The Death of a Collection

Have you ever had a collection?

My sister, Mary Ashley was always collecting something.  Gel pens.  Nail polish.  Makeup.  Barbies.  You name it.

At one point, all her makeup and nail polish was kept in this huge caboodle.  One night, I borrowed it (without asking 😳) to get ready for a youth group Christmas dinner.  When I got to the hotel, I didn’t want to lug the stuff around during the party, so I left it all in the car.

Bad move.

In Cochabamba, Bolivia, locks on doors are basically just there for decoration.  If you have anything in your car, it will be gone as soon as you walk away and take your eyes off it.

I knew that and for some reason, still thought I could hide the caboodle well enough.

Not so much.

By the time we got back in the car, the makeup and nail polish Mary Ashley collected for years was gone.  She was devastated.

It’s a funny family story now, but that took a few years, haha.  I felt terrible then and I still hate to think about it!  That was so thoughtless of me.

What’s something you did that you felt terrible about, but years later it’s turned into a funny family story that’s often shared around the dinner table?

(PS Yahyee-I’m still really sorry😭)

(Almost) Locked Up Abroad

It was the first day of vacation and we were already running from the cops.

Just a few hours earlier, I had found 100 Bolivianos by the pool. So Mary Ashley and I got all cute, picked up a taxi and headed downtown to shop.

After looking around a bit and finding a pair of earrings we wanted, I handed the 100 Bs over to the vendor. She walked away, saying that she had to go get change. But, as she chatted it up with another vendor, we began to worry.

Then she motioned over a cop and I felt the blood drain from my face.

He held up our 100 Bs. bill in the sunlight a few times. Then made his way over to us. I knew it was going to be bad. Turns out, the money was counterfeit and the cop couldn’t care less that I had found it on the ground at our hotel and wasn’t a common criminal. I even said he could keep it. He didn’t like that option.

(side note - counterfeit bills were all over Bolivia at that point and we knew that simply being a foreigner was most likely the problem).

We continued to argue with the cop and even suggested they follow us to the hotel to pick up my dad since he had always told us to never trust the Bolivian cops or get in a car with them. But instead, the cop continued to step closer until he whistled for a taxi and reached for my arm. He tried to pull me forward and force me into the taxi, but I ripped my arm away and Mary Ashley and I took off running down the street while the cop called for backup.

I’m certain we outran them due to sheer terror. We finally got enough ahead to duck into a store to hide. We watched from the window as they lost us. While, at the same time, some type of noise kept growing louder and louder and all of a sudden, dozens of people dressed in all black, with white “scream” face masks and axes appeared. Mary Ashley started to act hysterical, assuming they had joined the cops and were here for us.

We hid there, prayed and waited for the “scream” parade to pass, then snuck out of the shop, jumped in a taxi and flew back to the hotel. For the rest of the week, we enjoyed vacation by the pool and didn’t venture out into the city alone again.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mary Ashley…you’ll always be my partner in crime.

4 BURN VICTIMS AND THEIR SURVIVAL STORIES

As the holidays approach, I'm reminded once again of my mom's accident, how God saved her and how she has impacted so many lives through her non-profit, Burn Care International.  For over a decade, she has traveled all over the world and worked to improve the lives of burn victims through effective rehabilitation, helping over 10,000 victims!  This time of year marks a season of giving and I hope that you will take a moment to read these stories below and consider giving a tax-deductible donation to Burn Care International before the end of 2017.

A little patient name Emily, with her
pressure garment on.

Harold Torrez Araoz -   "The gas explosion happened when I was at work.  At first, I didn't feel any pain, but I felt so hot.  I pulled off my clothes and noticed that the burned skin had turned white.  My brother ran in to see what happened and ended up not really helping me because he went into shock.  I told him to call our parents and tell them what happened.  The Ambulance came to pick me up and took me to a hospital in Vinto, since I was working 15 kilometers outside of town.  They didn't know what to do with me there, so I was taken to another hospital.  I got there and waited and waited and no one attended me, so I finally went to a 3rd hospital, where I was finally seen.  The accident happened at 2:15 on a Wednesday afternoon and I didn't get taken care of at the hospital until 6pm that night.  (Click the link to read more of Harold's story.)

