Our refuge

Anitawa and I had a free weekend, oh what to do? Well we had this wonderful idea to go to this get-a-way spot with natural hotspring and all. But, apparently that was everyone else´s plan, no space left! So, we flip through the tour book in Bolivia and decided on Sorata. It is a quaint little pueblo known for its narrow cobblestone streets and being tucked away safely in the valley of towering snow capped mountains. We explored the whole town in five minutes! Then we went for hikes through the hills and dipped our feet in the ice-cold rivers. The pace of life there is so relaxed. Almost everyone there speaks Aymara. Its always humbling being in a situation where you are completely lost and have no idea whats going on. Lets just say...I get humbled a lot. But I loved this easy going little, hidden town. I got my first shiatsu, a massage using pressure points. So tranquil.

My week

The children are precious. I should have come here as a teacher rather than a nurse. But either way I get to work with them. The children here are so well behaved. Its amazing how they can entertain themselves bare-foot, with a stick or an empty bottle. Best yet, was a brother and sister straddling on a skateboard and flying down a bumpy, rocky decline-cliff which (between you and me) was difficult to even just walk down. The children are just trusted and left on their own. But this week and next the área de salud is doing general medical check ups on all the

children, there are roughly 200. A lot. Typhoid has hit a few of us, unfortunately during all these physicals we are short-staffed. I even had to give a shot to one of the nurses here, see typhoid hits others worse. Luckily, I was not hit too hard with it and am healing quickly!Busted lips, smashed fingers, heads full of lice, cancerous elderly, inflamed arthritis, malnourished, gastritis, reflux, pregnant women, sexual transmitted diseases, and twisted joints. We see it all and we do pretty much anything here to. Within this week, we will be doing a surgery too. The doctor is eager for me to learn and is willing to let me gain experience. I am becoming more and more sure about my desire to go further in the field of medicine. A doctor maybe? A professor? Maybe I should be a nurse first in the states. I just get excited about the possibilities...

Los Yungas

So it gets cold here...I might have mentioned that already, or a couple times. But the Yungas is only a 7 hour bus ride a way with a tropical climate. There are palm trees, plantains, screeching birds, waterfalls, rivers, and fields to play soccer barefoot! Irene, her daughter, and I went for a weekend to stay with her brother who lives in Caranavi. I didn´t want to come back! We went swimming, hiking, played soccer, camping, and cooked and cooked and cooked. I think it is one of the best ways to get to know someone. Cook with them, chat with them, and share. It was indeed a paradise. The road to get there...not so much. It is also known as Death Road (for a reason). But I had some prayers floating my way and God on my side, we arrived and returned safely. Another downside to this little haven of warmth was--mosquitoes. Never in my life have I literally had to run from swarms. In the end, I´m going to say the fresh chocolate from the coco plantations, the warm air at night, the waking up to coconut milk straight from the tree that morning, getting to know Irene and her family, frying plantains (possibly too many), playing soccer, and meeting friends was way worth the risky road and hungry mosquitoes.

Matthew 5:14

"You are the light of the word. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and let it give light to everyone. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

let your light shine...

It was bound to happen....

I´ve been hit with the Typhoid. Typhoid fever. Its either those delicious, addicting salteñas from the street, or God saying...."slow down Jess, why don´t you spend a day in bed?" Either way it isn´t fun. But, luckily I work with a doctor who drug me to a lab to get my blood tested. Who ever said positive was a good thing. When that typhoid analysis came back positive all I could think of was, no no no, I don´t have time to be sick! Well...it´ll pass with time (and some antibiotics!)

maybe it was the water?....

Starfish

Entrada

Yet another entrada. This time I brought my camera. There were 71 different types of dancesthat participated, all folklore and colorful . The music was great and the energy was almost palpable. Of course I got in their and danced with the people in the parade, especially those afro-bolivianos, man do they have rhythm. Area del salud took the task of bringing me to the entrada. They even provided lechon, yum pig...and lots of it!





La Combre




This is the highest I´ve been. Anitawa piled as many as could fit in the jeep and off we went for an adventure. The month of august is the month of sacrifices...yup animal sacrifices. To thank mother earth for all she has offered and also to ensure health for the year. The drive up was, how would one put it, life threatening? We were literally in the clouds-meaning we couldn´t see very much. I would definitely say it was worth the drive and the risk. When we got there, I felt like I was walking in a dream. My childhood fantasy to walk among the clouds came true, and where of all places--but the mountains of Bolivia. The whole experience was so surreal. The only downside is we were drenched after only 10 minutes of walking around because of all the humidity in the clouds.

