Trip Calendar

Robert Murray, Eternal Life Baptist Church

Robert and Jessica Murray, along with their children Ellie and Daniel, come alongside national pastors who desire to plant a church and work with them to help them begin the process and eventually reach autonomy. They have planted three churches in the past six years with this model. Iglesia Bautista Vida Eterna is 15km outside the main city center in a growing area. The church started just before COVID hit and is now being revived and is seeing growth. The church offers discipleship, evangelism, and activities for various ages to reach this community for Christ.

The Murrays hope that you’ll join this team and be a part of their goal to inform their community of their new permanent location–they are about to build! They believe that introducing themselves through a free clinic for people who are hurting will demonstrate how Christ loves Bolivians and cares for their hurting bodies and souls.

There is no readily available healthcare option in the community where we will serve. The nearest place is about 20-30 minutes away by bus.

Additional notes about Bolivia from our host:

1. Our people in this area are reserved but very kind. Once you make friends with them, you are friends for life.

2. We currently meet under a tin roof by a small store. Our new church property is located close to what will be the local market and overlooks the whole city.

3. A great way to find out more about us is by going to reachingbolivia.com. You’ll find a link here to sign up for our monthly ministry updates.

VISA REQUIRED

Bolivia is a country of extremes. From freezing cold snowy mountain peaks to sweltering hot Amazon lowlands, the nation has diverse wildlife, jaw-dropping landscapes, and a vast array of creation and cultures. Bolivia’s varied terrain spans the Andes Mountains, the Atacama Desert, and the Amazon rainforest.

The country's population, estimated at 12 million, is multiethnic, including Amerindians, Mestizos, Europeans, Asians, Africans, and others. Spanish is the official and predominant language, although 36 indigenous languages also have official status.

This trip is to Santa Cruz, one of the largest cities in Bolivia, with 1.8 million people. Due to being in the foothills of the Andes in the Amazon basin and its comparatively low elevation of 1,300 feet, Santa Cruz has a tropical climate. Just west of the city of Santa Cruz is Amboró National Park, a park famous for its flora and fauna, including jaguars, giant anteaters, rare mammals, and over 800 bird species.

Bolivia remains a developing country. Its main economic resources include agriculture, forestry, fishing, and goods such as textiles and clothing, refined metals, and refined petroleum. Bolivia is very geologically rich, with mines producing tin, silver, zinc, lead, and copper. The country also has considerable gold production, amethyst extraction, and the world's largest lithium reserves.

Typical Bolivian snacks and dishes include choclo (corn on the cob), Sopa de Mani (soup with creamed peanuts, vegetables and pasta), saltenas (traditional savory pastries), asado (food prepared on a grill), fried fish, fried yuca, and majadito (fried rice with dried meat, fried egg and plantains).

The proportion of Roman Catholics has decreased slowly but still accounts for more than three-fourths of the population. In the late 20th century membership grew in Protestant denominations (notably evangelical churches) and increasing numbers of Bahāʾīs, and Mormons, and Jews.

The largest salt flat on earth is in southwest Bolivia. Salar de Uyuni is a 4,085 square mile area often called the largest mirror on earth as it is highly reflective, especially after rain. Famed astronaut Neil Armstrong was not only the first man to step on the moon, he was one of the first tourists to visit the Uyuni Salt Flats decades ago. He recalled that, while in space, he witnessed what looked like a giant mirror reflecting out of South America. He was so taken by what he saw, that he came to Bolivia to see it up close.

For more country information, click here https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/bolivia/

Our plan is to offer medical, optical, and physical therapy care to this community. Every patient who receives care will hear the gospel from a member of this local church.

Note: At this time we are only considering applications for medical and P.T. professionals, as well as health science students.

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