Maciel Fernandez Peredo - "I was burned three years ago, when I was 15 years old.  I was out of town with my family, celebrating Carnival.  We had a fire going and my mom took a bottle of alcohol and poured it onto the fire.  Instantly, the flames leapt towards me!  My arms were on fire and my mom ran at me to help me.  However, she ended up pouring more alcohol on me by accident and then my chest and face caught fire.  My father grabbed the alcohol bottle and threw it and then he pushed my mother away from me.  (Click the link to read more of Maciel's story.)

Alejandra Cruz Romero - Alejandra's story, told by her mother: "Six years ago, when Alejandra was three years old, she fell backwards into boiling water.  I took her immediately to Univalle Hospital and she stayed there for one week.  They didn't know how to care for her burns properly and she got worse and worse as time went on.  She developed an infection and her body kept swelling more and more.  By the time I took her out of that hospital her 2nd Degree burns had turned into 3rd Degree and her skin was coming off all over her back as if there was nothing holding it there.  (Click the link to read more of Alejandra's story.)

Javier

Javier Abel Espinoza - "Two years ago, when I was 32, I was burned in an electrical explosion.  My wife was 2 months pregnant and I took up a second job to make some extra money for us.  It was only the second night on the new job that I had the accident.  When the accident happened, I was sitting down on the floor, facing the piece of machinery.  The electrical currents were too strong and caused the explosion.  I guess from the surprise, I sucked in a breath, which caused me to also suck in the fire.  I passed out and came in and out of unconsciousness while I waited on the ambulance to take me to the hospital.  (Click the link to read more of Javier's story.)

As you can see, burns aren't just for a certain age, gender, race, etc.  Victims are men and women, young and old and all over the world.  Some are burned much worse than others, but every accident is terrible and traumatic.  Many victims are scarred for life in every way, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally too.  It's so important for them to receive good care so that they can properly heal and get back to their life.

   By supporting BCI, you will be providing material, thread, zippers and foam for the Pressure Garments and Suits, silicon for the difficult scars, essential oils and creams for itching skin, salaries for Juana and Maria (the workers) and basic supplies for the Burn Clinic.  

     Please CLICK HERE to visit BCI's website to learn more about our important ministry.

-You can DONATE ONLINE by scrolling to the bottom of the website, click the "DONATE" button.  

-Or you can MAIL A CHECK to:
Burn Care International
419 Woodland Drive
Florence, SC 29501

  All donations are tax-deductible and will change a burn victim's life!

20 THINGS TO DO, SEE AND EAT IN COCHABAMBA, BOLIVIA

 While growing up in Cochabamba, I would visit the states and get questions like "Do you have running water?", "Can you even listen to the radio?" and "Do you actually live in a hut?".  If I wasn't laughing or rolling my eyes, I was usually trying to explain that Cochabamba was a huge city with everything that we had here in the USA and I actually liked living there better.  I had more fun things to do with my friends there and much more freedom.  I could walk all over the city or take a bus or taxi to anywhere.  I just googled the population of Florence, SC and came up with a huge 38,000.  The Cochabamba Valley, however, is well on it's way to a million!  Yea, let's just say that my social life took a hit when my family moved back to the USA for me to go to college.

Cochabamba has so much to offer and I get homesick each time I think of it.  My mom is there now and I'm so jealous.  So, in case you want to make the trip to this amazing place, here are the 20 things I suggest you do, see and eat:

View of Cochabamba from El Cristo!

1.  Villa Tunari - The jungle is only a scary bus-ride away!  It's like a different world down there and you shouldn't miss out on it while you are so close.  Bonus, if you want to feel out of control, go to the monkey farm and cross your fingers that they are taking the bear out on a walk on the dog lease.