Los Mayores

The elderly have so much to teach us, so much experience, so much life. Yet it is lost as they feel forgotten and useless as their hearing disappears and their sight worsens. What can they still have to offer? Oh, so much! August is the official elderly acknowledgment month. Don´t you just love that? An entire month to say....hey thanks guys for the life you lived and for all that you have done. I went with a group of them to the inauguration of this month. Of course we danced, what else do 75 year old Bolivians want to do? They taught me all different types, some with success, others--well lets just say my partner was patient! The elderly make bread here. One to give them a task and two a way to profit for their association of Adultos Mayores. Guess who got to sit there with a basket full of fresh hot bread selling all that she could. Yup--me! I am there shouting, "fresh bread! get it now!!! oh its good....our own abuelitos made it!" Yeah no big deal...I sold all of it. Ha. Maybe they felt bad for this foreigner chick, or maybe I found my new calling?
Casa Luz
This week I was assigned a task. Yay, I am useful! I was told to assess the health of the children at Casa Luz y Esperanza, weights, heights, BMI...all that good stuff. Then sum it up and tell them who was at risk. I was excited to get to meet these children. They are all struggling with some kind of handicap, autism, ADHD, downs, or another disability. They are so precious, innocent, and in their own little world. Trust is not given easily. Their world is so fragile. It intrigues me how each child has a unique way of communicating, of relaxing, of expressing oneself. I have a favorite...yeah yeah...favorites aren´t nice. But if you saw this child, you would adore him too. He is four years old and goes by Brandon (pronounced with a sweet spanish accent). He has a speech impediment, but is quickly improving. He just looks at me with those bright eyes, smiles with those dimples of his, and I melt. I admire those that work at Casa Luz, patience is a must in this field of work. Thank you for all those that have the unending patience and love that is required to work with the mentally handicapped.


Mallasa
A beautiful national park. I accompanied the children from the sunday-school program on a little retreat. These kids are in their teens. I loved getting to know them more, hear them gossip, discuss their favorite type of music, giggle about boys, and lay upon me endless questions about the united states. We baked in the sun, ate a feast, failed at our multiple attempts at volleyball, rode horses among our beautiful moutainous backdrop, sped around on four-wheels through Valley de Luna (named because of its rock formations that remind me of those drip sand-castles that you make at the beach), and mainly just enjoyed the day. I felt like I connected with some of the girls. One, opened up to me and confided in me some family issues. It let me see how intricate everyones life really is. You may appear happy, confident, and content on the outside while literally you are terrified to walk in to you own home. Say a prayer for this young one please.


Culture
So here I thought I was well traveled and knowledgeable to most cultures. The other day I went to dinner to one of my friends house. Why? Well, I asked if I could meet his family and see how he lives. I like to experience things and really put my feet in another person´s shoes. Maybe I shouldn´t have. One culture that I do not know very well is that of the indigenous that speak aymara. I was fed a typical plate of the alto-plano. It was delicious and filling...I only wish they didn´t feed me so much! No worries, I finished it all, slowly but surely. The family I visited was not accustomed to guests. I ate in the same room the family of 8 slept. I tried to make small talk, but either I was intimidating or they were unsure of how to act with this american girl in their one room home. Either way my uneasiness grew as we sat in silence, with my mind racing. What should I say? Should I eat faster since I am the only one left with food still in her bowl? Why are they so quiet? Why won´t they look me in the eye when they talk to me? How do 8 people sleep in the same room, all arriving and leaving at different times? Am I offending them being here? Why did my friend just excuse my spanish for me!? Oh, like I said before...maybe second impressions are more important in Bolivia. The family was shy, but definitely kind. I just wish they would stop apologizing for their living conditions. How can they afford to give me a bag of the best looking potatoes as a gift? Oh the situations I get myself into. ´


My Analogy
A little sun bleached girl is racing along the beach. There are thousands of star fish washed up on the shore, left to dry out and die. She is breathlessly picking up the few that she can and tossing them back into the sea. An old man is watching from the distance. Fed up with this young girls infant thought that she can save all of them, he approaches her. "You know, little one, you will never get to all these starfish in time to save them?" She stops her frantic attempt to save the dying lives long enough to answer,"Yes, but they few that I do get to are still alive."


I thought about my situation here and the work that Anitawa and Janet are doing with the three clinics. There are so many different lives, situations, poverty in the world that we will never solve all the problems. But the few lives that we do manage to impact, are changed for life. I need to remember this when I get frustrated at my inability to solve everything. I am only one small vessel in God´s grand plan. Patience is a must, humbleness is a necessity.

this is La Paz at night' bonita no?

