This last month in Bolivia has been one
filled with hard work, powerful times of worship, and a time of rejuvenation.
We started off the month in La Paz, for debrief. We then made
the 7 hour trip to the central city of Cochabamba. The city’s climate reminds
me much of Spokane, mid 70’s during the day, and nice and cool at night. We
spent the first week doing touch-up helps on the local orphanages, as well as
playing with the kids in the parks, ect. Then we traveled another 4 hours south
to the rainforest of Chapare. Our task was to clean up the yard, clean the
bricks, make a staircase, varnish everything in site, and paint the whole house
a couple of times. The work was exhausting, as the weather was hot, humid, and
very buggy. The guys in our group all left (with the exception of two of them)
to another site, so it was just the ladies working. We put in 8+ hours of work
in a day, and would go to bed as soon as the sun went down. The only thing for
entertainment was to walk to the one market and buy expired cookies, and then
our “bath time.” There was a river near by that we would go to at the end of
each workday and clean up in. It was so refreshing and fun. I learned how
little we need things to find fun in our surroundings. It really was a time of
growing together as a team of women, working along side the native missionary,
and working hard for the Lord. We ended up finishing the orphanage 4 days
earlier then anticipated. Back in Cochabamba, we have been able to rest for
about the past 4 days, before we head out to Africa tomorrow. Our team has been
able to have worship together since rejoining from the rainforest and have had
some incredible worship. As always, when going into battle with force and
fervor, attack is inevitable. All of us are learning the importance of unifying
against the devil, and what our authority in the Lord looks like. It is amazing
the ways he will try to attack us. During worship, people would suddenly get
sick or see a dark presence outside of our worship meeting places. Instead of
causing us to be scared, it empowers us all the more to know that “Greater is
He who is in us, then he who is in the world.” As we head into Africa, we will
all be in our separate teams, all in different countries. The five countries we
will be in are: Swaziland, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, and Malawi. We
will each be in one for a month, and then switch to another. We will be on the
continent for three months. It is going to be a time that I am really looking
forward too. I know that certain things we do not see as often in the West are
common day occurrences there. Such as, healings, casting out demons,
witchcraft, political persecution, and the gospel spreading like wildfire.
Honestly, I am not sure exactly how this will impact me, but I do know that the
powers of darkness flee from the mention of His name. I am excited to have my
eyes opened and my life changed by these next three months. Pray specifically
for team safety both spiritually and physically, for my spiritual eyes to be
sensitive and obedient, and for those whom we will walk and talk with everyday.
We covet every prayer and support from all of you. Our internet and phone use
will be very limited, so please have patience for me to respond or write news
updates. But know that I will update you at every opportunity.
God Bless all of us as we journey to Africa
together.
-Rubie Palmer
Also, Praise the Lord, I have about $4,000 in my
account right now!
Bathtime!
I got about 350 bites that day, as well as a good sunburn, dispite 3 applications of sunscreen
