Update Letter - December 2011

Merry Christmas!

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.'" Luke 2:8-11 

Peace to you in this joyous season. I feel especially blessed this year to spend Christmas with my family in Colorado because the day I arrived, my beautiful new niece was born. What a sweet and awesome blessing to be near her in her first 2 weeks of life. I have really enjoyed cuddling with her and marveling at the miracle of her birth and tiny little features. And I can't help but think about the birth of the King of Kings over 2000 years ago... the Great Almighty in the form of a tiny, helpless child - the ultimate demonstration of incarnational love. 

My most favorite part of the Christmas story is the manner in which God the Father decided to send his Son to this world. The Jewish people expected the Savior to come as a powerful king, possessing an authority that no one would dare question, crushing his enemies and treading on the heads of the unrighteous. But the Lord had different plans. He chose a young, poor, unmarried girl to carry and give birth to the Messiah. He staged the epic event in an unimpressive, dirty stable. And he chose to reveal the news of Jesus' birth to a ragtag bunch of 'scum of the earth' shepherds. God chose the most meek and unlikely cast of characters to begin the story of redemption for ALL people, especially the weak, lowly, and forgotten of the world - and what great news it is!

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:1-3

I am incredibly grateful for your love and support! May the gracious Lord draw near to you in this season and bring to you great joy and many blessings. Merry Christmas!

Joyful, Joyful!

We just concluded our fall quarter of the SP internship and celebrated with a special rendition of "Joyful, Joyful" from Sister Act 2. It's been a great quarter of settling deeper into ministry and community here in LA and beginning to look towards the future. Moving into this discernment season is exciting, but bittersweet since it will mean leaving the community that I've grown to love so much! 

Bolivia!

In November, a teammate and I completed a site visit to Bolivia. We had the opportunity to visit several ministries and witness the many ways in which God is at work in the city. The trip was very helpful in reaffirming my call to La Paz and I'm currently considering three different options to serve longterm in Bolivia after the internship. Check out my blog to see pictures, videos, and stories from our trip!

Prayer Requests:

- That I would stay present and finish well in L.A.
- That I would continue to be challenged and grow
- That I would hear from the Lord as I start to discern my future in Bolivia

Baby Blessing

I traveled to Colorado on Tuesday to spend time with my family... and 2 hours after I arrived, my new niece Lilah Jane Fraze was born! Wow... she has great timing! What a sweet blessing to be here to meet her on her first day in the world! It really is an incredible miracle to witness the wonders of such a new little life. We've already had some great cuddle times... and it's so fun to just hold her and marvel at her beauty. :) I feel so lucky to be a TIA, again! Enjoy these pictures of her first 2 days!

What's Next?

It’s been a couple of weeks since my site visit to Bolivia. Since returning home, I’ve been overwhelmed with the busyness of everyday life, but also drawn into contemplation about my potential future in Bolivia. I am learning to live in the tension of discerning my call for the future, but also staying fully present to my internship and community in Los Angeles. While the Lord increases my excitement for what’s next, I realize that there is still work to be done here and now. I don’t want to take that opportunity for granted.

All that said… I am also being sure to take some time for discernment and prayer about God’s call on my life to Bolivia. It was such a pleasure to be back in the place that I love so much. The Lord really reaffirmed my deep longing and compassion for that place. I feel like he is giving me the go ahead and calling me to take a step forward in faith. At this point, there seem to be three options that stand out to me as far as ministry opportunities in La Paz. I’d like to outline these options briefly (in no particular order) for you so that you can see where I’m at and begin to pray with me about when and how to return to Bolivia.

Option #1 – Word Made Flesh (WMF). I was really impressed with this ministry. The organization has similar values as Servant Partners to minister to the urban poor. They seek to come alongside the least and be a real and practical demonstration of the love of Christ. There are a handful of reasons that this particular ministry appeals to me.  First, I feel a compassion and potential call to the demographic that they work with. The ministry is focused on women in prostitution and providing an avenue of escape and restoration. They have a house near the red light district in El Alto and really focus on holistic healing and discipleship. They are also getting ready to launch a kids program for all of the young children of the women in the program. I am also drawn to the structure and clear objectives of the ministry. And as an organization, WMF really stresses discipleship in community. The staff lives in a very intimate, communal, and learning posture.

Option #2 – Serving In Mission (SIM). We didn’t get to spend a ton of time with this ministry, but we were able to connect with a couple of the SIM missionaries and were very encouraged by their ministry and commitment. The organization is very well established and has been working in Bolivia for over 100 years! As an organization, their strength lies in their experience and their diversity. The team working in La Paz is multi-generational and focused mostly on church planting and leadership development. But the best thing about SIM is that my good friends, Randy and Dani, will most likely be returning to La Paz under this organization early next year to continue their ministry with shoe shiners. While the organization in general does not have a specific focus on the urban poor, Randy and Dani have made this demographic their focus and it would be great to join them in this work, especially to a group of people that have really captured my heart.

