Just a quickie!

Hi guys!
Just to let you know, Anna, Annie, James and I (Jonathan) got home safe and well yesterday, despite all the odds!
Prayer points:
- Thanks that we managed to get home fine, despite one of our flights being delayed by an hour and a half!
- That Jon, Claire and Aaron would have safe and enjoyable travels over the next few weeks, and get home safely.

Team holiday funsies!

Hi guys!
So, we´re on our holiday now, and I´m at an internet cafe in Rurrenabaque, so I thought I´d give you a little bit of an update as to what we´ve been up to in the last week!
Firstly, all of us are safe, there were no mishaps in La Paz (praise God!) and we got our flight to Rurre. We´ve just got back from the first of our two tours, in the pampas, and we´ve all had a great time! I think I can safely say we´ve all tried something new, from feeding monkeys to fishing for piranhas to eating termites. Tomorrow we head off on our second tour, to the jungle, which will be more tiring, but equally fun.
Prayer points:
- Thanking God for the awesome, mishap-free time so far, and praise for His wonderful creation we´ve been able to see
- For Pete and Linda back in Apolo, that they would be able to continue equally well with an increased workload.
- For our next weeks, that we would continue to have a safe and enjoyable time
- For the four of us (me, James, Annie and Anna) heading back to England in just over a week - that our flights would go well and that we would be safe
- For the others continuing on after we leave - that they would have great, safe fun in Brazil

See you in England!
Jonathan

Eighth big post!

The last day is now here - we leave Apolo this afternoon, heading to La Paz, then Rurrenabaque for our team holiday.

Our last week has been really great - the concrete pillars are now done, and the second layer of supports are just about ready to be poured. Unfortunately, we did not get onto bricklaying, but the amount we have done in five weeks is phenomenal!
We have also continued with most of the youth groups, one of which now has a possible leader for when we leave, so thanks for your prayers for that. Also this week, we led most of the services at the Lutheran church in the morning, and at the Baptist church in the evening. This included lots of songs, worship dance, a drama, testimonies, a presentation of photos of our work here, and the sermons (done by Aaron and Jon respectively).
Last night, we also held a buffet, with fairly-close-to-English food, for all the people we have got to know in Apolo. It was really well attended and a really fun evening.

So, we now have our team holiday, where we are heading into the rainforest to Rurrenabaque. We then have a few days in La Paz before Jonathan, James, Anna and Annie head home. Claire, Aaron and Jon are then going to Brazil for a few weeks.

Prayer points:-
- For our travelling - that we would be safe, and have an enjoyable and relaxing time before heading home
- For Pete and Linda - that they would be able to find people to take over the youth groups, and continue the good work they are doing here
- For the people here - that our presence will have benefited them, and that they would be keen to help finish the work we have started, especially finishing the Sunday school.

Thanks for all your support, and see you soon!

Seventh big post!

So, it´s been a funny old week, with illness, campo trips, more leavers (though not actually team members) and many other things.

Building work has continued to progress amazingly. There is now very little dirt left to clear, the foundation holes are nearly finished, and some of the concrete pillars are now well above head height! Unfortunately, Pete and Linda do not think we will get onto bricklaying before we leave next week, but we can always prove them wrong!

Youth groups are also still going well. The young children have been learning about Jonah, the older children´sclub went equally well and the older teens learnt about trust. Sunday school was also a success, with the children thinking about what gifts they have. Also on Sunday, the team participated in the evening service at the Baptist church, leading some songs, a worship dance, a drama, Jon´s testimony, and with Annie preaching on spiritual gifts. Teaching English and Music is also continuing to be a success, with less dictionary usage needed every time!

Unfortunately, yesterday lunchtime we realised that some of our stuff had been stolen from our back garden overnight. Fortunately, however, it was not hugely important or valuable stuff, mostly some clothes and a few pairs of boots.

Prayer points:
- That we would be able to sort stuff out from the ´robbery´ asap, and thanks that it was so minor!
- Illness - all of us have been ill to a certain extent over the last week, so thanks that we have mostly recovered, and prayers that we would continue to recover well would be much appreciated!
- That our last week would be productive and enjoyable, and that we would really touch people´s lives in the last week
- For Kate and Philip, who have now returned to America
- That leaders would be able to be found for the youth groups and Sunday schools we have been leading

Thanks again for your support!