I look around....yes this is poverty. These homes, these people, this pain. It hurts me and embarrasses me that I have come here to help and can´t solve all their problems. But hey, if I had that power then we can´t sit back and watch God use us. I visited a woman yesterday who managed to get around crawling on her hands and knees. See her diet is horrible, potatoes and well, potatoes. Her bones have suffered from the loss of calcium and has led to complications of osteoporosis mixed with arthritis. On top of this debilidad she has a mental handicap that has come with age. In her dirt floored, mud walled, dangerously tittering on a side of a cliff home she birthed her 13 children. Only two have stayed to take care of her, one pregnant without a husband the other only 9 years old. How do they manage? They can´t afford milk. She needs tests to prove to the government that she indeed has a handicap and qualifies for the help they offer. But the family can´t pay. Well we aren´t here for our entertainment-- to just listen to her story, nod, smile, give her a hug. Irene (a very kind hearted, sympathetic woman I work with) has arranged for us to raise the money through raffling off goody boxes of necessities. I pray that we reach the amount needed. If we help at least one family, I feel like our visits to the poorer areas aren´t a waste.

There are alot of broken families here. Barely any have both parents, for one reason or another. I visited one family who had 6 children, three of them were her own, the other were her sister´s who recently passed away from cancer. She took them as her own and has shown no favoritism. They are happy, well behaved, dirty, runny nosed children. One of the four year old boys cracked me up today. We were looking at where Salud Integral was helping build a larger house (larger than the one room living condition they have). This little one, named Diego, was climbing up one of the dirt walls. I said ''Cuidado''. He looks at me with his rosy cheeks and gorro almost over his smiling eyes , and says--''soy macho!'' and continues on. This is a boy who runs down ladders, sleeps on the same mattress as his 5 other siblings, just lost his mom to cancer, and has no dad. They raise them tough here. I let him prove his macho-ness, then swooped him up, hugged him and kissed him.

I am not telling these stories to depress you. I am revealing a little of what I see everyday. A little bit of how a large portion of the world lives. We are blessed. If you leave this site with anything, I pray that it is either the gratitude of what you are blessed with, or the knowledge of how others live. Or both...that would be great too.

Last weekend I went to Tiwanaku, one of the pueblos nearby with old ruins from before Machu Picchu. The sad thing is, its such a poor country they don´t have money to un-earth the to

wn that lay just below our feet. It was beautiful and frustrating at the same time. Beautiful at the history and beliefs they have. One was that they would tie fabric around their head from birth and tighten it, while re'enforcing it with rocks. Why? you may ask. Well two theories. One, to

appear more intelligent with a taller head! And the other, apparently the taller the head the higher the social status. I think I´ll stick with who has a nicer car...

It´s frustrating because there is so much historia lost beneath, just waiting to be told. Just walking along an area, we found bones scattered about, volcanic stones, and handcrafted ceramic pots so delicately painted (no we weren´t allowed there). But it was beautiful and exciting to see.

I´ll end with a question one of the kids asked me. ''¿Por que dios ha hecho personas de diferente colores?'' I was going to go into great detail about the necessity of different skin tones, about depending on where you lived and all that...but instead I asked him why he thought God made people with different skin colors. He said, ''El dios le gustan cosas interesante.'' God does like interesting things. I liked his answer.

And here we go

This is illimani...the highest mountian in Bolivia. Was once an active volcanoe, people fear that it may one day become active again because of the movement of lava below. Who knows. But for now it is a silent beast tipped with snow, towering over La Paz.

"Ven Yesi, ven!" says Rita. Its on of the dentists that I get to shadow (I saw some tooth extractions today...man those kids are tough, with black rotting teeth and all). She´s a bad influence, she´s stealing me away from the clininc to watch an entrada in El Alto. No I didn´t know where El Alto was or any idea what an entrada was...but when in Rome...I mean Bolivia! Turns out it was the largest desfile (parade) I´ve ever seen. And man those outfits were crazy! Rita lives 5 stories high--it over looked the entire Entrada. Never in my life have I seen so many people-all happy, dancing, eating, drinking. It was the celetion of their independence of La Paz. I ate alot and to end the night was in a parade for Salude Integral! (We got there late...but of course on time in Bolivian time). And yes-I forgot my camera...oops.