2.  Tarata, Arani and El Lago de la Angostura - I know, I know.  I said things to do, see and eat in Cochabamba, but these places are right outside of the city.  If you like old architecture, you would love Tarata and Arani.  And then on the way back into the city, you should stop by Angostura to enjoy a slow lunch and even some water activities and a zip line if you're brave enough.

3.  Palacio Portales - Patiño was once one of the 10 richest men in the world!  He built this home by shipping materials from France, but had a heart attack before ever living here.  There are beautiful gardens and a tour that you can join.  It's easy to get to, just off of one of the main streets in Cochabamba.

If you go to the jungle, pack for lots of rain!

4.  Villa Albina - Also owned by Patiño, but farther out of the city so it's a hike to get there by taking multiple buses.  There is more space, so the landscaping and gardens are even more impressive than his home in the city.

5.  Cristo de la Concordia - This huge Christ is slightly bigger than the one found in Brazil.  You can drive up to it, take the stairs (which is torture and you'll probably get mugged) or jump on the cable car.  Take a picnic and plan to spend a few hours at the top, enjoying the view of the entire city from every angle.  It's truly the best view of Cochabamba.

6.  Martin Cordero - If you love nature, you'll love this botanical garden.  Trees all over giving shade, grass everywhere giving you plenty of places to sit or lay down and plants and flowers of every kind. This is another great place to take a picnic and enjoy a few hours.  Plus, it's free!  Actually let me just say, the Bolivians are champs at finding a shady spot to eat and nap.  Don't be afraid to do it yourself. There are parks all over the city and you'll see what I mean.  Join in, have your picnic and take your siesta.

Volunteer at Burn Care International!

7.  Burn Care International - My mom was burned in 2001 and almost died.  After she pulled through, she opened up a non-profit for burn victims.  Her clinic is in one of the local hospitals and has helped over 10,000 patients!  Go check it out, meet the staff and volunteer your time.

8.  La Cancha - This market is about 5 sq miles and has everything you could ever possibly need or want.  It's crazy, crowded, kinda smelly and you have to watch your pockets.  But, it's something you can't miss if you want to really experience Cochabamba.  Just take someone who knows the area, if you can, since it is pretty easy to get turned around in there!

9.  Saturday Market - I've always thought of this as a smaller, much nicer version of La Cancha.  It's mostly a lot of fresh fruits and veggies and some random things.  It's right on one of the main roads and there are little wheel-barrow boys that you can hire to carry your stuff!  We lived just down the street and they would wheel our stuff straight to our front door.

10.  El Prado - Long park with restaurants on all sides.  You can go walk around, sit and people watch, stop by for lunch or come and enjoy the night life.  It was always my favorite place to go on weekends in high school.

Search far and wide for this ice cream truck!

11.  Lai Lai - Best Chinese food ever.

12.  Dumbo - Great french fries and ice cream.

13.  La Estancia - Biggest and tastiest steak you'll ever eat.

14.  Páprika - Good food and environment.

15.  Los Castores - Best salteñas.

It's normal to be eating in a restaurant and have a beggar
come in, asking for your food.  When it's children, it's heart-breaking!

16.  Edén - Great bakery with tons of options.

17.  Sole Mio - Good pizza, which is hard to find in town.

18.  Para Tí - Absolutely the best hot chocolate in the world.

19.  Las Islas - Food trucks galore and anticuchos (my fav).

20.  Aragatza - Ice cream truck to die for.

20.  Tunari - Oh and before I forget...if you like to hike, this is for you.  Tunari is the highest mountain peak overlooking the city.  You can drive up pretty close to the top and then hike the rest of the way.  It's super hard (I only did it once), but the view is worth it!

The view of the Andres from our bedroom window during our last visit.

