Tim & Kallie in Bolivia - Blog

Political Update for Bolivia #2

11/11/2019

These past three tumultuous weeks have been full of tension and uncertainty. Just prior to posting this update, yelling from police nearby drew our attention to officers running frantically amongst the many fires lit in the streets. A video from the city's police commander just came out calling for neighbours to mobilize and help fight off pro-government groups approaching from the south and east.

It is difficult to piece together the various news reports, social media info, accounts from friends, and what we ourselves have experienced, in a coherent and accurate way. For a broader context surrounding the current unrest in Bolivia, please see our previous blog.

Here is an overview of the flurry of activity from this past weekend.

Friday, Nov. 8th:
Various police groups began to declare mutiny, no longer willing to support the government. Starting in Cochabamba, the movement quickly spread to several stations across the country, sparking excitement and anxiety in the public.

Saturday Nov. 9th:
Violent altercations broke out nationwide as tension grew between anti and pro government groups. Caravans of miners and university students headed to the capital to confront the president were ambushed on the road. Some were shot at and assaulted, while others were kidnapped, beaten and violated.

Sunday Nov. 10th:
Early Sunday morning an international audit of the election announced that there were signs of voter fraud, prompting the president to call for new elections. This proposal was rejected by protesters who felt he should be disqualified from running again. Calls for the president's resignation increased as various leaders of the governing party began to step down.

At 5pm President Evo Morales officially resigned.

We took to the streets where celebrations had begun; however, within an hour we heard shouts of ‘ambush’ and ‘attack’, as significant panic took over. In the east of the city a large group had rallied in response to the president’s recent message, concluding that “the fight continues.” Looting, various house fires, and violent confrontations ensued overnight.

Monday, Nov.11:
It was announced that an arrest warrant has gone out for the ex-president who was hiding in the jungle region of the Cochabamba department. That evening Evo accepted an offer of political asylum from Mexico, who along with a few nations, consider these events a calculated coup d'etat. There is no clear interim leader as of yet, leaving a power void.

Violence, looting, arson, and civil unrest continue throughout the country, with many feeling vulnerable and insecure. We continue to receive messages from friends in victimized neighborhoods who are asking for prayer as they attempt to protect their homes and businesses after witnessing police stations and schools being burned. Blockades are set to continue indefinitely.

Please continue to pray

Political Update for Bolivia

29/10/2019

Bolivia is hurting right now as it struggles in the midst of political unrest following its national election on October 20th. The main contenders were the sitting President Evo Morales and ex-president Carlos Mesa. After some confusion with the count, the results indicate that Morales has won, while many contest this pointing to potential evidence of voter fraud. Just today the Canadian government anounced they are "calling for a second round of elections."

Blockades are set up at almost every intersection, limiting movement to motorcycle or foot. The first few days of protest were relatively peaceful as most of those in the streets were united in opposition. Last Saturday barricades were lifted for a few hours to allow people to stock up on supplies. The president’s supporters have since mobilized however, and interactions have become increasingly violent as of Monday (Oct 28th).

For a bit of context, Mesa moved from vice president to president in 2003 after his sitting president fled the country following civil unrest and a very conflictive term. Discontent with that administration prepared the way for Evo Morales’ election soon after in 2006.

Evo’s presidency became increasingly divisive over the past decade and a half, as some praise his reforms and others see him as dangerously corrupt. While Bolivia only allows for two consecutive 5-year terms, Evo remains in power. Re-founding the nation in 2009, he argues that his first term was under the old country and therefore permits him two more terms under the new constitution. In 2016, Evo called for a referendum to amend the constitution and remove term-limits (like Canada). After loosing this national vote, the senate overruled the decision. This has caused considerable tension leading up to this month’s election.

Nonetheless, Morales appears to have won the election two Sundays ago, finishing ahead of Mesa (47.08% to 36.51%). Legally, without 50% of the vote or a 10% margin, a second-round election is required between the two front-runners, removing at least seven other parties. Officially there was a roughly 10.57% spread, leading Morales to claim victory.