Option #3 – Servant Partners (SP). Over the last year and a half of working under Servant Partners, I have really grown to love their mission, values, and connection to the leading of the Spirit. While a relatively new ministry, the staff is focused and passionate about bringing hope to the urban poor. I especially value and appreciate their model of incarnation, being committed to actually live alongside the poorest of the poor.  The only problem is that SP does not currently have a site in La Paz. They are open to talking about what it could look like to start a site, but first they would need a site leader and a team. I do not personally feel called or gifted to act as a team leader at this point, so would need someone else to step up and join me. The prospect of starting a new SP site is also appealing because while I am not a visionary and don’t really have the gift of apostleship, I love partnering with people that are gifted in this way. I love being involved in starting new things and addressing new issues in ministry.

Lots of cool options, right? I’m on a plane right now heading to CO to visit my family for Christmas and to welcome my new niece into the world! (My sis-in-law is in labor right now!) I’m going to meet up with my friends Randy and Dani in Denver and take through some of these options. I’m really excited to dream with them and get some wise counsel from these gifted and experienced friends. And I would appreciate your prayers as I move into a more intentional season of discernment. I’m hoping to nail down a tentative timeline soon and take a big step of faith towards getting to the field! 

Copacabana

Towards the end of our time in Bolivia, Keo and I had planned to take a short trip to the town of Copacabana on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It was originally meant to be a time of rest and reflection... but it ended up turning into more of an outreach excursion. We had invited our host Ramiro, and a couple of other guys that had helped to host us and take us around to the various ministries. Ramiro ended up not being able to go because of work commitments, so instead we took 4 of the shoeshiner guys and one of their sons. While I wouldn't necessarily call it restful, the trip was super fun and a great time with friends!

We took a minibus out of La Paz on Sunday afternoon. It was raining pretty good and sprinkled on and off throughout the journey. About 2 hours down the road we had to get off of the minibus and cross the "strait" by boat. Then we met up with our minibus on the other side and finished the last hour of the journey to Copa. We got into town around 7pm. We found a couple of rooms to rent for SUPER cheap ($1.50 per person), got settled, and then headed out for some grub. We each downed a plate of "silpancho" and then we took a stroll through the town and down to the shore of the lake. it was a chilly night, but fun to hang out, talk, and take in the scenery (which we knew was there, but couldn't necessary see).

The next morning, we rallied the troops and headed out to the market for breakfast. We enjoyed some "api", "cafe con leche", and some delicious fried dough. Thankfully the rain had passed and it was a beautiful sunny day. After breakfast, we headed over to a nearby hill that has a really cool hike of the stations of the cross. There were incredible views of the whole town and the lake from the top! ...but sadly I forgot to bring my camera on the hike. Sorry! After exploring the top for a while, we gathered and shared in a time of prayer and devotional. Rafa shared some thoughts with us and then we prayed for the Lord to be with us and teach us to walk in his ways. It was really cool to see the guys take ownership over their own discipleship.

Then we headed back to the hostel to check out and grab our things. Then we headed back down to the shore of the lake and found a dude with a boat that offered to take us out to "the floating islands". The boat ride took about 30 minutes. The islands weren't all that impressive, but that's ok, because we had really come for the fresh trout lunch! They had a series of nets attached to the man-made island which contained hundreds of trout. The dude on the island fished out a huge bunch of fish and then selected the biggest ones for us to eat. After we had our photo shoot with the trout, he cut and cleaned the fish and gave them to the cook to fry up for us! Talk about FRESH! While we waited for our lunch, we stuck our toes in the water and Keo even got up the guts to jump in. Looked like fun, but way too cold for the rest of us! In a matter of minutes our fish was fried and on our plates. I was so excited! ...so much so that I totally forgot to get a picture of the delicious fish on our plates. But let me tell you... it was SO GOOD. Before we left the island, we scurried up a little nearby hill and took some scenic pics.

After arriving back to Copacabana, we still had some time to enjoy the town before we had to head back to La Paz. We decided to rent a kayak and a paddle boat and play in the lake for a while. It was really fun to play and enjoy the sunshine! We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the town, walking through the cathedral, and enjoying some ice cream. Around 5pm, we decided to look for transportation back to La Paz. The journey back to the city was quite eventful... but we eventually made it home after a super fun excursion!

