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Taking God's Healing Love to the Nations
August 27, 2008
Buenas Noticias de Bolivia
"Good news from Bolivia"
Dear Friends,
At the end of this month, we will have completed eight months of ministry here in Bolivia. It still
amazes us that we are living in a culture so different than that of the United States. We have
experienced a warm welcome from our growing number of Bolivian friends and we feel blessed
for the new friendships and "bonds of affection" that are being formed.
The past two months have provided some of the most challenging opportunities for ministry. The
middle of July took us to La Paz to spend one week ministering in the Anglican church of Cristo
Redentor. In addition to preaching and teaching during the week, we were able to minister to the
pastor and his wife and meet with parish leaders to help them examine their vision and mission
as a congregation. The "concilio" (vestry) expressed their gratitude for the assistance offered in
facilitating open and honest discussion of some of the difficult issues.
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On Friday night, we held a Healing Service. About 40 persons attended. A number of persons
received significant healing. As we anointed the team before the service, the Holy Spirit touched
five of them powerfully, including the removal of severe back pain of the pastor's wife. During
the ministry time a woman's hernia "disappeared". She told us that what felt like a "ball" went
flat and then was completely gone. An older woman was able to forgive three persons in her life
that she had previously been unable to do. After she forgave, she experienced healing in her knees
and walked pain free. At the close of the evening we laid hands on the worship leader who got
hotter and hotter as the Spirit filled his body as well as soul. He, too, experienced healing from
back pain. Praise God, again and again!
Our latest adventure was two weeks ago in Tarija, a smaller town close to the Argentine border,
to the south. This campaign "blew us away". The pastor of this Anglican parish (Jesus el Buen
Pastor) is a remarkable man of God whom God is using to build a fast-growing congregation.
Pastor (Fr.) Walter invited us to lead this week-long campaign to help train other evangelical
pastors, and the people of his congregation, in the Healing Ministry. Each night there were
50-60 in attendance. Every night we had worship, the teaching, and a time for ministry.
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We were blessed to have a large team of nine persons, 3 from the U.S., (Fr. Dennis and Elizabeth
Kelly from the Community of Christian Family Ministry in Vista, and Claire Holdsworth of St.
Anne's Anglican Church in Oceanside - all great blessings!) our dear missionary friend, Betty
Colletta, from Cochabamba, and five Bolivians! Having the Bolivians on the team was a huge
step forward to the ministry. After all, the idea of being here is to train and equip
Latin-Americans in the healing ministry which is so vital to spreading the good
news of Jesus Christ. Two of the Bolivians are pastors of their own congregations and are sensing
a growing call to minister Christ's healing touch through prayer. We needed all of these team
members because we not only prayed every night but also opened up a 2 hour time slot each
morning for ministry.
Many people received the healing love of Christ. On Saturday night, we held a crusade with
around 200 attending. Perhaps the most marvelous miracle that night was the great number
of people who stood publicly to receive Jesus as Savior. The worship team, made up of leaders
from different churches, was awesome and released a spirit of joy and praise. At the close of the
night the team (now including many who went through the training) were dancing "in the Spirit".
What fun! If only the world understood there is no greater joy than being in the presence of the
Lord and doing the same works Jesus did. Of course, it is His presence, grace and power that
alone touches and transforms lives. We just get to be in the game and join in the victory
celebration!
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We knew that this week in Tarija was going to be extraordinary and that the Lord would manifest
himself in power. Prayers have been going up for months before, and all during the week. We
know that these were powerfully answered and we appreciate them so very much.
It is difficult to speak of the power without testifying to what actually took place. First, there was
a major demonic attack that left the host pastor unable to speak and unconscious on the floor. After
two hours of deliverance prayer, he was set free. It was apparent that some curses had been placed
on this beautiful, holy man. The next night, the anointing of the Holy Spirit was poured out, and into,
the pastor. It was so powerful that two men had to carry him to his bed. During the night he received
"revelations" from the Spirit. No doubt, this "divine encounter" will have a vast impact on the Anglican
Church in Tarija and beyond.
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Another true blessing in Tarija was going with the church members to their outreach in the poorest
of the poor areas of Tarija. We got to participate in the sharing of food and prayer and local church
members gave a lively Bible lesson. They are doing a marvelous work there.
Meg continues to help immensely with translations of my talks and I was able to deliver them in
Spanish this time! She has enrolled in the local Language Institute here to take a 6-week intensive
course that will be individualized for her needs. That starts on September 1 and she is very excited
about it.
And, wouldn't you know it?! The next step is in the works: A city-wide event in Cochabamba to
unite the churches for the sake of Bolivia! This is a vision that is shared with many here. Bob is
meeting with lay leaders of a variety of churches to this end. More to follow!
So dear ones, we thank each of you so much for your prayers and your financial support. YOU
are making a difference here! Bless you!
Fr. Bob and Meg
To see more photos,
click here
Download this newsletter as a PDF (252KB).
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