Other gods

All this I will give you if you bow down and worship me.

This past week marked the festival to the god of abundance, Ekeko.  The fair grounds were full of vendors selling their wares to the followers of this god.  At the entrance to the fair, there stands a large statue of the Ekeko god.










What is the belief about this god?  Followers are encouraged to buy products in miniature that represent their desires.  If you wish to travel, you purchase a miniature suitcase.  If you want to graduate you purchase a miniature diploma.  The most common miniature sold is money - miniature bolivianos, miniature dollars and miniature euros.  The belief is that in the coming year, Ekeko will make these miniature objects become real.

Another belief is that Ekeko can change your life.  If women buy a miniature rooster, they will get married in the coming year (men buy miniature hens).  Miniature dolls will help you to have a child.  Frogs and elephants are said to represent good luck.  Owls will bring wisdom.

Amauta - La Razon

Amauta - La Razon

 After making your purchases, they are taken to the amauta (shaman) who blesses your miniatures.  He sprinkles some water over them and then waves them over a small fire of coals or incense.  Some people, as a final step, will also take their miniatures to the priest who sprinkles them with holy water.

Ekeko

You can also purchase your own Ekeko to keep in your home or business to ensure good luck

Ekeko

Worship the Lord Thy God and serve Him only.

Touching the Sky

Have you ever been told that you "have your head in the clouds"?  Most people know that Denver, CO is known as the "Mile High" city.  Well, here in La Paz we are over 2 miles high (11,975 ft.).  So I guess, technically,  you could say that we "have our head in the clouds"!

One of the drawbacks of living at such a high altitude, is that any time you are coming from a lower altitude up to the city, you are likely to suffer from altitude sickness.  This usually affects people with the following symptoms: throbbing headache, nausea, dizziness, sleep disturbance, fatigue.

What should you do?  The first recommendation is to rest.  Since the air is so thin at this high an altitude, your body needs to produce more red blood cells to be able to absorb more oxygen.  When  you sleep your body produces more red blood cells.  (Sleep is usually not a problem since  you are not feeling so well, anyway.)  Another recommendation is to avoid any kind of physical effort such as lifting, going up and down steps, etc., and eat  light meals.


Is there any way to relieve these symptoms?  The local residents recommend drinking coca tea made from unprocessed coca leaves.  This tea is readily available at stores or at the open market, or you can buy some raw leaves and brew your own.  There are also "soroche" pills to help you sleep through the night.

If you follow the recommendations and rest, avoid strenuous activity and drink your tea, you should start feeling better in 2-3 days and then you can start enjoying La Paz, the city where we touch the sky!

Celebration X 5

The church was decorated with white gladiolas and white carnations.  Ribbons and flowers adorned the benches.  A bowl with water and a drying towel were placed on the altar.  The guests had been invited and the service prepared.  All was ready for the great celebration.

 After the opening hymn, Pastor Julio invited five people to come forward.  These five were all brothers and sisters, the oldest was only 10 and the youngest were 1 year old twin boys.  The brothers and sisters came to the front of the church, along with the witnesses, to be baptized.  After having studied baptism with Pastor Julio, the parents asked that their children receive this wonderful blessing of baptism for the forgiveness of sins and the gifts of faith and eternal life.  What joy for us and for the angels in heaven to see the Holy Spirit creating faith as promised, in the hearts of these little ones.  May God be praised!


After the ceremony, all were invited to participate in a meal with the family.  We were also treated to some typical Bolivian dances presented by the children.  The dances were very traditional and the children dressed in typical costumes.

We are thankful for the spiritual blessings of this day, when we were reminded of the work of the Lord among us through the blessings of baptism, and also for the blessing of fellowship with fellow believers.

Day of the Dead

November 2 is celebrated here as the Day of the Dead.  People visit the tombs of their loved ones and prepare "offerings" for them.  The belief is that the souls of the dead are released for 24 hours, from noon on Nov. 1 until noon on Nov. 2.








In preparation for the arrival of their souls, relatives prepare a table (altar) for the dead.  Essential elements of each table are water (to calm their thirst), bread in the form of a ladder (symbolizing their climb out of the afterworld), merengue candies called "suspiros" (sighs) which symbolize their dying breath, breads, fruits and other favorite foods of the dead person.





Relatives will spend this day talking, reminiscing or singing with their deceased loved ones.  At noon on Nov. 2 they must "send them back".

 What great comfort we have as believers to know that our souls will go to be with Jesus.  He promises to take us to be with Him and we will not be continually sent back to this world of sin and sorrow.

"And so we will be forever with the Lord".

Reformation 2011

"Unless I am convinced of error by the testimony of Scripture or by clear reason...I cannot and will not recant anything, for it is neither safe nor honest to act against ones's conscience.  God help me.  Amen. 

(Luther at the Diet of Worms, 1521)


With these words, Luther rested his faith on God's Word and on His word alone.  He had already suffered much persecution and he knew that these words would bring upon him more persecution and hateful reactions from those who opposed his preaching.  And yet, he remained firm in his preaching of the truth.


His enemies used lies, defamation, false testimony and the civil authorities to try to stop his preaching.  In all this, God continually watched over Luther, blessing him with protection and strength to preach and publish a prolific number of books and pamphlets proclaiming the truth.


We continue to preach the Word, even when we encounter opposition.  

With the same confidence we too proclaim Christ today; we pay no attention to the clamors of the godless and all our adversaries, who complain that our doctrine is seditious and blasphemous because it disturbs the state of public affairs, overturns religion, sows heresies, and in short, is the cause of all evils.  When Christ and His apostles preached, the same clamor was raised by the godless Jews... 


But because we believe, we will speak as long as there is any breath in us, and we will bear the persecutions of the adversaries until Christ, our High Priest and King, comes from heaven.  This, we hope, will be soon.  As a just Judge He will punish those who do not obey His Gospel.  (What Luther Says, #3815)

TIPNIS

La Prensa-TIPNIS

TIPNIS is the name of a national park here in Bolivia.  This jungle area had been declared a protected area by an agreement between the native peoples that inhabit this territory and the national government.  Now the government wants to build a major highway right through the heart of this territory.

La Prensa- Marchers arrive in La Paz

La Prensa-La Paz supports marchers

The indigenous people of this land oppose this new road and to protest against these plans, they walked 65 days from their homes until they reached La Paz.  They were received by a multitude of supporters here in La Paz.  A committee from the city, in an official ceremony, gave the marchers the keys to the city and declared them "Illustrious Guests".

La Prensa-Marchers sleep in plaza

The marchers camped in the downtown plaza in front of the Presidential Palace.  After a few uncomfortable days between the marchers and the police, the president agreed to dialogue with the marchers.  They convinced the president to honor his agreement to not destroy this protected area.  The road will not be finished as planned.

La Prensa-Marchers in La Paz

The marchers went back to their lands happy that they had been successful in stopping the construction of the road, and pleased with the way the people of La Paz had treated and supported them.  About 400 of them were flown back in Air Force planes and another 700 were taken back home in buses.  They received a hero's welcome by their fellow citizens.

Elections

This week we had church services on Saturday.  Sunday was election day (election of judges).  No cars were permitted on the road unless you had requested a special permit.  People could be out on the streets but only to go to vote within your precinct.  After voting, you receive your "voting certificate".  This certificate is required for any banking you will do and banks usually ask for it for up to three months after the elections.

TIPNIS - Diario La Prensa

The indigenous group from the TIPNIS area will be arriving in La Paz on Wednesday.  They hope to get to the downtown plaza right in front of the President's offices.  It has now been two months since they started their march.