Unfortunately, our hotel's internet is a little temperamental so I was not able to update last evening. The past two days have been really interesting. On our first day here, we were sitting around in the hotel (on the 9th floor) when the building started swaying a little and the hangers in the closet started rocking back and forth. Apparently, there was a 4.4 earthquake in a town not far from where we are in Cochabamba. We were a little scared, but there is no structural damage and everyone is great.

Yesterday, we worshiped with the church plant. Instead of constructing a church building, the church plant has invested in sturdy tent-like structures that they can put up in a variety of locations. We got to hear some of their plans and vision for their church. They have such a passion and desire to be involved in their community and make disciples, not converts. They do not want to be tied to a single place and a church building, so by utilitzing tents, they can set up in a variety of places within their community. Instead of investing thousands of dollars in a building, they met under a tent in the central plaza and use discipleship groups at the homes of various members throughout the week.

As the mission team was riding on the bus to go door-to-door sharing the gospel with the neighborhood, I realized what a variety of people we have ministering this week in Cochabamba. I looked around on the bus and we had a Swiss-German, several Cubans, a man from Colombia, several people from Miami, people from Oregon, Bolivians from all over the country - it was really a mixture of people from a variety of backgrounds. I couldn't help but think that this is the way it should be - people of all ages, all ethnicities, and all backgrounds united around the gospel and a desire to declare the glory of God to the nations.

Things are very different from the previous work with WBC's team in Montero. The people appear to be more closed here and the ground is hard and resistant to the gospel. With that in mind, I would ask for you to keep the following items in your prayers:

• Pray for the team as we are growing tired and are open to discouragement as we encounter resistance while sharing the gospel. Pray that we might look to God as the source of our strength and that we might have the boldness of the apostles and believers in the book of Acts.
• Pray for the church plant as they have such a heart for their community. Pray that God will continue to give them wisdom as they seek openings to be active within the area around the church.
  
• Pray for the people who we are sharing with every day. We have seen some people who were initially resistant come to the Jesus film showings. Pray that God might continue to soften their hearts of stone.