June, 2008
Greetings from the “Land of Eternal Spring”! At least that is what they call Cochabamba in the tourist brochures. However, we are having the coldest Winter anyone remembers. The temperatures are down to the 30’s at night, which means our unheated house is in the 30’s as well! BRRR!!
We are excited to launch two new Bible studies this month, in the Sacaba area, East of the city. These will be held at the HQ of a secular charity (NGO). The head of this group is a Christian, but the majority of employees are not. We will be teaching English, and giving lessons from the Bible! We are specifically requested to reach the employees for Christ! Can you imagine this happening at a company in the States? This contact is a direct result of Cynthia’s serving as president of the Cochabamba Women’s Club, which works with many secular charities here.
We will launch a new church service here in Cochabamba this month. We still need basic equipment like chairs, a sign, and other gear, but we will go with what we have and improvise! Pray with us that this new launch will be effective.
Recently Cynthia, Thomas and Nicholas served as translators for a group of young people on a missions trip to a remote area South of the city. After the Gospel was presented through skits and music, they broke into teams to work with folks who wanted to hear more. Cyn and the boys had their hands full interpreting for the US group. Six young people accepted Christ and the local pastor will follow up with them.
* Please pray for Miguel, a young medical student who knows he needs salvation but just can’t get past his evolution training. As we witnessed to him there on the sidewalk, it was so obvious that his heart was under conviction, but there wasn’t enough time to answer the questions that stood in his way. This man will need a relationship and time to be able to make his way through the thick forest of confusion that the Prince of Lies has grown around him. Please pray that Miguel will open his heart to the Truth!
* Please pray for Juanita, a young lady we encountered who had been robbed and assaulted at the bus terminal. Her boyfriend and his father live in the neighborhood around Moises’ church and we took her there for comfort and encouragement. Please pray that she accepts the Lord so that she can heal from that encounter and live the life that God intends for her.
Continue to pray for Bolivia. Three States will vote on “Autonomia” in June, following the successful vote in Santa Cruz in May. There is already fighting in one area, as the pro-government factions attempt to block the vote. Our State will be scheduling their vote soon, and no one here knows what will happen then. We are grateful to be in hands of a faithful, all powerful God!

Serving Christ in Bolivia
Steve, Cyn, Thomas, Nicholas, Staton and David Johnson

May, 2008
Dear Friends,
May has already been an exciting month, and it has barely begun! On the 4th, the largest departmento (state) held a referendum on whether to declare autonomy from the federal government. Everyone expected severe violence to result, and that perhaps even civil war would begin. The government promised 80,000 anti-autonomy protesters would march here in Cochabamba. Confrontations were feared between the two factions. Most churches canceled services, many folks went into “lockdown” and the city waited in dread of what would happen.
We had planned to launch a new service the first week of June. However, this was an opportunity to reach out to the community. With about seventeen hours to prepare, we spread the word that we would hold a music and prayer service at 10AM. As the troubles were not expected until afternoon, we felt t would be safe if we made sure to get everyone on there way home by 11:15.
We had a great music service, with Cynthia on the keyboard and Nicholas on the guitar. I opened the windows so the neighborhood could hear Christians singing about their Lord! We then had a long time of prayer, focusing on the God’s controlling hand on our country. Finally I gave a brief Bible lesson on trusting God in challenging times.
With so much of the city staying home, attendance was small, but we did have an impact! The guests heard the Gospel! Word has spread and we are receiving inquiries about when formal services and Bible studies will begin!
As for the “troubles”, the marchers marched, the protestors protested, and everyone went quietly home. Cochabamba remained peaceful. There was indeed violence in Santa Cruz, with three dead, and many injured. Now we wait to see what will happen next. Please continue to pray for the troubled nation of Bolivia.

Serving Christ in Bolivia
Steve, Cyn, Thomas, Nicholas, Staton and David Johnson

Exciting News!

We have found a house in Cochabamba! It is on a major street, just two cuadras (blocks) from a major landmark of the city. Everyone in Cochabamba will know how to find us!

The bottom floor has two large rooms, when combined, will seat 80+ people! The rooms can be divided for two classrooms when needed. There are two other class rooms on that level, for Sunday School and such.

