Marilis Bolivar
In the summer of 2001, Marilis began working at the farm as a general cleanup person. Her first job was raking leaves and probably uttered 3 or 4 words – was so very shy. As she progressed, she started conversing more, started “rooting” plants and became responsible for the potted plants. During this time she was attending the daily devotional and started taking adult confirmation classes. At this point we must mention that she was confirmed and a member of Bethel Lutheran at Rio Chiquito, although she went through a reaffirmation service at the farm.
Dale started talking to her about her faith and life. Marilis has 3 boys, no husband and they all lived with her parents. Her dream was a house of her own, but sheEs posible que tu navegador no permita visualizar esta imagen. knew that was impossible
As Marilis’ confidence grew she became more animated and really started to share her faith in God with others. There was a hard custodial fight involving one of her boys. But, worried as she was, she also kept saying the God was in charge and would see her through. And, she was correct as the custody case went her way. At about this point she was asked to work in the office. WOW!! When Marilis started working in the office, we had to teach her how to file. It was almost above her understanding to figure that “ce” came after “ca” in filing. It was a slow process, but little by little she became proficient in the areas she was responsible for. She started by simply changing work charts weekly, putting them in their proper place, and then next she started checking that they were all filled out properly. After she grasped all that and the reason for work charts and what they did she started figuring out the amount of wages. (You have no idea how much we take for granted – how much we are taught even before we go to school. How advanced we are and how hard it is to understand exactly at what bases other cultures are coming from.)
Marilis has run the office finances using Quicken with receipts noted for total backup of all purchases this for the past two years. She sends monthly reports to ILV and is totally responsible for all cash flow at the farm.
Es posible que tu navegador no permita visualizar esta imagen.Then the impossible happened! Marilis saved enough money to build her own house – we lovingly call it her “half house.” She thanks God for giving her the opportunity to learn and raise her standard of living. Note – she doesn’t thank the farm, only as a vessel used by God. Now when we get discouraged, guess who bolsters us up with God’s Words of promise and guidance! Her younger sister has become confirmed and active in the church at Rio Chiquito and her whole family is becoming involved in the Lord’s work also. Marilis wears her faith on her sleeve.
Es posible que tu navegador no permita visualizar esta imagen.Prayers work! We heard from several of you that you were praying for a spiritual leader and God blessed us with Rafael as a vicar to work with the farm area.
This year ILV assigned 6 Vicars to various churches. We have the privilege of hosting Rafael Flores for the next year. He is a young fella that has taken the two year course presented by Pastor Ted Krey in Caracas. So – keep up praying so that Rafael can stay strong and firm in his faith and the teaching he will be doing. He will be concentrating mostly in Banco de Acosta and starting a congregation there. We plan on having services on Saturday at the farm and Rafael will spend two days in Quebrada Seca, one Es posible que tu navegador no permita visualizar esta imagen.being for Sunday services there. Rafael has youth confirmation classes at the farm and at Quebrada Seca and adult classes at both places.
Marilis, Sandra and three young confirmands from Rio Chiquito hold Sunday School on Saturday mornings at the farm also.
Praise the Lord – He is so good to us! We are having quite a few goat and sheep babies and several barn-burner calves.
The economy is suffering and we are still having a hard time just getting wages paid. Dale’s pickup was in an accident, so is unusable and the tractor broke down with no parts available. Sandra is still waiting for her visa she applied for in October – need for you to pray “hard” for that problem as our furlough is coming up in May. (This better, Michelle?) Our daughter said we only mentioned the good things and didn’t share the bad – so there are a few of them!
Just after Sandra wrote this part we received notice that her visa is ready and she will be able to go to New Mexico for our daughter’s new arrival due in April.
We have been able to do more fencing on the farm and we are building a new sheep and goat barn in the last few weeks. More time is being spent in assisting Rafael with the evangelism outreach and all of this is looking very exciting. We are looking forward to seeing many of you while on furlough this summer.
Thanks to Concordia Lutheran in North Dakota for their unselfish sharing and prayers. To Ascension in Florida for their continued caring and sharing. To St. Mark’s LWML for continuing to slip us in their annual budget every year. And thanks to our own congregation, Lutheran Church of the Resurrection for their personal and continual concern for our people in Venezuela. Also, to all the people who have contributed to sustaining the farm. A special thanks goes to World Relief and Missions of LCMS.
With out you and God, Dale and I are worth nothing.
Dale and Sandra Saville, Venezuela Agricultural Mission
