- Suitcases
- Children
- Stairs
- Puppies
- a banana peel. Literally.
- Stairs
- Curbs at a park
- Sand divets
- The Platform at Church
- Stairs =)
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Worth the Wait!
Hola mis queridos hermanos y hermanas!
I have been in Bolivia since 2pm on Friday, after a night of plane delays (what was an 11pm departure became a 5am departure), a just-in-time connection, and a 45 minute bus ride (which took an hour due to a main road blockade). Needless to say, we were all exhausted! But the moment the gates to the BLC opened, I got a burst of energy I could have lived off of for days.
There was one pequeno out in front who spotted us, then raced the bus around the corner to its parking spot, alerting the rest of the boys that we had (finally) arrived. When the team and I got off the bus, the kids quickly jumped from person to person, checking out the new gringos in town.
Carlos - a mediano who came into the BLC years ago without knowledge about the use of silverware (Mom and Dad-- do we have any cousins in Bolivia?)- was the first one who spotted me. He came up and embraced me, and then I knew I was back as he pointed out to the field where the cows were grazing, saying, "Amanda, la vaca gorda!", which was their affectionate and endearing name for me. There is a cow named Amanda now, and we've been confused by the boys multiple times as sisters. =) It was then that I realized that I am exactly where I am supposed to be this month.
The first night we got in we got to spend a few hours just hanging out with the boyus, and later we got to read/play cards with the medianos, and have tickle time with the pequenos. I felt in my element again. Then today we went to the really neat park all day. I got to shoot some hoops with some of my favorite grandes, and then spectate a Bolivian Women's Basketball league! It was quite interesting-- they have a pretty lenient travel violation rule =)
The afternoon was spent on what the boys call a double-wide slide, but all others call a half-pipe. We spent hours sliding down the half pipe in groups, kicking balls and hula hoops, and creating all sorts of other competitions. It was a blast.
The team that I arrived here with is wonderful-- mostly young adults with a TON of energy and various talents and gifts. They are so eager to experience the BLC and can keep up with the boys!!
My Spanish feels better than expected. I thought I'd be pretty rusty. I did have one slip up... I asked one of the boys if he had "hombre" (a man) instead of "hambre" (hunger). But the boys have been patient in helping me shake off the dust though =)
I am out of time, but I do miss the States and am looking forward to sharing my adventures via blog again!
Con Carino,
Tia Amanda
I have been in Bolivia since 2pm on Friday, after a night of plane delays (what was an 11pm departure became a 5am departure), a just-in-time connection, and a 45 minute bus ride (which took an hour due to a main road blockade). Needless to say, we were all exhausted! But the moment the gates to the BLC opened, I got a burst of energy I could have lived off of for days.
There was one pequeno out in front who spotted us, then raced the bus around the corner to its parking spot, alerting the rest of the boys that we had (finally) arrived. When the team and I got off the bus, the kids quickly jumped from person to person, checking out the new gringos in town.
Carlos - a mediano who came into the BLC years ago without knowledge about the use of silverware (Mom and Dad-- do we have any cousins in Bolivia?)- was the first one who spotted me. He came up and embraced me, and then I knew I was back as he pointed out to the field where the cows were grazing, saying, "Amanda, la vaca gorda!", which was their affectionate and endearing name for me. There is a cow named Amanda now, and we've been confused by the boys multiple times as sisters. =) It was then that I realized that I am exactly where I am supposed to be this month.
The first night we got in we got to spend a few hours just hanging out with the boyus, and later we got to read/play cards with the medianos, and have tickle time with the pequenos. I felt in my element again. Then today we went to the really neat park all day. I got to shoot some hoops with some of my favorite grandes, and then spectate a Bolivian Women's Basketball league! It was quite interesting-- they have a pretty lenient travel violation rule =)
The afternoon was spent on what the boys call a double-wide slide, but all others call a half-pipe. We spent hours sliding down the half pipe in groups, kicking balls and hula hoops, and creating all sorts of other competitions. It was a blast.
The team that I arrived here with is wonderful-- mostly young adults with a TON of energy and various talents and gifts. They are so eager to experience the BLC and can keep up with the boys!!
My Spanish feels better than expected. I thought I'd be pretty rusty. I did have one slip up... I asked one of the boys if he had "hombre" (a man) instead of "hambre" (hunger). But the boys have been patient in helping me shake off the dust though =)
I am out of time, but I do miss the States and am looking forward to sharing my adventures via blog again!
Con Carino,
Tia Amanda
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
T-Minus 48 Hours!
Greetings from Savannah, Georgia (the end of day 1 of the road trip with my mom and sister down to Miami, Florida, where I will be leaving for BOLIVIA!)
I am just heading to bed from getting some final final ties tied before I focus 110% on my upcoming trip to the Centro de Vida Bolivia! After a few very full, rather hectic months, this trip really snuck up on me. It finally hit me on Monday, when my room was emptied and I was on my way to the airport after work to pick up my mom. Wow- I am so thankful that the Good Lord has orchestrated a trip #2, and for a full month!
