An Answered Prayer

 

                              my new kitty, Shalom

I have a roommate!! Ok, so it's not exactly the roommate I was picturing.  She's gray with black stripes, curls up in my lap when I read, and loves to purr.  On Sunday, I got a kitty, and she has been perfect company ever since.  I named her Shalom because she has brought me so much peace.  It's amazing the difference it's made already to have something to care for and something waiting for me when I come home.  Shalom certainly isn't an adequate replacement for a human companion, but she'll certainly help the wait!

me and the jóvenes who came over

Earlier this week, I was really blessed to have about 15 youth over to my house to grill hamburgers and play games.  It was a holiday, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Cochabamba, so we had the whole day to enjoy each other's company.  We spent the early afternoon grilling and eating hamburgers, and then played a game called 60 Segundos (which is a mix of charades and pictionary) until evening.  It was the first time I was able to use my house to facilitate community, and it was really great to finally use my house for something other than myself.  The youth group hasn't been very cohesive lately, so it was really encouraging to see so many people come, and to see them really enjoy each other.  Plus, it definitely helped me feel like I'm not alone here:)

Laguna Alaláy (translation: Lake Brrr!)

Bolivia's got it figured out.  Every year, on the first Sunday of September, the streets shut down and the citizens celebrate Pedestrian Day.  It's just what it sounds like!  No cars are allowed, and for the whole day, Bolivians take to the streets on bicycles, skateboards, tricycles...  I went with the pastor and another friend from church.  We left early in the morning and rode to the lake, then rode through the normally bustling streets, stopping for a traditional hot corn drink and deep-fried pastry.  It was such a peaceful day, and neat to see families out together, enjoying the freedom of empty streets.

me, Pastora Charito & Gary

the normally traffic-congested market

You Know You're In Bolivia When...

1. Scorpions lurk in the most unexpected corners (official scorpion count: 6)

2. Taking out the trash requires listening every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning for the trash truck bell, then dashing down 3 flights of stairs and halfway down the block to hand the trash truck my trash

3. Buying groceries requires a couple mile trek around the largest open air market in the Western Hemisphere, haggling for prices and lugging produce in colorful bags

4. Public transportation suddenly makes a pit stop for the driver to buy a water, check remaining 3 tires after one pops to see if the bus is still driveable, or to fill up on gas

5. Your milk comes in a bag

6. Complete strangers jump to your rescue when drunk, homeless men harass you (this happened just the other day, and even though I felt confident in handling the situation, I was so grateful when two other women standing next to me on the street told him to get lost and pulled me next to them so I wasn't alone anymore.  THAT is the true heart of the Bolivian people)