home and missing friends and doing without. Worth all of the leaving behind we did.<br />
I (Shay) feel strongly that the Lord wants me (personally) to build more meaningful relationships with Bolivians and strengthen my Spanish speaking ability. The two really go hand in hand. I have a deep desire to focus on discipleship, specifically with students, considering that is the group of folks here that the Lord has clearly led us to minister to. He just continues to give Lowell and I both opportunities to serve these amazing kids here who need to know Jesus and grow in their faith. We are prayerfully considering ways to develop a leadership team within our youth group at the church. This kind of thing really excites me and pumps me up! I love seeing young people step up and be bold in their faith and become leaders for their generation. Please pray along with us that the Lord would lead us and guide us as we begin this new endeavor. Another incredible opportunity that the Lord has given Lowell is to be the Assistant Coach for Carachipampa's basketball team (www.carachipampa.org)! For those of you who know Lowell well, you know that basketball was a huge part of his life as a young student. He was a very talented and skilled player and now he has the chance to pour into these young men in yet another area - teaching them and encouraging them on the basketball court! Our oldest son, Aidan, has decided to join the team, making him the only 7-9th grader out there amongst a team of 10-12th graders! At CCS, high school is 7-12th grades and since the school is so small anyone has a chance to be a part of the team. We are so proud of Aidan, that he didn't shy away from joining, just because the rest of the team was older. Incredibly, he is now just as tall as many of the Senior players.<br />
We enjoyed a wonderful three week break for the Christmas holiday and we were incredibly blessed to spend the majority of that time with Lowell's parents! It was truly amazing to welcome visitors here, when we still feel like visitors ourselves! I cried tears of joy seeing them step off the plane and walk through the gate to us. It was overall an enjoyable time, besides Lowell's Mother being very ill for a week and having to be admitted to the hospital. Lowell's Dad purely enjoyed every second of his time here in Bolivia, reminiscing of his peace corps days and visiting old friends, speaking to the locals of "the good 'ole days" of Cochabamba in the 60's. Christmas was different, but very, very blessed. The kids discovered that Santa really does make stops in Bolivia. For a few days after Christmas, we were able to travel to Santa Cruz, Bolivia by bus (quite the experience) and enjoy some fun family time at a waterpark called Aqualand and a beautiful butterfly and bird sanctuary called Biocentro Guembe. The climate in SC is very similar to Houston - hot and humid! <br />
The second semester of school is in full swing and our grueling schedule continues. Olivia has gone back to her school, Rise and Shine, although the Bolivian school year does not officially start until next week (Feb. 6). She will officially be a Kindergartener!! She enjoys her playdates with her friends and will be taking swim lessons with them starting next week as well! Jude is a star student and we are so proud of how well he has done this year in this new environment. Liam and Aidan are still working hard and persevering through the changes as well. The struggles they have faced in the past 10 months have made them stronger and pretty darn tough, I think! They continue to make new friends and use their gift of music to help lead worship for youth group and chapel at school. Liam is excited to celebrate his 12th birthday next week with some of his friends from church and school with paintball and a sleepover. Speaking of birthdays....it's hard for me to believe, but this Monday, the 6th, is my 40th. The "big one". Mid life, right? Ha! I sure hope not. Lord willing, anyway! Looking forward to celebrating in Bolivia!<br />
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PRAISE AND THANKS:<br />
1) Continued relationship building with our empleada, Miriam. She has lots of good questions related to God and is definitely seeking truth! She is attending church regularly.<br />
2) A memorable visit with Lowell's parents<br />
3) Growth within the youth group! We are averaging 40 students and more Bolivians are coming! Pray that the MK's will reach out to them and make them feel welcome and comfortable.<br />
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PRAYER REQUESTS:<br />
1) That our Spanish speaking ability would reach a new level.<br />
2) That we will be more intentional about building relationships with Bolivians.<br />
3) That God would lead Lowell and I as we develop the student leadership team.<br />
4) Continued transition and adaptation - it's an ongoing process and symptoms of culture stress and missing home and friends rise frequently. There are still tears and sadness and emotional breakdowns at times.<br />
5) That all kids would do well in school and that they would actually come to really like it and look forward to it! Pray for good, significant friends for all of them.<br />
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God's goodness and blessings upon you ALL!!!<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Shay</span></span></i>, for all of us <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Us with Lowell's parents visiting the Simon I. Patino Palace Museum </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being crazy on Christmas Eve in the pj's my Mom sent</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia, la Mariposa muy linda, at the Biocentro Guembe in Santa Cruz</td></tr>
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</div>Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-84941811528965166102011-12-18T15:05:00.000-08:002011-12-18T15:35:34.248-08:00FELIZ NAVIDAD DE BOLIVIA!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><style>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -0.5in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow Italic";"><b>Greetings to all of our wonderful family and friends…. from South of the equator!!!</b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> I just can’t seem to get Christmas in my head! It is difficult for me to feel “in the spirit” when it is 75 degrees out, the sun is shining bright, we’ve broken out our shorts and flip flops and it’s SPRING in Bolivia! This is all a new experience, indeed, celebrating the holidays in another country. By the time you all receive this letter, it will be summer here and full on winter in your half of the world. I pray that this greeting finds you all blessed and doing well. We miss you all so much and continue to feel extremely humbled at the blessing and opportunity we have to be here, serving the Lord in Cochabamba, Bolivia. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> We have crossed the 8 month mark, which is somewhat surreal, considering how long we waited on the Lord to even get here. What a ride it has been. Adventurous, challenging, humbling, exciting, scary, glorious, fruitful, difficult – these are just some of the adjectives I can think of to describe our time here so far. There have been sad days and happy days; hard days and easy days; boring days and fun days; crazy days and calm days! God is good and He has been with us every single step of the way as we have strived to adapt to this culture, learn the language and customs, get a new home established and settled, determine our ministry goals and purpose, and learn to balance home, family, and service. Thus far, we have served at Cochabamba International Church (<a href="http://www.cicbolivia.org/">www.cicbolivia.org</a>) – Lowell leading worship and helping to develop the worship teams and musicians – and us as a couple, leading the student group (7-12<sup>th</sup> grades) on Friday nights. We have lovingly labeled our group “The Mix”, because it is a beautiful mix of many nationalities, languages, and local schools. Our goal is to build up these kids, help them come to know Jesus in a real way, and grow deeply in their walk with Him. Please pray as we develop relationships with these students – some are missionary kids and some are Bolivians, both of which have unique needs. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> The opportunity for Lowell and I to teach at the boys’ school, Carachipampa Christian School (<a href="http://www.carachipampa.org/">www.carachipampa.org</a>) , came up several weeks after we arrived in Coch. There were needs for music and art teachers, and we fit the bill. We are both teaching high school (</span><span style="font-family: "Bernard MT Condensed";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">7-12<sup>th</sup>) two days per week. The majority of the teachers at this SIM (<a href="http://www.sim.org/">www.sim.org</a>) established school are self -supported missionaries from all across the globe. We see this as an added opportunity for ministry with students – many of which also attend the youth group at CIC. Pray that in addition to passing on our passion for art and music to these kids, that we would pass on our passion for Jesus, most of all! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> We can hardly begin to express our thanks and gratefulness for your prayers and financial support, which make this life here completely possible for us. We know that God is bigger than the economy and He has shown that clear and true! You make sacrifices for us, and it brings me to humble tears. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Apple Casual"; font-size: 11pt;">“Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy, and their extreme poverty welled up rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.” 2 Cor. 8: 2-5</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> As this year comes to a close, would you pray about making a one-time donation to our mission or joining our monthly support team? We are always praying for members to “share in this service to the saints…”! If you feel led, please use the enclosed envelope to send your donation or monthly commitment. We are praying that the Lord would be close to each and every one of you during this time of celebrating the birth of our Savior. May you enjoy His blessing, your family, and be focused on HIS mission for the world – reconciling them to His Son, Jesus! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Merry Christmas & A Blessed New Year -</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Feliz Navidad y Un Año Nuevo Beato -</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 16pt;">The Ballew Family in Bolivia! </span><span style="font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 16pt;">(<a href="http://www.theballews.org/">www.theballews.org</a>) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mission Address: Stateside Address: Bolivia Address: (do NOT send $ here!!) </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ripe For Harvest c/o Robert Ballew La Familia Ballew</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">P.O. Box 487 P.O. Box 293 Casilla #6505</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Monument, CO 80132 Frost, TX 76641 Cochabamba, Bolivia</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> South America</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Quechuan girls proudly showing off the Bibles we gave them on a one day outreach with our church</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olivia and her friend, Isabel, dressed up in their traditional Cochabambina outfits for the dance they performed at their end of school year program</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best family photo we could come up with recently. I decided it was appropriate for me to have my eyes closed. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div>Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-32017087775580872292011-10-10T09:00:00.000-07:002011-10-10T09:00:53.573-07:006 MONTHS!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Yes, it's true. We hit the 6 month mark last Saturday. Can you believe we've been gone from home and in Bolivia for 6 months?? Wow! It has really flown by and by God's amazing grace, it's all been good! No, these past 6 months have not been without their many challenges, but all in all, as we reflect on the transition period, God was glorified and we are truly amazed at how he has provided for us and allowed us to be here. We continue to be humbled by your love, prayers, and financial support. We love to pray for you all so please let us know how we can lift you up.<br />
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We are getting settled into a routine now that we have been in school for more than 6 weeks. The boys are all doing well - they are true champs! It has been a hard season for them, getting used to being in a formal school setting again and having so much homework, but they are really persevering through the daily challenges. I am so proud of them - they are my heroes! Last week and this week the boys participated/are participating in what their school calls "Outdoor Education Camps". The elementary camp was last week for 3 days, so Liam and Jude went to a camp nearby to participate in that. This week is the high school camp (which is 7-12th grades) and they are going to a camp about 2 hours away called "Camp Kewina". Aidan and Lowell both went - Aidan as a camp participant and Lowell to help lead the worship and supervise the approximately 80 kids that are attending. Aidan also has the opportunity to go with a small group of students on an overnight hike and tent camping trip for 2 of the days of camp this week. We are so thankful that the boys got this opportunity considering they had to miss church camp with our home church and family camp this past summer. Small things that ease the pain of homesickness just a little.<br />
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Lowell and I are enjoying the student ministry at CIC. We named the group "The Mix" because of the great mixture of nationalities, languages, and schools that are represented by the group. Lowell and the boys are still leading the music and we are hoping to take the group through the Crazy Love study by Francis Chan soon (as soon as it arrives in the mail!). We are both busy teaching at the boys' school as well. I am enjoying using my art abilities and knowledge to teach the high schoolers plus minister to them as I do it! Lowell's ministry there is a bit more involved, as he helps lead the worship for the chapel days and is teaching the entire high school (7-12th gr.) Christmas music for the school program. Lowell was able to take a group of the students recently to an event to raise money and awareness for a local ministry that helps support all of the "street kids" here in Coch. There are hundreds of kids, all ages, that live on the streets and hang out in the streets during the day, trying to beg for money to survive. Many of them will try to wash your car windows for you to make money, or even juggle rocks or do cartwheels in front of your car so you will "pay them for their entertainment". Sadly, many of these kids use the money they "earn" to buy glue that they sniff and get high on. I have seen kids as young as 7 or 8 years old sniffing glue, and even a young pregnant girl doing it on the side of the street. Please pray for this ministry that reaches out to these kids and that they will respond well.<br />
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Olivia is struggling a bit with wanting to go to school every day. She would so much rather stay at home. She has also been quite homesick and is missing her dear friends so much. She literally holds a photo of her best friend from back home and cries. Please pray that the Lord will comfort her and help her to feel happy and content and safe here. She has made some good friends at school and church, but needs a lot of reassurance and love still. She is speaking Spanish up a storm, though!<br />
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I must admit, that I too, have been quite homesick lately. I believe it is the "6 month mark blues". I have really been missing my dear friends, my home church, and my family. I also believe that when you are on the mission field, one of the most difficult times emotionally is the holidays. As you all approach the fall season and the two major holidays of the year in the states, we are here...thinking of it all. I love autumn and everything that goes along with it, especially Thanksgiving. It has just turned spring here in Coch, and it is beautiful. The rains have begun (with much more to come, we hear) and everything is "springy"! It will be very strange to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas in warm, sunny weather. Well, ok...I know we're from Texas and all, but you know what I mean!! Praise God, we have made some dear friends who are also missionaries struggling with being away from family throughout the holiday season, and we plan to celebrate with a big Thanksgiving feast in true American tradition!<br />
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<b>Praises:</b><br />
**We asked for prayer for one of our empleadas (maids), and she has begun to attend our church regularly now!! She is becoming a dear friend and I pray that our lives will exude the joy and love of Christ to her!<br />
**A good vehicle! Pray we can get our Bolivian drivers licenses soon.<br />
**Persevering and strong kids!<br />
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<b>Prayer Requests:</b><br />
