Year In Review

One year ago this morning I started my stay in Bolivia with a fabulous breakfast at the house of the Janeckes, which was completely fitting as they have been no less hospitable, loving, indispensable and irreplaceable every day since. Heather was also along for the airport run. And as I now know her schedule nearly as well as I my own, I know she probably dropped many other things to be a part of my welcoming crew, which makes sense because she so regularly puts others above herself that I’m not sure anyone, including her, can tell where her desires stop and others’ begin.

When I arrived in Cochabamba for language school, I was this time greeted by a stranger, but a woman who would quickly become a dear dear friend, roommate, and resource in my adjustment to a new place and a new language, Maite. Although I did not live with the other two teachers at the school, I spent nearly as much time with Angelica in church and her home and classes, learning so much more from her than just Spanish. And Mauge became, and remains, a mentor, a cultural guru, mother, confidant, and lovely friend in and out of the classroom.

The Wolheters were a recommended surrogate family when I was unaware that I needed one, but to be polite met them, and then to be a good steward of a precious resource, spent as much time with them as possible, hanging on Jenny’s every word, sampling every available flavor of James' homemade ice cream, and quickly accepting every opportunity to be with their boys.

My friendship with Savannah was basically pushed upon us by others, as neither of us felt lacking more gringa friends, but God was merciful in His wisdom to not allow us our own desires, and instead flooded us with so many runs, sleepovers, inside jokes, practical jokes, and laughs until my sides ached that I can’t imagine my time in Coch without her. With Mateo however, the other third of our troublesome trio, it was instantly clear to me that we would be nearly inseparable, as the first time I ever saw him he was walking out of a Spanish class wearing a University of Louisville t-shirt that he’d bought in Northern Ireland! His joy, enthusiasm, and hilarity were contagious and the number of really really good times far outweigh the times I wanted to strangle him and Savannah.

Once back in Santa Cruz, Bill, Heidi and Heather resumed their roles in keeping me sane and fed, while the staff of World Concern became integral in keeping me legal, funded, organized, and loved. David was especially altruistic by acclimating me to university procedures, policies, places, and people. I have such an awesome work environment!

If you followed my painstakingly long and rigorous church hunt, you can imagine what a blessing the Hoffmans have been to me through La Viña. As usual I underestimated God's wisdom and generosity in His choice for my church home, and I hope never to take for granted the friendship I have with its leaders Paul and Kristin and the numerous ways God's teaching me to take church out of the box through this little Vineyard variety.

In my barrio here I have some wonderful neighbors that have made all the difference in settling in. Adreana is always up for a much needed social evening in English, and never fails to offer what she has to share whether it be food, speakers, blenders, games, or the Cristo Viene niñas. And I always look forward to the rare, but treasured times I get to hangout with Misty, and on even more special occasions, her son Ciprian.

On campus at the university, Paola and Gloria were the first ones to make me feel so comfortable in Spanish that we were quickly able to share laughter, tears, and real emotions over the language barrier that was only surpassable through their grace with my shortcomings. My chicas Jifta and Charlene may be the only ones that truly find me entertaining in Spanish, without actually laughing at my Spanish, and to be found amusing is one of the greatest gifts I can think of.

I've been SO blessed to have so many fabulous co-workers, mentors, friends, neighbors, and little reminders of God's love for me every day! For more of the first year summary check out my Facebook album of corresponding pictures, or keep your eyes out for my next prayer letter with lots of other details. Thank you to everyone who made this year such a joy and a success.

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory..."

-Ephesians 3:20-21 (NLT)

Back to School

So, as you in the Northern hemisphere are heading back-to-school, we are also loading our backpacks and hitting the books, although for most of us the break was only 2-3 weeks instead of 3 months, since it was just our "winter" vacation.At the university, classes have actually been back in session for a month, but I've just had too many extra-curriculars to tell you about recently to update you on teaching details.

The semester's been great! Well, it hasn't been completely without its own struggles. I've been bumped from classroom to classroom as a bit of vagabond teacher, with students spending half the hour trying to find where we've been stationed that day. I started in a windowless classroom surrounded by men working with power tools. Which means I had to yell over the noise of the sledge hammers as I was holding my skirt down from the wind and trying to keep my hair out of my mouth.

But the students have put up well with the weekly adventure of seeking out their English teacher, as could have been foreseen by their original intentionality in finding me to request more classes. Yes, you heard right! Whereas, last semester my numbers dwindled as the weeks passed, this term I seem to have new students every week. I don't know if they've been won over by the charm of my adorably bad Spanish, have come to see the light that English really will help them in life, or have just heard how fantastic the class is. Whatever the reason, it's a good thing I kind of like the mindless work of grading papers, since I have over 150 students on my combined rosters, and I've not only added an intermediate level course, I've also added homework and quizzes every week to try to encourage them to study, or at least think about English outside of class.