I know I'm biased, but Cochabamba is one of the coolest cities in the world.  Rich history.  Great weather.  Best food.  Beautiful parks.  Surrounded by the beautiful Andes mountains on all sides.  So much to do.  And actually pretty cheap!  Plus, if you want to do the "typical American" things, you can.  There is plenty of shopping, movie theaters, you can go fishing at the nearby lakes, camp, go out for drinks, stay in a nice hotel, watch a soccer game at the stadium.  I promise, you will not get bored!

I AM a teacher!!!!!

     Did you know that when I was in high school, I wanted to go to Cosmetology school?  Yep.  I LOVED cutting my Barbie's hair...later I upgraded to my friends' and sisters' hair (they totally trusted me).  I LOVED doing face masks, hair masks, face scrubs, manicures, pedicures, waxing my legs and all that good stuff.  I also learned to LOVE products that were safe and natural, without toxic chemicals.  However, even though I was interested in and passionate about this stuff, my parents said that I had to go to college and get a degree first...then I could go to cosmetology school.

     So, I applied for college.

     Did you know that I went to college to be an Elementary Education teacher?  Yep.  I started at Columbia International University...spent 1.5 years there.  Then I transferred to Francis Marion University...spent 3 years there.  The entire time I was in BOTH schools, I kept saying that I didn't like it...I didn't want to be a teacher...but, everyone would assure me that I would like it once I got my own classroom.  I wanted to quit.  But, I stuck it out.  I graduated.  I got my own classroom.  And do you know what?...I still didn't like it.  I didn't last long before I quit and moved on to other jobs.

     So, I quit teaching and I never went to school for cosmetology...for years, I felt like a failure...pretty much all of my 20s.

     But you know what happened last Friday???  I went to my old school here in Bolivia and substitute taught for the day.  From 8am-3pm, I was in the 2nd grade classroom and you know what I found?...I STILL don't like teaching...kids!!!!!!

     It's as if (all of a sudden) TWO things became very clear:

1.  It's true....I don't like teaching kids, but I DO like teaching (I was just in the wrong age group)!!!!!!!  I am organized, creative and a good communicator and I use that everyday...I teach people about finding wellness, beauty and financial freedom with Young Living Essential Oils.

AND

2.  It's true...I didn't go to cosmetology school, but I HAVE spent over a decade educating myself!!!!!!  I read and research (almost daily) about caring for our bodies through clean living and safe, natural products...I implement what I learn in my own life and teach others to do so.

    I realized, looking back, that God saw the big picture and had this all planned out from the very beginning...HE took my passion, combined it with my degree and put me in my SWEET SPOT!  

     So, I AM a teacher...I hereby declare myself a Wellness, Beauty & Financial Freedom Teacher...and you know what?!?!?!?...I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Subbing 2nd Grade

Martin Cordero and Lai Lai

     Another Saturday, another adventure...

     Juana is so funny...every time she has a day off, she says that we have to go on an adventure!  And she LOVES to walk.  So, it has to be something fun that also involves a lot of walking :)

     So, we took a Trufi to the local botanical gardens, Martin Cordero and then walked around :)  It was beautiful and we all wished that we had brought a picnic to enjoy!  There were lots of couples getting to know each other in the park...and lots of people laying around, enjoying the sun and taking naps.  No one in a hurry...so peaceful.

     I was excited because we saw an area for medicinal plants!!!  These are the types of plants that many essential oils come from :)

     Ever since arriving in Cochabamba, we have been on the look out for our favorite ice cream truck.  We finally gave up and forgot about it because none of us knew where it parked now.  As soon as we walked out of the botanical gardens, we passed it!!!  Of course, we stopped and got some HUGE ice cream cones to enjoy on our walk home :)

     After a nice, long Siesta, we went out to have dinner at Lai Lai.  I don't really crave Chinese food...never care too much to eat it.  But, this specific restaurant has always been a favorite of mine.  