Many Bolivians do not trust these numbers however, due to unusual activity including the halt of voter result transmissions on election night, stories of falsified ballots and electoral systems manipulation. Protestors then, are not necessarily fighting for either leader, but rather insisting they are promoting democracy. With heals dug in, it is difficult to discern the best path forward for resumed peace.
Please pray

Pray for wisdom on both sides amidst misinformation, high emotions,
and a complicated reality.
Pray for peaceful protests, civil respect between neighbours,
and national peace in God’s way.
Pray for those unable to make an income as their work is suspended.
Pray for justice which brings shalom and facilitates deep healing long after these events.

"Peace, peace, to the far and the near," says the Lord. "And I will heal them."
~Isaiah 57:19b

To Get The Prize

25/9/2019

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
~1 Corinthians 9:24

I arrived at the park early in the morning while the air was still crisp. People were milling around, pinning on numbers, stretching, and joining in on the Zumba warm up dance. The 5 km race was about the begin.

Every year, a local network of organizations puts on a race for vulnerable children’s projects. The winners of the 3 age groups get to choose which organization will be awarded their share of the prize money. The event was open to anyone so a large group of adults came to represent their favorite programs. This year, kids and teens from two of our ministries, Casa de la Amistad and Jireh, also signed up to run. While most came to have a good time and support their project, Roberto came to win. After coming in 3rd in his category last year, he was determined to push himself further.

Roberto and his sister joined Jireh after their mother passed away two years ago. Having always excelled in athletics, the 5 km offered a challenge that excited him and he trained hard in anticipation.

As members of the adult category finished the loop and started crossing the finish line, we waited expectantly for the younger competitors to arrive. From blocks away, we could see Roberto’s bright green knee-high socks approaching and he crossed the finish line a full 10 minutes before anyone else in his age group!

When all was said and done, Jireh brought home 1st place in 2 of the 3 age categories and Roberto shared his podium with his friend Monica. Congratulations to our two champions and to everyone else from who came out to support and represent these amazing kids!

We Knead One Another

22/8/2019

Baking has always been a kind of community event for me. When I was young I remember going over to my grandparent’s place with all my siblings and cousins to make Christmas cookies. The kitchen was full and busy with activity as we rolled dough, wielded cookie cutters and decorated with icing and sprinkles. The house was warm, filled with laughter and a sense of family. When I packed into a small kitchen in the cold city of Oruro with 15 women, I got a similar feeling. Baking brings people together and breaks down barriers.

These women were baking for their children at a project in what happens to be the first ever Baptist church in Bolivia. The project serves vulnerable kids from the peri-urban areas of the city which are inhabited largely by miners and their families. One of the mothers who has training in baking coordinated with this group of ladies to teach skills a few times a month. We set about making pastels and buñuelos, two traditional Bolivian pastries. As we worked, we debated the recipes (as too many cooks in a kitchen do) and talked about our lives.

The mother in charge was giving instructions on how to knead the dough and her words struck me:

“Knead it gently, as if you were stroking the cheek of a little child. Don’t punch and smack it like your husband does to you”.

The women all laughed and continued kneading with more care. It quickly became obvious to me that violence was a regular part of their lives. Curious, I asked them about their experiences. Stories came flooding out. They felt that if they reported violence, no one cared and if they defended themselves, they would suffer even more. One woman even shared that “if a woman kills her husband while defending herself, she will be in jail in two minutes, but if a husband kills his wife, there is never real justice.”

I realize that this is not a problem unique to these ladies, this church, or this country. Many women around the globe live a similar struggle. I am challenged to consider how the church can be a light and a resource to women who feel trapped. Are our churches places women would feel comfortable going to for support? Are we prepared to respond?

I asked them what the church could do to help. They shook their heads and shared that they worried bringing others into their problems would only drag more people into their pain. I fear we still have a long way to go and much more to learn about bringing light into this darkness.

Something to Smile About

28/6/2019

Casa de la Amistad tries to support its children in many ways. A big part of the day is structured around educational support and didactic learning. They also try to fill everyone’s bellies with good food. Regular meetings with psychologists help them work through some of the traumas and emotional issues they are dealing with. Daily devotions aim at building up their spiritual health and giving them hope. And of course, we want the kids to be physically healthy. One aspect of our physical health we don’t often think of first is our dental health. For many of the families we work with, the thinking is “if baby teeth fall out why do we need to care for them?” This leaves many of these children with painful cavities, rotting teeth and without the hygiene habits to keep their adult teeth healthy.