Lustrabotas

Since our host in Bolivia is the head of the lustrabota (shoeshiner) ministry called Kayuparu, we spent lots of time with shoeshiners. I loved hanging out with these guys because these are people that I spent so much time with during my internship with Youth for Christ in 2006. Since this last stint of ministry in Bolivia, God has done an incredible work of redemption among this population of men. The shoeshiner population in Bolivia is an often overlooked and/or condemned people. Their work is often seen as lowly or shameful and many shoeshiners wear ski masks to conceal their identity and protect themselves and their families from shame. Often, shoeshiners are viewed as drunks, thieves, and a general nuisance to society. These are the guys that I really grew to know and love during my time in Bolivia. I felt loved and protected by these new friends of mine and longed for the redemption of their reputations and their souls.

When we first started studying the bible with shoeshiners in La Paz in 2006, there was one self-professed Christian in the bunch - David. My missionary friend, Randy, dedicated his ministry to this population of shoeshiners and was an incredible example of Christ's love for these guys. Randy started discipling a small group of shoeshiners, but saw very little fruit from his long, hard labor of love before he returned to the States for a season. But the seeds were most definitely planted. Our host, Ramiro, was one of Randy's disciples and has been completely transformed by the love of Christ. It's absolutely incredible to witness this changed soul. And now, Ramiro is acting as the leader of the ministry to the shoeshiners. His heart is to see the redemption and salvation of his friends and brothers. Though the strongholds of darkness are many in this population, transformation is occurring and light is pouring in.

On Tuesday evenings Ramiro leads a group of the guys and friends in ministry on a prayer walk around the city. They cry out and intercede for their friends - on the soccer court, at the shoeshiner project, on the streets where the guys shine, etc. Ramiro is leading them to boldly proclaim the promises of Christ and plead for the salvation of their friends. What an incredible experience to prayer with these guys! I was overwhelmed with joy while witnessing my old friends interact with the Almighty and cry out to him without shame or doubt. Praise God for the incredible work he has and is doing among these men. The fields are ripe for harvest and I eagerly await to see the Lord continue to move in a powerful way.

It was also a great joy to introduce Keo to this wonderful group of people. In addition to hanging out with the guys, playing soccer with them, sharing meals with them, travelling with them, we were able to truly experience the world of a shoeshiner by putting on a mask and going to the streets to work. A friend, Rafa, acted as our guide and teacher. He taught us how to properly shine, how to interact with the clients, and gave us many opportunities to practice our new skills. I had shined once or twice before, but it was great to get more experience. And it was so cool to hear more of Rafa's testimony. He left shoeshining for a while, but felt like God was calling him back to it. God has given him a renewed passion and has redeemed this work for him, calling all good work holy in the eyes of the Lord. What a blessing to work with such a pro! He really enjoys his work and delights in his customers. God has given this man great joy in his work and has made him a great example for others.

The shoeshiner population is still very near and dear to my heart. If the opportunity arises, I would love to continue working alongside this ministry. There is a great need also for people to labor in ministry among the female shoeshiners. This need will remain in my heart and prayers as I discern the Lord's will for my future work in Bolivia.

Ministry with Niños!

During our time in Bolivia, we visited several ministries that work with kids. Being that Keo and I both currently work with kids here in LA, it was very exciting to see some of the ways that God is at work among the children of La Paz and El Alto.

First, we visited a small church in El Alto called Bethesda. During the week, the church hosts an after/before school program. The kids in the city only go to school for a half day, so for the other half of the day, they hang out at the church - working on homework and doing other assignments. The church also has several small business ventures (sewing, baking, and chocolate-making) that they are using to train women in the community in new skills and bring in some income for the after-school program. They also have a micro-finance business for women in the community. The ministry hopes to become self-sufficient with the help of all of these small businesses and a blessing and financial help to the members of the church and surrounding neighborhood. It was very exciting to hear about everything that they are doing. The ministry has been around for about a decade and they emphasized that it was been a very slow road to growth, but the Lord continues to provide for their work as they take small steps of faith.

Our day with the ministry was really great. We shared a warm drink and snack with the pastor and program director when we arrived and learned more about the kids and their vision for the ministry. Then we got a tour of their facilities and learned more about each of their business ventures. Then we got to spend about 30 mins in one of the younger classes, hanging out with the kids and helping them color and construct little paper houses "built on the rock". Then we were able to buy a mid-morning snack of salteñas and soda for the kids. What a joy to provide this special treat for them. Then we went up to the high school class, introduced ourselves, told them about our desire to learn more about God's work in Bolivia, and answered many questions that they had about American culture and education. We felt a little like movie stars. We ended our time with the ministry by meeting once again with the pastor and program director. We discussed their needs and desires for the future and asked questions about the spiritual climate of the city and the ways in which the city is still in bondage to darkness and in need of the liberation of Christ.

We were very inspired and encouraged by the work of this ministry. God is most definitely at work in that place. It was difficult, however, to envision ourselves working in a full time capacity for the ministry. The ministry is fully Bolivian run and operated. It seems that the ways in which a foreigner might be most useful is in partnership and getting the word out about their ministry, providing connections and support. Bethesda was a great example of a holistic approach to ministry and could potentially be a great partner in ministry if a Servant Partners site were to launch in the city. So, we'll keep that in mind for now.

