Tuesday, April 28, 2009

home again...

Hello everyone!

Thank you so much for the prayers and support, Daniel and I (Brianna) have arrived home safely!

The trip was incredibly fruitful for me personally, as far as the acquisition of information and experiencing life in Bolivia. The atmosphere and energy of Quillacollo/Cochabamba are very encouraging. Along with all this, I was able to learn a great deal about exciting things like non-profit qualifications, articles of incorporation, and endless lists of legal paperwork. Yay!

We have made a little headway with the location of possible properties for Xelda Ministries, but much work is yet to be done. It seems that for each decision made, there are 12 more waiting for us! But the Lord is faithful, and He will guide us to the place that He has in mind, we are sure of it.

Along with the encouraging advances for Xelda Ministries, I am pleased to report that Angel Eyes is up and running. We only need a few minor adjustments to video quality and things of that nature. The Bolivian doctors are already using Angel Eyes, but a network needs to be set up here in the States in order to begin collaboration. We are currently building this network, so if you are interested in being involved by taking a shift on the network, or by other means, please contact Daniel at daniel@hospitalsofhope.org.

Thanks again for your prayers and encouragement.

Blessings!

-Brianna

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Update from Bolivia

Back in February, I wrote about Xelda Ministries, a friendship ministry that we're starting in Cochabamba, Bolivia. We've been truly blessed to have Brianna Brown join us on this project, and she's down in Bolivia with Mike and Daniel right now, working to get that project off the ground. Here is an update from Brianna:

After a little trepidation, an extra night in Miami, and a few scary airplane incidents, we have made it safely to the hospital here in Bolivia. Mike, Daniel, and I arrived a little more than a week ago, and since then have been working furiously on our various projects.

Daniel’s project, Angel Eyes, is is nearing completion daily, with the space lab data already transmitting clearly, and the video feed on the way shortly. This is a great and distinguishing opportunity for the hospital, as most hospitals in the United States don’t even have access to this technology. Angel Eyes enables the diagnosis of patients here in Bolivia, by doctors in the States, who can see their physical condition through the video feed, and monitor their vital stats in real time. This is a truly wonderful gift that God has given us to use. Pray that it is as helpful as it has the potential to be.

Mike has been doing as Mike usually does, fixing everything possible and teaching at every opportunity. Also, the two of us (Mike and Brianna) have been doing quite a bit of work with the newest project, an evangelistic adventure called Xelda Ministries. Due to a gift given by Mike’s late grandmother, a new ministry opportunity bearing her name and passion for evangelistic outreach is already beginning to take shape. The primary idea is to open a coffee shop in the plaza area of Quillacollo, aimed toward youth and young adults. This cafĂ© will be used to minister to the people of Cochabamba, and it will create ministry opportunities for the growth and development of the Bolivian Christians in our community. In the future, we hope to expand this ministry to the other parts of the world where HOH has a presence.

There have been so many opportunities to sow into the lives of the people around us. Two volunteers from Virginia were here with us the first week, and we have two more from another place arriving on Thursday of this week. God is doing amazing things in the lives of those around us that we serve, and in our own lives as well. Please pray that the blessings continue and that the heart of Christ is glorified in our work. Thanks so much!

-Brianna