School Anniversary LXVIII

March 6, 1956

My first year in Camiri, the school was celebrating its Ruby anniversary, and even though I wasn’t the youngest among the school staff; I was the “new kid on the block.”

I had just graduated from college in the USA and moved to live in Bolivia with senior missionaries and founders of the school, no money, and many questions in my mind about the future as I was adjusting to a new culture.

In short 28 years I have become the oldest school staff member. I am a teacher, but I have been Secretary, Principal, Vice Principal, Janitor, Counselor, Digital Content Administrator, Photographer and even Coach at different time periods. I am happy to fulfill my vocation and divine call in this place and with these people who I love

Above all, I celebrate God’s faithfulness to the school and to me!

Shaggy

One day Shaggy entered the school gate with the students. It has happened before that one dog follows his owner, but when inquiries were made; Shaggy did not belong to anyone. In short, we adopted him.

He needed attendance from a vet and is receiving his vaccines. He walks in a “funny” way with one of his back legs as if he’d have had a joint injury, but it does not prevent him from running after the ball when students are playing futsal.

“Second hand animals make first class pets”

He now has a big family.

The School and The Avocado Tree

The avocado tree in the backyard must have taken years to grow that tall and to be that colossal. This year’s crop was exceptionally abundant. I could have made quite some money if I sold them, but it was a delight to give them all away to friends, neighbors and anyone passing-by.

I became aware, however, that the combination of the sky-high branches, the law of gravity and the rocklike seeds of the avocados could have been dangerously damaging to one’s skull (thankfully nobody got hurt); but as they fell down they destroyed part of the roof and made some holes.

It was a hard and drastic desicion to cut off half of such fruitful tree. Its foliage is surely missed. Now I have to patiently wait at least two years before I can enjoy another harvest from it. During this pause time I need to constantly be checking on the tree new shoots to keep them in a acceptable direction and beneficial height.

The Christian School in Camiri is facing some radical changes for the near future. After 64 years of service some “branches” have grown up to the point of bringing complications of all sort. These areas need our attention to be dealt with and we believe COVID-19 has set up the conditions to take action now.

Just like with the avocado tree, the trunk and roots are still there. Some things in the Christian School are strong, worth-keeping and nonnegotioable. We wish to go on with the same mission and vision of its founder (Mr. Eugene Train), maintain the spirit of service to the community and bear fruit, much fruit.

Paola

Ten years ago Paola was my student in 4th grade. Today she is my colleague while also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Science Education at the local college in Camiri. She is working at school as a kindergarten teacher’s assistant. I recently sat and enjoyed a reminiscing chat of her school days, about her journey to become a Christian and to study something related to education and children; something, she said, was not in her plans until a year ago when certain circumstances took her to get a job in a nursery facility. ¨That experience uncovered my real vocation” she affirms with very expressive eyes. Her three older brothers (Franco – Clever – Andres) were of great influence to make a decision for Christ when she was around 11 years old. Today she is very active in the youth group of the church and one of her responsabilities at school is to teach the Bible lesson and memory verses to all kindergarten students.

CanadaTeam 2018

The team from Canada that visited us in Camiri last year to help us in different projects around the school came back this year for another week of hard work, generous support, wonderful comradeship at church retreat, school people, other workers and I myself certainly enjoy each minute of having them here to share the vision, talk and fellowship over meals and cups of tea.

Last October when I had the blessing to visit this church and their fundraising banquet; the project was explained and discussed. It was accepted as a challenge since the funds were not sufficient, the time was short and ultimately the rainy weather and the festivities of Carnival also joined in as complications to be able to accomplish the goals set for that week.

Miracles do still happen. In spite of the noisy festival in the streets and the moments of pouring rain, by Saturday, the day of their departure, the concrete for the second floor room was getting dry by the warmth of a sunny morning. The plan had worked out and the mission had been attained. We had behold God’s hand every step of the way.

Phase 1 is done. Now the second part is to begin soon and hopefully in the course of this year, the school will have this multi-purpose large room to be used for chemistry experiments, Choir rehearsal  area, teachers/parents meeting hall, faculty and staff lounge, place for chapel time, workshops, seminars, etc.

If anyone would like to be part of this work, drop me a note, there are many ways you can get involved and anyone with a heart to bless others is qualified. Come and let’s build together and each other.

Read more of their week experience in their own journal: Oakridge Bible Chapel 2018 mission trip

 

61 School Anniversary

There were three special events during the week of the school 61 anniversary:

• March 6: A special Chapel time of Thanksgiving for all students, teachers, parents, alumni, some local authorities and the local press. All grades shared a cake in their classrooms.
• March 7: A Marathon in four categories. Any student who participated had to invite an adult to run with. It was a fun time, but also an opportunity to inculcate perseverance and good attitude in the race.
• March 10: The traditional and classic Bolivian program with poems (some written by our students) dedicated to the school, folklore dances, instrumental and singing ensembles.