The second kids ministry that we visited was called Qhanawara, which is a K-6 after-school program on the outskirts of El Alto. The community that it served was very humble and was so far out of the city, that it was starting to look more rural and agricultural. I think the program was started by a Swiss woman in partnership with the Bolivian community. They have a handful of Bolivian teachers and counselors for the kids. The space was small and humble, but it was obvious that the kids were cared for and enjoyed the safe and encouraging environment.

The day we visited happened to be the last day of the semester in which they had invited the parents to come and see all of the work that they had done over the last few months and presented certificates to all of the kids. It was really fun to see all of the impressive crafts that the kids had completed throughout the year. Also, the youngest kids performed a rendition of "the boy who cried wolf" - which had Keo and I rolling with laughter. They were so cute in their sheep masks and especially cute when they hugged each other in fear of the wolf. Man, I wish we had a video of it... so funny! After the ceremony, we hung out and shared a meal with everyone. Then we went out to the courtyard and played soccer with a bunch of the boys. I love how easy it is to connect with people over soccer! ...too bad more girls don't play. :(

Again, we were very encouraged and inspired by the ministry of Qhanawara. They are providing a great service to the children and the community. It is a place of love and proclamation of the love of Christ. But again, it was hard to see where we could fit into the ministry. It is a small, Bolivian run ministry that seems to be doing very well on its own. It doesn't seem very natural for a foreigner to come into a full time position with the program. But again, it is a great ministry that could be a good potential partner is ministry among the community at large. It is a ministry that I would love to visit and get to know more in the future.

Finally, on our last day in Bolivia, we visited a ministry called Kaya Children International, which works with street children in La Paz. They have three homes for boys and an after-school program. They have done a good amount of street outreach in the past in which they meet the kids and invite them off of the streets. At this point though, they seem to be more focused on the children that they currently have in their program, supporting them as they learn to live in a house with a "family". Each of the houses has 8-12 boys and an adult couple that act in a parental role for the boys. They intentionally keep the numbers very low in the houses in order to limit the chaos and focus their energies - quality over quantity. Because of these small, focused houses, they have had really good success rates of boys making it through the entire program and successfully entering healthy adulthood.

During our visit, we ate lunch at the after-school program and met some of the kids. We got to talk with one of the full time staff (an American missionary kid) about the program and learned more about their current work of reaching out to the families of the kids. Despite having housing options of the kids, their ultimate goal is always to be in communication with the family in hopes of reintegrating the kids with their biological parents. While the family situations are often quite broken, they hope and work towards redemption and healing of this relationship. It's a difficult and often messy ministry. But we were encouraged by their hearts and passion to work with this very vulnerable population. They are a large and growing ministry with many opportunities to join in the work. For some reason, I didn't really feel called to join this ministry, but I'm still going to keep them in mind for now.

Farewell, Bolivia

Keo and I really enjoyed our time in Bolivia. It was an incredible blessing to fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Bolivia. We met so many incredible ministries and can really see ourselves working in Bolivia in the future. I was so sad to have to say goodbye to my favorite place once again, but I was also left feeling excited and hopeful for the future. It's possible that the next time I head to La Paz, it could be for a long-term assignment. Until then, I will try to keep all of my memories at the front of my mind and the coca tea close... 

Again, thank you so much for following our travels. I will try to post a few more updates about the events and ministries that I have yet to talk about during our trip, so stay tuned for that! Que Dios les bendiga! :)

How to eat a Saltena :)

Enferma

Tuesday night Keo started to have some nasty belly pain and diarrhea. We prayed together that night, asking God to heal her body and allow us to continue with our plans. In the morning she felt a little bit better, but still a little nauseous, so we prayed again. She felt better, so we got ready and caught transportation up to El Alto to spend the morning with Word Made Flesh. Almost immediately after we arrived in El Alto, the nausea and pain flared up again. We shared some coca tea with one of the staff and then Keo spent most of the morning lying down between trips to the bathroom. We joined in for the staff devotional about submission, and then helped out a bit in the kitchen, preparing everything for the lunch with the women. It was really great to sit with a family during lunch and get to know them a little bit and laugh together. I was really impressed by the amount of trust that these women have with the WMF staff. It’s clear that they know they are loved and cared for in that place.

After lunch Keo was feeling worse again. Thankfully, there was a doctor at the house and she was able to prescribe some antibiotics for Keo. Then we had to say some quick goodbyes and gingerly make our way to find transportation back down to La Paz. It was a long and windy trip, leaving Keo feeling even nastier. We finally made it down the hill, and walked back to the apartment. Keo crawled in bed while I ran a couple of errands to the bank, pharmacy, grocery, and phone. The rest of the afternoon was spent hanging around the house, trying to support to Keo, and trying to figure out if we should take any further action to get her well.