The living space that remains will be slightly smaller than we have now, and we have a few other challenges with the property, but we’ll work with all that. The important thing is that there is room for a church to meet, in addition to classes during the week. Parking is allowed on the street, so we will have no problem there.

This is a tremendous answer to prayer! Thank you for praying with us!

Of course, the rent in the city will be higher. We need your help to accomplish this work. There are two ways in which you can help us. If you are not currently supporting us monthly, now would be a great time to start!

The other way to help us is with a one-time offering. As you know, we took out a loan to purchase a vehicle. That payment is $188 per month. If we could pay that loan off, the gain would be like adding three new supporting churches! We need $6,000 to pay off the loan so that we can begin outfitting our new work.

Will you help?

Thank you, dear friends, for your faithfulness!
The Johnsons [Steve, Cynthia, Thomas, Nicholas, Staton and David ]

January 9, 2008
Dear Friends,
The new year started with the sound of explosions all over the city! No, it was not civil war, it was fireworks! All over Cochabomba there were beautiful displays. Unfortunately, even on New Years, we’d like to get some sleep, but some folks insisted on partying all night. There is a popular huge firecracker named the “mother-in-law-killer” that sound like a grenade going off! These went off all night, leaving us bleary eyed in the morning. Everyone is taking a break from politics for the holidays. There are warnings that protests and confrontations will start up again mid-January, and some are predicting it will be worse than last year. Thanks to you, our faithful partners, we have a freezer stocked with supplies for even a two week blockade!
Two Baptist missionaries have left over fear of the “troubles”. One church (30 people) closed, and the other (25 people) has ceased having services for lack of a place to meet. We lack the resources to help, and our current house is too far away from the city for the churches to meet here. It is so frustrating to see these churches close their doors while we are eager to help, but lack the finances to sustain them. We have to trust God that He is still in control. Pray with us that we will gain more churches to partner with us.
We have to move, as our landlord has sold the house we are renting. Pray with us that we will find something inside the city that we can afford yet will be large enough to hold services.
Our street continues to be blocked due to the sewer project. It is like London after the Blitz, with piles of rubble everywhere. The “two week” project has already taken over a month, and local folks expect it will be April before autos can travel the street again. We are able to park the van in a field nearby. One of the neighbors has placed sturdy planks across the widest trench, so the “streets” are less treacherous.

We have begun the year with new semester of language study! God has made a way for us to study, even though we can’t afford the full tuition. One sweet Bolivian lady has caught our vision of what is needed here and is teaching us for free, and I am working with a student teacher who charges half of what the professionals do.

Serving Christ in Bolivia
Steve, Cyn, Thomas, Nicholas, Staton and David Johnson

Is Bolivia Safe?
The simple answer is yes…today.
The question of safety must address three specific concerns:
1) general safety from crime,
2) civilian conflicts such as political riots and
3) civil war.
Crime exists in Cocahbamba. There is one area in town where even the US Embassy and the city government warn folks not to go at night. So we don’t go there! There are warnings against females being out and about alone, so we don’t do that either. Certain types of public transit are the most common settings for robberies, so we don’t use them. Most crime is non-confrontational, such as burglaries. We keep our house well lit and have a very impressive guard dog. To be frank, I feel safer walking in Cochabamba at night than in most metropolitan areas of the States. Crime is real, but less dangerous than what you experience Stateside. Basic precautions are adequate.
Riots and political protests are usually planned well in advance. The primary danger in these situations is being caught out and about near the “action”. We stay home on those days, and listen to the news and our Bolivian friends so we are generally forewarned of any trouble. We were caught in the riot last year because we were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and hadn’t understood the warnings. Lesson learned! Blockades are a danger because if extended, the city runs out of staples like meat, milk and bread. Last year we had begun rationing our supplies before the blockade was lifted. We now have a freezer and keep a week’s supply of food on hand. Theoretically, civil unrest could become so bad that we would have to leave the area for a short period, but it is more likely that we can simply sit out these disturbances. It is part of the way of life here.
Civil war is a real possibility. We have come closer in the last few months to armed military conflict than any time in the previous twenty years. Both sides are preparing for war, training and gathering weapons. Leaders are fearful, because no one knows how it would turn out. The predictions are that if indeed war comes, it will be long, protracted and bloody.
War is not a certainty, however. Predicting Bolivian politics is an exercise in futility. Will the two sides back down? Will they find an acceptable compromise? Will the shooting start? No analyst worth his salt will offer a prediction. Even if civil war does break out, that does not mean that Cochabamba would be involved! In the last shooting war, Cochabamba was untouched. Obviously travel and ministry activities would be more limited, and evacuation might eventually be required, but there is no indication to justify leaving at this time.
There are indeed storm clouds over Bolivia. Whether the storm will strike or blow over is in the hands of God. For now, we walk freely in the city, eat at street side cafes and pursue our purpose here. We were led by God to this city. After living here and becoming part of the community, we are more convinced than ever that our ministry is needed here. This is a beautiful city, filled with wonderful, friendly people who need to hear the Gospel! While we will not take foolish chances, we will not leave unless absolutely necessary.
So is Bolivia safe? Yes, for now, and as long as God wants us to be here!

