Since this week has been a little slow with the kids gone and us having a couple of days off in Rurrenabaque, I had alot of time to think. One of the things I have been thinking about is Easter weekend. I thought about all of this things I will miss and how that its ok with me. I wont see young boys in the church who are ususally sweaty with messed up hair wearing suspenders and clip-on bow ties. I wont see girls modeling their new dresses and maybe even a hat that matches that of their mothers. I wont hear plastic eggs given by Sunday school teachers popping open and candy falling to the floor during Brother Jerrys sermon. I begin to think how this what I think about when I think of Easter and these are things that we, the church, have made it. The Resurrection is sometimes, if not most times, an afterthought. The way Easter is, its kind of silly if you think about it. ´´Hey, did you see my new bright green shirt? O yeah, remember the tomb is empty? Man, I hope these Cadberry Eggs dont give me a cavity.´´ In a way, I am glad this Easter will be different for me. I think it will be refreshing. In all likelihood, I probably wont even go to church. And, I m ok with this. I plan on thinking alot about the Resurrection and not pastel colored shirts and jelly bellies. Furthermore, on the topic of the resurrection, I would like to share with the readers something I read last year by Brennan Manning, probably my favorite Christian author. In his book Abba´s Child, Manning writes that the church often times talks about two Resuurections. One is the physical resurrection of Jesus two thousand years ago and the other is the one promised to all believers in the end times. However, hardly anyone talks about how Jesus IS alive. We serve a risen Lord. According to Manning, if people really believed that our Lord was alive, they would be acting much different than carrying an attitude of serving a God who sits on a throne from a distance. I believe we are called to rejoice in that our Lord not only did rise, but he IS risen. – Jarred

Did you know that World Water Day is tomorrow, March 22? Lifewater International sent an e-newsletter about this observance and why it happens. World Water Day is officially being observed in 69 cities across the US. During the entire week, many restaurants are asking that you donate $1 for your free water; the money collected will be donated to UNICEF for improving access to safe water and sanitation facilities. You can find out more information about World Water Day on the official website.

Having clean, safe water is part of SIFAT’s training. During the Practicum, students take classes and learn about the importance of clean water and the many organizations available to help projects become a reality. Currently, Addison Shock, one of our interns in Bolivia, has been training with Water for All International to drill a well in Ixiamas. An article in the upcoming Journal explains the process and what SIFAT is doing to help Ixiamas and surrounding communities receive clean water.
In the US, we take clean water for granted. In fact, the water bottling industry is booming because we are so particular about our water – the right taste, brand, etc. One of the amazing statistics we share with students in the CARES program easily shows the need for clean water in the world: The World Health Organization says that 70 percent of the world’s illnesses would be eradicated if everyone had access to clean water and sanitation. Wow! So tomorrow, as you enjoy a nice warm Easter weekend, think about clean water, and the possibility of supporting a Practicum student so clean water can become a reality in his or her community. Or, begin “paying” for your water and donate your payments to SIFAT each month. Find a creative way to involve your Sunday School class, Bible study group, civic organization or family to bring awareness of the lack of clean water in the world and ways you can get involved to help everyone have access to clean water.

Did you come up with a great way to commemorate World Water Day? Let us know if you did! We’d love to hear ways you brought attention to the need for clean water and SIFAT.

I made it to RRbake this morning at about five fourty five. Me and Jarred are going to take two days and relax here in RRbake for Holy week. Jarred knew I was getting in this morning but he did not know it would be so early. It scared him when the owner of the hostile at six thirty knocked on the door and walked in the room. I am certian that from my description of my amigo that I gave him he could not be mistaken. Tall, white, red hair, cant miss him. We will head back to Ixiamas on saturday. -Addison-

Bolivar Sanga, our engineer overseeing the Quesimpuco bridge project, arrived in Bolivia this morning. He will be working with communities in the Quesimpuco area to get preliminary work on the bridge site ready for the first team coming in May. A road to the site must be cut, so materials can get to the site.

SIFAT and Auburn UMC are partnering to build a bridge in Quesimpuco to connect two mountains during the rainy season. For more information on the bridge project, download the January Journal.

Bridges to Prosperity, a nonprofit organization specializing in footbridges, is teaching us the technology to build our bridge. By empowering the community and making them part of the process, more bridges can be built throughout Bolivia.

An update on the bridge project will be in the March Journal, which is being sent to press tomorrow.

Please continue to pray for Bolivar and Benjo as they work with the people of the Quesimpuco area and bring them together to build a much-needed bridge for this area.

Wow! The spring season of campus events started strong. Last week, two groups took part in separate retreats.

Lovers Lane UMC from Dallas, Texas, brought youth from their deaf ministry to SIFAT for a Learn & Serve style retreat. The students even braved the cold weather during the Global Village Overnight Experience. Our staff enjoyed learning some sign language, and thanks to our volunteer Sarah Lewis, even provided an interpretor to give their translators time to enjoy the activities.

The seventh grade from Springwood School from Lanett, Ala., participated in a cross cultural retreat with an emphasis on cultures in the Global Village. They had the opportunity to eat meals from South America, Africa and Asia. Esperance, our intern and Practicum graduate, shared with the students about being a Rwandan growing up in Kenya.
This week, we have three groups taking part in retreats during their spring breaks.

ReMIX Ministries from FBC Jonesboro (Ark.) are college students from Arkansas State University. They came in Saturday evening and will be leaving after lunch on Wednesday. Their retreat is similar to our summer Learn & Serve, only a little shorter. Tonight, they’ll be in our Global Village.

The Epsicopal Diocese youth from north Alabama arrive this afternoon and will have the opportunity to leave the campus Wednesday to participate in a local ministry project. While here, they will also participate in cross cultural training, appropriate technology hands-on application (they’re cooking lunch on our stoves) and the overnight village experience.

Alexander City Methodist Church is bringing a youth work team at the end of the week. Their youth group is coming to Learn & Serve this summer, but they’ll have a mini-retreat and campus work projects to serve our campus and help us prepare for L&S 2008.

Are you interested in bringing a group to SIFAT? We have several different retreats from which you can choose. Our staff will work with you to develop a unique experience that best meets your group’s needs. For retreat information for youth groups, please contact Jamie, waldhourj@sifat.org. For other age groups or facilities rentals, contact Haley, lewish@sifat.org.