BOLIVIABULLETIN
JURGEN & WENDY
SCHULZ • POTOSI, BOLIVIA
Bulletin No. 103
• August 2006
There is nothing
worth living for but Him,
and His
lovingkindness is better than life.
-C.H.
SPURGEON
Dear
Friends,
About months ago a major
reconciliation event was held in our city, and some of you have asked, “What
changes have come about as a result?” Remarkable transformations have taken
place in other areas subsequent to such events, and there has been much interest
to see what would happen in Potosí.
We have often posed the
questions—why is it that the poorest city in Bolivia is located right next to
the world’s richest silver mine? How is it that we have two huge smelters,
neither of which have been able to function? Why is there so much poverty and
spiritual darkness in Potosí? If the blood of Abel cried out to God from the
ground, what kind of cry goes up from this city from the blood of hundreds of
thousands of native slaves who have died in the mine? Do the atrocities of the
past continue to affect our city in the present? These considerations led us to
be involved in the reconciliation event that took place on March 31. And now the
question is—if confession, repentance and reconciliation has made some kind of
difference in the spiritual realm, how will that work out in the natural
realm?
Well, remarkable changes have
been happening in our city in recent months. How much is directly related to the
reconciliation event? —We don’t know. But these are some of the things we see
taking place . . .
• The economy of our city has taken a steep
upswing.
• In April
the Spanish government committed to investing $50 million euros in projects in
our city.
• Mineral prices have climbed and the mining
industry is booming.
• So many have flocked to work in the mine that it
is now hard to find men to do construction work in the city.
Wages for miners have doubled since last year.
• The tax revenues for our city have sky-rocketed.
The amount of tax money coming in on a monthly basis is now considerably in
excess of what used to come in a whole year! The first six months of this year
have registered the highest tax income on record.
• A number of mega projects in the mining industry
are in the process of starting up in the department of Potosí,
and about 11,650 new jobs are being created.
• The Karachipampa smelter near Potosí is the
largest in Bolivia. This $200 million dollar complex has never
functioned in its 22 years of existence. It is now being taken
over by an American company and should start operating by next year.
The possibility of activating the other smelter is also under
consideration.
• Recently a Christian in our fellowship involved in
the mining industry made a donation to the Lord’s work of
almost $40,000.
These are a few of the amazing
developments that are taking place in the economy of Potosí. Large numbers of
people are experiencing relief from poverty—and for many families in our city
that have known little else, this is good news. We continue to pray that similar
changes will be seen in the spiritual climate of our community. We trust that
will be the next chapter to be written.
Construction nearing
completion
We are putting the final touches
on the chapel building in the prison. This construction project has been in the
works for some time and is finally nearing completion. Having not had an
adequate facility for the prison ministry in the past, this building will be a
great asset. Pray that the chapel will be a place where many inmates will be
touched by God’s transforming grace.
Rural
Evangelism
We have taken on the task of
taking teams to evangelize poor farming communities along the Toropalca River,
south of Potosí. Two villages have already been visited, and the gospel was
presented in a variety of ways to children and adults. We were able to put
Samaritan Purse boxes into the hands of all of the students in these
communities. The amazement and joy on their faces when they received these gifts
from Christians in Canada was priceless. For those of you who have contributed
to this program, the children send a big thank you. Pray that the seeds sown as
we continue this outreach will bring eternal fruit.
Prayer &
Praise
• God worked in many hearts
in the conference in La Paz. Thank you for praying.
• We still need prayer that
our paperwork in Immigrations would get finished.
• Bolivia is in the process
of re-writing her political constitution. With so many diverse and radical
proposals on the table this will be
a difficult process. The country needs much prayer at this crucial
time.
Gratefully
yours,
Jurgen and Wendy Schulz
-----------------------------------
MAILING
ADDRESS:
Jurgen & Wendy
Schulz
Casilla 305,
Potosí,
Bolivia
MSC CANADA
509 - 3950 14th
Avenue,
Markham,
ON
Canada
L3R 0A9