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LDS missionaries leave Bolivia

We've been expecting this for a while. Bolivia is allied to Russia, Venezuela, Iran, Syria, Cuba, N. Korea, and many terrorist groups. They aren't the old Axis or Central powers, but they can make trouble.

Pray for them, folks; they don't know any better.

What do you expect from a Commie Tin Horn dictator who worships at the table of Comrade Chavez?

I'm glad the missionaries are safe.

Wonderful people but not a great government. But just like an action-movie star WE'LL BE BACK

Hold on buddy, we'll be back soon!

I was among some 130 Elders and Sisters who served as missionaries in Bolivia from 1970 through 1972. During that time, we witnessed at least one attempted coup and one "successful" one. We lived with the reality that our presence in the country was subject to change at any time. In fact, during our orientation as "greenies" we were told that in the event of unrest, we might recieve one of two messages; the first being "come" (situation uncertain, come to the mission home to recieve further direction), and the other "go" (situation out of control, make for the nearest border crossing.) At various times, we were restricted from gathering in large groups, going to certain neighborhoods, or acting in a manner that drew attention to our "north american-ness". I can totally relate to the anxiety and apprehension being felt by both the missionaries and their families. The church has grown in dramtic fashion in Bolivia since I was there, and I can only trust that the Lord is watching over His saints (and the missionaries)and will preserve them during this crisis.

I recently returned (2004) from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, serving a mission there. This situation has been beoiling over for many years. When I was there we had to stay in our apartments many times due to this social unrest. In Bolivia's short history as a contry they have had more coups and changes of governments than they have years asa country. I avoided this topic while serving but got enough of it from the cruzenos point of view and I agree with them that they should control their own wealth and not let the government do what it is doing. I love and pray for the people of everyday and trust that something good will come of this.

The Associated Press quoted Bolivia's president saying soldiers have arrested an opposition governor inside the country on charges of organizing a massacre.... and the missionaries are going to go back? Gald it's not my son.

Morales is the worst type of person. Trying to help the poor and destitute that have been stepped on for so long.

Of course the missionaries will be back. Just when, we don't know. God's work will not be stopped. Those with faith know this.

I also pray for the protection of the members of the Church in Bolivia and all the other people that are being affected by this instability.

Whether we go back or not is not the question. The most important fact is that all of the missionaries are safely out of the country. It will be up to the locals to decide what happens with their government. I just hope that the LDS church's good will with the current government will keep the authorities from persecuting local LDS members. I have friends from other countries who had to leave and seek assylum in the U.S. because of their ties to the LDS church and their unwillingness to go along with repressive policies of the local regimes.

The church still has missionaries in Bolivia, just not from the US or Canada. The article doesn't say how many, but I would guess that the mission will still function without the anglos, as will the church

From 100,000 feet up, Morales' idea of giving back to the poor indians sounds good, but his way of doing things is pretty messed up. I was in both sides of the country last year (La Paz and Santa Cruz) and got a bit of a feeling for things. Without a doubt, the East (Santa Cruz) creates the economy. Without them, the economy would collapse. Yet Morales wants to basically take the resources and legal contracts, etc from those businesses that create the economy and just hand over everything to the indians, who generally have no idea how to run things. It would be an absolute disaster. And the "massacre" claimed by Morales was in no way a massacre. Morales sent troops in to the state, claiming a "State of Siege" and those in the East fighting for their liberty, tried to defend their state and governor.

I'm a returned missionary form the Bolivia Santa Cruz mission, I just recently returned in late august.


response to earlier comment:

-"Morales is the worst type of person. Trying to help the poor and destitute that have been stepped on for so long."

Im pretty sure im picking up on some sarcasm here and I have to say that if you think he is actually helping these poor indigenous people that have been being steeped on for years, you need to take a step back and look at the way he is helping him. His primary form of aid was legalizing the coca plant which enabled them to make a lot of money very chaeply while supplying the world with, needless to say, very hazardous drugs, while at the same time the usage of raw coca leaves by his very own indigenous people that he is "helping" has skyrocketed which results in the hundreds of people I saw on the streets passed out with only the dirty clothes they had and many times without even clothing. So if your gonna say that he is helping his people I hope you pay attention to the decreasing quality of life in Bolivia.

