My new job...

Veronica's b-day party

(with the rest of the kiddos crowding in around)

me and Francisco

So, the plan is to come back to the States after I finish school here at Calvert, and to spend the summer raising support for the next two years of my life.  My hope is to be able to raise what I need between now and August so that I can return mid-August to begin working at the Center.  I will spend a couple weeks in Chicago mid-June to the end of June, going through more intensive training that will hopefully prepare me even more to serve where I have been called. 

Dayana y Sara

niñas en el Centro

I will be returning to Bolivia this fall as a missionary with International Teams.  It scares the heck out of me to say that I will be a missionary, I think mainly because missionaries have such a bad connotation and reputation here in Cochabamba.  It's also scary for me to think of the complete and total financial reliance on God it will require.  Ultimately, it's what I want anyway; full and total reliance on Him.  It doesn't make the leap any less scary, though.  

 

me and Brenda, a feisty little girl

David & Toty

this pic doesn't do them justice!

But, I will be working with an almost all Bolivian team, and I feel confident that the team I'm joining is a team of believers who are very in tune with God's heart, and I know I will be in good hands on this team.  My close friend, Joana, is just one of many amazing people I will be joining.  Her parents, David and Toty, are both incredible examples, people of true integrity.  I will also be working with Joana's aunt and uncle, Norma and Howard, and another Bolivian woman named Mery.

the traditional outfits and baskets 

(from Tarija)

This last Friday, I got to dance again in the teacher's Carnaval dance, Rueda Chapaca.  I LOVE traditional Bolivian dances, and was stoked to get to dress up as an indigenous woman.  I actually just found out that there is a place nearby where the indigenous Quechua women have blue eyes and even some have blond hair!  Sounds like all I need to do to be a true Bolivian is move there and improve my Quechua!

      lining up to dance

 

Rueda Chapaca

This weekend is Carnaval, which means lots of water balloons, water guns, and a city-wide water fight.  Needless to say, I'm going to try to avoid going out into the city unless I'm fully prepared to be soaked.  

Be on the lookout for my support letter.  I should hopefully be done with all the acceptance paperwork with International Teams, (the missions organization I'm going to work with) within the month, and hope to send out my letter soon after that.  Plus, I'll be home this summer to raise support, and look forward to seeing most of you!

KT

P.S. Scorpion count: 6