**Continued strength and perseverance through the schoolwork - for all of us!<br />
**For the feelings of homesickness to subside and be overcome with the joy of being here - doing God's will!!<br />
**That the Bolivians we encounter every day would know we are Christians by our love. And that they would DESIRE that love!<br />
**For God's continued restoration for challenging issues in our lives.<br />
**Spiritual growth, deep love, and strength for mine and Lowell's marriage.<br />
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Blessings upon each and every one of you!!! We love you!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Shay, </span></span>for the whole family :o) </div>Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-4910403902245028622011-08-26T06:16:00.000-07:002011-08-26T06:16:27.691-07:00August 2011 Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Wooh! We're almost through August and haven't written an update yet. Not going to let this month get away from us, though. We have had quite the whirlwind of activity this past month (really, 6 weeks). A lot has happened and a lot is going on! For starters, the boys began school last week at Carachipampa Christian School. That's the biggest change and transition we've had so far since we've been here (Aug. 31 will be 5 months!!). After homeschooling for the past 4 years, this is an entirely new world for them - and us, as parents and teachers as well. Yes, Lowell and I are teaching part time at the school also! Lowell is teaching high school music (7th-12th grades are considered h.s.) on Tues. and Wed., and helping lead the worship for their chapel once a week. I am teaching high school art on Mon. and Tues. mornings only. This is a really neat blessing in disguise, and I believe one way God wants to use us here in Bolivia. First of all, since we are leading the student ministry at our church, it is only natural and fitting that we are now teaching high school students. We have an open opportunity to invite ALL of our students that we teach to our youth group meetings, called "ThE MiX", on Friday nights! Many of them already attend CIC and ThE MiX, so we can encourage them to invite their fellow classmates as well. Another plus is that, while filling needs that the school had for music and art teachers, we in turn will receive a discount on the tuition for the boys. This is indeed a huge blessing!! We do not receive a salary as teachers at the school, the majority of the staff at CCS (excluding a few Bolivian staff members) are full-time, self-supported missionaries, just like us. Many of them are from different parts of the world - South Africa, Canada, Korea, England, and the states. CCS is a beautiful mix of cultures and languages, with one unifying factor - Christ! To learn more about the school and it's history, please visit <a href="http://www.carachipampa.org/about-ccs">www.carachipampa.org. </a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys' on their first day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiep80LXEMr1pufD-LkttVPXy3evPGoEpP4WcrNzDU0kA4wPlvLW5qLJMtfzGV9ogXkGdw-Sc6MG5R32uD0hgFEYiuZRfViKOrK_mtJ7If754EXBVtk8j-H3Z9Q0W5tL2wCtCrZA1R692U7/s1600/IMG_4298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiep80LXEMr1pufD-LkttVPXy3evPGoEpP4WcrNzDU0kA4wPlvLW5qLJMtfzGV9ogXkGdw-Sc6MG5R32uD0hgFEYiuZRfViKOrK_mtJ7If754EXBVtk8j-H3Z9Q0W5tL2wCtCrZA1R692U7/s320/IMG_4298.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lowell's music room</td></tr>
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Before the chaos of the new school routine began, we wanted to take a little trip to the jungle. There is a small town, about a 4 hour drive from the city, deep in the Amazon rainforest, called Villa Tunari. We hired a van called a "surubi" to drive us on our little adventure, expecting to enjoy some hot, humid, bug infested jungle weather. Not to mention the large pool and slide at the hotel we had booked. However....much to our dismay, the weather was VERY cold and rainy. We tried hard not to be too disappointed, and still enjoy the simple fact that we were in the Amazon jungle for the first time in our lives!! We were still able to visit two parks while there, one called Parque Jungle (par-kay hoon-glay) which had some really fun ziplines and huge swings that were a blast, and the other called Parque Macchia. Within the boundaries of this park, is a animal refuge called "Inti Wara Yassi" where they rescue and care for endangered or hurt animals. There is long hiking trail up the mountain that we took and all the while, were searching for monkeys to play with and hold. We didn't have much luck until our way down!! They are adorable, constantly digging in people's pockets for treasures! Needless to say, though, we cut the trip short and headed home after only one day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally! A monkey! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I seriously wanted to take him home!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Another really amazing opportunity the boys and I had, is getting to go on a one day mission trip (outreach) with our church last Saturday to a very small Quechuan village on the other side of Mt. Tunari. We took a bus and the drive was about 3 1/2 hours, up the mountains, over the mountains, and down the other side of the mountains! There were many times I had to hold my breath and pray that the bus would not go over the side. This was a truly amazing time, talking with, playing with, and reaching out to these people who still live such very simple, yet very hard lives. A dentist was able to give dental care to many of the Quechuan women, we made gospel bead bracelets with them and explained the meaning of the colors (with help of a translator that can speak Spanish, English, and Quechuan!), gave them bibles in their own language, listened and prayed while two men shared a message, and even shared in a traditional meal that they so very graciously cooked for us - many different types of potatoes, llama jerky (yes, I ate a llama...), and lamb meat. Please pray that these villagers will read their bibles and supernaturally understand the passages and ultimately come to know Jesus!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet young Quechuan girl with her gospel bracelet<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBqji5Mpc_EsGJiwFjOgWAIapgVjui6x1mas_1aKJ0NEAQJn3D1adUAYZC5cMHdaMmcjxGTqdnJhy8NCmXZqxGaLL6W6J_caQt31Lx6xrh_hKmJrm9GRsG0kh6k8WVpFxZ5B4u-nZnxiG/s1600/IMG_4477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBqji5Mpc_EsGJiwFjOgWAIapgVjui6x1mas_1aKJ0NEAQJn3D1adUAYZC5cMHdaMmcjxGTqdnJhy8NCmXZqxGaLL6W6J_caQt31Lx6xrh_hKmJrm9GRsG0kh6k8WVpFxZ5B4u-nZnxiG/s320/IMG_4477.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2ANmohSnxeyLCkk0yvLFd-3dO_9ggtKVWTXVrNgBg2oe0Z9RGRYY1gl0TasZnS2j0AC2s334p5Wi9vUfJ6qRXMQsWV194p1rTWLAD6T2inOfTCCxe_pA_qRdwzD_ssfrl3w5plp5y3ps/s1600/IMG_4505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2ANmohSnxeyLCkk0yvLFd-3dO_9ggtKVWTXVrNgBg2oe0Z9RGRYY1gl0TasZnS2j0AC2s334p5Wi9vUfJ6qRXMQsWV194p1rTWLAD6T2inOfTCCxe_pA_qRdwzD_ssfrl3w5plp5y3ps/s320/IMG_4505.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table> Two major milestones we were able to celebrate is Jude's 10th birthday and Olivia's 5th birthday!! For Jude's birthday, we spent a fun day together with friends, going to the slide park (a park with HUGE concrete slides) and eating out, and for Olivia's birthday we had a blast celebrating Strawberry Shortcake style with friends at the house.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday morning pancakes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 5 yr. old beauty with her authentic Strawberry Shortcake!</td></tr>
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Major praise!!! We now have a vehicle!! Although it is not officially ours yet, we have been able to drive the car that we waited on for about 2 months to get out of the shop. The owner just recently returned from furlough from the states, so we will be able to "seal the deal" so to speak. This is such a major blessing and we are so unbelievably thankful for such a good car at such a good price with the market being the way it is here in Cochabamba right now. God is good!<br />
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Praises:<br />
1) A vehicle!!<br />
2) Ministry opportunities falling into place! (student ministry, music ministry, teaching positions)<br />
3) A good start to a new school year at a new school!<br />
4) We have our one year visas! However...still no carnets (which is a required i.d. card).<br />
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Prayer Requests:<br />
1) That we would obtain our carnets very soon.<br />
2) A good transition into this new world of private christian schooling with many other MK's, native Bolivians, and kids and teachers from all over the world! It is all very overwhelming for them and us and we are dealing with some challenging issues. But I know God is bigger than all of them!!<br />
3) Finalizing the purchase of our vehicle.<br />
4) That the student ministry (ThE MiX) of CIC would continue to grow and that the Lord will lead us as we lead these kids. Pray that leaders will arise and begin to take ownership of the group.<br />
5) The music ministry of CIC. Pray for Lowell as he uses his gifts to lead the congregation in worship and as he works with other full time missionaries planning and organizing the band and vocalists.<br />
6) That the relationships we already have with non-christian or unchurched Bolivians will continue to grow and develop into trust relationships in which we can share the love of Christ with them. Please pray specifically for Irene and Miriam.<br />
7) Continued language learning. We are no longer at the language institute, because of school starting, so pray that we can get plenty of practice with native speakers!<br />
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We love all of you tremendously and miss you terribly. We covet your continued prayers and thank each of you who are a part of our financial support team. We could not be doing this without you! There is not a day that I do not thank God for this incredible opportunity he has given us to serve Him here in Bolivia!<br />