I was starting to have my own little battle of faith. Just a couple of nights ago we had read the passage from Matthew 7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Why, Lord, is Keo sick in bed still after we cried out to you and asked for healing? We’ve already had to cancel a couple of meetings… why does she have to be sick in bed during our limited time in Bolivia? Lord, help me to have your eyes and see your plan.

Keo was getting pretty weak and desperate for healing. Ramiro got off work really late, but he stopped by to see how Keo was doing and if she wanted to go to the hospital. When he arrived, Keo was feeling a little better and stronger and felt like she could make it through the night. She had just started her antibiotics prescription and was hopeful that it would help. Ramiro prayed over Keo and asked for healing and peace. We read a psalm together and she went to sleep.

This morning Keo is feeling much stronger. Her stomach still seems a little goofy and she’s probably pretty dehydrated. We’re going to take it slow today and hope she is completely better by tonight. Please lift up Keo in prayer. Pray for healing and restoration. Pray that the Lord would continue to be our comfort and our strength. Thanks so much.

Word Made Flesh

Hello again! Thanks for checking back often for updates. Keo and I went up to El Alto today to meet with the Word Made Flesh staff. It was a really great time of fellowship and learning more about their work. We took a walk through the red light district, which is right behind their center. It didn't look like much during the middle of the day, but it was upsetting to think about how the scene changes at night and the culture of explotation that is so widely accepted in the city. We learned so much from the WMF staff about their work with prostitutes and the joys and stuggles of ministry in the city. Keo and I both felt very welcomed and at home in their center and are very encouraged by their ministry. Enjoy the following video reflection from Keo! Love you. More updates to come soon! :)

 

And here are a few pictures of the house! It's so beautiful!

Some video clips

We found a small German bakery near our apartment with Wifi! Yay! Enjoy the following fun videos:

And here's the view from our place!

We had a great time at church this morning, receiving the Word and praising God. We met a few gringos at church and had several random connections with them! So crazy. Then we went out with a bunch of people from church for saltenas. Yum!

Hemos llegado a La Paz!

We have safely arrived in La Paz! We have some fun videos to show you from our journey and our accomodations... but I cannot get the computer to access my camera. Hopefully we´ll get this figured out soon and can share the videos! For now... we just ask for your prayers in regard to health and acclimation to the altitude. My head is pounding! :( Things are about to get busy, but we will try to update as often as possible. Nos vemos pronto!

A Little Interview

Hi there. Just wanted to post this if you all are interested. One of my staff asked if she could do a short interview with me about my upcoming trip to Bolivia for a video update to her prayer supporters. You can see the update post on her blog, or you can just head over to youtube to see the interview.

Thanks again for your love and support. Just over 2 days until we board the plane! If I don't "see" you again on this side of the equator before Friday, greetings are soon to come from the south side.... ;)

8 Days to Bolivia

We are just 8 days away from landing in La Paz!


Keo and I have been earnestly preparing, not only the schedule and the logistics of the trip, but also our hearts. Each Monday for the past 2 months we meet to pray, Skype with Ramiro (a dear brother-in-Christ who’s been helping us make connections in Bolivia), and share how God is working in our lives. These times have been very refreshing and exciting. I am looking forward to meeting and fellowshipping w/ fellow brothers and sisters-in-Christ in Bolivia. I’m looking forward to visiting a couple of churches, non-profits, missionaries, and getting a general feel for the spiritual climate of La Paz and El Alto. 

Some prayer requests Keo and I have are:

1. Last minute scheduling
2. Conversation w/ SP Director - how to investigate a new site
3. Travel and Health
4. Funds - Keo and I are at about 60% of the $3,000 total we need to raise. I have approximately $600 that I personally need to raise.

Thank you already for your generosity and your prayers. I am so grateful for your support that enables me to go on this trip. Thank you for being part of this journey of discernment with me. We will be updating and reflecting regularly while we are there. Please check my blog for updates!

To Learn More:
About Bolivia
About Kaya Children International
About Word Made Flesh
About SIM (Serving In Mission)

About Kayuparu

Willing to Sacrifice

It sure is tough to find time to blog these days! I've been wanting to write this blog for a few days now... I'm going to jot down my thoughts since I have some time and hopefully they come together and make sense.