Now, the challenge, as I've mentioned before, is to be the professor everybody likes while trying to instill some, possibly unprecedented, classroom integrity. Honesty and work ethic don't seem to be bubbling up out of my pupils, whereas copying and cheating are commonplace. Fortunately, as interest in English is up, so also has been new interest in our campus ministry. We've had a number of new students and just last week started our third Bible study at the university. Outside of studying English and the Bible we're also getting some good quality time with our students recently serving in the rural community I've told you about, Pueblo Nuevo. The photos you see here are a chicken workshop we put on last weekend. Too bad the chicken costume was just a rental, or I'd totally let you borrow it...

Second Half of a Perfect Week

"Blessed are those who have no expectations for they shall not be disappointed."

I can't remember where I shared this thought by St. Francis of Assisi in the past, but I think I've told you it's almost become my motto this last year, albiet one I failed miserably in regards to the Mosaic mission team, for whom I allowed myself unrealistically high expectations. Although somehow, they exceeded every one of them! Their flexibility was demonstrated by squeezing 19 people into, and onto, my car (photo right) on the way to tell the neighborhood kids about our VBS.

Dramas were one of the many huge successes of the week. We shared the story of the Good Samaritan at my church, Talita Cumi, Cristo Viene, and Pueblo Nuevo, the guaraní community we've been working with. We also entertained the kiddos of Talita Cumi and Cristo Viene's neighborhood with a very realistic (we had a slingshot and everything) retelling of David and Goliath. The kids enjoyed participating in the plays as much or more than watching our own renditions. To the left you may recognize David tending his "sheep" as his father Jesse comes to ask him to

carry some bread to his brothers at war with the Philistines.

While visiting Talita Cumi we had a variety of jobs to keep us busy when we weren't loving on the kiddos, such as painting a kitchen, a wall, and scarves, varnishing a door, assisting with lunch prep, and building two closets. As you can see, the doors have yet to be added, but the boys aren't wasting any time taking advantage of their new storage space.

To ensure that the team felt that every second was well spent, on Saturday we hosted a VBS with the Cristo Viene girls for their classmates, then we went to Pueblo Nuevo to entertain the kids and put on a poultry workshop, later we did a little last minute shopping for the necessities such as hammocks, Bolivian wine, and fútbol jerseys, and finally we went to a professional soccer game! I doubt they really needed those sleeping pills we picked up for the overnight flight.

Now that I've done the dishes, taken out the garbage, done four loads of laundry and straightened up, I'm ready for you all to come back Mosaic, please... Don't worry, I'll find plenty for you to do. Maybe this time we'll actually find time to eat that lasagna I prepared.

Thank you so much Mosaic, for blessing my socks off.

"Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on..." -Hebrews 10:25 (The Message)

Sneak Peak

It turns out having seven people living in a two bedroom, one bathroom, two computer house for a week limits one's access to the internet and time in general. For this reason, I've been a bit neglectful of the blog since my fabulous team from Mosaic arrived late last Friday night. But I refuse to leave you in the dark any longer. Here are a few previews of the amazing time we've had together in our first half of the week. Today, we move on to our second children's home, Cristo Viene. So far, we've been loving on Talita Cumi and one of my English classes...

We started off the week with a birthday party for the Talita Cumi kids, a great way to fall in love with some adorable niños!

My protegés with their first-ever balloon creations.

The boys taking a break from building to explore their more artistic side at Talita Cumi.

Teaching some English at the vet school. Or were they learning some Spanish??

A very realistic re-enactment of David and Goliath with balloon swords, marshmallow stones, and crocodile skin armor.

Crafts with the little ones.

I LOVE this team, a perfect representation of an incredible church family, Mosaic!!!!!!

To be continued...

First I befriend them...

Yesterday, as we were driving to Santiago's house, in the Berlin Zone about three hours outside of the city, to do a couple surgeries on the local dogs, we stopped to pick up some bricks that we saw lying along the "road." How else would we elevate our new portable plastic surgery table, also used to serve over a hundred students pizza last Wednesday at the vet school. As we gathered blocks for boosting our very "sterile" surgery fields, I chuckled at the idea that a year ago I was working for Banfield, two years ago I was working for an AAHA practice, and now I'm collecting equipment along the road on the way to surgery.

For those of you unfamiliar with Banfield and AAHA, let's just say they both would have balked at taking dirty bricks into the surgical suite, let alone operating outside. Oh, how life has changed...

Ironically, it has also changed quite a bit for my patients. Some of you may remember the photos on the left from September '09, when we last stopped by this farm. In a fitting turn of events, this year I had the lovely opportunity to neuter two of the dogs (recognize them pictured right?) that I met last year on our visit. I hope they're as excited to see me next time.

Overall, we castrated five dogs, four bull calves, and a sheep; a very successful trip out to the campo I'd say. Not to mention all the fun we had with the kids of the local villages in our clown costumes, with games, balloon animals, bubbles and puppet shows!