Javier and I have been doing home visits to the elderly who havn´t been able to make it to the weekly meetings. This I love. One because I like elderly, they have so much to teach me. Two they are precious when they speak aymari, and three it is humbling to see how they live. The higher we go the harder life seems. No roads, ladders leading up to a doowary, no water, no bathroom, no electricity. But they manage to serve me a refresco when I enter their humble aboad, Who decided it a good idea to build homes on such trecherous, steep, inclinces? Some of those that we are visiting are in bad shape. There is nothing I can do for a cancerous woman with hepatitis, unable to move and too poor to pay for any type of surgery of treatment. She is babbling off to me in a mix of aymari and spanish as she explains to me what hurts through her tear filled, yellow glazed eyes--she´s real sick. My heart hurts for people like her, for the weak, for the forgotten, for the poor, for the hurting. Yeah I am here to help--but honestly can I change their circumstance? A warm embrace, a smile, a cup of tea will only provide temporary comfort. They need so much more...

After our visit we were already half up a mountain where no plants grew and no roads guided you. Javi says, why not? So we kept going up. Up, up, up we go until all I hear is the wind blowing the grass and the finches diving into the trecherous cliffs that boarderd our camino. Its amazing at the top. You see this bowl below, filled with cars, buildings, homes, people all running about--each with their own goals and responsibilities. That is La Paz. A silent business that fills this bowl. I am awestruct of the beauty that lies just beyond the mountains...amazing how true the saying is "once you master one mountain--you are confronted with so many more." (could be a saying...or I am just that whitty...regardless you can quote me on it!).

I am learning alot from Dr Omar. For some reason or other--one I am not going to question--he has taken me under his wing. He wants me to learn and experience all that I can. In exchange I help him with his English. It works. Don´t you love the barter system?

Today is Dia del Amistad. It´s great. Its like Valentines day--but better. You don´t have to have a lover--its a day to appreciate those close to you, the ones you trust, and friendship in general. Well in celebration of this day--I love all you guys. I appreciate every friendship I have and am so blessed with such loving, giving, thoughtful and entertaining people in my life. Happy Friendship Day.

Here are the two lovely people I live with. So kind, full of life and hilarious. Anitawa has the green hoody on and Janet is the other. Definitely different than I thought they would be...a good different, they are awesome.

The Three Clinics

I came here with a open mind, an empty wallet, and a heart full of desire to serve, to help, to make a change. I came here with absolutely no clue what to expect. Thank God, that He knows what He's doing in my life...to end up in a freezing country that has over 15 dialects, main one being spanish. But I am here now, and loving it. The nuns are crazy and free spirited, I thought I would change them--but no, they are teaching me.

La Merced:

This is where I live with the nuns. They built this home on their own--it is a home and a clinic in one. They offer a dentist, a medical clinic, lunch program, meeting rooms, and a program for the elderly. I will be working here with the adultos mayores (elderly) hanging out, doing activities, making bread, art, and learning how to stitch. I also will be doing some physical therapy with them...yes I know-- I don't know what I am doing. But the jist is, they need to stretch and get some exercise, I think I can handle that. I am working with Javier, a sweet guy who is a Christian--not Catholic (shhhh don't tell the nuns). I am kidding, they know, and they laugh about it. I love it, it is a yellow house with plenty of space. It rest just above the periferico (the main road the follows the rim of the bowl that La Paz makes). So mainly, I have the best view of La Paz, its lights of the town twinkle up and remind me of stars looking up at me. Well this picture is during the day-but imagine the beauty when it all lights up at night. When I met the adultos mayores it was bout 30 of them in a small room, some on the floor, some making bread, and some knitting away. When I introduced myself I recieved an applause...actually anytime I did anything I got an applause. Quite entertaining. They were recieving glasses that day from the clinic. In reality this gathering is a way to get the elderly out of the house and in a social setting. Its great for them...and I get to hear them chatter away in their indiginous languages as they laugh and wink at me. Man I wish I knew what they were saying!

Vente-siete de Mayo:

This would be clinic number 2, and yes they named it after a date, they name lots of things after dates here. This one is more like a daycare. They have one level that teaches children, from 2-7 years old. When I went into the toddlers room I was greated by 23 runny nosed, dirty face, happy waving children. All with their hands open making a five as they all repeat hola in their sweet little voices. I adore children, they are precious. But apparantly these precious little children carry a dangerious hepatisis A. Hence the day of disinfecting of the entire clinic, which of course turned into 3 days since it was such a job, but it got done. The next floor is a medical clinic and a dentist where I will be switching back and forth working with these two doctors. They both are so willing to teach me and allow me to help. The one doctor even let me take a patient, while he sat back and waited for a diagnosis...it was a cold, ha. Lastly this clinic also offers meals for those that sign up for the program, this is to help with the malnutrition in this area.