This past weekend, my team and I traveled to Pomona, CA for a weekend prayer retreat. These quarterly retreats have been super fruitful for me over the past year and I am really grateful for these scheduled times to reflect, pray, and rest. After eating dinner on Friday, we were encouraged to spend a little time with God, asking him to speak about what he might want to do with us over the weekend. As I was praying and reflecting during this time, a very interesting, and seemingly random passage of Scripture came to mind. It was the one about God calling Abraham to take his son Isaac up to the mountain to sacrifice him. If you're not familiar with the story, check out it out here:

Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 22 - New International Version 1984

Now, if you know the story, you know how huge of a request this was for God to make of Abraham. Not only was this his one and only son, it was the fulfillment of God's promise to bless Abraham and his wife Sarah and all generations by making Abraham the "father of many nations". Abraham was 100 years old when God finally blessed Sarah and Abraham with a son. Now he was asking Abraham to give up this miraculous gift! And even more miraculously, Abraham obeyed God's command without a single doubt or question.

Now, when this verse came to mind, I was a little confused. I hadn't read this passage for a couple of years probably and it didn't seem very relevant to me. But it seemed quite poignant and I did not question that God wanted to speak to me through this passage that He brought to my mind. After some reflection and prayer, it seems to me that God may have brought this passage to mind in reference to my upcoming trip to Bolivia. I've been passionate about Bolivia for 8 years now and have been anxiously awaiting the day when the Lord might call me to make a long-term commitment to this place. I felt like God was telling me to check my posture toward Bolivia. Am I placing too much hope and emphasis on Bolivia? Do I view my call toward Bolivia as a gift from God? Am I willing to sacrifice this call if God calls me to do so? Is my first and greatest desire to know, love, and obey God?

At first, I was a little worried that God was closing the door to Bolivia, but I don't think this is his intention. Rather, He is calling me to go to Bolivia with right and sober judgement. He is the one that gave me the call to Bolivia and I need to recognize it as a gift from Him. God is my first love and He knows my heart. If I am able to hold my desires and His promises with open hands, He will know that I love and fear Him above all else.

I'm still working through this, but I am challenged and encouraged by this word. It's always good to check my motives and it seems an appropriate time as I prepare to make a discernment trip to Bolivia. May your will be done, Father. Either way, I want to love you and obey you.

Crime

Last Saturday, Tabor and I attempted to Sabbath together again. We got a later start than we wanted to, but eventually purchased metro day passes to explore the city by public transit. Unfortunately, the coffee shop we were planning to try out closed at 4pm, just about an hour before we got there... :( We decided to continue the adventure by hopping on the train up to Pasadena. We got some yummy dinner and coffee and explored a little bit. Then a friend of Tabor's picked us up with a couple of her friends and took us back to her place for pumpkin cookies and a movie.

We ended up finally leaving Pasadena around 10pm. We had planned out our return journey and decided it was fine to head back late since we wouldn't be passing through any particularly dangerous areas and would be dropped off by the bus only a block from my apartment. Due to many unforseen variables, the journey took much longer than expected... finally arriving home around 1230am! It was on the final leg of our journey that we were reminded of why being out late, especially on foot and public transit is not advised. We got off the subway about two miles north of where we live, planning to catch a bus just across the street right to my house. When we got up to ground level we found that the main road, Vermont, was completely closed off by cop cars, there were 3 helicopters circling the area with their spotlights shining, and squad cars were flying all over the place with their lights and sirens on. We had no idea what was going on... and neither did anyone else. Despite all of the apparent chaos, the road and sidewalks were packed, just like any other Saturday night. After waiting for our bus for about 20 mins (right at the corner where traffic was being diverted off of the main road), we decided that the bus might be turning off a block or two up the road. We headed up a block and found a big group of people eagerly awaiting our bus. The bus finally rolled up just before midnight. Thankfully, we soon arrived at my house, much later than expected, but safe and sound.

It was killing me not to know what was going on up the road on Vermont. I told Tabor to see if she could find anything on the internet when I dropped her off at her house and to text me if she found anything. She texted me and I just had to read the story for myself. It sounded fake... 2 undercover cops intervene after witnessing a gang-related shooting, both end up getting shot, one of the shooters gets caught and the other is running loose through Koreatown. Check out the story for yourself:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/10/two-undercover-police-officers-shot-wounded-in-koreatown.html

Even though I was completely exhausted from the day, I ended up staying up for another hour perusing the Neighborhood/Crime section of the LA Times website. I found a section that specified all of the homicides that have occurred in my neighborhood since 2007 - the most recent occurring just this past July. I looked up all of the violent and property crimes reported over the last several weeks in my neighborhood - including the Grand Theft Auto of one of my teammates cars, which occurred while we were in Oakland over Labor Day weekend. Then I compared my neighborhood to several others in South LA. My neighborhood is pretty bad, but the worst crime neighborhoods are just a little further south of me. I was shocked by the stats and found myself fighting feelings of fear and despair.

