HOLA!

Hola, for the first time from Sipe Sipe, Bolivia! After 5 days, I could write a decent sized novel about everything I´m experiencing. First off, in Bolivia, schedules are definitely "ish". Example: Our plane, going ¨direct to Cochabamba¨, stopped in Columbia first, then in Santa Cruz. Our flight, scheduled to land at 7am, got in at 930, no big deal.
The airport is where we met Jearsen, the director of the centro, and he took us there! the drive is 24km but took about 45 minutes. There is one Bolivian traffic rule- don´t get hit. There is only a center line on the paved roads, and the cars can make as many lanes as they think can fit. Along the roads, we passed trash-filled streets, farm animals and street dogs, as well as many unfinished buildings. We pulled off the road about 40 minutes into the trip, down a dirt road. This led us to the centro. (For those of you requesting a physical address for the centro, our street doesn´t have a name, and the centro doesn´t recieve mail directly- they pick it up at the Church they attend).
Thus began my journey to the centro!
5 days after that first car ride, there are so many things that have moved me.
-the kids. i was so nervous as I got out of the trufi and saw a dozen boys ready to help haul up our suitcases up three flights of stairs. This is my first memory of them, and the moment I knew I needed to be here this summer-- the sight of these 7-11 year old boys trying to carry suitcases twice their size and weight up the stairs was pretty amazing. Since then, the nerves have vanioshed, and the pure bliss of playing with these boys has set in. It´s the little things they do that continue to touch my heart. For example, on day 2, one mediano, Isaias, gave me a drawing addressed to tia amanda (tia=aunt, and Amanda is easier for them), and he wrote a note saying ¨¨you are a flower that God has placed in my garden.¨Honestly, how can they not capture my heart!!
¨- tiempo de cosquillas- we get to go rile up the little ones before they go to bed, tickling them, chasing them, playing games with them. Then, we get to try to calm them down and tuck them into bed, pray with them, and let them know that they are worthy and loved. We have also been able to take a few hours a day to play outside with the boys. Basically, all the highlights include these kids. They´re so wonderful.
- The food is amazing. My favorite dish thus far is called pique, a traditional bolivian dish full of delicious goodness. I am working on liking tomatoes, because they love their tomatos here- i no longer remove them from my meals. =) so far so good!
- I am understanding probably 85% of what´s going on here. The Bolivians love it that we try, so I´ve been trying to speak as much as possible.
- Bolivia has declared itself 100% literate as a country. They join the likes of Columbia and Cuba... Hmmm.
- Yesterday was a celebration of all the orphanages in CBBA. We took the kids to the stadium where there was music, and afterwards we walked in a parade with them. Imagine trying to keep track of 76 kids in a place like that- ay ay ay!!
- The centro has two cows: Monica and the other has yet to be named.... Some of the kids tease me and tell me it will be named Amanda. Monica is pregnant, and MIGHT deliver while I´m here. THAT will be a new experience!!!

Okay, well I´m going to wrap it up-- know that I am absolutely wonderful, and enjoying each and every day of this Bolivian winter!!

con mucho amor,
Mandy
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