Saturday, December 27, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
August newsletter
Family News
As you can imagine, we were relieved to return to Bolivia on August 3rd after more than two months in the U.S.A. It was such a blessing to have a home to come back to and for Dr. Heather Mickelson to take care of our place while we were gone. Amara and Aleyna started school on the 11th and are getting back into the groove of the school-year schedule.
We've had some projects going on around the house even before we got back and they have continued ever since. One project is replacing our kitchen cabinet doors that were old and crooked. We will also be sprucing up some of the outside around the gardens and pool.
On the political scene, tensions are at an all-time high (if there is such a thing in Bolivia), as the government forces new referendums into place to make their new constitution into national law. Opposition has made firm statements that they will not support such a referendum nor will they accept the new constitution.
Also, despite the recent turn-around of the US dollar valuation, the Bolivian Central Bank has continued to make commitments to appreciating the national currency. This appreciation has been slower than neighboring countries due to the resistance of the current 18% inflation. We foresee a coming economic crisis that is perhaps a plan of the national government to make us become dependent on a socialist system.
Ministry News
On August 9th, we held our eight module of our missionary training school. Our graduation is scheduled for November 1st.
Alan has been busy making preparations for an exposition event in Cochabamba that is coming up in September. He will be driving there to manage a display stand representing Bethany Mission in Bolivia. Please pray for God to make a way to arrive in Cochabamba safely as there are road blockades almost weekly during this tense political time.
Key Quote: “Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.” - St. Augustine
Thanks you all again for your constant support and encouragement!
If you are interested in looking at a recently updated needs report of our mission you can download the file on this page.
In favor of the least reached,
the Holcombes
Saturday, August 16, 2008
newsletter July 2008
Family News
We stayed around in NY until the 7th so we could attend our home church's annual picnic and then headed out on the 8th to Michigan to stay with Alissa's aunt. Before we actually left, though, we met with Dr. Rechlin, a lung specialist from our home church. Praise God, Alissa was able to get some answers about her lung problems that have bothered her for the last year.
After a brief stop in Wisconsin to see a friend, we drove to Minneapolis to attend a two-week furlough seminar. There were eight couples in the seminar representing Brazil, Ghana, Azerbaijan, Japan, Slovenia, Mexico, China (and us from Bolivia). Our seminar was a real spiritual blessing and surpassed our expectations. Also, our kids were cared for every day and the older two enjoyed a VBS in one of the local churches.
From Minnesota we drove directly back to Texas, where we leave from August 1st to return to Bolivia.
Ministry News
Our main ministry goal while on furlough was to do support raising for our personal budget and for the national mission. The most hopeful contact has been an oil investment firm in Texas that has committed to set up specific investments to help support the mission. We thank our home church in NY for their unparalleled support for us and the initiatives they are taking to put together a mission board to attend to our needs on the mission field.
Prayer Needs
- Safety on our flight back to Bolivia (Aug. 1-2)
- Our transition back to the field
- Our girls start school August 11
- The national referendum to revoke the presidency of Evo Morales (August 14)
As always we send our sincerest appreciation to all of you for your prayers and simply taking the time to read our updates!
Blessings in Him,
the Holcombes
Bethany International Ministries
6820 Auto Club Rd. Suite D
Bloomington, MN 55438
Casilla 3385
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
SCZ – BOLIVIA
family wesite: www.aaholcombe.mysite.com
ministry website: www.betaniabolivia.org
Saturday, July 19, 2008
May/June Highlights
Dear Friends,
Although we are in the middle of a furlough after a three-year term in Bolivia, we wanted to give you a general update what we have been up to. Here are some family and ministry highlights for May:
· Held our third missions training module
· From the 7-8 we enjoyed the visit from International President of COMIBAM, Carlos Scott. During his visit we were able to better establish our national representation for this missions movement, where Alan serves as secretary.
· Amara finished the 1st grade and Aleyna finished PreK
· We left for the US on the 22nd and spent the first week and a half in Texas with Alan’s parents
· We’re thankful we were able to get care for Abigail in Texas, while she struggled to get over a throat infection
On June 2nd, we made our way north as far as Missouri and spent a couple days visiting friends and sharing about the ministry in Bolivia. After one hotel stop in Ohio we arrived in Northern New York. Our first task was to close our storage and consolidate our things, which will be lent out to various family members.
Some of you may have received several e-mails about Alissa’s health, as she had several episodes of tachycardia soon after we arrived in New York. Praise God, she is doing better and is taking a medication to help regulate her heart activity.
On the 18th we were able to make a presentation to a combined home Bible study meeting and we received a warm welcome and wonderful prayer support. Alan preached a message on “Christ and culture” in our home church, Faith Fellowship, on the 22nd.
Please contine to pray as we continue to travel through Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota during July. We will be attending a two-week furlough seminar at our mission headquarters. From the north country we will head south back to Texas to return to Bolivia.
In favor of the least reached,
The Holcombe family
Although we are in the middle of a furlough after a three-year term in Bolivia, we wanted to give you a general update what we have been up to. Here are some family and ministry highlights for May:
· Held our third missions training module
· From the 7-8 we enjoyed the visit from International President of COMIBAM, Carlos Scott. During his visit we were able to better establish our national representation for this missions movement, where Alan serves as secretary.
· Amara finished the 1st grade and Aleyna finished PreK
· We left for the US on the 22nd and spent the first week and a half in Texas with Alan’s parents
· We’re thankful we were able to get care for Abigail in Texas, while she struggled to get over a throat infection
On June 2nd, we made our way north as far as Missouri and spent a couple days visiting friends and sharing about the ministry in Bolivia. After one hotel stop in Ohio we arrived in Northern New York. Our first task was to close our storage and consolidate our things, which will be lent out to various family members.
Some of you may have received several e-mails about Alissa’s health, as she had several episodes of tachycardia soon after we arrived in New York. Praise God, she is doing better and is taking a medication to help regulate her heart activity.
On the 18th we were able to make a presentation to a combined home Bible study meeting and we received a warm welcome and wonderful prayer support. Alan preached a message on “Christ and culture” in our home church, Faith Fellowship, on the 22nd.
Please contine to pray as we continue to travel through Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota during July. We will be attending a two-week furlough seminar at our mission headquarters. From the north country we will head south back to Texas to return to Bolivia.
In favor of the least reached,
The Holcombe family
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