When you walk the streets of my neighborhood in broad daylight and stick to the safety of your home after dark, it's easy to forget the chaos and violence of the streets. It's a dark and broken world - full of violence and oppression. And while there are many reasons to despair, I want to be a person that does not let go of hope. Because one day, God will redeem this fallen world and set all things right. I am reminded of the sermon that I gave for my internship class...

17 "See, I will create 
   new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
   nor will they come to mind.
¹⁸ But be glad and rejoice forever
   in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
   and its people a joy.
¹⁹ I will rejoice over Jerusalem
   and take delight in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying
   will be heard in it no more." (Isaiah 65:17-19)

I refuse to live in fear. I refuse to lose hope. I choose to be glad and rejoice in what the Lord will create. For He is a God that redeems all things.... and not just in the idealized New Heavens and New Earth, but here and now. Join me in praying for my neighborhood.

Update Letter - September 2011

Hello and happy fall to you! It's great to finally be able to connect with you and send you an update about life and work here in South Los Angeles. The past few months have felt like a whirlwind! We finished the spring quarter of the internship, had a month off from meetings, worked on our gifts projects, completed personal development plans for the coming year, and finally restarted our regular meetings just last night! I also had the incredible blessing of a great visit from a Colorado friend and a trip home for yet another friend's wedding and my nephew's 3rd birthday! There are so many stories I could tell, but unfortunately time and space is just too limited. Please read on to hear about some incredible and exciting plans for the coming year of the Servant Partners internship, including a quickly-approaching site visit to Bolivia!

My South LA internship class with the Oakland internship class. We finally had the opportunity to meet and hang out with them in Oakland over Labor Day weekend!


Unlocking my Giftedness...
We spent the majority of the summer working on our gifts projects. Our investigation involved reading a book about spiritual gifts, taking several personal surveys from the book, asking for input from close family, friends, and ministry partners, writing up our findings, and meeting with SP staff and selected teammates to discuss our projects. The whole process was very helpful. We determined that my most prominent and utilized spiritual gift is that of mercy, which is often accompanied by whatever other behind-the-scenes gifts that are necessary to love people well, meet felt needs, and respond to situations of pain and injustice. I was also pleasantly surprised to discover a deep desire and bent towards a few of the word-focused spiritual gifts - especially exhortation, pastoring, and possibly teaching. I realized, while I love being present to people in pain, I really desire to be able to increase my care for people through words of truth and encouragement. While this desire exists in my heart, I am often hindered by a lack of confidence and authority. A reorientation of my mindset is required in order to step into my God-given authority.

In response to the many discoveries of my gifts project, I have put together a development plan for the final 9 months of the Servant Partners internship. You can read more about the specifics of that plan on my blog, but it heavily focuses on a few areas - growing in spiritual disciplines of abstention/rest, stepping into teaching and leadership opportunities in order to grow in confidence and authority, and an intentional investigation into post-internship overseas ministry opportunities in Bolivia! I am so grateful for the structures of this internship which are very specifically designed to allow me the time and space to address areas of needed growth in my life and pursue whatever plans the Lord would have for me in this life.

In July, I joined a few of my teammates for an adventure to Sequoia National Park. It was so refreshing to get out of the city for a couple of days and I was blown away by the wonder and beauty of the mountains. Reminded me of home...

Yes, BOLIVIA!!!
Since first traveling to La Paz, Bolivia with a short-term team after high school, the place and people of this very special South American country have held a prominent place in my heart. I've journeyed back to La Paz 3 times since this initial visit, including a 6-month stint during college. And no matter where I've found myself over the last several years, the hope to return to Bolivia always seems to be present. I am happy to say that the time has come! As part of my development plan, I have set the goal of completing a "site visit" to Bolivia and considering a possible long-term call to ministry in Bolivia! Yes, very exciting! I feel very blessed to tell you that one of my teammates, Keo, has decided to join me on this reconnaissance trip. It has been a great experience to be able to pray, plan, and process everything with her. We've also been able to connect with a good friend of mine in Bolivia who has been a HUGE help in terms of establishing contacts and a schedule for our time in La Paz. All this to say... we have purchased our tickets to Bolivia and we will be leaving in about a month and a half (traveling November 11-24)!!!


We plan to meet with a hand full of ministries in La Paz that are already ministering in some capacity to the urban poor, but we are also going with the intention of getting a feel for the spiritual climate of La Paz, identifying a few of the biggest felt needs of the poor, and visioning whether or not it might be appropriate to lobby for a future Servant Partners site in La Paz. There are many logistics to pull together in a short amount of time and we would greatly appreciate your partnership. We would invite you to support us during our trip through specific and faithful prayers. If you would be interested in partnering in this way, please contact me so that I can send you a couple of very specific prayer requests. I would also be very blessed if you would consider partnering with me financially in this endeavor. Including airfare, travel, food, etc., we are estimating a total cost of about $1,500 for each of us to participate in this site visit. If it is on your heart to give in this way, please let me know. Please contact me so we can talk about the logistics of your gift.

