bolivia pt. VI

So it has taken me a while to get around to writing about we actually did in Bolivia. Really it is more about being than doing. One can only do so much, but in being a lot more occurs. So most of the time we just tried to be. We talked with people, we spent time with people, we ate with people, and of course we listened to people. In the end that is what it was about, getting to know life in Bolivia.

But that is hard to convey in words.

So I will just mention what we actually did.

We woke up early. The sun came up around 6. However at 5.15 the roosters starting their crowing. At 5.25 it was the dogs joining the. Around 5.40 or 5.45 the monkeys and parrots started in with their bit. Given that most animals in the village have free reign, quite a few found their way to a spot just outside my window. And at 6.00 to finish it off, the loudspeaker just down the road started giving the local announcements. So and so in such and such a street have killed a cow this morning and are selling meat... So by 6.15 there was no other option than to join the world and make some noise.

We ate. The food was different. I mean different, different as in different. There are differences between Spain and America and England's food, but Bolivia is different. But it was equally as good. That is to say I really liked it. Things like platano frito, yuca (in many shapes and forms), of course your meats and fishes, but in different forms. There is loads of fruit. Out back there were grapefruit trees, lemon trees, lime trees, mango trees, coconut trees (also known as palm trees), and some others that I'm probably not remembering. Of course not all are in season at once but a fair amount were and there is nothing quite like freshly squeezed lemon/limeade. We had freshly squeezed grapefruit as well, but with a large quantity of sugar. That reminds me, they also had sugarcane and coffee plants. See pics below (that's me with the coffee).




Food wasn't everything. We did some sharing. During the course of 8 days we were involved in 10 meetings. A couple on Sunday (one of which I preached), a prayer vigil, an open-air evangelistic meeting, a normal prayer meeting, an good Friday service, and some other bits. In all but two we either Desmond or I shared. On one particular day there were a couple of youth activities. In the afternoon we had a bible-study and shared a meal together afterwards. Then in the evening it was a social type event. Everyone invited loads of friends and in the end there were about 60 youth there. At the beginning I shared briefly just some things that God had done in my life and then during the second it was full-on games. By the end I was drenched in sweat. Humidity and running around with teenagers seems to leave one in that state.

We walked around the village and explored. Watched the women washing their clothes in the river. They seemed a bit shy at first, but they had no reason to be as they were still clothed. Hugo and I would cruise around the village in his car, him hanging out one side and me the other. On my side groups of little boys would accumulate suddenly, staring unabashedly at the white gringo who dropped in from outer space. We went for a swim in the river. It's called the Black River but its clean. Not of predators though, you can get cayman that reach 21 feet, but they generally stick to small cows and large dogs for their diet. Anacondas and other types of water snakes, eels, but not the Princess Bride type, piranhas, and so on. People have generally learned to live alongside these creatures that God has created and no one really gets hurt. Except for the creatures, but only when they try something. Then its a machete removing the head or the crack of a gun finishing it off. We saw none of these things however, which is why we have to go back in the dry season.






We took some horses and went traipsing around the jungle to see some of the land that Hugo works with. Hugo carried the pistol and I the .22. Again nothing threatened us and left me feeling like I wasn't getting my money's worth. Again, it's worth mentioning that it's not a true trip to the jungle till you've have to fight off predators trying to take your very life. Or at least something to give you a good story when you get home, even if you do have to spice it up...



Being the wet season, the village was basically an island, with water up to a horse's belly or higher outside of the village. This means that it's either by river or by plane that people come and go. It also means that the men aren't going out to work their fields. It's a lot of down time, but a lot of time to talk and get to know. It was amazing just to experience life with people there. Next time will be in the dry season, that will bring the flexibility to travel to the other communities nearby and see and share what God is up to there. Especially since Hugo and Erika spend a lot of Saturdays in those villages working with children and youth. That next time might not be much more than a year away...