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It has been over two months since our last update and quite a bit has been going on in Bolivia! While we were excited to update you with the newest house for one of our orphan families and new coffee recipe blog, many serious changes have been taking in place. At the end of May, due to some rumors that were getting back to International Orphanage Union's (IOU) sponsoring missions agency, International Teams, the CEO and regional director paid our team a visit. Much of it was discussing issues between team members and our director. As we had not been here for even a full three months, we welcomed the visit, but thought the issues were more of a personal nature. However, after being completely involved in a two-day mediation, it was clear there were some serious issues with the operations of IOU. A new interim leader was appointed to help with management and finances and we were given a new structure with us still leading businesses. During the next two weeks, we had almost daily meetings to solve the problems that had come to light and work at our restructuring. However, our team was invited to a Skype call where our regional director announced that International Teams (IT) and IOU were parting ways and that our director was also no longer a part of IT. So essentially it was decided for us that our team was no longer part of the ministry that had drawn us to Bolivia. It was surprising news to say the least, but an investigation had revealed that there were some large legal and liability issues and we were to distance ourselves ASAP. So then began what we are calling "the great divorce." It has been an uncomfortable time of dividing assets and responsibilities while trying to focus on the future. Everything from immigration paperwork to our interns' housing has been affected. This means we are no longer selling Bolivia's Best Coffee or managing any of the IOU social media. And to add insult to injury, Weatherly's purse was stolen with all of her ID and electronics (about $1,000 of goods), and we had an incredibly difficult tenant move into our condo in Jacksonville, FL. When it rains, it pours!
And yet, even the rain, God is good! We have sought out wise counsel and it sounds like unfortunately our story in not an unfamiliar one in missions. Further, we have heard many examples of how God calls people to the missions field, but the job changes quite substantially. We have also been blessed with a great team and a wonderful group of interns. While our interim leader has been focusing on all of the details of the present situation, we have been leading our team of interns in a crazy, extensive research project. We have been speaking to orphan ministries all throughout Latin America asking them about their ministries- models, government relations, and how to do business as missions. We have been gathering psychological research on the best models for child development. We have been looking at other countries and governments in terms of their adoptions rates and specific needs. We have also had a wonderful time interviewing many different orphanage directors here in Cochabamba. And just this last week we took a prayer retreat to pray and present all of the information we have been gathering. While we are still unsure exactly where God is leading us, we are leaning towards a gap ministry- for orphans aging out of the system. We hope to do business as missions to teach spiritual development, biblical financial management, possible micro-financing and trade skills. We are not limiting ourselves to Bolivia, but are considering other countries, especially Ecuador and Colombia. Please pray for God's direction for our team!
Even in the midst of struggles, life continues. We have really enjoyed meeting and playing with the kids at many new orphanages and. helping at the homeless ministry on Tuesday nights. John Mark has been helping with some house building projects through our Bolivian church and Weatherly got the chance to lead worhship in Spanish.
We officially have "season envy" seeing everyone's pictures at the beach as it's winter in Bolivia! So when Weatherly's parents offered to fly us back to the States to meet them at the beach, we jumped on the offer! So this weekend (with immigration office's approval), we will be headed back to the US of A for some much needed R&R and then heading to Panama to celebrate our ten year anniversary. While we are away, we will be busy continuing our research, but will be happy to be back in a country with clean water just for a bit. Our puppy, Pepita, is getting big and we (and Weatherly's shoes) will be oh so happy once the teething stage is complete.
We welcomed some housemates this month- two of our interns and another guy working in Cochabamba on his master's thesis. Weatherly will be happy to buy her 3rd point-and-shoot camera this year (yep, first two were stolen) in the States so we can start taking pictures again. We did not think "stolen items" would be a budget line item, but apparently needs to be in Bolivia.
And in terms of family news, Weatherly's sister Leslie had Miss Ansley James on May 4th who we are so very excited to meet soon.
Weatherly's youngest brother, John David is getting married to Ashley Hopewell on September 29th; and John Mark's sister, Mary Elizabeth and her husband Luis are due with our newest nephew or niece in January 2013. Lots of things to celebrate!
We apologize for the lack of communication, but it seemed that every time we sat down to write an update, everything was completely different two days later. Even Weatherly's sisters were trying to make sure we were still alive! We will definitely keep you updated as our new ministry develops. Please keep us and our team in your prayers. It has been a difficult, but growing time and we are very excited to see where God will take us next!