Me and my teammate Keo! We have lots of fun together and I am so excited that she will be joining me for our site visit to Bolivia. Partnership is such a blessing!

It's surreal to think that this trip could lead to, not just another short-term missions "experience", but a long-term commitment to a country and a people for which I feel such deep cariño y compasión. Thank you for considering partnering with me and my teammate Keo, in whichever way you are able, in this exciting and humbling endeavor.

Gratefully yours,
Ali Fraze

Please pray for:
- Logistics of trip to Bolivia (visas, accomodations, schedule, finances, etc.)
- Rest and solitude in a very busy season
- Growth as a teacher and a leader
- A good semester with my students at the tutoring center
- Follow through on development plan
- A good and fruitful last year of the internship

Development Plan

As we move into the second year of the Servant Partners internship, our individual ministry will be influenced by our personal development plans. After getting some great insights from our gifts projects, we were encouraged to determine a few areas that we would like to work on developing further. These areas could be primarily ministry focused or they could be primarily focused on personal healing and growth.

In response to my findings in the gifts project, there are a few things that seemed to stand out to me in terms of areas that could use some growth. First, I'd like to learn to be a bit more self-aware and self-caring. Second, I'd like to work on growing in confidence and authority and developing some of the potential word gifts - teaching, pastoring, exhortation. And finally, I'd like to move forward in determining whether or not God might be calling me to a long-term ministry role in Bolivia. All of this is addressed in my personal development plan. If you are interested in the specifics, please see below.

I am really looking forward to this year! I have high hopes for the ways that the Lord will grow and stretch me in new ways.

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Development Plan 08/17/2011

Ali Fraze, SPLAT second year intern

This past year of the internship has been full of challenges, surprises, and opportunities to grow. I am so thankful for these opportunities and really want to press into more of these places so that I can be faithful in this season of character building and preparation for whatever is next. A few of the areas that seem especially pressing in this season are growing in using my words, overcoming feelings of timidity and inadequacy, and learning to better understand myself and how I interact with and experience God.

The following are some of the ways that I believe God might be calling me to grow in these areas.

HHH (Healthy Holy Habits):

- Commit to journaling each night to grow in self-reflection (Daily Examen)

- Aim to block out a 12-hr chunk each week to devote to Sabbath (partner w/ Tabor, either literally or by means of accountability)

- Try out a quarterly personal retreat for prayer and reflection (partner w/ Tabor)

Ministry:

- Commit to a second year of teaching at the Adventures Ahead after-school program to grow in teaching, leadership, and authority.

- Continue to stay plugged into Children’s ministry at Redeemer as a means of developing teaching gifts and maintaining relationships w/ Friday night kids

- Look into possibly tutoring and/or developing a mentor relationship with my young neighbor friend

- Keep up with the aerobics class. I don’t really intend to go in with a “ministry” purpose, but it’s a great way to meet more women in the neighborhood, and I enjoy it!

Future:

- Research ministries currently working with the urban poor in La Paz, Bolivia

- Contact interesting ministries and make arrangements to meet with them while in Bolivia to get a vision of their work and team dynamics

- Complete a site visit to Bolivia!

Reading:

- Sabbath Keeping by Lynne M. Baab

- No Graven Image by Elisabeth Elliot

Mentors:

- Talk to someone who has overcome fear/timidity/anxiety in order to minister more effectively

- Talk to someone who can give me wisdom in regards to growing in leadership and authority

Burned!

I've been awake for almost this entire night thanks to an incredibly painful sunburn. I don't know if I've ever experienced anything quite as uncomfortable... even breaking my collarbone seemed less intense (though maybe that had something to do with all of the drugs I was on). I have been writhing in pain in my bed, completely uncomfortable, but afraid to move for fear of angering the nasty burn even further. The worst part of my sunburn is located on the back of my thighs. And it is really nasty because I can feel that my skin is physically swollen.

I feel especially frustrated and burned by the situation because I got sunburned during what was supposed to be a relaxing and life-giving sabbath at the beach. My teammate Tabor and I have been partnering with each other to learn how to instill a good rhythm of weekly sabbath. We have completed 2 weeks at this point, but both weeks were somewhat ruined by unexpected circumstances. This feels like an attach from the enemy. I am doing my best to honor God's command to make the seventh day holy and set apart for him, but seem to be discouraged by circumstances in this effort. While I am somewhat disheartened, I am also excited about the prospect of continuing this practice. Tabor and I are committed to keeping each other accountable to this discipline for the rest of our time in the SP internship. And practice makes perfect, right? I'm really hoping that practicing the sabbath will eventually turn into an enjoyable and life-giving experience - one that causes me to yearn for this day of rest each and every week.