La Paz trip, day 6

We took the day and got to know the city a bit today.

We drove around the cities different parts to see what we could see. I was particularly interested in the colonias of the city. It was very different from what we are used to seeing in tijuana. In stead of many houses crammed close together, these were little plots of land in the desert where people could raise some animals or food (if they have enough water). The houses were all quite humble and the area was generally very poor. We didn't see any churches in that area in particular, nor in the area around it.

I found out later that there are 3 works started in that area. That is something a little different than what we've found in Tijuana. In TJ there seems to be no knowledge or care of what someone else is doing in an area. willy nilly churches seem to go up overnight- some with the hope of US help- others with it already. One area in TJ where we have been helping along the railroad tracks had no churches anywhere near it when we got there. But it seems when one church goes up- a half dozen follow it. A short while later another church (both of a similar doctrinal persuasion) when up about 3 lots away. A couple years later and there is another large one and another small one, all of them with such small differences in doctrines they are indistinguishable.

Here there seems to be alot more influence from the individual churches and/ or denominations and/ or missionaries. So it is a little more organized here.

There are definitely some areas that look like they need churches, but it also seems that the churches and missionaries currently here are aware of the need and willing and able, with God's help and leading, to meet those needs.

On the way back from the journey around town are van sprung a leak in one if the hoses. The car was overheating so we stopped for a while, prayed, waited and then drove on. About 3km later it was again overheating and steam was escaping from somewhere under the hood. so we pulled over again and this time I could see clearly the hose that had burst. It's the one from the engine into the heater beyond the firewall.
We let it cool down and Shar spotted a hardware store where I purchased some duct tape to do a Mexican repair job! And we got it fixed! we were able to make it home safe and sound, praise God!

Tomorrow (Tuesday) I have 2 more meetings- one with the pastor of the English church and the other with the lady missionary who opened up the field here in 1955. I'm looking forward to both of those!

Thanks for praying,

Mike