Last July we helped Josue and Keren teach a two-week intensive course at our old school in Bolivia. I think it was Jeff who dubbed it mini-MOVE. When we arrived, all our ex-students came rushing out to give us the typical warm and dramatic welcome for returning teachers. The next day most of them left for their mid-year vacation along with most of the staff and school directors. Fifteen remained to take our classes. As the old hand in our group, I was chosen to deal with all the utility problems on campus, and I subsequently received a not-so-warm welcome from the water-system. I spent the first two days trouble-shooting and fixing leaks.

The rest of my participation included a week-long seminar on music, classes on missions and evangelism, oratory, and an attempt to teach the mechanic elective. As a mere dilettante, I tried to keep the class simple. We concentrated on small engine maintenance and repair, and found no shortage of fodder to practice on. Additionally I planned to change the engine and transmission oil in the Tundra, but the new oil cost $50 that we didn’t have. I left Josue a message on his phone, asking how much money was available for mechanics class, and Dax, the store owner overheard me and asked me how much oil I needed.

“Six quarts of each” I replied.

“Take it!” he said. “That will be my contribution.”

God took care of our needs at every turn!

During our outreach activity to a nearby village, I was worried about how my mechanics students would perform after a measly two weeks of instruction from a rookie posing as a mechanics teacher!

“Lord, please give us skill. Help us be able to help someone!” I prayed.  Two villagers showed up with their failing generators. Praise God, my students were able to get both running in the exact amount of time we had! To me, that was a small miracle.

“When are you coming to our village?” a visiting spectator asked. Again I see the potential for mechanic evangelists.

Fifteen students graduated from our two-week intensive and committed to an additional month of volunteer missionary service upon finishing their school year. I believe they are planning a trip to the Amazon.

Back in Mexico, Lyli and I spent 10 days with my in-laws and my nephew and nieces, Samuel, Ghiani, and Naomi. That was a mission project in itself! Lyli made them a daily schedule, and I took them jogging in the mornings and then helped them do chores and practice their instruments. On Sabbath we took them to play music to some shut-ins.