Bad Luck and Evil Spirits: Christopaganism in Eastern Bolivia

One of the most visited pages on our old website was an article titled "Bad Luck and Evil Spirits: Christopaganism in Eastern Bolivia," first published in November 2011. According to our web stats, web surfers from around the world landing on this very article, presumably because they were interested in the connection between bad luck and evil spirits.

The original article appears below in its entirety, followed by an update of the evangelical church in San Lorenzo:

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It's called "Christopaganism," a syncretism of Christian beliefs and animism. Each instance is a complex mixture unique to the local culture. Often a veneer of Christianity covers deeply rooted traditional religions, with Roman Catholic patron saints becoming stand-ins for pagan gods and goddesses.

National Missionary Visits Beni Community

Above: Elmer Terrazas, sitting on a fallen bibosi tree

The bibosi tree in the photo above began as a vine. The vine had grown up and around a palm tree, eventually choking and then replacing the palm.

Kingdom Ambassadors: Annual Women’s Conference

Blowing out of the 10th anniversary candle

The 10th annual Women’s Conference took place in Porvenir from October 18-21. The conference was a great success and provided blessings and challenges for the spiritual growth of the women who attended from different communities.

Monteblanco: "Born in God's Heart"

We keep saying that Monteblanco is a special place. Since 2005, thousands of middle school and high school students have gone through our camp. Many return as volunteers while they are university students. Here is a volunteer staff member, in her own words:

Since I came to Monte Blanco, I have praised and given thanks to God for this place, which for me is an awesome ministry that has unique worth. As a staff member in Monte Blanco I learned to serve God with a sincere heart, because everything I do is unconditional – I do it without wanting anything in return, and I realized that I was serving God in a different way, something that came straight from my heart.

Work Team Volunteer Learns About Trust

LATCOM has hosted Short Term Ministry Teams from the States for many years. Leaving their familiar lives and traveling to another hemisphere requires a lot of trust by our team members—trust in the Lord as well as reliance on the missionaries who guide them and look after them while they are in country. And, while each team has particular goals to achieve, there are times when unplanned encounters teach the most important lessons. 

One of our work team members from this summer, Galene, wrote the following story for her church:

"After spending two nights in the jungle without water or electricity, I was really itching to get home. Or maybe it was the spider bite I got that night in Zapacó.

Mission Blogging

This blog works in conjunction with our website, latcom.org,  to inform our supporters and like-minded Christians about our ministries and activities. There are three types of posts on this blog:

• stories from the mission field
• stories relating to our supporters
• reflections from our LATCOM missionaries and staff

From our beginning in 1984, we have sought to serve as a bridge that connects North American and South American evangelical Christians. So, your comments and questions are welcomed.

Sewing Machines Arrive to Fund Ministry

Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases…These women were helping to support them out of their own means. (Luke 8: 1-3 NIV)

Like the women who supported Jesus and His disciples, the Chiquitano women of the Lomerio churches have decided to support the NETS project through their own means. Earlier this year—with the help of LATCOM donors—the women purchased sewing machines to create products to sell in the city of Santa Cruz.

A woman in Zapoco tests a new sewing machine.