Check it out!

Several people have expressed interest in sending care packages to Bolivia! I know it can be pretty expensive to send a package all the way to South America, but I cannot tell you how HUGELY encouraging they can be! And if you don't have the dough to send a package, a letter or postcard is also an incredible blessing!

In order to help you in your care package assembly, I have included a short list of highly desirable items. (Check out the new side bar to the right!) I will change/add/subtract items as needs/cravings change. To keep in mind... there is no guarantee that your letter/package will actually arrive within the estimated time or even at all, so please don't send anything extremely valuable or perishable.

Any other questions, please feel free to comment or send me an email! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Language School

So I just finished my six weeks of language school in Cochabamba. Sadly, I'm no expert in Spanish yet. BUT, I did see some improvement and it was a great review of all of the grammar rules that I learned back in high school. I'm pretty confident that I have all of the information I need to really succeed in the language. All I need now is LOTS of everyday conversation to build up the confidence and fluidity that I lack.

I really enjoyed the language school. There was an amazing team of teachers. Each of us students had 4 one-on-one classes per day with different teachers and then we got a whole new team of teachers every two weeks. Each teacher had a unique style and strength. In addition to language classes, there were lots of other fun activities organized through the school. We had Bolivian folkloric dance classes on Wednesday afternoons and volleyball on Thursday afternoons. I also got to hike one of the nearby peaks (Mt. Tunari) with a group of students, guided by one of the maintenance staff. The language school was a really beautiful and unique community experience.

My favorite part of my experience in language school was the amazing people that I got to meet. There were students from all over the world, many of whom were Catholic Church workers. Though our time together was short, we really got to know each other and enjoy each other. Going out for pizza and beer was our favorite bonding activity. :) Since we got so close so fast, it was really sad to leave. But it was also exciting to be able to send each other off to our new adventures, all across Bolivia and Latin America. I was also so thankful to live with a wonderful host family. They made me feel loved and welcomed and part of the family. They had a daughter pretty close to my age, which was fun. And my favorite memory with them was when we talked about animal noises in our respective languages. We were rolling on the floor laughing! ...who knew animals spoke such different languages around the world?

It's sad to close another chapter, but I am so thankful for my experience at language school. And while I'm really looking forward to getting settled into life in La Paz, it's also a little daunting to think about moving into yet another season of transition. My mind races as I think about all the details to figure out and all of the unknowns in this coming chapter. Everyday is a new lesson in releasing control and trusting that the Lord has good things in this new season. It will probably be a month or two until I am settled into a house and working normal hours with the ministry. But one step at a time, La Paz is becoming my new home, and I am so grateful.

Enjoy some pictures from my time in Cochabamba!

https://plus.google.com/photos/104961006720563856604/albums/5937722150461040993?authkey=CLuO2_XEqOGoMQ

Evangelism, Discipleship, and Culture

I arrived in Bolivia one week before starting language school in order to attend a 3-day conference hosted by Word Made Flesh here in Bolivia. Two members of the Mission Society, one of which was the seminary professor of our ministry director here, travelled to Bolivia to teach during these three days. So many people signed up for the conference that we were way beyond the capacity of the small retreat center where the conference was hosted. People came from all over Bolivia, including over 50 pastors, as well as missionaries from around the world that work in Bolivia. 

The major themes of the conference were (1) sharing the gospel across cultural barriers and (2) the importance of discipleship in the church and how to do it well. The teaching was awesome! And it was so fun to watch the reactions and reception of all the different people at the conference. In Bolivia alone, there are so many different people groups! And historically, the church has been quite divided across denominations, people groups, and generations. So it was really cool to see so many different regions and denominations represented at the conference. And it was clear that the teaching really shook many pastors out of their comfort zones, in a good way. It was really cool and challenging to reflect on the core truths of the gospel and discern what we might be tempted to add to the gospel from our own cultural framework. 

Making Bolivia My Home

I arrived here in Bolivia over a week ago now. It's still very surreal to be here. I've had the desire to make a long-term commitment to Bolivia for several years now. But knowing the somewhat indefinite length of my commitment makes everything feel very different. While I was so excited to land in La Paz (especially since there was snow on the ground!), I instantly felt a little panicked. "Holy crap, I just moved to Bolivia." 

And along with this long-term commitment comes many new logistics to figure out. I can no longer enter as a "tourist" and come and go as I please. I entered the country with a "specific purpose visa," demonstrating my intention to make a legitimate commitment to this place. With my visa, I have 30 days to complete my application for residency. (But at this point it's more like 20 days!) It's difficult not to feel overwhelmed and slightly clueless about the process. I'm trying not to let my anxiety overtake me. 

This first week or so here has been full of emotions - great excitement and anticipation, joy in reuniting with good friends, anxiety about all of the unknowns, and extreme sadness to be so far from my family. Since I've spent quite a bit of time here in Bolivia and already feel quite sure of my love for this country and its people, I seem to have skipped over the typical honeymoon period of living in a new place. I seem to have jumped right into culture shock. The difficult thing about culture shock is that there's really no telling how long it will last. I can feel myself grieving the distance from my family and friends, a process which cannot be rushed or pushed aside. 

