Pray for Bolivia

Bolivia is sometimes referred to as the “land of contrasts,” due to its towering, cold Andes Mountains and tropical, humid lowlands. Almost half of the nation’s population lives in a vast plateau near the Andes Mountains, and the administrative capital, La Paz, is 11,910 feet high, making it the highest administrative capital in the world. In the 16th century, silver attracted the Spanish to Bolivia, where they conquered the Indigenous peoples and subjected them to forced labor. Today, Bolivia has the largest Indigenous population in South America and elected its first Indigenous president in 2005. Many rural Bolivians rely on small-scale agriculture for their livelihoods, though this nation is also one of the world’s largest coca producers.

Though most Bolivians use coca for altitude sickness, hunger, and fatigue, some farmers sell their coca into the illegal drug trade. Being in central South America makes Bolivia a transit and production nation for drug trafficking routes. Even though Bolivia has many mineral and energy resources, it is one of the poorest countries in South America. Between one-third and one-half of the population lives in poverty. Among the most vulnerable are women, Indigenous groups, and rural communities, having less access to education and job opportunities. Some Indigenous communities near the Amazon are exposed to mercury poisoning. Mercury is used during gold mining and can contaminate water sources or fish that the communities rely on. Political divisions are strong in Bolivia, with conflicts over leadership, elections, and rising living costs contributing to protests and social unrest.

About 90 percent of Bolivia’s population is Christian, with about 75 percent identifying as Roman Catholic. Minority religions include the Jewish population and a growing number of evangelicals and Mormons. Thirty-seven languages are spoken in Bolivia, including Spanish and 36 indigenous languages, and some languages still lack complete translations. Some believers blend Catholicism with traditional Inca and pagan religions by offering sacrifices to Pachamama, or Mother Earth. Pray for the growing evangelical Church to ignite genuine faith, and for Bible translations to allow all Bolivians to encounter the Word of God.