Simón Bolívar

Being the “George Washington of South America”, Simón Bolívar’s name is used on schools, on streets, and apparently makes a great name for a little country town. There are at least two little comunities with this name, both within a 20 mile drive of us. However, in our house, when we talk of going to Simón Bolívar, it’s clarified by our 5 year old asking, “where we saw the dead rat in the road?” She’s right; it’s a particularly dirty place in what could have been a beautiful piece of the world. Satan has used alcholol to numb and capture a large portion of the population and drunkenness makes up most of the culture of the place. Yet, God has not forgotten even poor little Simón Bolívar. Several years ago, using the the faithful witness of a couple of saints, the good news of forgiveness and freedom in Jesus Christ was believed by a few. This kindled into a tiny new church. The going was hard for the new believers, as there was considerable pushback from the community. We’re told that in the beginning, curses as well as rocks were thrown at the believers. Currently, three or four families come together to worship there. Some that started well have gone back to the world. Some wives come alone. One man started coming with his wife, but was so ridiculed for associating with the Christians that he hasn’t been back. Recently, tragic accidents have occurred in two of the families there. The believers are going on for the Lord, but it’s tempting to feel discouraged.

For the last several months, we’ve been specifically praying for the believers in Simón Bolívar during our weekly prayer meeting at “Kilometro 14”. (Tecnically the church has a name, but when you are located on the highway in the middle of nowhere, you are mostly known by the mile-marker.) Two months ago, our leaders decided to commit to travelling out to Simón Bolívar for one Wednesday night meeting out of every month, so that we can all meet together. Please pray that we could be an encouragement, that they would be wise in discerning between lies and true doctrine, and that their faith would grow strong as they go on for the Lord.

(Our older boys and Guillermo, one of the brothers from Km14, leading music in Simón Bolívar)