Dear Family,
You may be aware that a team of people from Family Bible Church and others departed on Sunday to serve the Lord in Bolivia. After arriving at the Bolivian airport this morning they were detained for lacking the proper stamp on their visas (a new and undisclosed requirement). As I write 13 hours later, 13 team members and their luggage are still confined to a 12’x18′ room awaiting final word on whether they will be allowed to enter the country or be sent home. Our team has Bolivian partners who are working hard to obtain what is needed for entry. Everyone is okay, just very tired.
Please, please pray that our team will be approved by customs and immigration for entry in the morning. I have no idea what the Lord is doing in these circumstances. I am reminded of at least two situations in which the apostle Paul was prevented by the Lord from doing what he wanted to do to serve him (Acts 16:6-7), or detained at length while doing what the Lord clearly wanted him to do (Acts 23:11; 24:26-27). The Lord’s purposes in what he does with us while we are serving him are not always clear, especially at the time. But it is clear that we are to pray and not give up praying.
So let us pray for our team’s entry into Bolivia, for patient endurance for them, and that whatever happens they will bring honor to Christ’s name by their conduct. I will post as I hear of further developments.
Pastor Colin