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Con un abrazo fuerte y un besito -<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Shay</span></span>, for the whole family :o)</div>Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-66140406853997705452011-07-13T04:17:00.000-07:002011-07-13T04:17:34.201-07:00July 2011 Update<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: #050503;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><h1 class="h1" style="color: #202020; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 34px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 34px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Getting In A Groove</h1>As we are amidst our winter season here in South America and experiencing unusually cool temperatures and a recent big snow on the mountains many of you in the USA are experiencing record HOT temperatures! We have been enjoing the recent snow on the mountains which came unusually early this winter. Bolivian school kids are in the middle of their third week of winter break here and the North American Schools are on their summer break since they are on the same schedule as USA schools. We've decided to put our boys in Carachipampa Christian School here in Cochabamba beginning August 17. Shay and I are planning on teaching at the school a couple of periods per week on a part time basis. The school needs music and art teachers and Shay and I are considering teaching a couple of classes each week for grades 7-12.<br />
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<strong>Youth Group</strong><br />
Shay and I have accepted the opportunity to be the youth leaders for Youth Group at CIC. For the past two weeks we have been having Friday Night Youth Group meetings at the church from 7 to 9 in a room called The Cueva which is a cool room with 100 yr. old walls. We play games and have snacks and then have a time of music and worship and then have some teaching time from The Bible. We have been having about 12 kids the past two meetings and will have many more once school begins in August. There are a few families moving back from furlough in August and we look forward to connecting with those kids also. As you can see my boys and I plus Tee Ross who's 17 are able to lead worship for our youth meetings on Fridays. This is a lot of fun for me as my whole family is able to serve together! <br />
<div style="color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="" border="0" height="363" src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/b1f862c642fd62a6ab7f9b413/images/IMG_3155.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 14px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" width="545" /> <img alt="" border="0" height="363" src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/b1f862c642fd62a6ab7f9b413/images/IMG_3163.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 14px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" width="545" /></div><br />
<strong>Family Life in Cbba</strong><div style="color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">We have moved into another rent house here in Coch and are super blessed with more space and a better location on the west side of town near the suburb of Sacaba. Another missionary family lived here before us and were the ones who told us about it. We also adopted their two dogs Maddie & Midnight. They are both sweet dogs and do a good job at helping us with security with their deterrant barking at late night strangers and passers by. On the weekends we have a Bolivian college student living with us. Her name is Kendra. She is from the city of Santa Cruz and attends bible college at Palabra De Vida (Word of Life) which is located in a town about 1 hour south of the city. Kendra is one of our youth interns here and helps us with our Friday night youth meetings. She also helps us practice our Spanish on the weekends and she plays with Olivia a lot too! We've been waiting for a car to buy a car and found one that some missionaries are selling. Only problem is that it was wrecked right before we were told about it being for sale and we've been waiting for about 6 weeks for it to be repaired so we can test drive it. In the meantime we will continue to be patient and use taxis and truffies. A truffi is a mini van that drives a particular route like a bus. The 121 trufi taxi comes right down the street in front of our house which is very helpful since we still don't have a car. There is about 20 or more trufi taxis that all drive the 121 route thru the heart of the city. We take the 121 three times a week to language school. We can also take it to go eat at mine and Shay's favorite restraunt.<br />
</div><div style="color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="642" src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/b1f862c642fd62a6ab7f9b413/images/IMG_2918.1.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 14px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" width="536" /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"> <img alt="" border="0" height="249" src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/b1f862c642fd62a6ab7f9b413/images/IMG_2980.1.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 14px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" width="528" /></span> </div><div style="color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><strong>CIC</strong><br />
The church has been going through changes some good some sad. Former founding and Senior Pastor Graham Porter and his wife Lori left back in June which was very sad for many in the church. They had been here for 12 years and had a deep impact to so many in the city of Cochabamba (Cbba). With Graham leaving Tony Murrin has stepped up to teach more on Sunday mornings with the help of Assoc. Pastor Edwin Almanza also. Tony and Joanna Murrin have both been very key leaders at CIC for all 10 years! Joanna has been a leader with the music ministry and planning music for services and playing piano and singing as well as leading the chior. They have four kids. Two sons in college at Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania, USA and two daughters here in Cbba. Tony has an avation ministry called Mission Air Bolivia which supports missionaries in the tribal areas of Bolivia. He flies regularly to the Chipare Jungle region of Bolivia to bring medical and material aid to indigeneous Bolivians. In particular Tony has been helping a pastor from the Oromomo region of the Chipare. Pastor Inocencio and his wife Daria have been leading a group of new christians in their village and they trying to build their first church facility there deep in the jungle. In particular there are some prayer requests below for these particular ministry areas:<br />
<ul style="color: #0c130b; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="background-image: url(http://www.cicbolivia.org/templates/webnartdesign/images/postbullets.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.2em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 19px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Pastor Inocencio and his wife Daria need help in maintaining the missionary work in Oromomo. A full time couple is needed who could learn the language and stay with the Yura and Chimane people teaching them Biblical truths, and giving them medical care.</li>
</ul><ul style="color: #0c130b; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="background-image: url(http://www.cicbolivia.org/templates/webnartdesign/images/postbullets.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.2em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 19px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mission Air Bolivia - The aviation training center for Latin Americans in Missions need to consolidate this project soon. They need instructors for training latin Americans aviation mechanics and missionary aviation. Churches from Venezuela and other countries have required pilots and skilled workers to give them support in remote areas.</li>
</ul><ul style="color: #0c130b; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="background-image: url(http://www.cicbolivia.org/templates/webnartdesign/images/postbullets.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.2em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.2em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 19px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The radio station for the Bolivian Amazon basin that should broadcast BBN programs, as well as other radio programs in five different languages need a full time missionary who could be in charge of running the radio station project.</li>
</ul>These particular areas are an indirect ministry of what we are here to support through the ministry of Cochabamba Internation Church. We hope to go and visit these particular ministries in the Chipare in days to come.<br />
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<strong>4th of July</strong><br />
We had fun celebrating the 4th here with a bunch of expats and Bolivians. Our friends Osvaldo and Alice host an American style 4th of July celebration since she's a native of the USA. Her parents live here as well. We met other Bolivians who now live in USA and some are married to gringos. Close to 100 people gathered in the backyard of the Montaños to have hamburgers and Coca Cola (which is the national refresco/softdrink of Bolivia by the way). It was a fun time complete with American Cheesecake and fireworks!<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/b1f862c642fd62a6ab7f9b413/images/IMG_3234.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 14px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" width="545" /> <img alt="" border="0" height="344" src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/b1f862c642fd62a6ab7f9b413/images/IMG_3256.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 14px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" width="545" /><br />
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<strong>Prayer Requests For Ballews</strong><br />
