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