Consider where you were born. Can you recall the area and the churches that were within a ten minute drive of your home? More than likely you had at least one church within ten minutes. We are blessed to have such influential churches so close to our homes. While we were called by God and our relationship is not dependent on the location in which we were born, having a church within a decent distance certainly helps make decisions and discipleship more feasible. This blessing that we have taken for granted has become very real over the past few months while we have considered the possibility of uprooting again and moving to a small village.
In November we, as a mission, went out to Mizque (which means “sweet” in Quechua). In this small town live about a thousand people and they are located three-in-a-half hours from Cochabamba, another main city in Bolivia. From Mizque, Pucara the small village that we visited in September would be a two hour drive on a dirt road, two hours on a dry river bed, and a ten hour hike. That is to say, we could reach Pucara in one full day.
A Street in Mizque
After spending three days in Mizque and a lot of prayer, we have decided to move in January. We feel that God is calling us to make at least two trips a month up to Pucara. This transition will be a new step in our lives. As we experienced in Mizque, the people are very kind and curious to get to know the white people. Currently there are no other native English speaking people in the area so curiosity will be high once we officially move. The town does offer an internet café with eight computers which will allow Kevin to continue his studies at Wesley Biblical Seminary, a major blessing.
While in Mizque we found a small Adobe (mud baked brick) home that we are hoping to rent upon arrival in January. The home is located directly in front of the Farmers Market, which occurs each Monday in the town. Every Monday a few thousand people from the outlying communities come into this market to sell and purchase their food. We are hoping to use this home as an opportunity to meet people from other places like Pucara. We are praying this will open up other communities for us to visit and evangelize in.
The house that we are looking at.
While in Mizque we were talking with a Christian lady about Pucara and she informed us that we were blessed to have this opportunity. She said that in these communities typically the town members will not allow the gospel to enter. The only way to be accepted is by knowing someone who is from that village. God has provided us a contact into Pucara and we want to follow His leading. This is just a good example of what God can do to pave the way for His people.
Last weekend while Kevin was in La Paz for our church’s National Congress and elections, he along with James Wolheter and Gordon Elliott were able to talk to the National Directors about the idea of moving to Mizque. We were pleasantly surprised with their response. They desire to send a pastor, one that knows Quechua (the native tongue) to be a pastor in Pucara. If this takes place, Kevin could spend his time helping the pastor settle in and start up the church. It is a blessing the National Church is getting on board with enthusiasm and efforts. We feel the fields in this area are ripe, and we are now getting together the harvesters to do God’s work. Along with Pucara, we intend to start up a Bible study in the town of Mizque while living there.
We thank you all for your prayers and ask that you will continue to pray as the move and adjustment takes place.
Kevin and Lisa Hoffman
