Kari and Justin Eller in their end-of-the-year newsletter from Bolivia write, “As we have come to the end of 2010 and stepped over into 2011, we have the chance to stop and look back on the blessings, challenges and footsteps of where God has brought us.”

To receive the full newsletter, send your name and e-mail address to kfeller5@yahoo.com. Here are just two of the many items they included:

Shared at a Mission 21 meeting

Kari and Justin Eller

Twelve Mission 21 representatives visited Mocomoco, Bolivia, and La Paz, Bolivia, from Germany and Switzerland.  Justin and I were honored to be a part of one of their “information gathering” meetings that took place at the Andean Ecumenical Higher Institute of Theology (ISEAT) in La Paz.

We were asked to share what it is that we do on a day-to-day basis and answered questions about our work.  One of the most thought provoking questions we were asked was, “So, how has your faith changed in the past year?”  For me, the answer was “Entirely.” (And of course, following that, a bigger explanation.)

It was a question that took me by surprise and made me stop and reflect on the past year in a way that I had not thought to do.  While it wasn´t necessarily the easiest question to answer, it was by far the question that I appreciated the most.  So, now I´d like to ask you, “How has your faith changed this year?” I invite you to share your answer with others.

An invitation for a virtual visit

This trimester, my English classes at ISEAT usually began with one of the students asking, “Can I make the coffee?”  Even though only two classes (English I and II) are required by ISEAT in order to graduate, I had several students who asked to continue their studies with me, and we made it a point to begin every class with informal conversation (and coffee!).

Throughout the course, we also used the computer program Skype to talk with and interview several people from the United States.  We enjoyed the experience so much, that we´d like to have more in the next trimester and include you!

Send me an e-mail at kfeller5@yahoo.com if you have Skype on your computer and would be willing to spend about an hour of your time sharing and talking about your life and location. In exchange, we´ll be glad to tell you about ours and answer any questions that you might have about Bolivia.