As I left my house the other day to walk to the tienda I noticed a group of rowdy young men, driving around in an SUV,
circling the block and hanging out the window, cheering raucously. It took me a
minute to figure out what was going on. Then I noticed remnants of water
balloons on the sidewalk and watched as a balloon from one of the boys’ hands
pelted an innocent woman walking down the street. Ah yes, Carnival season in
Bolivia. Carnival is a largely celebrated holiday in these parts; it is of
Catholic orgin and I’m told it is akin to Mardis Gras, except that this party
lasts for 8 days! It takes place in the
beginning of March but is widely anticipated up until then by the throwing of
water balloons at random pedestrians. I suppose as a tall, light skinned woman
I am a bit of a target, so I’m sure one of my upcoming blogs will be about an attack
sustained by water balloon.
Today, I am enjoying a quiet day inside, writing, reading,
responding to emails and drinking coffee. Not a typical Monday. School was
cancelled because of transportation strikes and demonstrations happening today
in the city, a fairly common happening here.
When I find myself dodging water balloons and enjoying quiet
“strike days”, I know I am back in Bolivia. :)
My time in spent in Idaho for the holidays was wonderful.
Despite some mishaps with travel I arrived safe and sound on a Sunday
afternoon. I spent just over 3 weeks at home and am incredibly grateful for the
time and financial means to make that trip. It was life giving and refreshing
in so many way. Some highlights:
A trip to Jackson Hole with my family. We saw a movie, ate
out, went on a sleigh ride among the elk, hot-tubbed and just enjoyed being
together.
Visiting the school I used to teach at and seeing the shock
and wonder in my former students’ eyes as they walked into the lunchroom and
found me waiting for them. What a joy to know that the impact we make on the
lives of children truly lasts.
| Some of my students from the past 3 years |
| Julia was in my 2nd grad class last year |
| Jordan-love this little guy! |
A Christmas get together with 16 of my oldest and dearest
friends. I don’t remember the last time we were all together! God made a way
for each of us to be at this party and it was an incredible time of laughing,
sharing and just being with one another. We got there at 5 and didn’t leave
until midnight.
A date day with each of my family members; My Dad and I went
to breakfast and and a movie; my sister and I had lunch and got pedicures and
my Mom and I, well, we shopped!
Countless conversations filled with both laughter and tears
over coffee and food with many of my precious friends.
Time spent with my kiddos! The Harry boys and I got to go on
a date, I got in lots of cuddles with Gabriel and Cecily and plenty of playtime
with my precious cousin Cassie and even took Lizzie (who is now grown up) on a
“epic date” (as she coined it).
| Cecily in her llama sweater |
| Cassie, currently undergoing chemotherapy |
Spending Christmas day with my parents, sister, aunt and uncle, cousins and my dear friend Ruth.
Running in low altitude!!! Followed by pancakes and coffee!
A visit from 4 of my favorite out of towners, The Hairs, The Aldous', The
Whitworths and Ruth.
| Coffee date with Syd Hair |
| Adorable Aldous boys with llamas from Bolivia |
Starting my birthday out the right way at 11:59 PM surrounded by dear friends, a horribly off tune (yet lovely) rendition of "Happy Birthday" and a half eaten pan of brownies.
I made it safely back to Lap Paz on January 8th
without event and with all my luggage intact! I did have to run through both
the Dallas airport and the Miami airport, but I made it. After arriving in La
Paz, I battled a little altitude sickness but adjusted pretty quickly for the
most part. I had one day to settle and then it was back to work! Thankfully we
had “work days” scheduled before kids arrived-a HUGE blessing. I got a lot done
during those days and it provided an excellent time to dream with God for this
semester and pray for my students.
Arriving back in La Paz has been a little bit of a harder
transition than I thought. I found myself really missing family and feeling as
though I just wanted to “hide” a little bit. I gave into my anti-social
tendencies for a few days, but thankfully God didn’t let me stay in that place
for too long. School started last week, helping me get back into routine. I
spent yesterday with my church family and catching up with a good friend over
coffee. Bible studies I am in involved in leading and attending will start up
next week, as will Spanish lessons. I think the consistency of these things
will be good for me in “readjusting”.
That said, I am very excited and expectant of what God will
do this semester. This past week with my students has been the best week of
school we have had yet. It could be my imagination, but I feel as though my
students have matured over the month long break! I also seemed to have found a
new confidence in teaching them and in knowing how to “pick my battles” in
regard to classroom managment. I’ve been incorporating new curriculum into what
I am teaching and that has been an asset as well. I truly felt like last week
was a bit of a “break through” in some areas of teaching I have struggled with over the past semester. I am so grateful.
Upon returning to La Paz I also received a bit of exciting
news! One of my best friends is leading a short-term mission trip to Bolivia in
March. The team purchased their plane tickets and now it is official! I am so
blown away at how God has orchestrated this. It does my heart so good to know
my friends from Idaho will be coming here, to serve alongside me and to make
eternal investments in Bolivia. For some of them it is their first time out of
the country and I am so expectant to see how God will use this experience to impact
and change them. They still have significant funds to raise, so your prayers of
financial blessing would be appreciated.
As 2014 begins to unfold I am grateful to be on this journey
with Jesus, and with each you. I pray and I hope that your new year is off to a
great start and that each day you will know the love and goodness of Jesus just
a little bit more.
| Sunset last week from my apartment |
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith, of greater worth than, which perishes even though refined by the fire, may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
1 Peter 1:6-10
You are truly a disciple for Christ, paving a road for each heart you touch and the teaching with your gentle ways and kind words...makes we want to be in grade school again.
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