Ixiamas

Where is Ixiamas? I had to google it :0)

We just returned from a week away in the jungles of Bolivia.

Bolivia is such a beautiful and diverse country.



Narrow dirt roads made up Highway 3 and Highway 2

 Our journey took us 15 hours from the city of La Paz into the department of Beni where we stayed the night in a place called Rurrenebaque.


We journeyed over "highways" that rival back country logging roads in British Columbia, Canada.




A view of Rio Beni in Rurrenebaque



The guys enjoying the view

We crossed the Rio Beni, which took us back into the departmentof La Paz, and headed another three or so hours to the community of Ixiamas.



Crossing the Rio Beni



Duane and Caleb posing with our travelling companions, Santos Quispe(The area minister) and Rueben Cruz(Vice-President of the La Paz Association for the UBB)

We travelled with the area minister for the department of La Paz and his boss, and our objective was to celebrate a first anniversary for a church in Ixiamas.




Driving off the ferry




One of three Bolivian Baptist Union churches along the way




The second of three churches visited along the way




the third church visited along the way




Duane leading a workshop in the church in Ixiamas

  

Where all our meals were cooked.
The women cooked alot of food for the crowd that was participating in the anniverary over 4 days!

We were blessed to be a part of this celebration, to experience more of this countries diversity and also take part in 7 baptisms, 8 baby dedications and a reconciliation between offended parties before partaking in the Lord's supper. We witnessed the commissioning service of a Bolivian missionary and his family who had just moved to this area to serve three communities.
Truly a blessed occasion and a grand adventure.