December 27, 2007
Dear Friends,
First let us thank you for a wonderful Christmas! Several churches sent us extra gifts. Along with goodies for the kids, Nicholas was able to have emergency dental work done, and urgent repair was done on our “new” van!
The last praise deserves some explanation. Speed limits are not enforced by traffic cops here in Cochabamba. Instead they use huge speed bumps, nicknamed “axle breakers”. It is normal to “speed” down the road at 25-30 miles per hour, then slow to 2-3 miles per hour to slowly creep over the axle-breakers. What did us in was a HUGE pothole, followed by a newly installed axle-breaker. Even going very, very slowly, the twin dangers were too much for our old rear suspension. Thanks to your sweet kindness, Nicholas is out of pain, we are back on the road and everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!
This month I want to share several prayer requests with you.
First, fears of political troubles and even civil war in Bolivia have prompted the other independent Baptist missionaries to return to the States. One church was disbanded and its building sold. Another new work was closed. A third work continues, but under difficult circumstances. Our careful evaluation has shown us that it is premature to leave. I assure you that we are in no physical danger! Missionaries from other groups and denominations are not leaving Bolivia. We will continue to monitor the situation, and keep you informed. However, the impact of these things is that we, the newest missionaries in Cochabamba City, with the least resources, are left to carry the ministry alone. As we are still in language studies, and struggling to raise work support, we are ill-equipped to fill the gap. However, God has placed us here, and we will see His work accomplished!
Second, we have been given a wonderful opportunity. Bolivian Christians are persuaded that our ministry is vital here, and are offering to help. Normal tuition in the best (and least expensive) language school is $480 per month for full time classes. They have offered to allow me to have full classes for $120 per month. This means that one teacher is giving me free time, while others are cutting their fees by more than half. Because we have not received enough funds to pay off the van ($7,500 is still needed), even this reduced amount is too large for us. Pray we can either pay off the van loan or receive special gifts to take advantage of this short term opportunity!
Third, we need to move! Our landlord has sold our house wants us out ASAP! Unfortunately, houses in our price range that are large enough for our family are hard to find. Additionally, the road to our current house has been blocked due to the laying of sewer lines. This project will last 2-3 months, perhaps longer. To get to the field where we now park our van, we must cross construction trenches that are 2-3 feet wide, 5-6 feet deep! It is “interesting” when we have to walk home in the dark.
Fourth, we are struggling with parasites. This is not life threatening, but it is debilitating. Pray that we will respond to the medication!
Fifth, Steve has to come to the States for a month to seek new church partners! We need help to cover the ticket.