This year we have established a partnership with a local university's faculty of dentistry who have agreed to provide free dental care to the kids at Casa. These dentistry students went over and above to make our kids feel comfortable while they had their teeth cleaned and cavities filled. The kids were ushered into a room full of dentist chairs completely decked out with stuffed animals, toys, and books! After a tutorial on how to properly brush their teeth, they showed the kids how the different tools worked so that they would feel comfortable and even excited about their dentist visit. Since its so common to be afraid of the dentist, it was impressive how well the kids did in the chairs. The students did a great job and even had the kids giggling and laughing while their cavities were being filled.

Partnerships like this one with the dentistry department help keep our programs sustainable and our costs down. But more importantly they help make the Casa part of a community; that's something to smile about :)

Expanding the Classroom

21/5/2019

Our world is becoming increasingly digital and Bolivia is no exception. Last year we helped the Seminary in Cochabamba launch their first ever fully online course which Kallie taught from Canada during our home assignment. After working out some kinks, we’ve been passing on knowledge regarding how to build and implement online and hybrid courses, helping the Seminary and its satellite schools expand their reach. This has also included providing integrated trainings on digital library resources.

Recently this took us to Santa Cruz, a tropical city with a small satellite seminary serving a very large region. Our three-day training allowed us to work closely with both students and professors and listen to their experience providing theological education. As in Canada, there are a significant number of lay leaders and young professionals throughout Bolivia who desire more formal theological training but who are unable to dedicate themselves to on campus study. Likewise, others are contemplating full-time study but are hesitant or unable to currently make such a commitment. The seminary’s hope is that by implementing a few select online classes they will be better able to serve their students and expand the overall reach of their ministry.

In tandem with online classes is a need for digital library resources and information access. Tim together with Wilson, our student librarian, have worked tirelessly to input thousands of books from the main campus library into an online catalogue. This has allowed students and professors to search the catalogue from a distance and arrange for inter-library loans. These two also provide regular training on how to access online academic journal databases, develop research skills, and make use of the plethora of digital resources growing available online every day.

As always, the opportunity to network and build relationships throughout Bolivia is certainly a highlight of serving with Canadian Baptist Ministries.

Treat the Earth as if Your Life Depends on it

22/4/2019

Just when you thought the kids at the Casa couldn’t get any more amazing, they set an example for all of us in caring for the environment. For Earth Day this year, the Casa de la Amistad invited churches to join them in cleaning up the plaza outside the men’s and women’s prisons. After getting a crash course in recycling, everyone hit the plaza in teams to collect garbage and litter, separating out what could be recycled.

Not only did members of churches, women’s groups and denominational leadership come to participate, kids and families walking through the plaza couldn’t help but join in on the fun as well. Here’s a few photos of the group celebrating Earth Day in style.

The Final Frontier

27/2/2019

Our work in Bolivia has taken us pretty much everywhere nationally. We’ve been up mountains, over high plains, deep in the jungle and through valleys. Until this February however, there was still one of the 9 departments (provinces) of Bolivia that we hadn’t explored: Pando.

Pando is a sparsely populated region in the very north of the country bordering Brazil and Peru. This month, the first Bolivian Baptist church-plant in Pando’s capital city of Cobija celebrated its two-

year anniversary. We were invited by the denomination to provide a workshop, preach, encourage the church and participate in their festivities.

A couple of things to know about Cobija:

The city, while the capital of the region, is still very rural.
There are almost no cars: most transportation consists of motorbikes.
It’s HOT. Being in the middle of the Amazon rain forest, Cobija is humid with temperatures regularly surpassing 30 Celsius.
Bananas, plantains and fish abound.

We were really refreshed over the time we spent with this neat church community. They participated with vigor in our workshop, church members offered to zip us all over, a widow and her son opened their home for us to stay in, and we were invited to share meals in many homes. We were made to feel part of the church family and given the opportunity to learn and celebrate side-by-side. Pray for Emanuel Church in Pando as they begin their 3rd year of ministry and seek ways to be light in Cobija.