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Host Information
Robert and Jessica Murray, Dr. Matias Mojica; Iglesia Bautista Maranatha

Robert and Jessica Murray, along with their children Ellie and Daniel, have been planting churches in Bolivia for more than 11 years. They work directly with training and equipping nationals in starting churches, and mentor them until they can operate independently. 

We will be partnering with Iglesia Bautista Maranatha, pastored by Dr. Matias Mojicas, in a beautiful town called Semaitpata, about 3 hours outside of Santa Cruz. Their church ministries include youth outreach, ladies’ Bible studies, and regular evangelism, as well as an emphasis on reaching the Quechua indigenous people group. Pastor Mojicas is also a medical doctor and regularly uses medical missions as a tool to reach the community with the gospel. 

The Murrays hope that you’ll join this team in the quaint, mountain town of Semaitpata to show the love of Christ to the Bolivian people.

CONNECT WITH THEM

https://www.reachingbolivia.com/

Follow Pastor Murray on Facebook

Trip Description 

Bolivia is a country of extremes. From freezing cold snowy mountain peaks to sweltering hot Amazon lowlands, the nation has diverse wildlife, jaw-dropping landscapes, and a vast array of creations and cultures. Bolivia’s varied terrain spans the Andes Mountains, the Atacama Desert, and the Amazon rainforest.

The country's population, estimated at 12 million, is multiethnic, including people groups of Amerindians, Mestizos, Europeans, Asians, Africans, and others. Spanish is the official and predominant language, although 36 indigenous languages also have official status.

This trip is to Santa Cruz, one of the largest cities in Bolivia, with 1.8 million people. Due to being in the foothills of the Andes in the Amazon basin and its comparatively low elevation of 1,300 feet, Santa Cruz has a tropical climate. Just west of the city of Santa Cruz is Amboró National Park, a park famous for its flora and fauna, including jaguars, giant anteaters, rare mammals, and over 800 bird species.

Bolivia remains a developing country. Its main economic resources include agriculture, forestry, fishing, and goods such as textiles and clothing, refined metals, and refined petroleum. Bolivia is very geologically rich, with mines producing tin, silver, zinc, lead, and copper. The country also has considerable gold production, amethyst extraction, and the world's largest lithium reserves.

Typical Bolivian snacks and dishes include choclo (corn on the cob), Sopa de Mani (soup with creamed peanuts, vegetables and pasta), saltenas (traditional savory pastries), asado (food prepared on a grill), fried fish, fried yuca, and majadito (fried rice with dried meat, fried egg and plantains).

The proportion of Roman Catholics has decreased slowly but it still accounts for more than three-fourths of the population. In the late 20th century, membership grew in Protestant denominations (notably evangelical churches) and increasing numbers of Bahāʾīs, Mormons, and Jews.

The largest salt flat on Earth is in southwest Bolivia. Salar de Uyuni is a 4,085 square mile area often called the largest mirror on Earth, as it is highly reflective, especially after rain. Famed astronaut Neil Armstrong was not only the first man to step on the moon, he was one of the first tourists to visit the Uyuni Salt Flats decades ago. He recalled that, while in space, he witnessed what looked like a giant mirror reflecting out of South America. He was so taken by what he saw that he came to Bolivia to see it up close.

For more country information, click here https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/bolivia/

Services Offered 

Our plan is to offer medical, optical, dental, and physical therapy care to this community. Every patient who receives care will hear the gospel from a member of this local church.

Note: At this time we are only considering applications for physical therapy professionals.

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