CARBONDALE!!!

one of my favorites, Elias, from the Center

After 5 days of travel, 7 separate flights, and 3 countries in between Bolivia and the States, I am now safely home in my cozy house in the mountains. I arrived yesterday, and am home until the 6th of January. On the way home, I got to stop off in Managua, Nicaragua to visit a good friend from college who is with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Then my friend Emily from college picked me up from the airport in Denver, and I got to spend a day with her before she drove me home. It was such a gift to spend time with good friends, since that time will be more and more rare in the next year and a half.

me and Miguel, hiking back from a lake

Emily and me

In January, I fly back to Cochabamba, Bolivia to live there for another year and a half. I plan to teach third grade in an international school, and hope to come back to visit this summer if I can afford the plane ticket. It's been neat to see how God has continued to call my heart back to Coch, and how He has provided for my every need. I've already moved in with my new housemates, and the view from my bed looks right up at the Andes! My community there has continued to grow, building deeper and deeper relationships with my church, my friends Rosalia and Vicenta, the kiddos at both orphanages, and all the other rich friendships I have there. I already miss riding on trufis (the public transportation) and speaking in Spanish.

me and Vicenta, my dear Quechua friend
(mother of Rosalia)

I look forward to soaking up time in the mountains with my family, x-country skiing to get our Christmas tree, and playing in the snow. It's good to see deep friends from home, too, and enjoy the little things I've missed, like a bowl of Cheerios in the morning, and Colorado blue sky. Thank you all for your support while I was in Bolivia these last six months. Your letters, prayers, and encouragement were an essential part of my wellbeing. Even though I won't be in an official missionary position when I return, my perspective is that I'm just returning to a different type of ministry. I plan to continue my blog, and would still love your support through letters, prayers, and communication.

Here's my new address:
Katie Stewart
c/o Cochabamba Cooperative School
P.O. Box 1395
Cochabamba, Bolivia

May the peace of Christ fill these next few weeks for each of you, and may you find the time to stop and breathe, and to soak in the beauty of time with family and friends.

Shalom,
Katie

my view from my bedroom at home!
mountains, check
snow, check
Colorado blue, check!!!