A list of praises about going back:
- Reconnecting with the boys. I definitely do not want to think too highly of myself or the impact I have on the kiddos, but I think that consistency speaks volumes in their lives. Every time a team of gringos gets off the bus, the kids search the crowd, and ask where various people who have played roles in their lives are. Some of these people have just come to the BLC once years ago, but they have great memories, and seem to rarely forget a name or a face. It is my hope that returning to Bolivia makes them realize that my relationships with them are something I deeply cherish, and they are SO WORTH IT!
- I hope to be able to redeem their perception of female figures in their lives. Somehow, in the way I imperfectly think, act, and live, I hope the boys can find some comfort in the love I so desperately want them to know.
- Using my Spanish again. It's going to be rusty, that's for sure! I haven't been able to use it much these past 11 months or so, but I am excited about being thrown back into the language and culture. I thrive on this language and culture, and am excited to reconnect to it. I am hoping that this refresher course will motivate me to come back to the States and volunteer or plug in somewhere in the community where I can utilize my love for it.
- Familiar faces on the teams! I will be hosting four American missions teams with a group of hosts, and I think there will be many returning week-long missionaries, which I am jazzed about. A few of the hosts are also hosts from last year, and I am excited about growing these relationships. But one of the definite highlights of this trip will be the last team that comes in July, which will bring three wonderful people in my life. My boyfriend Ryan will be coming down and falling in love with the boys and teaching them how to throw a spiral! Also, Alyssa and Michael Bruce, the daughter and son of my colleague Mike, are coming down to spend the week in Bolivia as well! I get excited thinking about how their hearts will just fall so quickly in love with these boys.
- Being disconnected from technology again. Though it is quite inconvenient with work projects crossing the finish line in the middle of my time at the BLC, this disconnection is so freeing, and I love how the concept of time changes when you are hard to reach. This is so different than how I function in the States, and so to be removed from it, even for a month, is invigorating, like a breath of fresh air.
- Reuniting with Amanda la vaca gorda- sooo proud to have a cow named after me =)
- Tia Julia's cooking- a big big plus. Crossing my fingers for pique and some lasagna!!
- I brought some jump ropes, and would love to teach the boys a few tricks (if they are interested)!
By this time in two days, I will be in the air, somewhere over Central or South America. I can't believe it's here!
Much love to all-
Mandy
I am just heading to bed from getting some final final ties tied before I focus 110% on my upcoming trip to the Centro de Vida Bolivia! After a few very full, rather hectic months, this trip really snuck up on me. It finally hit me on Monday, when my room was emptied and I was on my way to the airport after work to pick up my mom. Wow- I am so thankful that the Good Lord has orchestrated a trip #2, and for a full month!
A list of praises about going back:
- Reconnecting with the boys. I definitely do not want to think too highly of myself or the impact I have on the kiddos, but I think that consistency speaks volumes in their lives. Every time a team of gringos gets off the bus, the kids search the crowd, and ask where various people who have played roles in their lives are. Some of these people have just come to the BLC once years ago, but they have great memories, and seem to rarely forget a name or a face. It is my hope that returning to Bolivia makes them realize that my relationships with them are something I deeply cherish, and they are SO WORTH IT!
- I hope to be able to redeem their perception of female figures in their lives. Somehow, in the way I imperfectly think, act, and live, I hope the boys can find some comfort in the love I so desperately want them to know.
- Using my Spanish again. It's going to be rusty, that's for sure! I haven't been able to use it much these past 11 months or so, but I am excited about being thrown back into the language and culture. I thrive on this language and culture, and am excited to reconnect to it. I am hoping that this refresher course will motivate me to come back to the States and volunteer or plug in somewhere in the community where I can utilize my love for it.
- Familiar faces on the teams! I will be hosting four American missions teams with a group of hosts, and I think there will be many returning week-long missionaries, which I am jazzed about. A few of the hosts are also hosts from last year, and I am excited about growing these relationships. But one of the definite highlights of this trip will be the last team that comes in July, which will bring three wonderful people in my life. My boyfriend Ryan will be coming down and falling in love with the boys and teaching them how to throw a spiral! Also, Alyssa and Michael Bruce, the daughter and son of my colleague Mike, are coming down to spend the week in Bolivia as well! I get excited thinking about how their hearts will just fall so quickly in love with these boys.
- Being disconnected from technology again. Though it is quite inconvenient with work projects crossing the finish line in the middle of my time at the BLC, this disconnection is so freeing, and I love how the concept of time changes when you are hard to reach. This is so different than how I function in the States, and so to be removed from it, even for a month, is invigorating, like a breath of fresh air.
- Reuniting with Amanda la vaca gorda- sooo proud to have a cow named after me =)
- Tia Julia's cooking- a big big plus. Crossing my fingers for pique and some lasagna!!
- I brought some jump ropes, and would love to teach the boys a few tricks (if they are interested)!
By this time in two days, I will be in the air, somewhere over Central or South America. I can't believe it's here!
Much love to all-
Mandy
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