Serving Christ in Bolivia
Steve, Cyn, Thomas, Nicholas, Staton and David Johnson

November 17, 2007
Dear Friends,
Greetings from the…United States? I am currently in the middle of a short visit Stateside to present our work in Cochabamba to new churches and report to some current supporters. I visiting be in five states during a two month tour. It is difficult to be away form my family for so long, but Cynthia and determined that this was the most faithful way to use the resources you have entrusted to us. She and the kids stayed behind in Cochabamba, “holding the fort.” What a blessing modern technology can be! We are contact nearly every day via email and internet phone.
Let me tell you what the team is up to while I am visiting churches in the USA. Cynthia has been presenting craft classes to some ladies organizations in the city, and was asked to serve as an interim officer for the Cochabamba Woman’s Club. This group is sort of combined ladies auxiliary/rotary/chamber of commerce. Our goal is to use these opportunities to network with the business people of “Coch”, preparing for ministry among them.
Thomas is planning some special outreach events for the months to come. This involves the coordination of location, resources and personnel to make these evangelistic events successful. Nicholas has the assignment of putting the music programs together. This more to crafting a meaningful worship service than translating the lyrics The music must speak to the local culture, and speak about the love of Jesus!
There are times I think my job here is going to Wal-Mart! I have long shopping lists of vitally needed supplies ranging from guitar picks to socks and computer parts.
Seriously, the purpose of my trip is two fold. We need more partner churches to help to fund the works planned for Cochabamba. There are many opportunities to share the Gospel, and we need the resources to move the work forward. Continuing our language studies is vital! We can function in Bolivian society, but to communicate clearly on a heart to heart level demands mastery of the language, and that means we have to continue in school.
My other purpose is to raise funds for a vehicle. We have purchased a terrific 8 passenger Toyota van. (Pictures will be on the web site soon www.exhort.com). By the time all the paperwork and mechanical work are complete the cost will be approximately $9,000. We need to raise this money quickly, to pay off the loan and put the van on the road!
I have been asked many times if I was homesick during the last year. The answer is no, but I am now! I cannot wait to get back to Cochabamba. God has planted our hearts there! As I share the vision for the work with churches across the US, I am burdened with the need to be about that work. It is wonderful to be with you, but we yearn to be with our people in Coch. The need is great and the time is so very, very short.
Please pray with us that these needs for support and the vehicle will be met quickly. There is so much to be done!

Serving Christ in Bolivia
Steve, Cyn, Thomas, Nicholas, Staton and David Johnson

Sept. 14th, 1810 is the date that Cochabamba won her independence from Spain. It’s interesting that Bolivia is not said to have won her independence until 1815! But all Cochabambans agree that Cochabamba was free in 1810. [we are REALLY looking forward to THAT celebration year!]

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For some interesting reading:
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/bo-c.html [description of flag]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Bolivia
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Cochabambans love festivals and parades and bands and singing and drinking and eating and just all-around HAVING FUN. Even when at the most rowdy, Cochabambinos are kind and friendly.

The entire week was pretty much devoted to the Birthday, but most celebrations took place on Thursday evening and Friday afternoon and evening. We don’t have too many parades in the morning because 1) in Coch, we don’t care too much for morning and 2) when you play as hard as Cochabambinos do, at night, it’s hard to get up the next day. So we plan our celebrations carefully!

The parades were awesome, starting at about 9pm Thursday night, and lasting until 1 am Friday morning. I am told that the festivities didn’t wrap up until 5 am Friday morning. I saw the preparations for one of the parades, and am told they were all fabulous… although I only got to see one, and that was by mistake.

You see, the director of our language school has a birthday on Sept. 14th too. She had planned a small dinner party to celebrate her birthday and had invited just a few friends and family. I was blessed to be accepted into that small group!

Well… I needed a gift so we went to a store named Home Center Facil… yes, that really IS the name of that store! And they have many items that North Americans might want, as well as many Bolivians. They tend to be a bit more expensive than the other stores… but it was Independence Day… NO other stores were open!

While we were shopping, a parade of campesinos went by. They were Cochabambino Campesinos and they wanted Cochabamba to know that THEY were happy living in Cochabamba! [There was NO trouble, btw, or any political conflict.]

We found a nice vase that would hold candies quite nicely. Never having been to an adult birthday party in Coch, I wasn’t sure what kind of gift would be appropriate, so I tried for something that she could use at home or at the institute. Judging by the empty wrappers all over, I’d say that the candy was a hit! WHEW!!!! And Mauge loved the container too. She is such a lovely woman!

