Dear friends and friends,
It’s nearly crunch time. What we used to refer to as our “little lentil bean” has become more like a bowling ball! I’m pretty sure all his or her parts are formed and functioning, now it’s just time to grow, grow, grow. Our latest appointment confirmed that our little one is healthy and right on schedule, size- and weight-wise. Becky experiences Braxton Hickscontractions now and then, and although she’s often tired, she is still getting around fine. She’s been quite a fighter these last 7.5 months! We are on a plane tonight (July 13) for our trip to the U.S.
There have been several events and transitions of late that have given us encouragement, reasons to be thankful to the Creator:
*During language school last year, we became good friends with the night guard, J.M., a young Catholic man who is one of the best Bolivian fellas we know. Generous, friendly, and devoted to God. We were invited to his wedding last October – he had fallen in love with a U.S. student (Protestant) from the school. They had a last-minute disruption, however, when the Evangelical pastor bailed a couple days before when he found out there would be wine and dancing at this celebration. So of course another ex-student friend and I were asked to co-officiate the wedding. Not wanting to leave him hanging on the biggest day of his life, we did our best. I remember reading from chapter five of Ephesians and that was about it – husband and wife!
His wife soon became pregnant and returned to the U.S. for the birth, but his visa to the U.S. was anything but sure. He came to La Paz and we prayed for him as he went into the bunker-like U.S. Embassy for an interview. After a three hour wait and coming face-to-face with the woman who denied his previous visa attempt, he was granted permission to travel to the U.S.! I just saw on Facebook that his wife gave birth… we are praising God that he was able to be by his wife’s side for that special moment. And as hard as it is for some people to get into the U.S., and as much economic and cultural and racial struggle they often face, I’m thanking God that we have a homeland that welcomes aliens and strangers from all over the world. What a great opportunity we have as children of God to live the Gospel and minister to these people in transition!
*Becky and I recently were accepted as members into the Anglican church we have attended for the last year, Cristo Salvador (Christ the Savior). In front of our rector (pastor) and bishop, we confirmed the vows made for us at our baptisms, and we were anointed with oil. The Anglican church (known in the U.S. as Episcopal) is at an interesting crossroads. It is perhaps emblematic of what must of God’s Church is facing. With around 80 million members, it is the third largest communion behind Catholics and Orthodox. Historically very tied to English culture and politics, now nearly half of Anglicans are in Africa. This marks a massive transition of Christendom from North America and Western Europe to Asia, Africa, and Latin America. For more on these trends, I highly recommend The Next Christendom by Phillip Jenkins or, for more U.S.-based trends, The Next Evangelicalism by Soong-Chan Rah. The Anglican communion continues to be wracked by divisions over gender and sexual identity issues, not unlike many other churches today. Please pray for wisdom, unity, and faithfulness to God and His Church.
The Anglican church in Bolivia is still relatively young and small, seven congregations in all. If you have been to an Episcopal service in the U.S., you will notice quite a difference. Our spirited praise music and sermon last for about 30-60 minutes each, and we don’t have copies of The Book of Common Prayer scattered about the sanctuary. It’s not quite as liturgical as I (Adam) would like; it has a very strong Latin flair in that it imitates the style of a lot of Evangelical churches in the U.S. But thankfully God’s church is not what we like. It’s not a social club for our entertainment; it is God’s tool for making us a holy people, inch-by-inch becoming more like Him. With membership we are trying to take steps of faith and submission to God’s body here on earth, to be transformed by the power of God in community, where He seems to work the most.
*Lastly, if this letter arrives in time, I would ask that you would pray for my (Adam) personal retreat from Aug. 8-11. I will be spending two full days with the monks at St. Gregory’s Abbey in Three Rivers, MI. It is a community of men living under the rule of St. Benedict in the Episcopal Church. Please pray that I would be receptive to the silence and stillness of God and be willing to hear any new word spoken into my life. And that the baby would not come early while I’m there! At the very least, getting up for Matins and Lauds at 4 a.m. will get me ready for the sleepless nights ahead.
Grace and peace,
Adam (and Becky) Thada