Bolivian Friends

Mauricio, Paulina, Irma & Rosa

At the end of August, we took another church trip to Los Molinos, the favorite spot for church baptisms. Four people got baptized, one of whom was an elderly Quechua woman who wanted to turn her life around so that she could fight for her sons who had fallen away. Another was a young guy who has fought with alcohol and the wild life until Christ caught hold of him and completely transformed him.

making a wathiya

me & Franz

More than 60 people from my church came, and we barely fit on a trufi, the public bus we rented for the day. We had a singing contest on the way there, trying to see who could sing a worship song louder: the back of the bus or the front:) The day's activities included a communal meal of potatoes and other veggies, baked in the earth oven we all made (wathiya), playing a rousing women's game of soccer with all the women in their traditional skirts and hats, and caring for the 10 orphans from Frutillar who got to come with us. Franz was my adopted son for the day, and I sure got a picture of how hard it is to be a mom for a day! My heart is full to overflowing the blessings of my church. I am grateful every day to be a part of the body of Christ.

my classroom

"face in the cake" Bolivian tradition
Rosalia's birthday

Rosalia's birthday

Reynaldo, Rosalia, Vicenta, me, Charito, Sofia, Abel, Lourdes, neighbor

I have missed four days of school in the month since school has started. Most of them are "only in Bolivia" reasons:

1. 2 days for confirmed swine flu cases at school
2. 1 day for blockades (public buses block roads and shut down the whole city)
3. 1 day when I had the flu (swine flu?)

Enjoy the fall weather in the States for me!
Katie

P.S. The women's co-op I have been working with finally has an online website where you can order products. If you are interested, check it out. There may also be people from Bolivia coming back to the States sometime by the end of the year who can bring items back in their luggage. Check it out at: http://cooperativaesperanza.weebly.com/

by the river, right before the baptism