Juan Carlos took me to UEB, where I met with 3 board members including two Americans (Dana Wilson from South American Mission) and Rick Lampen (World Gospel Mission). UEB has 10 board members all appointed by the 10 partner organizations.
This of course means that Timoteo has added responsibility to educate his board since by and large they are unfamiliar with academe. The founder Meredith Shefelen (now 80+ years old and living in Delaware) was an American missionary who 28 years ago had a vision for education in Bolivia. She began the university with her own funds and by and large provided the resources for its growth from her own funds or those of personal friends. The transfer of leadership to a new era requires the creation of a whole new network of friends. This area of advancement is a large area of need as Timoteo and others take leadership in these recent years.
The Bolivian political situation in which President Morales is moving the country towards socialism, communism, and an ideology similar to Castro and Chavez, creating a new constitution during these very days I am here, raises questions about the role private higher education will have in the country. I was even able to meet late in the day with some of the leaders of other private universities today at UTEPSA including President Antonio Suarez. There are around 40 private institutions in Bolivia….and considering UEB was the first only 28 years ago, it’s clear how rapid has been this growth. The nation cannot afford to neglect private education so the political developments are crucial. The idea that Christians should not be involved in government has perhaps limited the evangelical influence on these issues.
I toured the campus….remarkable place…open outdoor wide corridors 
that encourage student interaction and many many clean well kept classrooms. A radio station, TV station, labs for electronics and chemistry, and a beautiful chapel. There is obvious pride in the place and its location on the edge of town makes it a quiet tranquil place to study.
The 2000 students are all day students who travel back and forth from the city center (Santa Cruz has 1 million people….only 200,000 just 25 years ago). Many of the classes are in the evenings and there are no students in residence. Only 25% or so of the students are FT, and only 50% or so are Christians. There are perhaps 120 faculty (of which perhaps 25 are FT) and about 30% of the faculty are evangelical Christians. IT is a challenge for Timoteo and Douglas to find faculty who are BOTH qualified AND evangelical. This in turn of course creates a challenge for maintaining a focus on integration of faith and learning. 
They are getting ready for the new semester to begin Feb 16!I enjoyed lunch in a wonderful Italian restaurant (Michelangelos) with Timoteo, Daniel, and Douglas.
What a pleasure to be in warm weather after Washington for the National Prayer Breakfast last week! After lunch I met with 6 deans and listened for an hour and a half to their major challenges and to their “Best ideas” on how the CCCU could help. Workshops on faith and learning are needed, teams of “virtual accreditors” would be a BIG help, especially this year as they anticipate a visit from the government! And their board chair would love an assessment of their board work. 
I toured the agropecuaria facility…complete for 300 liters daily of fresh milk, and 3000 (sic!) fresh eggs daily! These are sold in the university store to neighbors! Dean Pura Sapata was very proud. 
Dinner with Timoteo at the downtown café with ties loose and a balmy breeze ended a tiring but satisfying day at UEB!
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