-That we continue to learn the language and take language classes that we retain what we're learning and that we get plenty of chances to practice with the locals.<br />
-For us to conitnue to deepen the relationships that God has given us with Bolivians. Young Couples Bible Studies (twice a month) and others within the church.<br />
-For the boys as they go back to organized school from being home educated for 4 years. This will be a big adjustment especially just waking up early every morning.<br />
-For us to recieve our Carnets soon. These are our Bolivian ID cards which will allow us to then get our Bolivian drivers license.<br />
-For Shay and I as we teach at CCS that we will know the best things to focus on teaching the students since we will not be using a cirriculum. This is the first time we've taught art and music in a school/classroom setting. Pray that we will be able to connect with many kids while teaching there and that it will mesh well with our Friday night youth group meetings in getting more kids to attend those meetings.<br />
-For Shay and I as we lead the youth meetings every Friday night that we will build strong relationships with the students and that we will have wisdom in leading them the best way possible.<br />
-That more Bolivian kids begin attending our youth group meetings. We have 4 young Bolivian leaders who will work with us in trying to minister to more Bolivian students.<br />
-That we receive our car soon and that the mechanic will finish the work WELL.<br />
-That we find a empleada to come work for us part-time in the mornings every day as we approach the fall. We want someone who can help us with our home chores and someone we can build a relationship with and practice Spanish with on a daily basis.<br />
<br />
We feel so humbled to be able to be living here in Bolivia on foreign soil and we realize we couldn't be here without the financial support of so many back home in the USA who are giving sacrificially to allow us to represent the gospel of Jesus Christ to a beautiful culture of Bolivian people. We thank all of you so much for your concern and prayers that we feel on a daily basis as we are here living so far away from you. <br />
<br />
Bless You All with the Love of Christ!<br />
<br />
The Ballews<br />
Lowell, Shay, Aidan, Liam, Jude, & Olivia<br />
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*To view all of our recent photos you can go to our Facebook pages. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/lowell.ballew">http://www.facebook.com/lowell.ballew</a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/shay.ballew">http://www.facebook.com/shay.ballew</a></div></div></td></tr>
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</tbody></table>Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-40495929185777372632011-06-01T11:54:00.000-07:002011-06-01T14:53:46.789-07:00June 2011 Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none;"></span><br />
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<tr><td valign="top"><div style="color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><h1 class="h1" style="color: #505050; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 28px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 28px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px;">Just wanted to give you guys a 2 month update on us!</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px;">We are doing pretty good. Still adjusting here but it's going well. We’ve made a lot of friends and contacts thru the church and all of them have been extremely helpful to all of us as we’ve been getting settled. We’ve been in a temporary home for 2 months now and will be moving into another home in a couple of weeks. I got a motorcycle about 3 weeks ago and it’s been fun and very helpful also since we still don’t have a car. Getting closer to finding a car but they are all just SO expensive here it’s made it harder than in the states... </span></h1><h1 class="h1" style="color: #505050; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 28px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 28px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Shay, the 3 boys, and I have been going to Spanish classes 3 days a week for about 3 weeks now – we just need more time to actually practice speaking... We are praying for people we can meet with every week 1 on 1 to just speak Spanish with for an hour or so... Olivia goes to pre-school every day from 8:30 to Noon. She’s hearing a lot of Spanish there every day. The school speaks about 60% Spanish and 40% English. There are about 6 other North American or English MK’s who attend. She’s made a few friends and had 2 play dates already with an MK girl named Madison who’s family if from Dallas. The boys are still homeschooling but might start to a school in the fall – we’re still praying about that. Shay attends a weekly bible study on Tuesdays with other missionary wives and they are doing a Beth Moore study right now on the fruits of the spirit.<br />
<br />
Shay and I attend an all Spanish young couples bible study every other Monday night and are getting to know those couples better each week. We attended a one night retreat last month and that was a good time away with all of them. I’ve been continuing to help with the music ministry every week by either playing guitar/singing or filling in on drums when we are short. I am slowly learning to better communicate with the band – usually there is a couple of other “gringos” who can translate words and phrases I haven’t learned to say yet.<br />
<br />
Shay and I have just decided to take on leading the youth ministry at the church. We are going to work with a few other Bolivian leaders to come up with a plan to relaunch the Friday night youth meetings at the church in 2 weeks. Last week was our first week to attend the youth meeting to just meet more of the kids. There are only about 10 to 15 kids coming each week right now and most of them are MK’s (missionary kids). There were about 4 Bolivian kids but they spoke very good English also. One of our goals is to get more Bolivian kids to attend and we hope to accomplish this by having more Bolivian leaders which seems to be happening right now. We want the Friday night meetings to be bilingual as much as possible so the Bolivian kids feel a part!<br />
<br />
Anyway – I am at home sick today with a mild stomach bug (no throw up thankfully). This is my first time in 8 weeks to get sick at all and I’m very grateful I’ve made it this far!<br />
<br />
PRAYER REQUESTS:<br />
- For our continued health from stomach bugs. That we make wise decisions when eating out.<br />
- For us to continue build relationships with the young couples.<br />
- For us to find a car soon for a good price – or for one to be donated from the States and shipped here. Looking for something with a 3rd row seating - midsize SUV. FYI: has to be 2008 or newer to ship here.<br />
- For us to make good strides in learning the language better.<br />
- As we prepare to move in 2 weeks.<br />
- For a spirit of unity in our family.<br />
- For peace as we decide if and which school the boys should begin attending.<br />
<br />
Financial Update:<br />
Our regular giving was down this past month by about $600 from the previous month of April. We are not hurting financially but just want to remind you how much we appreciate your gifts that allow us to minister<br />
to folks here. If you'd like to sign up to give regularly or just want to send in a one time gift you can do so by clicking <a href="http://ballewmissionjourney.blogspot.com/p/give.html" style="color: #3b5998; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">here</a> - you can follow the directions on the web page.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading this LONG update from us. Please let us know how we can be praying for you as well!<br />
<br />
Thank you!<br />
Lowell Ballew & Family (Shay, Aidan, Liam, Jude, and Olivia)<br />
<a href="http://ballewmissionjourney.blogspot.com/" style="color: #3b5998; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">theballews.org</a></span></span></span></h1><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Our Bolivian address</u>:<br />
Ballew Family<br />
Casilla 6505<br />
Cochabamba, Bolivia</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><u>Care Package List:</u><br />
Starbucks coffee (ground Pikes Place)</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">French vanilla liquid creamers (the little individual ones - you will have to ziploc them in case one or two burst!)</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Skintimate shave gel (any scent)</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">brown sugar</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">gum and candy (no chocolate)</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">legos for boys (check with us on which ones they already have)</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">bath toys and crayons for Olivia (put in ziplock bag also)</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">leapster games for Olivia (pre-K)</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">yummy smelling lotion and antibacterial hand soap (bath & body works, etc...- we actually found some at a local grocery store that imports many American products, but it was expensive!!!)</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">BOOKS! I know books are heavy, but we were not able to bring any with us because of weight. If you can fit any small paperbacks for the boys (chapter books, books about legos/star wars/skateboarding/music/etc...) and picture books for Olivia that would be awesome!!</span></span></div></div></td></tr>