Casa Esperanza:

This third clinic is the most interesting, but also requires the most patience. It is a home and a rehabilitation center for children with disabilities, autism, downs syndrome, or other mental handicaps. Each child has he's personal teacher, who guides him and pushes him to higher development. Also, there is a project in the making for a lunch program here as well. This program will socialize the children with disabilities and educated others that come without a disability. It's a beautiful thing they are doing there, I hope that I will be able to help it develope.

Now alittle about me...

I have been given so many opportunites for adventures and have only been here one week! Wow, how time passes. I was able to stay in Cochabamba for a weekend, with an interesting woman. She was an activist for human rights who was kicked out of a couple of countries and visited over 110. She has amazing stories and has lived such a full life. I stayed with her as sister Janet traveled around and visited other nuns. This woman, was very hospitable, opening up her beautiful home to me that resided in the country. I was given the loft, which had walls of glass...so it was like sleeping in a tree house- but inside. Cochabamba is warmer, alot warmer than La Paz! I went for a hike up to their Jesus Cristo...kinda like Brazil's. Only this one is the largest, oh Bolivia, added 3 centimiters to this tower so they could say they had the largest!

It rests on a mountian that overlooks Cochabamba and you can even go up into the arms. It's a beautiful overlook of the entire city. George Ann (whose house I was staying at) hooked me up with some people my age. They took me out on the town and even to an outside rock/reggae concert. Oh I moshed...and I danced! It was a great trip.

Tomorrow we are having a parade because it is a holiday for them here. Anitawa convinced me to participate. I will do the site seeing/touristy thing this weekend with one of the doctors I work with. We have two argentinians staying with us here at La Merced...both vegans...its different to cook with them. But I am learning to be open minded ;-).

It is funny how Bolivians are. They live a life different then I ever have seen. They are set in their ways and are proud of it. They live a hard life and don't complain about it. They have never won a war they entered, but still have this stubborn pride that shines through. A good way to explain it is they filler words "No ve?" They'll say something and then add in "don't you see" and continue on. Maybe it is to ensure you are listening or maybe it is because they want you to see life and view the world like they do. They are happy and non-materialistic. They take a two hour lunch in the middle of the day to relax. And they have so many holidays. Why is it that America has so few? During my two month stay I will experience 4 national holidays. Maybe this is why they seem more relaxed, on their own pace, and enjoy life and its beauty. No ve?

This is from my rooftop where I do yoga in the afternoon and hand-wash my clothes

Now safely in La Paz, 12,000 ft high

Anitawa picked me up from the airport greeting me with a kiss and a steaming hot cup of cocoa tea--yes fresh from a thermis. She said it helps with the altitude. She also brought along a family who´s youngest shyly handed me a rose. Now Anitawa was not your typical nun...she was a monja chula. She proceeded to fly down the curviest roads in a bulky white jeep named Verita. My home is beautiful and hudge! There was a basket of daisies waiting for me on my bed--I love daisies!!! I have electricity but no heat. My own bathroom too!

6:30 Am I wake up with alittle difficulty breathing due to the thin air that so easily dries me out. But I am completely distracted as I look out my window to the most breathtaking sunrise that I have ever seen! I am surrounded by the highest, sharpest, most intriguing mountains that are backdropped by an artistic display of pink, orange, and purple tones.

Janet and Anitawa made me rest this first day--meaning no work. But I did get to explore downtown. Their bus system is one thing on my list to figure out--soon hopefully. They are crazy minivans with the sliding door open and a young kid yelling out where it is headed as it barrels towards you. Oh and those cross walks! Well Bolivia had a problem with the cars not stopping...so they thought it smart to dress up someone like a zebra and dance back and forth with a sign reading PARE, stop. HILARIOUS. But hey whatever works.

I visited my first clinic today...there are three that Anitawa started. They slapped on a white lab coat and called me the nurse...and sometimes medica. What did I get myself into? I was brought into a room full of health employees, teachers, doctors, and other employees of Salud Integral and introduced by Anitawa as the volunteer Amercan nurse. Then left in my own defense to "say a few words of my own". Oh man was I caught at a blank. But I think I fumbled through a short, slightly embarrassed introduction. Maybe in Bolivia second impressions mean more?

I already love Janet and Anitawa. Two amazing people, very loving, motherly, and hilarious. We plan to travel to Cochibamba this weekend to see more of Bolivia, as they say para aprovechar mi tiempo.

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I struggle to adjust and feel confident...and hopefully with that the comfort of peace and knowledge...mainly not feeling lost! Lastly--what about those Spaniards??? Felicidades Espana! (pictures will be posted soon...some computer issues, meaning mine won't turn on!)