     When we were younger, Sandra, my sisters and I LOVED to play on this thing when we ate here.  We would spin around and around until we felt sick...it was SO FUN!!!  I was determined that Sandra and I would take a turn, for old times sake.  It was sad that we could hardly fit ourselves down into those little seats...

I am ME!!!!!!!!!!!

FYI...I got my VISA yesterday (finally), so we decided we needed to CeLeBrAtE!!!!!!!

Got my Visa!!!!!!!!!

     Juana, Sandra, Nick and I have a list of places where we want to eat during our time in Bolivia, so we have been eating out and checking off these restaurants off of our list.  Today, we chose to get some Charque de Llama for a Saturday treat :)  The plate includes hard-boiled eggs, potatoes, corn with Charque de Llama and cheese on top!!!  You eat it with your hands...

Charque de Llama

     As we were finishing up our meal, a little street girl walked right up to us, put her silver tin bowl down on our table and looked at us waiting for it to be filled.  See her little tin bowl in her hands?  We filled it up as she sat there with a huge grin on her face.  As she was walking away, I asked her if I could take a photo of her.  She walked back over and let me take the photo.  Nick leaned in to get in the photo with her and her cheeks turned bright red as she grinned even bigger...she must have thought Nick was cute...you can see that she leaned towards him too :)  She was so sweet!!!

Little Beggar Girl

     After we were all full, we still had some leftovers.  We bagged them up and decided to go find the little girl to give her more.  I knew that she would be on the street somewhere right outside of the restaurant.  Sure enough, we walked outside and she was on the left with her mom and another child.  This city is FULL of beggars and homeless.  Every street has someone sitting on the ground begging for money, food, your water bottle, jacket or anything that you have that they think they want or need.  It is so sad because most of these people will spend their entire lives on the streets...these children grow up on the streets, playing and begging.  

Little Beggar Girl's Family

     If you are reading this and you have children, they most likely have a place to sleep, clothes, food to eat, clean drinking water and they probably go to school.  Can you imagine if your children grew up begging for peoples scraps and spare change, spending all day, every day on the sidewalk?  Can you imagine your children working to help bring in money for your family?  Many children make money by washing car windows at red lights at busy intersections, by guarding parked cars on the streets for a few coins, by pushing wheelbarrows of produce at the Saturday markets, etc.  While your children are having friends over to play Barbies, going to extravagant birthday parties, enjoying movies at the theatre, swimming at friends houses during the summers and taking naps, these children are surviving.  This mother sits on the sidewalk, taking care of her baby, while she sends her older child into restaurants to beg for food from strangers.  But, you know what???  This little girl never stopped smiling...and it wasn't a fake smile...it was a genuine, bright, beautiful, happy smile.

     I'm not saying take all those wonderful things away from your children, but I am saying that we don't need as much as we think we need to be happy.  Right now, I am grateful for the roof over my head, my own bathroom with a toilet and hot water, a comfortable bed to sleep in, money for food, clothes and so much more.

     I know that God doesn't make mistakes.  That means that I was born at the right time, in the right place, to the right family and I am who I am supposed to be.  But, every time I see people like this little girl, I can't help but wonder why God made me who I am instead of making me a poor, Bolivian beggar girl???  Although I will never know, I am forever grateful to Him that I am ME!!!!!!!!!

Windows 11, 1, 6, 5, 4 and 9...

Click HERE to read Visa Attempt #1!!!  

Visa Attempt #2:

     Yesterday was a LOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG day...we left the house a little after 9am to get my Visa and returned around 6pm, without my Visa.  

I sat on the little green chair to get my Visa photo taken...

The Visa photos are printed in the back of a VW van...