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</tbody></table></div>Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-47465207569999489182011-04-30T06:16:00.003-07:002011-04-30T07:07:48.163-07:001 Month Update!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/227755_10150227385067189_637202188_8679652_2746550_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 493px;" /></span></div> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">We'll we've made it exactly 1 month and 2 days in Bolivia! It seems like time has just flown by and I knew it would be this way. Everything is so new, people, surroundings, sights, sounds, etc.. We have been doing well in our adjustment phase - with the occasional moments of sadness and sorrow. Kids have been making some friends and getting use to our new life here. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="img" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/223335_10150227387227189_637202188_8679711_720365_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 493px;" /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"> Olivia started to pre-school at Rise & Shine and is loving it. It is a bilingual school. We did a meet and greet quarterly parent/teacher night last night and her teacher gave her good marks for having only been there 1 week. We have been praying and feeling more lead to put our boys in a North American private school called Carachipampa Christian School. The boys have already visited there twice and have several friends who attend there. It's sort of a drive from where we live but the bus will come right by our house to pick them up! They won't begin until next August. </div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"> We have looked into language schools and will probably be deciding next week which one to begin with. Shay, Lowell and boys will probably all attend some classes through the next 3 months. </div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"> We have become great friends with a couple of familes. The Discua Family in particular. We celebrated with them and one other family (The Ross') last night! Yesterday the Discuas were granted permanent adoption rights of their 3 yr. old Bolivian daughter Hannah Joy. Olivia and Hannah are in the same class at pre-school. They attend our church and have been fellow missionaries here in Cochabamba for 7 years. Our boys and their boys have had multiple sleep overs at our home and Shay and Krista (the mom/wife) have also hit it off. And the husband/dad - Gustavo has been extremely helpful to Lowell since we've first arrived. He's been carting Lowell around all over the city to help him find a motorcycle to buy. All of this has been great but since the adoption is final in 2 weeks they will be then returning back to Colorado :( We will miss them greatly and will have to say one of our first goodbyes to someone leaving to return to the states. Pastor Graham Porter and his wife Lori who've been here for 14 years are leaving very soon as well. This Sunday will be there last at the church. This couple has also been extremely helpful to us before and after we've moved here to inform us of many great details about life here in Coch.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"> So - that is the update for now and we want all of you to know that we are extremely humbled by your prayers and financial gifts to allow us to live in this beautiful country. Our goal is to represent Christ and his love for Bolivians and to help the great work of the CIC (Cochabamba International Church). We are very excited about so many future opportunities that God has in store for us and we look forward to sharing as much with you as possible. </div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"> A reminder that we use Facebook a lot for photo updates since it is such an easy tool for communication. If you haven't joined yet we ask that you consider even if just to see our photo updates. How to join: just click here and follow the prompts: <strong><a href="http://tinyurl.com/3pk5k6r" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/3pk5k6r</a></strong></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Thank you again for your gracious friendship!</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">The Ballews</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">(Lowell, Shay, Aidan, Liam, Jude, and Olivia)NEW MAILING ADDRESS IN BOLIVIA:</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Ballew FamilyCasilla 6505</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Cochabamba, Bolivia S.A.*NOTE* We would love to receive a care package from you (see list below) KEEP WEIGHT BELOW 4lbs - or else we have to pay a LOT of money to get it out of customs.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><strong>Starbucks coffee (ground Pikes Place)</strong>French Press (all metal/aluminum, glass will break in route) </div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">French vanilla liquid creamers (the little individual ones - you will have to ziploc them in case one or two bursts!)</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Skintimate shave gel (any scent)</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">microwave popcorn</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">brown sugar</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">gum and candy (no chocolate)</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">legos for boys (Star Wars - check with us on what they already have so we don't get same ones)</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">bath toys and crayons for Olivia</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">xbox games (appropriate for boys ages 12 and under please)</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">leapster games for Olivia (pre-K)</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">good quality 100% cotton towels (bath, hand, and kitchen)</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">yummy smelling lotion and antibacterial hand soap (bath & body works, etc...- we actually found some at a local grocery store that imports many American products, but it was expensive!!!)</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">BOOKS! I know books are heavy, but we were not able to bring any with us because of weight. If you can fit any small paperbacks for the boys (chapter books, books about legos/star wars/skateboarding/music/etc...) and picture books for Olivia that would be awesome!!</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Prayer Needs:</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">- Car: we have been surprised how expensive used cars are here and are praying for donations to help us purchase a car soon. We need to raise $5000 to help with this. Just an example - a 10 yr. old Nissan SUV goes for $10-12k. Cars are a luxury here and people are very resourceful with driving cars for many years. Parts and labor are very cheap here compared to the states.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">- Language learning - as we begin to take classes soon.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">- Bible Study - Shay, Lowell and one other American missionary couple just joined an all Spanish / Bolivian small group. Pray as we learn to communicate more and that we form deep relationships with these 8 Bolivian couples.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">- Music Ministry at CIC - pray God would allow me to help in the most effective ways with the whole Sun. morning program. Pray for my communication with the nationals on the team to get better as I learn more Spanish.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">- Kids adjustment - I made it sound in letter above that they are doing great and they are mostly are but pray for those sad days to diminish more and more. </div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">- Health - Liam and Shay had the stomach bug from the food here - pray for the rest of our protection from sicknesses. </div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">- Safety - that we will make wise choices since we are foreigners from US and are automatically a target because of our skin color.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">- Unity - pray for us as a family that we have unity and peace among one another and that we give grace and patience to one another daily.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">- Financial update - God has provided almost all of our monthly support but since we want to purchase a car we still welcome any financial gifts.</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="photo_img" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img class="img" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/216430_10150227385272189_637202188_8679658_3931196_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 493px;" /></div><div class="caption" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: left;">whee!