While I am truly excited to be here and make this place my home, I have come to realize that this process will not come without some major stretching and growing pains. One moment I am marveling at the reality of being here, but the next moment I find myself struggling to find joy in the pain of this grieving period. I seem to always be on the verge of tears. 

I often find hope and consolation in the Psalms, and today the Lord brought me to these verses in Psalm 94: "When I said, ' My foot is slipping,' your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." (Ps 94:18-19)

So it's in this valley that I find consolation from the Lord. While I am currently overwhelmed with anxiety and grief, I have great hope that the Lord will lead me to a place of great joy. My heart is full of anticipation for the future, for the day when Bolivia truly will be my home. 

Spreading Love thru Coffee

A couple of friends of mine here in Denver opened a coffee shop in April. Not only do they serve delicious specialty coffee, but they are also using this platform as a job skills training program for young people that have experienced homelessness. Even though I could only devote a couple of months to the coffee shop, I was so blessed to be able to work with some amazing people and gain some valuable insights that will directly translate to ministry among the women in Bolivia.

If you're ever in Denver, check 'em out! 

www.purpledoorcoffee.com

ONE WEEK!

Written: August 22

After months of preparation and years of anticipation, my departure date is just one week away! It's a miracle that this update is getting written because it seems like I've been in a season of chaos for the last month! And with just one week to spare, I continue to be overwhelmed by my to-do list. But I'm confident that everything will come together and I'm doing my best to savor these final days with my family and friends. I have so much to be thankful for in this season. I have been showered with love and encouragement and the Lord has been so faithful to provide all I need. Sharing the work and vision of the ministry of Word Made Flesh Bolivia with my broader community has been a real joy! And thanks to the generosity of churches, family, and friends, about 90% of the monthly financial commitments I need have come in! I cannot begin to express my gratitude. Thank you for encouraging me and sending me off well to Bolivia.

I fly out of Denver around noon on August 29th, arriving in La Paz early on the 30th. I will try to send news upon my arrival! Initially, I will spend one week in La Paz, connecting with friends and ministry partners, and then I will spend the next 6 weeks at language school in Cochabamba. In mid-October I will return to La Paz/El Alto to get settled and ease into ministry. More news to come! Thanks for joining me on this exciting journey!

And thank you again for your friendship and partnership! I would love to hear what's going on in your life!

Overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement,

Ali Fraze

Summer Salutations

Happy summer! Here in Denver, we had a very late winter; our last blizzard was on May 1st! But spring has sprung and there are signs of summer all around! As a few of my major commitments wind down, I'm getting ready to thoroughly enjoy this last CO summer. I hope you and yours have an amazing summer as well!

Only 3 Months Left Until My Departure!
Everything is getting very real. In three months I will be boarding a plane to Bolivia, with the mindset of making it my new and long term home. While my heart aches to be leaving my family and friends and my beloved Colorado, I am confident that the future will hold even greater things!

Three months may seem far off to some of you, but in reality it's just around the corner and there is so much to do! I would like to give you a quick update on one of the biggest things - my ministry fundraising. Currently, donations have come in to cover about 66% of my $4500 start-up costs.  But I have less than 10% of the monthly commitments I need to cover my $1500 monthly budget. As you can see, I have a long way to go! Would you consider joining my ministry team as a monthly financial partner?

I have already reserved my spot in language school, which is scheduled to start at the beginning of September! But in order to make it to language school, I will need to buy plane tickets and apply for my visa. I am hoping to submit my paperwork for my visa during my upcoming trip to LA (June 7-17), but I will need plane tickets first, and I can't do any of this until all of my $4500 start-up costs are raised! But the more urgent need is to build up my long term monthly supporter base.A few of you have told me that you want to become financial partners, but have yet to submit your donation. If you have been waiting until my departure gets closer or have simply forgotten to donate, please don't wait any longer! And if you have submitted a donation, but haven't received a "thank you" from me, please let me know, because this means it has not shown up in my account.

If you would like to give, follow these easy steps:
1 - Visit www.wordmadeflesh.org/support/give
2 - Select your preferred donation method (credit card, check, or auto withdrawal)
3 - Designate your gift for "Staff Ali Fraze"

I am planning to focus much more on fundraising in the next couple of months. I would love to sit down with you and tell you more about the ministry of Word Made Flesh Bolivia and how you can get involved! If you have a minute, please watch this short video about the ministry. I am trying to individually contact many of you about becoming monthly ministry partners, but if you haven't heard from me yet and would like to initiate this conversation, please be my guest!

While at times I feel overwhelmed in the face of this fundraising challenge, I am also feeling very hopeful. I am confident that the Lord has given me this calling to Bolivia and that he will provide the means to get me there. Please join me in praying for God's favor and provision.   

Thank you for your faithful partnership over the years! Your friendship is such a blessing to me! 

Learning to trust,
Ali Fraze