    At 10am, we arrived back at Window 11.  Yesterday the Immigration Woman at Window 11 had said that if we came back to her with all of my documents, I would get my Visa.  Haha.  After waiting behind some missionaries who didn't have the "correct" Visa documents, it was my turn.  I handed over everything.  The Immigration Woman looked through all my documents and said that I did indeed have everything that I needed (YAY!!!!!), so I could now get a ticket and get in line.  FYI---remember those things that she told me were "required" and I didn't believe her?...Well, I didn't give them to her and she didn't even notice...hahaha...guess they weren't required after all!!!  I said, "What do you mean 'get in line'???...I thought that this is where I get my Visa???".  Turns out I DID have to get a ticket and get in line to wait, but they only give out 100 tickets in the morning and 100 tickets in the afternoon...AND I had already missed my chance to get a ticket, get in line and be seen in the morning.  So, the Immigration Woman told me to go outside, get in line and wait until 2:30pm when they re-open and give out new numbers.  I went outside, planning on getting in the line and waiting 4 1/2 hours to get a number, but there wasn't a line.  So, I went back inside and talked to the man who gives out tickets.  He told me that I could leave, come back around 1pm and get in the line to receive a ticket at 2:30pm when they re-open after lunch.

Lunch while we waiting to go back to the Immigration Office!

Yum!!!!!

Visa Attempt #3:

     At 12:30pm, Nick and I walked over to the Immigration Office again so that we could get in line to get our ticket.  I don't know what happened, but on the walk over, I started to get an insane stomach ache.  By the time we arrived at the Immigration Office and got in line, we were about 10 people away from the door and I had to sit on the ground because the pain was so intense.  It finally got to the point where I knew I had to find a public bathroom...I asked around and there was not one anywhere close by.  Without even thinking, I grabbed Nick and said that we had to go home, as I am frantically flagging down a Taxi driver.  By the time we made it back to our apartment, I was seriously thinking crazy things like, "When I have a baby, I am definitely taking the epidural...no way I am doing a natural birth!!!!!".  Seriously, my stomach was NOT happy.  I was having heat waves come off of me and I felt faint.  I have been so anxious about my Visa that I honestly think that I made myself sick.

Visa Attempt #4

     We got back and the line was only about 4 people.  I figured that people got tired of waiting and left.  So, I went over near the front to sit down next to this woman.  She quickly let me know that everyone was taking naps in the park and that I was number 35 in line.  They had all apparently written down their numbers on their arms and left the line, but were planning on coming back to their same spot after their nap.  Makes sense.  So, as we sat there and fried in the sun, we saved places for 31 people who were enjoying the cool grass and shade 50 feet in front of us.

     By 2:30pm, people started coming back to get their place in line...everyone was arguing and comparing their arms for numbers to see who was in front of who.  New people had arrived and were angry when all these people woke up from siesta and walked over to push back into the front.  Then, all sorts of people starting walking up to gate without plans to even get in line at all...Nick and I were so worried that we weren't going to be one of the first 100 people and we weren't going to get a ticket to be seen today.  Finally, when the Immigration Office opened, the police started letting people in and trying to be fair to who was first...there were lots of unhappy people.  When I was trying to get through the gate, the police was having to hold back this big girl that was trying to push through and get in first...scary!!!

     We finally got inside, got our ticket and began our wait.  My number was called and I walked over to Window 1.  I hoped that I was going to have a man and I was planning on flirting...just being honest (I was in survival mode at this point and Nick gave me permission)!!!  I handed over all of my paperwork, he looked through it and said that I was missing Juana's signature on the letter of invitation.  I thought I was going to be sick and I must have looked it, because he quickly told me that I can just sign it for her.  I was totally confused and kept asking, "Do you want MY signature or Juana's signature?".  He kept saying that it didn't matter and that I should just quickly sign whatever name I wanted.  I guess my sweet talking was paying off!!!!!  So, he filled out everything for me, handed me my documents, plus some more and told me that I have two choices...go to Banco Union to pay for my Visa or wait here until 4:30pm to pay at Window 6.  I told him that I was told that HE was going to give me my Visa...he said no, that I would get it at Window 6.  At this point, it was 4pm so I decided to wait.