</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="photo_img" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img class="img" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/229474_10150227386062189_637202188_8679682_3473940_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 493px;" /></div><div class="caption" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: left;">in the gondola - Livi being bossy</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="photo_img" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img class="img" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/227205_10150227386972189_637202188_8679704_6148634_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 493px;" /></div><div class="caption" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: left;">Grupo Alpha & Omega playing at CIC 10 yr. Anniversary Service</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="photo_img" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="photo_img" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img class="img" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/216450_10150227387512189_637202188_8679719_6007603_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 493px;" /></div><div class="caption" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: left;">Our famous summit pic - notice how close Aidan is to being as tall as me...</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="photo_img" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img class="img" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222512_10150227387807189_637202188_8679728_5729886_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" /></div><div class="caption" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: left;">almost half way down</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="photo_img" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img class="img" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/227919_10150227386787189_637202188_8679699_5542599_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 493px;" /></div><div class="photo_img" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Looking back at the city from the gondola.</div><div class="photo_img" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="photo_img" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img class="img" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/226080_10150226380197189_637202188_8670185_7238603_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 493px;" /></div><div class="caption" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: left;">Saying goodbye to Tia Viqui</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="photo_img" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img class="img" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/225431_10150226381377189_637202188_8670195_1299324_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 493px;" /></div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="photo_img" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Shay with her new friend Francis Ross<br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="photo_img" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img class="img" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/227483_10150226380782189_637202188_8670190_1481684_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 493px;" /></div><div class="photo_img" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div class="photo photo_none" style="clear: both; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="photo_img" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img class="img" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/231125_10150226382532189_637202188_8670208_1365655_n.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 493px;" /></div><div class="caption" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: 11px; line-height: 12px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: left;">Livi's first day to Pre-School at Rise and Shine</div></div></span></div>Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-51059657999643342272011-04-30T06:14:00.000-07:002011-04-30T06:14:01.423-07:001 Month Update!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> We'll we've made it exactly 1 month and 2 days in Bolivia! It seems like time has just flown by and I knew it would be this way. Everything is so new, people, surroundings, sights, sounds, etc.. We have been doing well in our adjustment phase - with the occasional moments of sadness and sorrow. Kids have been making some friends and getting use to our new life here. <br />
Olivia started to pre-school at Rise & Shine and is loving it. It is a bilingual school. We did a meet and greet quarterly parent/teacher night last night and her teacher gave her good marks for having only been there 1 week. We have been praying and feeling more lead to put our boys in a North American private school called Carachipampa Christian School. The boys have already visited there twice and have several friends who attend there. It's sort of a drive from where we live but the bus will come right by our house to pick them up! They won't begin until next August. <br />
We have looked into language schools and will probably be deciding next week which one to begin with. Shay, Lowell and boys will probably all attend some classes through the next 3 months. <br />
We have become great friends with a couple of familes. The Discua Family in particular. We celebrated with them and one other family (The Ross') last night! Yesterday the Discuas were granted permanent adoption rights of their 3 yr. old Bolivian daughter Hannah Joy. Olivia and Hannah are in the same class at pre-school. They attend our church and have been fellow missionaries here in Cochabamba for 7 years. Our boys and their boys have had multiple sleep overs at our home and Shay and Krista (the mom/wife) have also hit it off. And the husband/dad - Gustavo has been extremely helpful to Lowell since we've first arrived. He's been carting Lowell around all over the city to help him find a motorcycle to buy. All of this has been great but since the adoption is final in 2 weeks they will be then returning back to Colorado :( We will miss them greatly and will have to say one of our first goodbyes to someone leaving to return to the states. Pastor Graham Porter and his wife Lori who've been here for 14 years are leaving very soon as well. This Sunday will be there last at the church. This couple has also been extremely helpful to us before and after we've moved here to inform us of many great details about life here in Coch.<br />
So - that is the update for now and we want all of you to know that we are extremely humbled by your prayers and financial gifts to allow us to live in this beautiful country. Our goal is to represent Christ and his love for Bolivians and to help the great work of the CIC (Cochabamba International Church). We are very excited about so many future opportunities that God has in store for us and we look forward to sharing as much with you as possible.<br />
A reminder that we use Facebook a lot for photo updates since it is such an easy tool for communication. If you haven't joined yet we ask that you consider even if just to see our photo updates. How to join: just click here and follow the prompts: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>http://tinyurl.com/3pk5k6r</b></span><br />
Thank you again for your gracious friendship!<br />
<br />
The Ballews<br />
(Lowell, Shay, Aidan, Liam, Jude, and Olivia)<br />
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Prayer Needs:<br />
- Car: we have been surprised how expensive used cars are here and are praying for donations to help us purchase a car soon. We need to raise $5000 to help with this. Just an example - a 10 yr. old Nissan SUV goes for $10-12k. Cars are a luxury here and people are very resourceful with driving cars for many years. Parts and labor are very cheap here compared to the states.<br />
- Language learning - as we begin to take classes soon.<br />
- Bible Study - Shay, Lowell and one other American missionary couple just joined an all Spanish / Bolivian small group. Pray as we learn to communicate more and that we form deep relationships with these 8 Bolivian couples.<br />
- Music Ministry at CIC - pray God would allow me to help in the most effective ways with the whole Sun. morning program. Pray for my communication with the nationals on the team to get better as I learn more Spanish.<br />
- Kids adjustment - I made it sound in letter above that they are doing great and they are mostly are but pray for those sad days to diminish more and more. <br />
- Health - Liam and Shay had the stomach bug from the food here - pray for the rest of our protection from sicknesses. <br />
- Safety - that we will make wise choices since we are foreigners from US and are automatically a target because of our skin color.<br />
- Unity - pray for us as a family that we have unity and peace among one another and that we give grace and patience to one another daily.<br />
- Financial update - God has provided almost all of our monthly support but since we want to purchase a car we still welcome any financial gifts.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br />
