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Our current intern in Ixiamas, Bolivia, is 2008 Practicum graduate Becky Forrest. During Practicum, Becky shared her experience on our blog. Now that she is in an intetn in Bolivia, she will post updates as our interns in 2008 did. Becky served on short-term mission trips in 2007 and 2008 in Ixiamas. It doesn’t seem possible that I have been in Bolivia for two weeks. Time has been flying by, and although Spanish is improving, it still has a long way to go. Pastor Ivan Roman has been a very patient teacher. Along with Spanish lessons, he and his family have taken me in and given me some very delicious local meals with a few Puerto Rican dishes thrown in. One was a stew containing tripe. This was a first for me, but I did take a try at it. It was sort of like eating frog legs for me I just couldn’t get past the mental thing, but the stew itself was very tasty. I joined the family for a trip up to Alto for Bible school with the children there. Unfortunately, I left my camera at the hotel and missed out on some beautiful pictures of some very dear children. The Christian brothers and sisters of Bolivia have been so warm and welcoming. I have enjoyed two services with Pastor Ivan in his home church. Today I actually was able to join in with most of the songs. One evening before Rachel and Mateo left for Ixiamas, Mateo’s church had a special prayer service at his parents’ home. This was a very spirit filled evening that I will always remember. I cannot thank everyone enough for their prayers and support. It means so much to know that I have so many praying for me from all over the world. I have had many emails from my SIFAT Practicum family assuring me that I am in their prayers as I begin this new journey of my life. Many of them have much persecution in their countries and they also need the prayers of all who read this. On Thursday, I will be traveling to Ixiamas. I will be so glad to get to the Internado and see the kids. They will help me improve my Spanish very quickly. My posts will be much more interesting when I am living at the Internado. Hasta luego Hermana Rebecca (Becky)
Do you ever want to give more to SIFAT, but find that you don’t have much spare change to contribute? We have many ways of donating to SIFAT – financially, volunteering, wish list items. However, you can sometimes give indirectly to SIFAT by continuing your daily routines! Using the Internet can help SIFAT! You can sign up for iGive (it’s free!), choose SIFAT-Servants in Faith and Technology as your charity and start searching the web or shopping online. Unlike GoodSearch and GoodShop (where you do not have to sign up), members have the option of sharing theirnames to SIFAT, as well as getting tax-deductions for the donations. Each iSearchiGive search gives two cents to SIFAT, and through iGive shopping, percentages from your purchase are given by the merchants to SIFAT. Click here to see what stores are part of the Mall at iGive. More stores are being added daily. The direct links are www.iGive.com/sifat or www.iSearchiGive.com/sifat. Happy New Year! Constance, one of our 2008 Practicum graduates, has recovered from a successful surgery and is now back home with her family. She arrived in Nigeria on New Year’s Day. In her e-mail to us, she excitedly told of reuniting with her family at Sunday morning worship on Jan. 3. During January, she will be joining her church family in prayer and fasting as she seeks how God wants her to implement the training she received at SIFAT into her work with women and girls. Don’t forget, you can always access both present and past Journals on the news page!  Merry Christmas from the SIFAT staff!We hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your friends and family. The SIFAT office will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but will reopen on the 26th. —- —- Are you catching the Christmas sales and shopping online? Many stores donate a percentage of your purchase when you shop using GoodShop. Click here to learn more. Each purchase you make will allow you to donate to SIFAT without adding to your total! Greetings from SIFAT, Alabama! I should have written this a week ago, coming back here in the USA, I slid back to the norm (?) of  busy, busy  and fast -track American life. Anyway, here is to share with you my last couple of days in Bolivia, and also to share some of my reflection on my 7 -month life in Bolivia. I had a good visit with the family of Ivan Roman (a.k.a. Bully), as they had been a great host for me everytime I was in La Paz. I really enjoyed my time with their kids. Also I congratulate them with their new bundle of blessing, Anna Irena, their 1- month old baby. I was also blessed to have a little time of visit with a couple of sisters in their Fellowship, Maria and Naomi Ruth. On my last evening,Sunday night, I was happy to get together with the former dorm supervisors of Internado, Judith and Ruth. We had fun talking and reminiscing Internado memories while having coffee in Calle Sagarnaga. We all then had to say good bye, with tears in our eyes, as we do not know if we will see each other again in this lifetime. I was thankful to the Lord as those two sisters have been my good friends. I told them, they were my first Boliviano friends. I thought that was my last good- bye in Bolivia, but then another surprise. Monday early morning, Isaac Paredes and his  dad, Benjo drove me to the airport. It was my a blessing to meet for the first time Mr.Benjo, an ever faithful servant of God. When I boarded the plane for the flight La Paz-Sta. Cruz to Miami, just after I buckled my belt and wore my shades, the  long over due tears finally rolled down  my cheeks. It was I think from all the overwhelming mixed -emotions. Knowing it’s time to go, I was of course very sad to leave the children from Internado and to say good-bye to some great people in Bolivia who became friends. I was also overwhelmed with God’s grace and good ness and I kept telling myself, “Lord, I do not deserve your goodness”. Maria, a dear sister from a church, asked me something like, how I would remember Bolivia. Of course I said that Bolivia is a beautiful country and I like the diversity (it was true though). I told her that “Bolivia people are the most beautiful and nicest people I ‘ve met”. They are very humble, polite, friendly and kind. Now I understand why Ms.Sarah Corson just love these people. I am truly thankful and blessed with the way the people of Ixiamas and La Paz had received me eventhough they did not really know me, a total stranger, from a different culture and far away place. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve with the Internado folks. My time with the children of Internado was fun and exciting. Eventhough it was not that long, my 7 month time being with the kids I hope had been a positive influence in their lives. It was fun to see them use the service of computer with their studies. I know I didn’t do much, but at least they were able to be familiar with the use of computer. With my limited language, I still had fun times with the kids. I they  they had felt the love of Christ in me eventhough my Spanish was not very good.  They know that I will miss them, I’m just thankful that most of them left for home after the school year before I left. (At least, it was not too bad,  they left first :)) I am grateful to all the folks, churches and individuals who have been supporting the work in Internado, Ixiamas for the past few years. The Internado (Boarding Home) has a unique opportunity to reach out and train the young people of Ixiamas and other communities around. I am blessed to work with Rachel and the staff at the Internado. Again, I am thankful to the SIFAT folks in Alabama for the opportunity they had given me to serve in Ixiamas. I am most thankful to all the staff of SIFAT for their prayers, love and support. I also thank the Lord for Ms.Sarah Corson who had been an inspiration, an encouragement and a friend especially during some difficult times. For those who have been reading my stories in the blog and had prayed for the Internado folks and for me, thank you so much to yall! It was a blessed and fun year of new adventures being in Bolivia. He has taught me a lot of things, and has changed me and space is not enough to write them all. The Lord bless yall! Ciao to yall, hasta la vista! Vicky      |
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