Since I haven’t been able to have too many classes in spanish (maybe 10 or 15 classes, total? instead of the 1200 hours suggested as a minimum), I wasn’t sure how well I would be able to communicate. But I understood most of what was said, and was able to get my thoughts across as well.

And I finally learned the name for braids… “trenza(s)”! I love it. It’s so much like the word for train (tren), and the ladies’ dual braids trailing down their backs look just like train tracks! It’s perfect!

Our culture here is very considerate and respectful of the older generations. There are other “fine points” to the etiquette that can’t be easily pinned down. But I passed a “test”! I was deep into a conversation with a lovely couple who were friends with Mauge and her hubby, Jorge. I heard Mauge presenting her mother or grandmother to me, and I immediately turned to the couple and said “con permiso, disculpame por favor?” And then i got up and went to the older woman and greeted her.

As I got up, I could see a significant glance of approval pass between the husband and wife, and they nodded their heads and watched as I held Mama’s hand and bent down to give and receive the kiss of greeting.

WHEW… again, God had given me grace to get by!

It’s not like they would have cut my head off and sacrificed me if I had gotten it wrong! On the contrary, our people in this part of the world are very giving and patient and forgiving. I would have been given another chance. But we foreigners don’t get TOO many “other chances” before we are pegged. Again, nothing is EVER said! You just don’t get past a certain point in their hearts or lives.

And our goal and desire is to be drawn DEEPLY into the lives and hearts and minds of our people!

So please continue to pray for us as we continue to learn our culture and our language. God is so very, very good!

Love,
Cyn
p.s. please pray, too, for Steven as he works to accomplish God’s will in these conferences. He has a very heavy schedule, but that’s a GOOD thing!

September 9, 2007
Dear Friends:
Our FIRST working furlough!!!
We are so excited about Steven’s short trip to the U.S.! He will have the blessing of presenting our ministry in many churches across the country. His primary focus is to raise more support for work funds. We are also raising the funds for a badly needed vehicle! Please keep these needs in prayer!
Last letter we told you about a Bolivian funeral. At the other end of the spectrum of life, we have birth! Here in Bolivia, parents will take a long time to carefully consider what name(s) to give their children. There is a complex method of determining a person’s heritage by examining their “apellidos” [last name], but much care is taken in choosing their given names. It is not unusual for children to have 3 given names, so our children fit right in!
It is a deep honor for a child to be named for you. While the naming does not enlist the honored person as a “God-parent”, there is still an expectation of spiritual and emotional investment in that child and/or parent. The parents of a newborn have about a year to figure the name out. The 1st birthday of the child is a BIG deal, with lots of relatives and the “giving of blessings” by all involved.
Our taxi driver, Marco, is a sweet Christian man who has been hurt by things in his life. We have known Marco for a year now and have seen him grow in his spiritual life through our talk while riding with him. We have to use taxis a LOT here, so there are many opportunities to witness and counsel! He and his 2nd wife had just had their baby prior to meeting us. As he and his wife Susi began working on names for their baby, they went through a variety of choices. During this time, we were able to help him from time to time with one thing or another, but mostly we gave him our friendship and mutual respect. This offering of respect for her husband and our compassion for Susi, blessed Susi as well.
When the time came to name their baby, since the 1st birthday was approaching, it was quite a surprise when Marco told us that Susi had decided upon a name and Marco had agreed: Leonardo Steven [not "Esteban"... STEVEN] and yes… they named their baby boy for my husband, Steven!!!! But the blessing didn’t stop there. They invited us to Leo’s birthday party the next day.
When we got to the party, we were met with some skeptical eyes at the “gringos”. Why were they invited? Those eyes were joyful and friendly by the time we left. The birthday customs were familiar, and yet different. A very special part of the celebration was when the family members were called over to say a blessing “over” Leo. That was really special! They spoke of how they loved and respected Marco and Susi and what they hoped for Leo in the future. So you can imagine our shock… humility and speechlessness when we were asked to say a blessing over Leo too! As one of Leo’s namesakes, Steven was asked to give Leo a blessing. We were so honored.
Please keep Susi in prayer. She is not yet a believer, and we long to see this sweet family united in Christ!

Serving Christ in Bolivia
Steve, Cyn, Thomas, Nicholas, Staton and David Johnson