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</div>Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-4893254290557657102011-04-18T19:53:00.001-07:002011-04-18T19:53:17.020-07:00Pray for Shay<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Shay has contracted Typhoid Fever and was in outpatient care since this morning around 9a.m. She was hooked up to IV to get her rehydrated and then given IV - this lasted for 9 hours. This will be followed by oral med. She went home about 7p.m. This came on suddenly at about 3a.m. this morning with vomiting every 20 min. until I took her to doctor at 8:30 this morning. The Dr. is from our church and is excellent. We covet your prayers. Typhoid fever comes from something you ate and can remain dormant for up to 20 days before presenting symptoms. She is already feeling a little better from the first dose of antibiotics. </span></div>Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-61052383476534667392011-04-13T11:01:00.000-07:002011-04-13T11:02:09.749-07:00Facebook Photo Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Thank for your prayers as we have been getting settled into our new home and getting it fully furnished. We are doing well and appreciate your constant prayers for us as we begin our life here in Bolivia. If you are a friend of Shay or Lowell on Facebook you can go view these photos. If not then request our friendship on FB and you can view future photo updates.<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=10150213128657189&id=637202188&aid=353198">http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=10150213128657189&id=637202188&aid=353198</a><br />
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Thank you for your support.<br />
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Lowell Ballew & Family.</div>Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-10469613073675724652011-04-03T20:40:00.000-07:002011-04-03T21:06:04.236-07:00We're Here!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Most of you probably know by now but if you haven't heard we made it to Bolivia last Thursday. It's kind of hard to believe! We are all so thrilled to be here and our kids are all doing very well thus far. We arrived early last Thurs. morning and were greeted by some missionary friends who picked us up at the airport. We were all very tired - especially our oldest son Aidan who didn't sleep a wink on the flight here. Since we couldn't check into our hotel until noon we were invited to our friends The Porter's home to rest and visit. Both Aidan & Jude conked out on their couches for a few hours that morning. We've been settling in some at our hotel in the heart of the city. Our bags are just laying all around the living room of the apartment/hotel we are in. It's a spacious apartment layout with two bedrooms, living room, full kitchen with pots, pans, utensils and silverware! We were able to see a potential rent home the first day we arrived which was great! We decided to go with this home and paid our first month's rent yesterday and got the keys to the home. We hope to share some pics soon. We will be trying to get moved in this week. We will have to completely furnish the home with beds and all appliances (fridge, stove, microwave, washer). Pray for us as we begin the hunt for at least all of our mattresses tomorrow and possibly a fridge.<br />
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Our second night here we were invited to a birthday party of a fellow missionary who we already knew and we met several other missionary couples there. Our kids made a lot of friends as well which was a huge blessing!<br />
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Thanks to so many of you who kept up with us through Facebook as we posted updates on our trip here (in Panama) and for so many of you who have been faithful to pray for God's guidance and provision in this adventurous journey we're on!<br />
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Financial Update:<br />
We have gained a little more support but still need about $600 more in monthly pledges to reach our goal. If you would like to give you can click <a href="http://ballewmissionjourney.blogspot.com/p/give.html">here</a> to learn more about what to do to give. If 25 people gave a pledge of $24 per month then we'd reach our goal.<br />
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Thanks again for your interest in what we are doing as we represent Christ to the people of Bolivia.<br />
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More to come soon!</div>Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5114413459150115988.post-88610299427519560622011-03-15T11:58:00.000-07:002011-03-15T12:19:00.959-07:00URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hola family, friends, and all prayer warriors!!!<br />
We have an urgent prayer request. We humbly ask that you all fervently pray for our visa situation. We have been diligently trying to receive our special purpose visas for almost 2 months now. This is a special visa which Bolivia requires for those who are going to be staying longer than 90 days in country. We must have this special visa to enter the country on March 31 (our flight leaves the 30th, we arrive in Bolivia the 31st). After we arrive in Bolivia we begin the process of applying for our one year visa (which is the first step....after one year we apply for a three year visa). Because there is not a Bolivian Consulate in Houston, we are having to do everything via mail, phone, and email with the Consulate in Washington D.C. We can not even begin to explain to you how frustrating and challenging this whole process has been. After doing all we {thought} we needed to do and sending our applications in along with our passports and all required paperwork and fees, we received it all back within 6 days or so with NO visas, no explanation as to why there were no visas, and the money orders had been taken. This is just a small example of how communication has been with them all along. And, we are guessing, just a tiny foreshadowing of things to come :o) After numerous phone calls to the Consulate, Lowell received some clarity on what the issue was. We apparently needed to send more paperwork that was not included. These are papers that were not listed on the requirements list that we were checking off and that no other people had mentioned that we needed. So, for almost another week now we have been working on getting these other papers in order. Lowell made an emergency trip to Austin last night to take these papers to the Secretary of State to be authenticated so we could save time on mailing. He will fly to D.C. tomorrow to take the papers to the U.S. Dept. of State to be authenticated and then personally hand deliver our applications, passports, and all paperwork needed to the Bolivian Consulate. Praise God for a wonderful friend who is donating his frequent flier miles to Lowell and for another wonderful friend he can stay with in D.C.!!<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span><b style="color: yellow;"><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Ok....here's the clencher. Here's where some major prayer needs come in. Even though Lowell will be hand delivering these papers, he apparently can still not receive the visas while he is there. The consulate in D.C. has to fax our paperwork to the Bolivian office IN Bolivia to be approved for the visa. They are saying this could take up to two weeks!!!!! Our flight leaves exactly two weeks from tomorrow. However, we are leaving town two weeks from TODAY to stay in a hotel by the airport so that we do not have to get up very early on the morning of our flight and drive there. We need to have these visas in hand in less than two weeks. We need to have them by Monday, March 28 so that we can leave as planned on the 29th and fly out the morning of the 30th!!!! Please, please, pray very hard that we will indeed have these visas in hand by the 28th! Please pray for travel safety for Lowell,</span> </i></b><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: black;">that he</span></span><b style="color: yellow;"><i><span style="color: black;"> </span></i></b><span style="color: black;">could get the paper authenticated in a very timely manner at the U.S. Dept. of State </span>(like within a day!), and that he would find total favor at the Bolivian Consulate in D.C. - that they will understand our urgency and take care of our time constraints. Lowell has been communicating with a wonderfully helpful Bolivian man at the consulate. Please pray that he will be able to talk to him personally and that he will realize our situation and take it upon himself personally to see that we get our visas VERY very quickly. I believe this is just a great opportunity for God to show himself very real - to us, to all of you, and to many who are helping us along the way that need to know HIM. We did purchase trip insurance when we booked our flight, however Lowell discovered yesterday that it does not cover having to change flight times due to visa delays! If we had to change our flight time, it would cost us nearly $1,000. So, again... pray that we will not have to change our flight, and that we will indeed have our visas in hand by the 28th (if not before!). To top it all off, I (Shay) have been very sick with sinusitis/upper respiratory infection. Bad timing to say the least. Lowell is truly carrying the load here. Pray for supernatural strength and energy for him, too please. We love you all and just can't wait to share how God works through all of this craziness!! One day soon we will indeed be in Bolivia, doing the work that God has willed for us to do...and the enemy will be defeated!! Glory to God!! <br />
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Believing with you in prayer -<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Shay</span></b></i></span></div>Lowell Ballewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893504266441733775noreply@blogger.com4