Finally an Update

Sorry I have not updated the site recently. I tend to forget about this site. Well we went to Bolivia and are back now. It was an amazing experience and we can not wait to go back. The area we stayed in most of the time was considered richer. But Bolivia is the poorest country in South America so you can imagine "rich" in their eyes is different then it is in ours. The people are extremely humble and so nice to talk to. So to show you how poor it is let's talk about their money. 1 US $1 = 7 Bolivianos. So if you want a hair cut for instance it would cost you 1 US dollar. We had a steak dinner for 4, drinks, and sides at a five-star restaurant for $20 US dollars. Most people on average make only a $1 a day so it is very expensive to their standards. Now things that are a little bit more pricey there are electronics, gas, and beer.

We had a few interesting foods one of which was called "pata de vaca" literally translated "hoof of cow". They boil a cow hoof for I think what was 2 days and then it is soft enough to be able to grind into a pudding-like consistency. It was amazingly good and I actually can not wait to have it again. One of our favorite foods their was Sultenas, which are similar to Empanadas. That was our favorite street food. Much of the food there you have to be careful how they wash it. But fried and boiled things you don't have to worry about.

So on to service. It was amazing. It is strange to do house-to-house territory again. It was neat. Every morning the group meets at the designated plaza. Then you make your plans and pray in the middle of the plaza. Then you go two-by-two to the surrounding area and preach. I had such and enjoyable time. My Spanish became better when I had to use it, because none of our friends down there understood English. I actually got to speak to a Catholic Priest and he listened.

Justin and I were a very unusual sight there. Being tall, white and me with my short hair. The people are a lot shorter and all the women have long hair. The women from the mountains are short and strong, with two long braids down to their lower backs. They all carry these big towels like things on their backs that serve as a backpack. Its funny because we were at a Special Assembly day there and we watched a sister pull all kinds of stuff out of it. Like her meeting bag, lunch, cushions for the hard concrete, a kid....(lol just kidding).

The usual day down there for us was: 7am wake up and eat breakfast, 8am service, 10am stop service, 10am-12pm make lunch, 12pm-2pm eat lunch and take a nap, 2pm-5pm walk around town or service, 5pm --> relax, study, eat small dinner, watch movie, go to bed. It is a very comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. There is never a rush to get anywhere or do anything. I love it.

A few things that we got to do down there was stay with the district overseer and his wife. We actually traveled to Bolivia with them. You would not believe how big of a district he has... ALL of Bolivia. Check out how huge the country is and then you will be shocked. We stayed with a couple in Tarija, Bolivia who has been living there for a very long time, who before that was in Ecuador and originally were from here in TN. We also had the privilege to stay at the Bolivian Bethel in Santa Cruz. We had a wonderful time and the Bethel family was extremely helpful and kind.

Well that is all I can remember right now. But here is a link with some of the pics we took. You will see the "pata de vaca", Bethel, the women who made Sultenas on the street, a protest we saw, the beautiful surroundings of Tarija.

Click here to view these pictures larger