Beautiful people--Beautiful world. The end.

It was only two months. It felt like a week. How did I connect with so many people in such a short time? Los Adultos Mayores surprised me with a despidida. They closed the door to me and said I had to wait. Wait for what? I thought. Irene opens the door and greeting me is 50 applauding elders, blasting music, and a tear filled Irene. I can't even enter the room, before I know it I am bombarded with kisses, hugs, and advice. A line forms, and everyone of the 40 elderly hugged me, kissed me, some cried, others insisted on my return, and others prayed with me. You ever look back and contemplate? I thought back about my visits with the elders, our outings, dancing, and reunions. I was just helping, doing odd end jobs, showing love wherever possible. I didn't realize how much it impacted or even how closely others watched this "gringo." Many speeches were given as well, everyone had a word or two to say. The leader of the adultos mayores demanded attention and silence as he gave his summary of my stay and respect for the help I gave. Such a good speaker. "Llena de carina y una energia contagiosa." Full of loving-care and with a contagious energy.--humbling.

I thought this was it, but nope--they all had another plan. Food and tea was served and Irene presented a gift. These people have NOTHING, but they managed to all chip in and buy me the most beautiful jacket. It fits perfect! They said, they wanted me to be able to bring a bit of Bolivia back with me. They also sang for me in Aymara, I love that language. Thank you adultos mayors. You've taught me patience and wisdom. You've opened up my eyes to a different manner of living. And--you've made me laugh with you wonderful stubbornness and humor.

Wednesday was my last day. I worked in the morning and decided to keep open the evening to pack. Ha, that didn't happen. Another despidid, now from the area de salud. Saltenas and again each member of the team, along with the liscencia had kind words, prayers, and advice for me. Thank you area de salud. Working along side doctors I was able to perfect my assessing skills,

not to mention some diagnosing. I was able to be exposed to many illnesses and situations that aren't common in the states. Thank you guys for your patience, kindness, and desire to teach me.

What to do on my last night? Pack? Nope--that can wait. I went out with the doctors and nurses. We shared, ate drank, laughed, and cried, I connected with them and gained true friendships. They all bought individual gifts for me; medical journals, beautiful shawls, key chains, and other thoughtful gifts. I don't like goodbyes. But by the end of my last day I became accustomed to the hugs, tears, kisses, and exchange of contacts.

I'm looking out my airplane window, Below are soft clouds, crystal blue waters, and an occasional blotch of land. I cam to Bolivia to serve. I left Bolivia changed. The people here taught me, helped me grow, strengthened my faith, and instilled in me a desire to serve, help, and travel. On July 7th I arrived with bags packed to capacity, nerves on end unsure what to expect, head dizzy and lungs struggling with the altitude. One September 2nd I'm leaving--not wanting to leave. Trying to think if there's a solution to these mixed feelings. My lungs are strong, my head is heavy with thoughts and memories, my confidence is present, my bags are empty. I couldn't help but leave everything...I came to serve anyway, right? With bags empty, I left with something more precious than material clothes or a pricey computer. I left with my experience, with the knowledge that I am loved appreciated, and missed. I left a stronger and changed Jessica.

Janet and Anitawa thank you for this opportunity. I pray that you continue to help and serve those in need. Friends from home, thank you for supporting and encouraging me these two months. Thanks for reading this...now I am not babbling away to no one. Friends from Bolivia, thanks for welcoming me and allowing me to be part of your lives. Bolivia thank you for teaching me and transforming me into who I am now.

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Uyuni

Destination of my last weekend in Bolivia. Mainly I lived in a surreal world for four days. Anitawa and I played tourists as we hopped on a bus bound for Uyuni. Thirteen hours later we arrived with ice coated windows just as the sun crept over the mountains to enhance this glistening sign of coldness. Its 6:30 AM and we begin to wander the streets, killing time until the market opens up to relieve our frozen hands with some steaming api.

What's important when you travel? Money? Documents? Well...and a camera. But we forgot the first two. Lets say Anitawa was nonexistent on paper and I was empty pocketed. After five hours of searching we found the town's only ATM--it was empty. I think the Lord likes suspense. As we see a line forming around this ATM I realized they just filled it, so in the end I was able to secure my three day tour. (You see it was yet another holiday and the banks weren't open--hence the exhaustion of this lonely ATM in the town of Uyuni).
We pile into a four wheel drive with two dutch, a New Zealander, an Australian, and our lovely chauffeur. On our roof is our gas for our trek and enough food for three days. It was amazing. Never in my life did I imagine I would see so many wonders in the same trip. Train graveyards, endless salt plains, hotels of pure salt, flamingos, mountains, lakes, volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, llamas and avicunas, and desolate-desolate lands stretching out past my vision. The salt plains were deceiving. The white reflected back the sun and burned your skin. You think its like snow but then you breath in an immense flavor of salt fills your mouth as it slowly dehydrates you. Amongst these plains were a few islands of cacti. They say that it used to be a huge lake and all that is left now is its savory contents...acres and acres of salt. Now I can say that I've sat on the bottom of a lake. Check that off my bucket list.

Who would of thought that in the middle of these desolate empty stretches would you find lakes. Lakes partly frozen over, back-dropped by snow capped mountains and smoking volcanoes. In these borax, sulfur filled lakes were hundreds and hundreds of flamingos. Their bright pink feathers reflecting on the green, blue, red water (surreal like I said, no lake was only one color).

We stopped in one area where Armageddon was filmed--it looked like the moon (since I have been there and all). As we climbed these contemporary shaped rocks in the distance, majestically threatened a smoking volcano. Last time it erupted was 2003. "Thanks volcano for not erupting while I was there"

What's a geyser? A spring characterized by intermittent discharge of water ejected turbulently and accompanied by steam. A good way to hard boil some eggs...some tours took their breakfast to cook over steam. There were over 25 of these individual geyser, all different sizes, all releasing steam, and all smelling like sulfur. It was like a dream. Sulfur steam surrounding me as I wander through the uneven, soft ground between the multitudes of boiling earth releasing its pressure. Beautiful.

So after four days of traveling in the desert, you begin to yearn a nice hot shower. And of course hot water in these frigid area is rare. Man were those hot springs welcoming. Cleansing to the skin and soothing to the body as it defrosts my tired-cold feet. Downside--ice hair when I was done.

Llamas are proud animals. The way they strut with their head held high. I ate llama on this trip. Its like tough-gray chicken. Avicunas is like the bolivian deer. Just skinnier and living in the desert.

The trip was a great way to celebrate the end of my two months. Not to mention, I think Anitwaw needed that vacation...she works hard. It was fun to escape together for four days...away from responsibility and all sense of time.

And the countdown begins...so little time left. One last blog entry and then an end to my adventures.