I spoke during Chapel and told the audience about two events ( of the many which could be told) where God’s hand has been clearly seen in the school history. The first one I heard from Mr. Train and not many knew why the school anniversary is in March and all classes in the southern hemisphere always start in February. It was December of 1955 the Lord had provided the property and in less than two months classrooms had to be built.  There have been very few times when the government postponed the opening of the school year until March and 1956 was one of them. The Lord gave Mr. Train more time to complete the construction he himself was working on. That adobe classroom and wooden beans are still there after 61 years.

The other memoir I shared and many students had not even been born yet, but I was already living in Camiri. It happened back in the late 90s when many people had pointed out the School’s poor-looking classrooms with  their leaky roofs and out-of-date decor. There was a military TNT storage a few miles away from town. The cause is unknown, but in the middle of the night, it exploded. The blast awakened all and some were afraid the raptured had taken place. Glass windows were shattered and houses as well as buildings got wall cracks, except the OLD Christian School!

All what it’s remained to say is: TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!

 

CANADAteam part (1/2)

We recently, at the Christian School, had the privilege to have the visit of a mission team from Oakridge Bible Chapel in CANADA composed by 19 members from five different churches and one representative from USA and Scotland each.

They came with their own funding for the projects and travel expenses. We spent a week of sweet fellowship and intense hard work in different areas.

 

They arrived to Camiri Saturday night in time to be part of the young people’s meeting where there was a small welcome program with refreshments of typical Bolivian snacks.

On Sunday they all came to church where in spite of language barrier we could remember our Lord’s death and resurrection together. After the service, the team leaders and I walked around the school (like Nehemiah did before building the wall in Jerusalem) and it was there when I realized the magnitude of the task to accomplished in five days!

This team was an example of humble, loving, concentrated, hard service to the people of the community. The investment that they did, financially, physically and emotionally has impacted us all. I will repeat he words of a brother in a short farewell speech: “The repaired walls one day will be old again and the bright colors of the painted walls will little by little fade away, but the fond memories of the moments of that week will remain in our minds and hearts for the rest of our lives.”

May each one of the participants, local or foreign, be encouraged to know that the work in the Lord is not in vain (I Cor. 15:58). It has been an eternal investment.

If you want to see more pictures of the projects and how much the infrastructure of the school improved, check my Facebook Album (here).

 

 

Celebrating Anniversaries

This year I got to celebrate two anniversaries of two very special and respected academic institutions:

Emmaus Bible College started in 1941 in Toronto, Canada under the leadership of three men: R.E. Harlow, John Smart and C. Earnest Tatham. In 1947 growing enrollment lead to the establishment of a campus in Chicago and 1953 the school acquired the YMCA building. In 1984 moved to a 17-acre campus in Dubuque, Iowa and received accreditation to grant bachelor degrees. Today is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

 

Escuela Cristiana Camireña was founded in 1956 in Camiri, Bolivia by educators and missionaries Eugene and Loraine Train. Some of the same old adobe-brick classrooms are still there, but by God’s providence there is also a new building with air-conditioned classrooms.

It has been a wonderful experience for me to be in the celebrations of the many years of service and to hear old and new stories of many people through the decades whose lives’ purpose, direction and meaning have been given, marked and taught by the teaching, influence and counsel of Godly men and women.

The topic of GOD’S FAITHFULNESS has been repeatedly brought up in the two celebrations. Dr Daniel Smith pointed out three ingredients of faithfulness:

1.- Character: There has to be integrity, honesty and rectitude.

2.- Commitment: Able to keep his word, a promise, a guarantee.

3.- Capability: The ability, the power to carry out.

In conclusion, God’s faithfulness is something:

He DOES and He IS.

School Tradition (1)

Every September 21st there is a festivity for Student’s Day and it is also the day Bolivia officially welcomes Spring time. It is a fun school day of games, music, balloons, food, candy and cake; like a big birthday party for every student. This is our School tradition; other schools have dances and/or Princess contests. We also make a special dinner for our Senior class since this is their last year as “our students”. In this dinner they are our special guests. This dinner is unique of the Christian School; it is one of our traditions.

Traditions give us a sense of connection, belonging, affinity and stability in an ever-changing world. It might be and seem simple, trivial, casual or insignificant, but the flavor of a dish, the smell of a person or place, the sound of a voice and laughter or silence and quietness for that matter; all play an essential part in the making of a memory.

Someone has said “tradition is the illusion of permanance” so let’s start new ones or continue old ones, but let us give the new generations something to remember.

More Student’s Day pictures in Facebook here.

 

The Future of Christian Education

The future arrives one day at a time. Today is yesterday’s tomorrow and in matter of hours; Today will turn into yesterday. Nobody can tell with certainty what the future, near or far, will bring. We all “live in the question” about the future and can only take moments one by one and no more, without exceptions.

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15).

Christian Education today faces many challenges and these bring questions and doubts about tomorrow. All we can do, really,  is live today, take the unique opportunity and enjoy the moment. For the way I choose to live today, will have an effect on tomorrow.