The tiny town of Paurito, Bolivia, has around 2,200 residents and is situated just a 45-minute drive from the larger city of Santa Cruz (pop. 1.5 million). It has the look and feel of a small, unhurried village, with long, sweltering summers and brief but comfortable winters.
Bolivia is considered a “middle-income” country with a GDP of some US$40.5 billion. To put that in perspective, Vermont, the state with America’s smallest GDP, generated $40.6 billion in 2022. Worldwide, Bolivia’s economy ranks in the top 100, with average annual incomes coming in at $14,830. In Paurito, however, that number is much smaller.
We’re pleased to introduce you to our favorite Paurito resident, wonderfully named Zabdi Rejala Bravo. He is married to Neili Ruiz, and they have a 6-year-old girl with a little boy on the way. Zabdi is the pastor of a small church on the east side of the city, Centro Familiar Cristiano Paurito.
“Our church serves in an area of medium to low-income people. Many work in chicken farms and most survive financially day to day,” Zabdi explains. When we asked about the general situation in his area, he says, “We really don’t have a problem with crime here, but we do have a problem with teen pregnancies. It is something I want to work on to help the young people of Paurito.”
“Our town is mostly Catholic, but there is a great lack of spiritual hunger among the people. This has troubled me greatly, and I feel a strong calling to reach this town with the Gospel. Even so, there are those here with the desire to learn more about the Bible, which gives us great hope,” Zabdi adds. “I thank God for LOGOI and all your Bible resources and teachings that are so helpful to me. They are all very useful and practical, and I’m so grateful to the Lord for your ministry.”
Zabdi has three specific prayer requests for us and, as you read them, we ask you to take a moment and pray. First is his wife’s pregnancy. They have only a couple of months left, but she has a condition called cholestasis that itches terribly and disrupts her sleep. “Please ask the Lord to allow her to enjoy her pregnancy in this last stage,” he sweetly asks. Secondly, their finances—which include money for a necessary cesarean section. “We’re praying that perhaps the Lord will provide a second job that allows me to support my family and honor all our commitments,” he explains. Finally, Zabdi asks, “Please pray for the Lord to guide me to help others to grow spiritually and to lead them with love and great patience.” —Amen!
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