     As soon as 4:30pm rolled around, Nick and I went to stand in front of Window 6 to pay for my Visa.  The same Immigration Officer that "helped" us at the airport 29 days ago arrived and sat down at Window 5.  He saw us and asked if we were here for our Visa...I said yes.  He called us over to Window 5 and we paid 210 Bolivianos (a lot less than the 2,500 Bolivianos and then the 360 Bolivianos that the Immigration Woman said that we would owe).  We were handed a Receipt, told to go outside to make 2 photocopies (gotta love the photocopies), get another ticket and get back in line again.  I told him that I was told that HE was going to give me my Visa...he said no, that I would get it at Window 4.  I asked him several times to make sure what we were supposed to do because I couldn't believe that we had to get BACK IN LINE!!!

     After going outside and getting out photocopies of our Receipt, we came back in, got another ticket and got back in line again.  Finally our number was called and we went up to Window 4.  Again, our documents were looked through very thoroughly.  I was photographed and fingerprinted and then told to come back tomorrow.  Ummm...What?!?!??!  I told him that I was told that HE was going to give me my Visa...he said no, that I would get it at Window 9 tomorrow.  Yep, they kept ALL of my documents AND my passport and told me come back tomorrow.  I told that Immigration Officer that I was uncomfortable leaving my passport.  He assured me that they would take good care of it and gave me a piece of paper that I can use as my "proof" that my documents and passport are in their hands.  Great.

     So, at that point, it had been two days.  LOTS of different information from each Immigration Officer and still no Visa.  I have visited Window 11 two times, Window 1, Window 6, Window 5 and Window 4.  At EVERY SINGLE WINDOW, the Immigration Officers tell me that I will get my Visa at the NEXT Window.  So, today we are supposed to go at 5pm to Window 9...because THEY are going to give me my Visa.  I'll believe it when I see it!!!!!!!

     Nick and I got home around 6pm last night and were both totally fried from waiting so many hours out in the sun.

     Please pray with us today that when we return to Immigration at 5pm (for Visa Attempt #5) and walk up to Window 9, that they will have my Visa ready!!!

   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATE:

Visa Attempt #5 was a fail.  We got to the Immigration Office, got a ticket, got in line to wait to visit Window 9 and then were told to come back TOMORROW at 5pm.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATE:

Visa Attempt #6 was a SUCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Now, I am good until February 27th...yay!!!!!!!!

My precious Visa is in that beloved Passport!!!!!!!!

Tarata and more...

     My classmate, Gustavo, took us out for the day on Friday to show us some of the little towns on the outskirts of the Cochabamba Valley.  We visited Tarata, Arani, Punata and Angostura...there is so much culture and history in these beautiful old buildings.  It is sad, though, because as many little towns try to keep up with the ever changing world, they are tearing down and replacing buildings that are hundreds of years old!!!

     We first drove to Tarata and visited an old Monastery that still has three monks, but is mainly used for events and as a Museum.

Old Monastery in Tarata that is now used as a Museum.

     The inside of this Monastery had an old clock that was shot to death by one of our old Presidents, Mariano Melgarejo.  Apparently he was mad that the clock didn't have the correct time, so he shot it many times...now it has never worked again!!!

Inside the Monastery/Museum.

Inside the Monastery/Museum...right before I was attacked by red ants!!!

    Most of the old buildings and homes are being torn down and replaced...there were only a handful of streets that looked like the old Bolivia...

Some old homes in Tarata that are still left standing!!!

Some old homes in Tarata that are still left standing!!!

The Catholic Church in Tarata.

Inside the Catholic church in Tarata.

The first Organ brought over from Europe to Bolivia.

The Plaza Principal in Tarata.

     After Tarata, we drove back to the Angostura Lake to have lunch at Lago del Eden...this was always one of my favorite places to eat and was where my class had our senior skip day in 2004!!!!  It was so fun to see the place again and eat there...a lot has changed in 11 years!!!!

