I´m still safe!

Friends,

Things in Cochabamba continue to be fairly calm, although there is still a lot of instability in the rest of the country. I found out Tuesday that I will be unable to get the kind of visa I was hoping for, but we´re working on plans now for me to travel out of the country soon in hopes that I can piece together another 60 days of visa. I´ll keep you posted, but keep praying!

Below is a summary of the current political situation, written by my team leader here in Bolivia. Hope it helps to ease hearts, as well as inform:)


"I’d like to share a political update with you on our situation here in Bolivia. As
many of you know President Evo is a member of the MAS party (Movement Towards Socialism) and over the past 2 ½ years he has definitely made his party proud. He is attempting to re-write the constitution; however, five of the nine governors oppose Evo’s anti-western policies and his movement away from democracy. The proposed constitution will be voted on Dec 7; however, four of the nine provinces have voted for more autonomy from the central government while five are in support of more power in the hands of the president. The climate is especially hostile because the law requires all constitutional changes to be approved with a 2/3 vote and Evo decided the changes can be made with a simple majority and only the final vote needs to have 2/3.

This past week things escalated when the province of Pando had opposing demonstrators clash and thirty people were killed as Evo declared martial law and the military was called in. The same day the US ambassador was meeting with the Santa Cruz governor; Evo’s biggest opponent, and Evo accused them of inciting un-rest and expelled the US ambassador. The US replied by expelling the Bolivian ambassador, President Chaves of Venezuala then expelled his US ambassador to demonstrate support for Evo and the US expelled the Venezuala ambassador. The following day Evo announced he could no longer guarantee the safety of US Drug Enforcement Agents in his country and the US moved Bolivia to the black list of countries who are no longer helping in the war on drugs. Yesterday, the US pulled out all non-emergency government personal including all Peace Corp members."

Thanks for your continued prayers. I am daily blessed by the support and encouragement from the body of Christ.

Dios llawankichej,
Kati