Category: Newsletter

Verena Wells School, Caranavi

22 young women, ages 5 to 18, live together in a small, yellow, 4-story building, by a church that collapsed years ago and is still being rebuilt. They visit their home villages on the weekends, but spend most of their time in the “big” city (it barely qualifies according to my definition). In the morning, the high schoolers attend class on the first floor while their younger housemates do homework, clean, learn to use the computer, make bread and yogurt to sell, and prepare lunch. Afterward, they swap spaces.

On Monday evenings, they learn to value the Image of God within themselves and stand against the historical subordination and abuse of women. Tuesdays, they learn dance, just for fun. I met them for religion class on Thursday while in town for an adult class on the “End Times”. I was supposed to teach the Ten Commandments, but I think I learned more than them!

At 8pm on Sundays, city plaza fills with adults and street performers; adults bring children, but the street shows are not for them. Students at Verena Wells school decided to fix this: They teach dance, give a reflection, and just have fun. They get more attention than the adult performers now, and see themselves as community leaders.

Without this ministry (in this case, supported by Lutherans in Finland), these girls could not have an education. Their lives would repeat the abuse of previous generations. Instead, Lutherans offer them a different path—a real resurrection in Jesus Christ—and they revel in this renewed life.

I am so grateful for your love and care, supporting resurrection and education in South America!

Prayer Request

For those stuck in cycles of abuse, that they may have the courage to reach for renewed life, and an opportunity to find it.

2nd National Congress of Pastors

My work in Bolivia is to train leaders, which sometimes feels less important to me than, say, providing food or medical care. But it is desperately needed! The Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church has over 100 congregations, with fewer than 30 ordained pastors! Most churches are led by lay people with no training. The only Spanish-speaking Lutheran seminary in the hemisphere is in Mexico City, and even that is too expensive for our students. How can people learn about their faith?

We recently held an educational event for church leaders, ordained or lay. Nearly 80 people spent a day and a half growing in faith and leadership on the theme of Baptism. And such an interested crowd! It is clear that the Church in Bolivia is full of people excited to understand what we believe in the Lutheran Community. To God’s beloved people here, learning about faith truly is important. It is how we begin to live into our new baptized identity and calling.

About Aaron

I’m surprised to be in Bolivia, being just a kid from Hamburg, PA. After working in Information Technology for a few years, I went to seminary in Chicago, and served as a pastor in New England. I studied for a second Master’s in Old Testament at Princeton, and chance (or the Holy Spirit) sent me to be a seminary professor in Malaysia for a year. I was privileged to be an interim pastor during the height of the pandemic, and then found myself here in February. I’m very happy so far!

I am so grateful for your love and care, supporting this valuable work in South America!

Prayer Request

For strength and courage for Bolivian lutheran women who struggle to achieve equal legitimacy in their ministries as their male colleagues.