It is sad to see the loss of democracy in some of these South American countries. The people are wonderful but fall victim to false promises and lies told by these leaders who "want to help the poor". The gospel is strong enough in these regions to not only survive, but to thrive! I pray that this situation can be resolved and that the great people of Bolivia will be blessed.

It is sad to read of these events in the country where I served my mission (1981-83). As mentioned by other posters, the political situation in the country has never been ideal. Back in the day, we were restricted to our apartments during various general strikes. On a P-day we were walking in a plaza in La Paz when we were suddenly bombarded with tear gas. There were shootings in the plaza near the mission home in Cochabamba.

I speak often with some native Bolivians here in the U.S. and they are disgusted with Morales and his lack of morals. It is difficult to believe that the quality of life for the average Bolivian could be lower than it was 25 years ago. It is one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere.

My hopes and prayers are that things can be resolved and that the work will go forth�sooner rather than later.

Does anyone actually believe Evo when he says the reason for the arrest is genocide conspiracy? He just felt threatened by the autonomists. He's trying to re-write the Bolivian constitution like Venezuela for crying out loud!

The missionaries will be fine... the church is very conservative and this isn't the first time this has happened. The latin missionaries will continue to do a great job in B-town even without their gringuito friends for a little while.

I have a wonderful gradson who was serving his mission in Bolivia. He was given 20 minutes once before in one area he was in to board a train and get to another area, leaving most of his belongins beind. IN the area he has been in, he has been in lockup many times and always felt frustrated that he could not be out doing the Lords work for the people he loves so much. He is now safely in Peru and in his phone call home he tells of his desire to go back to serve these wonderful people. Bgycen, your grandmother is very proud of you.

Those attacking Morales need to spend time on the Altiplano among Aymara, and among the people in El Alto, to see the pride an vigor Evo has brought. It is an amazing transformation.

There are also Latter-day Saints serving in his government and Evo has support among many members in the highlands. Don't forget that Evo won his election with the largest majority ever seen in Bolivia in a free election, and that percentage grew to almost 70% acceptance in the recent referendum. Evo has very strong support among ordinary Bolivians.

This is not the first time Anglo missionaries have been removed from the country, and yet the Church grows strongly in Bolivia.

Interesting discussion and stressful events.

I am a LAS MA grad from UCLA. If that makes sense to anyone at this forum, great.

I lived in Chile in the 90s and most recently 2005. That country has gone through painful times of political strife and violence.

So has Colombia in the last 20 years...

Currently Venezuela and Bolivia have removed LDS Anglo missionaries...We hope the members and other foreign missionaries are safe, who probably count with many Latino nations, probably even Brazil.

Back in the 1980s, the head of the UCLA Latin American Studies program was asked by Bolivian officials to daignose their economic state and how to improve it. After months of investigation, he concluded the agricultural sector would be best.

They laughed at him, he said. Metals in the mines would be better to exploit, they assumed. Despite paying him to do the expert research. He had done the first ever economic evaluation of Mexico in the early 20th century. Jim Wilkie.

Hmmph.

I hope the Church continues to grow and temple attendance and activity create more a ways of peace and prosperity.

Que Dios les bendiga.

Y que seamos humildes.

He got into power the same way the Democrats try to, by promising free hand outs to the poor and uneducated that do not know any better. Once in power, they take away many freedoms and liberties as this monster has done and is trying to get more power for himself just like Chavez/Venezuela so he can never be removed. Lets not forget both their anti-American support for communism!

The best thing would be for him to be overthrown to send an example to Venezuela so they can do the same thing to Chavez. Only then will missionaries be safe to go back. The U.S. needs to keep closer relations with South and Central America before these countries get this far into an anti-American socialist/communist dictatorship like these two countries have been heading towards.