El Lago de la Angostura.

Trout for lunch :)

Lago Del Eden.

Overlooking Angostura Lake.

     After lunch, we drove through Punata to get to Arani.  It was another sweet little old town, just like Tarata.

The Catholic Church in Arani.

The Catholic Church in Arani.

The Clock Tower in Arani.

Wheelchair access in the Plaza Principal...do you see what's wrong with this photo???

Arani neighborhood street.

Overlooking Arani.

     And this was just touring parts of Cochabamba!!!!!!  

There are so many amazing places to see here :)

PS...I think that my Blog will hit 50,000 views tonight or tomorrow?!?!?!!?!?  Wow!!!!!!!!

I don't get many comments on my blog, so I actually don't really know who my readers are!!!  If you are reading this, I would love for you to leave a comment and let me start getting to know you!!!!

Sunday Funday :)

     Remember when we were on the plane and met those American missionaries and they invited us to their church?!?!?!...and then we found out that our other friend goes to that church?!?!!?!  Well, Saturday night we mapped out where the church would be and planned how we would walk there...Sunday morning the walk took around 30 minutes and we figured out that we had chosen the long way, but I didn't mind because it meant that we got to pass one of my old homes!  We had so many visitors stay with us in this house...Jeff Norris...Tami Johnson...the Temples...Ralph from Germany and more!!!  Plus, this is the house where we met Juana and Sandra :)  

     Anyway...we got to church and our friend Henry Cheah was right there at the front door welcoming everyone and Dale and Debbie (from the plane) were inside gearing up for worship!!!!!  The church is underneath a building, because it used to be an old garage.  I was so impressed with how nice and clean it was, however, then I started comparing it to American churches.  Tile floors, plastic chairs, no AC, one bathroom outside...not "comfortable", but the church was so warm and welcoming and everyone was so happy to be there.  Since I grew up down here and am used to this country, I don't notice as much...so it's neat to be down here with Nick because I see things through his eyes!!! 

     Before the service began, we went around the church greeting people and giving them a New Year's Blessing.  One woman came up to me and said that she knew me and my parents...turns out I went to high school with her daughter Jessika Asbun!!!!!!  Like I say EVERYDAY...Small World!!!!!  When it was time to introduce visitors, I introduced Nick and me and then Mrs. Asbun yelled out that I have very good Spanish.  I panicked because I don't want to disappoint anyone with my lack of Spanish skills (10 years living in America hasn't helped me in this area), so I quickly shook my head "NO"!  Mrs. Asbun ran over and sat next to me and whispered in my ear that if Rolando (my old Spanish teacher) heard me just now, he would be very mad!!!  haha...high school...

     Henry Cheah took us out to lunch at some new local buffet.  I've never heard of a buffet here in Bolivia so I was curious to see it.  It turned out to be a little different than an all you can eat buffet that I am used to.  You can fill your plate with whatever you want, but then they weigh it and you pay by the weight!!!  I bet people wouldn't eat as much at buffets if they had to pay by the weight!!!  haha...

     After such a big lunch, we HAD to take our Siesta :)  So many people are taking us out and treating us to meals...it's amazing!!!  For dinner, the Cooks picked us up and were planning on taking us to Tunari, but since it was closed, we went to La Estancia.  Only the best steakhouse IN THE WORLD!!!  Do you feel our pain?!?!?!  I got an ENORMOUS steak...

and Nick got an HUGE Surubi (fish)...

The Cooks are special to me because I spent so much time with them!  Bethany and I were two peas in a pod in high school, so I was over at her house all of the time!!!  Also, Mr. Cook (Bethany's dad) was our Math teacher for years!!!  I am having such a good time here getting to see old friends!!!!!!!

 There's no place like Home Sweet Home!!!  Now we are up and packed and getting ready to head to Chepare (the jungle)...see you in a few days if we don't have Internet down there :)