01/04/2026
Good morning friends.
Obviously this page exists for the lives of some amazing students and orphan ministry in Bolivia. But the majority of Bolivians are rejoicing and waiting today for Venezuela. The reason is Bolivians know some of the same realities Venezuelans have been living.
It is a lot to digest and it is early. There are valid questions about what has taken place. But for the moment I wanted to share hear the perspective of a Venezuelan. In the midst of the varied responses from around the world, and a lot of debate, hearing from someone who had lived this might inform our prayers. I hope it helps you as you process and pray over what has happened. Thak you to my friend Kurt Weaver who originally posted this.
To My U.S Friends from a Venezuelan
In light of recent events involving Nicolas Maduro’s arrest.
You might have woken up as shocked as my family and I did this morning. Yet what happened just hours before sunrise on January 3rd of 2026, though surprising, is precisely what the majority of Venezuelans had long sought for over 20 years: the beginning of the end of a dictatorship that brought our country to ruin.
Venezuela was once the wealthiest country in the Western Hemisphere, with the world's most significant oil reserves, vast mineral resources, and highly skilled professionals trained across diverse fields. But the socialist regime that Hugo Chavez started and continued by Nicolas Maduro and his goons destroyed our oil industry, corrupted every governmental institution, and remained installed as a narco-terrorist organization that persecuted, incarcerated, and murdered its dissidents. They accomplished all of this while at the same time they drove out and dispersed over 9 million Venezuelans across the world, and hijacked the Venezuelan population that remained in a cruel and cruent oppression.
If you are friends with a Venezuelan, you probably already know all of this. You probably have enjoyed some delicious arepas while your Venezuelan friend shared their firsthand experience of living in a country crushed by corruption and crime. You probably already reached out to your Venezuelan friend to get their impressions on this whole recent situation. You probably need to know a few things as well:
First, Venezuelans are feeling a mixture of hope, relief, and worry. Many are celebrating; many are grieving not to be with their families; many are waiting for clarity on what comes next. So, please be patient with us. We are happy, fearful, and trying to make sense of it all.
Second, this is perhaps the most significant moment of recent Venezuelan history that, God willing, is going to put an end to the chaos and agony of our people. Remember, families were separated. Many lives were lost. Many were forced to leave unwillingly. A generation is growing up knowing exile better than home. So, please understand the excitement in our words, even if you don’t completely agree with how things are unfolding. When we speak, we are not only conveying information but also communicating our wounds from the past, our joy in the present, and our hope for the future.
Third, what Venezuelans need most right now is prayer. Pray for peace. Pray for protection. Pray for justice. Pray for leaders who fear God. Pray that the people will not put their trust in men, but that our hearts turn wholly to the God who sits on the throne, removes and sets up kings, and rules the kingdom of men (Daniel 2:21; 4:17).
Finally, you might be questioning President Trump’s motives, or doubting the legality of the operation that took place in the Venezuelan capital hours ago, and those are valid questions to raise. In moments like these, scrutiny and discernment are signs of responsibility. I don’t ask you not to ask those questions, but I ask that you stand in solidarity with millions of Venezuelans who have just glimpsed a glimmer of light after decades of darkness. Please, rejoice with us, and meditate in your heart this Bible passage that has been resounding in my heart and mind all day:
“Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
Psalm 2:10-12
The Lord is sovereign and good. The Lord is Lord of the U.S, Venezuela, and every nation of the world. The Lord is Lord of all!
¡Vamos, Venezuela!💛💙❤️
