About Us

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Gabe and Kari

How we met and came to Bolivia:  Gabe and I met at Emmaus Bible College in 1994.  In 1996 Gabe was flicking ice cube chips in the dining hall and decided to flick one my way.   I ran at him with a glass of water out the door of the dining hall where he proceeded to aim at me again.  Well, it landed square in my eye breaking my contact.  About 2 days later he noticed me wearing my HUGE red glasses in the library and asked why…he paid for my broken contact and that is where it all began…I think . 

We both received our BS in education and 1 year Bible degree there in 1998, and hoped to use our teaching skills in some way overseas as Missionaries.  The day we graduated and left we decided to date…long distance.  Gabe taught at a Christian school in Kansas and I taught at a Christian school in Oregon.  3 years later we were married.  We moved to Bolivia to work in a Christian school in September of 2004.  We came with our our 6 bags and 2 kids (Kaleb 1.5 and Selah 4 months). 

Gabe

Past facts of interest:) Born in North Dakota, I grew up as a MK in Paraguay S.A.  Gabe became a Christian at age 6, finished Highschool in Stanley, N.D., worked as a social services outreach worker with migrants during the summers, nightwatch man and dining room while in college, and as a teacher and soccer coach at Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, KS for a few years.  Taught at a public school in Wichita for a year and in Oregon for a year as well. 

Now: I (Gabe) am the director and highschool Bible teacher at the Escuela Cristiana Camirena.  I also enjoy playing soccer,  guitar and singing with kids, going on trips to the campo (off paved roads:) to preach, spending time with family…etc…

Kari 

 Past facts of interest:)   Born in Santa Rosa California.  Grew up in the states of  Washington and Oregon.  Became a Christian at age 4.  Homeschooled from 2nd to 10th grade.  Went to a Community College during my last 2 years of highschool.  I have 4 wonderful sisters and 2 great parents.:)  Wanted to be a missionary, a singer like Steve Green, or a vet growing up.  Some odd jobs I had were picking strawberries,  working at a paintbrush factory(that’s when I decided I wanted a college degree:), and cleaning bathrooms in college.  I worked out at Eagle Fern Camp as a highschooler on the STAR/TCL staff and then as a College student was a leader of the STAR staff for 2 years.  Those camp years were the highlights of my life. During that time I grew to understand who God was more personally and how He could be my personal savior and friend.

Now:

I am a stay at home mom, homeschooling Kaleb(1st grade), Selah(Kinder), Essie(pre-school) and Joel(8 months ie. nursing school .  We are planning on going back to Bolivia around March or April 2010.  There( in Coch or Sucre) I will be trying to improve my Spanish for a couple months with one on one training.  We then plan to go back to Camiri, Bolivia.  Please pray for us as a family: 1. That we might have good attitudes as a family 2. That we will act Christ-like to each other and those around us.  3.  That when stress and pressure comes (it will for sure) we will SHINE and not crumble.  4. That Christ’s love WILL truely compel us in everything that we do and say (2 Cor. 5:14-15).

 

Kaleb: “Faithful”  Gabriel

At almost 7 years old he is a very “faithful” little boy.  He likes to cook, draw, play with his sisters, ride FAST on his bike, and LOVES to READ.  He is now not the only boy in the house, joined in April 2009 by Joel Jediah Steven:)  He asks many questions about God and likes to read his Bible.  We pray that he will GROW and develop a more PERSONAL relationship with Christ!  He is doing 1st grade this year with the Sonlight curriculum. 

 

Selah “Pause” Joy

Selah is 5 years old.  She is in Kindergarten and LOVES to color and draw.  She is beginning to read and enjoys that as well.  Selah loves anything cute and little and that ranges from gooey little worms to a cute tiny carrot she finds.  She also enjoys singing and was really good at doing the ”sign language” part of the song “Who is He in Yonder Stall” that the kids sang for Christmas this year(2009).  Selah is still in the process of getting better with her UTI/bowel issues.  It might take a lot longer than we think to fully be over it.  She is still taking Miralax and Oxybutinin.

Esperanza: “Hope” Lou Grace

Born at 3 lbs, then going to 2.5 lbs after a blood transfusion…Essie is now 3!  She is still little for her age, but a very very energetic little girl…LOTS of spunk!  When she was born they gave her 30% chance to live . . . We can’t imagine how life would be without her now.  Essie’s favorite things to do are, have books read to her, throw cards all over the room, then organize them back again…depending on the time she has , play house with Selah, be tickled by anyone, and just run around with her brother and sister…oh and nurse her baby “butterfly”.  Her favorite phrase right now, “I’m sad about it”…I am encouraging her to let me know her feelings as she tends to just “burst” with her feelings.

Joel Jediah Steven : “The Lord is God”, “God knows”

Joel, Born at 10.4 lbs, is a VERY easy going baby…which we are VERY thankful for !  He has dark blue eyes and a huge fro of curls that he was born with!  His nickname is “Frodo”, along with his other endearing names “chunka boy” and “Joely Poley” .  He loves his brother and sisters and always has a huge smile and spastic wiggles for them when they come over to talk with him (ie. make silly noises to make him laugh )!  At 8 months there is not all that much to say about him except we are hoping and praying, as with the others, that he will be one of God’s children someday…and a star shining brightly for Christ.