Taking Bolivia home

I had just finished mopping the floor when Glacier, Canyon, and their buddies Caleb and Sammy burst in like a whirlwind. I tried to hide my irritation over the footprints on the floor as I welcomed them home from school. As I shut the door, I noticed it looked unusually stormy outside. Every day in Bolivia is bright and sunny (there was a drought this year during the rainy season, so any rain seemed rare). I walked outside to gaze at the gray skies and feel the glorious drop in temperature. Then it began to downpour - not rain, but hail the size of marbles! The kids, especially our Bolivian friends who don't even experience snow, were amazed. They ran outside and then back in immediately when they felt the sting. But the experience was so new and unusual they couldn't help themselves. They ran outside with one hand over their heads and the other they used to frantically scoop up as much ice as they could. I wish I had my camera (which was in Chris' class at the moment) because I was laughing my head off. Forgetting my sparkling floors, I grabbed a pot for the boys to collect their prizes and watched them dart in and out with squeals of delight. The hail storm was short lived, but an unforgettable moment nonetheless. After debating whether or not to store the hail in the freezer, they finally voted to throw it on the trampoline and make it "snow" again. It was a beautiful sight to see the pure happiness come out of my boys and their Bolivian buddies as they sang, "It's snowing, It's another Christmas, It's so awesome!" I am so glad my floor got muddy that day. 

Moments like this are what we are taking home with us as we return to the U.S. Ultimately it's the people and the friendships that we will remember most mixed with a rare hail storm to cement it in our hearts. 

Picture Caption: A glimpse of the hail storm from Chris' classroom

Significant or not...here are few things we will miss about Bolivia:

Chris: pick-up soccer on the cancha (soccer field); my hard-working CCS students; trips to the Quechua villages with Bolivian friend, Ruben, language school with our amazing teachers/friends, petting real monkeys in the wild at Parque Machia 

Picture caption: Chris getting to know a Quechua man on his first visit to the mountains.

Lynnie: the beautiful mountains (and using them to pinpoint "North" wherever I am in the city!); api (a wonderful hot drink made from ground purple corn...even in a hot country, it always reminds me of a NY fall); Saturday kids club and the adorable little faces of the 2 and 3 year old beauties in my class (pictured to the right); my missionary friend Timara; my Bolivian friend Shirley

Glacier: Sole Mios (an Italian pizza place we found in Bolivia. Last time we were there Glace remarked, "I just had the happiest bite of my life!"); best Bolivian friends Caleb and Sammy (pictured to the right); CCS Field Days and Camp Week

Canyon: Hotel Victoria (his favorite vacation spot in the jungle that has a water slide and coconuts right from the tree); friends Jaran and Enoch; his Pre-K teacher, Miss Almanza. 

 Picture caption: There is nothing safe about this method of coconut harvesting. Do not attempt at home! :) 

Coral: Bolivian friend, Hannah (4^th grader pictured to the right) who always brings a little bouncy ball for Coral to play with after church; friend Zolah (3 yrs) at the SIM guest house; friend Katelyn (2^nd grader) who always gives Coral special attention. Also, Coral loves to find the Cristo (giant statue of Christ) when we are traveling in the city and she makes sure everyone knows she has found it!

There are many people and memories that will continue to come to our minds even after we leave. We are so thankful for this experience and how God has worked in all of our hearts through this journey. 

A strange world we live in

It's nearly a year since we've been in Bolivia. We've experienced so much since we arrived and can now navigate the city and talk to most people without huge communication barriers. We've completed our language studies, have traveled to the jungle on our own, have taught classes (in Spanish and English) and have built some strong Bolivian friendships. At the same time, the more we learn about culture or language, the more we feel like small children, like we are just starting out. It feels as though we've been here forever and yet not at all.

Meanwhile, we also try to keep updated on family activities going on back home in the U.S. Today we are staying indoors to avoid the blistering sun while our families are doing the same to avoid the negative wind chill. It's strange to talk of two distinct worlds in the same conversation, but it is worth any confusion it causes our brains to keep this connection. I want my kids have the expanded world view that living in a foreign land often produces, but not at the expense of a relationship with their family members. So we Skype, and call, and visit, and pray for each other as much as we can. (Glacier made the card in the picture for his cousin Caleb). Family is very important to us, and they are our biggest encouragement when the going gets tough.

So for our family -- and all you others who are routing for us -- here is a picture update of what's happening in our home.

Wama makes sure her grandkids have the latest in the scooter world (and she surely doesn't leave out her three in Bolivia). These ziggles have all been packed in suitcases and transported across continents for the enjoyment of our kids and many of their classmates as well. Glacier is continually inventing new ways to have fun when simply riding a ziggle gets dull. In this picture, he made a train with jump ropes and pulled his siblings around for hours.

Chris took some time in between language classes this spring (U.S. fall) to construct the coolest kids' room in Bolivia for the benefit of our boys. He constructed all the beams from rough-cut wood and used a neighbor's tools to complete the project (It was not easy). Grampy purchased a slide, Grammy packed the rock-climbing grips into her suitcase, and Wama and Papa squeezed massive animal wall stickers into their luggage. After all the work was done, Chris added two hammocks underneath the loft beds just for fun. As it turns out, the boys do love their new beds, but Canyon prefers the simple hammock which he sleeps in just about every night. I guess Chris could have saved himself a bit of work! :)

I (Lynnie) am trying hard to shop, cook, and speak like a Bolivian. I've made a little progress, but there is one area in which I will never be able to compete - hair braiding. Every Sunday when we get ready for church I am lucky if I get Coral's hair brushed. The Bolivian girls, on the other hand, always have the most elaborate braids decorating their heads. Once in a while, I manage to get Coral's hair into cute pigtails, but never have I attempted a braid due to her inability to sit still. Therefore you can imagine my surprise when I came home from classes one day and found our Bolivian babysitter had transformed Coral's hair into two intricate braids. Coral was the cutest little thing and so proud. The next day, the miracle happened again. Her hair was in a braid that curled around her head. Look Daddy, she said, "I'm Princess Leia!" (from Star Wars). Shirley (our babysitter) explained that she had braided Coral's pony's hair, and Coral had wanted her hair to look the same. I have since tried my handiwork, but have not had success. I don't think I've got that Bolivian touch!

We love our family near and far. We miss you and can't wait to make more memories with you!