Bern Talks

Busy in Bolivia!

Hi Everybody,

I've been on the go. By the time you read this, I would have already spoken 7 times! I wish you could be here with me to see all the wonderful things that God is doing here in Bolivia.

I spoke at 2 churches on Sunday. The first one was in a very poor neighborhood with mostly native people. I was told that a typical Sunday service has about 30 people but our flyer distribution was very successful in the area and we had 69 in attendance!! And 8 accepted Jesus!!

The second church I visited on Sunday was great. Everybody was so friendly that I was hugged over and over before the service even started! The church was packed, standing room only with at least 250 people. It was a long service because they were doing a lot of special things for Mothers Day which is today here in Bolivia. I was worried that the people would be worn out by the time my interpreter and I got a chance to speak but as always God proved once again that He is the One who draws the heart of man, not me. At the end, over 30 people gave their hearts to Christ!

Yesterday was an unbelievable moment in the life of my ministry. To begin with, in the morning I had the incredible opportunity to be interviewed live on Centro De Noticias Matinal. This is a TV program similar to our Good Morning America, which is seen in 4 different parts of Bolivia.
The amazing thing is that this is not a Christian program. The station invited me mainly because I’m an inspirational speaker who travels around the world and they heard that I was going to be speaking here in Santa Cruz this week. As the interview went along, it was amazing to see the producer, the anchor woman and all the people who work behind the cameras and controls moved by my message of hope. I almost died when the host asked me what is the source of this incredible joy and hope that I have in my life. I was able to talk openly and honestly about JESUS and our need for Him in our lives. YES, I was able to give the gospel on live TV!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you believe it? I was able to say that only in Christ can we find true meaning in life. Guess what? At the end, the anchor woman asked where can she come to hear me to speak. She said “I just want to hear more.” WOW!!! It’s so humbling to see God at work.

After that we drove quite far to Logos Radio, a Christian radio station here in Santa Cruz that reaches over a 300 mile radius. When we arrived, I couldn’t believe that we were at a radio station. It looked more like a farm to me with goats running wild. The building was old and beat up looking. But what a mighty work of God goes on inside that building. Their focus is mainly for the country people and they are working with cave age transmitter (they call it the grandfather) and equipment that is not supposed to be working anymore. The people they reach are people who would never be able to come to city to hear me but the station manager brought me to them. I was able to say my entire testimony (interview style) live and encourage the listeners that God has a purpose for each of us. Again I saw God working in the hearts of the radio staff. As I spoke I could see the guy in the control room, the interviewer and the director fighting back to tears as God spoke to their hearts. The director said what he heard has changed his life and that he will re-air the show again and again.

Later that afternoon I did something that I’ve never done before. I spoke at aluminum factory! There was about 30 workers gathered together, 27 men and 3 women. As you can imagine, it was a hard crowd. At first, they wouldn’t even look at me but after about 20 minutes, one by one, they began to look up and smile. No hands were raised here but we don’t know who may have said the prayer with me in their hearts.

Well, I better get going now. I have another radio interview in an hour. Take care until I write again.

Love to you from Bolivia,
Bernadette