GRACIAS!

Living in another country makes you realize the gift of friends, both old and new. Jeanine came to visit. I did not know her and we crossed ways because she came into Santa Cruz a day early to ensure that she would be on time for her flight home. She came to Bolivia on a mission trip to help at some orphanages but had many questions about Bolivia – its culture, its problems, the people, the poverty, and the solutions to some of the problems. Most of all she wanted to know what impact, positive and negative, that short term missions had on the people.

As we talked, she shared with me that she was reading a book by a priest who had worked in Bolivia in the ‘80’s. She loved the book and the insights shared by the priest. It was a thought provoking book and led to many deep discussions. It was evident that this book had changed her and had given her a different perspective on life and faith.

The day she left, she said she wanted to give me the book that had meant so much to her. She was hesitant about giving me, an evangelical, a book by a Catholic priest; a book that asked many questions about the people from the first world working in the third world. When she handed it to me, I cried. It was Gracias! by Henri Nouwen – one of my favorite authors. She was relieved and overjoyed and I was thrilled with it.

In reading Gracias! I see that there has been many changes in Bolivia in the past twenty years but that many things have not changed. Nouwen challenges all of us to look at what we are doing and how we are influencing what happens in developing countries without being judgmental. There are so many times I was saying “Yes” and “Thank you” while reading. He asks many of same questions that I ask and although he does not have solutions, it is inspiring and gratifying to read his view on these challenges.

Jeanine and I both found that some people avoidd the book because it was written by a Catholic. That is sad; they are missing out on a great inspirational read. I challenge you to get the book from the library, or better yet, buy a copy, read it and be moved. Gracias from the bottom of my heart, Jeanine!

Gord, the Guinea Pig Man

Early in May we had a visitor from Canada. Marg first met Gord Gilchrist briefly a couple of years ago when she was on the Board of Olds College and Gord was an instructor there. While visiting the office of “A Better World’ in January, she read an article that said that Gord had worked on an alternative energy project in Africa and she also was told that he would be coming to Bolivia in May. She extended an invitation for him to visit the farm.

After thirty hours on the plane, Gord spent another 5 hours riding in the truck to Patujusal. Throughout the conversation, it became evident that we struck a gold mine of information. I don’t call it just coincidence that Gord raised guinea pigs and is one of the four qualified guinea pig judges in Canada – and we plan to raise guinea pigs. He also raises the older variety of chickens that are more suitable for this area so we will be able to secure eggs for new breeding lines without bringing them in from USA. Then his area of expertise is alternative energy, GPS and mapping. The day flew by and soon we were back in Santa Cruz enjoying a steak dinner at one of the ‘local’ restaurants.

Marg went to Santa Cruz to check on the carnets and passports, only to find that Gord and one of women of his team would be arriving the next day. What a blessing! Saturday was spent wandering around one of the markets and the central part of Santa Cruz. It was a great opportunity to share some of the culture of the country, to talk about its problems and to discuss the position of mission and NGO groups in developing countries.

We were thankful for all the information we received from Gord and were thrilled that we could fulfill one of his dreams. He wanted to see a South American guinea pig farm and we knew just the place. Zenón Flores raises about 1000 guinea pigs per year, as well as ducks, chickens, hair sheep and cows. We spent Sunday afternoon at the farm and it was a relief to hear Gord say that the guinea pigs were high quality since we plan to use this as our breeding stock.

The most amusing part of the experience is Gord’s name. The locals have ahard time saying it so Gord asked about ‘gourd’ in Spanish. Calabeza just didn’t make the grade. So we kept calling him Gord. However, our friend Zenón, asks us about Gordo each time we visit. I am not sure how Gord likes to be referred to as ‘fat’ – but that is a compliment in Bolivia. We are very grateful for the time Gord spent with us and we look forward to working with him in the future.

Illegal Aliens!

A Reason for Rejoicing

We want to be permanent residents of Bolivia. When we arrived a year ago we were advised to get a ‘permiso’ since it was much cheaper than a regular carnet. However, the laws have changed and everyone is now required to have a carnet. The law also says that you must first apply for a one year carnet, then a two year carnet and then a permanent one. However, the lawyer explained that things could be done differently and who were we to argue?

We still are not sure how things proceeded but we know that our passports were sent to La Paz and have come back saying that we are now permanent residents of Bolivia. The lawyer began the legal documentation for the carnets and we should be the proud owners of carnets when we get back from Canada.

The biggest problem is that our ‘permiso’ to drive has also expired and because we have lived here for more than three months, we cannot drive on an international license. We cannot get a drivers license because we do not have the carnet. We tried to get an extension on the ‘permiso’ but were not able to do so. Although we are told verbally that it is still good, we are not taking chances and are restricting our trips to the city.

Changing with the Seasons

Blog time again. I can tell that we lived here a year already. All the things that were so new last year are now normal. The changes are incredible when we think back but our life has acquired a rhythm. Now that the rainy season is somewhat over and the helpers are coming back, construction is also happening.

It is fall. The temperature is dropping and it seems like we are getting more south winds this year, bringing cooler weather. We are not complaining since it makes working outside much more pleasant but the locals are freezing. They sit in the house with three or four layers of clothing and are still shivering. Both of us have resorted to wearing a sweatshort or light jacket early in the morning and later in the evening but during the day we are in our shirt sleeves, much to the amazement of the neighbours.

José is busy working on the second building that now has a name- El Centro de Capatación. If we called it an education center people think that we are starting a school. We did not want to call it a ministry center since people will think that it is a church. So we were calling it a multi purpose building for lack of a better name, but that sounds rather mundane. But the other day, a friend called it ‘el centro de capatación – a name that does not translate well into English. It literally means qualification but the nuances are toward learning. So, work began and is continuing for the present. The road is still soft so we have not been able to get in the sand and word is that the river is too high right now. We definitely need sand to continue. We are taking in cement, a few bags at a time, every time we go to Yapacani.

Although we are making in back and forth from town to the farm, it is a challenge. More often than not, Jake chains up the tires so that we can proceed. Thankfully, the river silt is solid enough that we can drive over it, but it is a challenge to stay on the road. The truck that was blocking the road is now gone and the cat is moved to the side so driving is getting much easier. The biggest problem is the ruts – some that reach to Asia. There are promises that the road will be fixed – next month – so we will see when it actually happens. We hear that they have calculated 50 hours of cat work needed to fix the road in Patujusal 2. However, when the 50 hours of work is completed, that is it, even if the road is not completed. There is a channel project in the river that does not work. Why not? Because they miscalculated the number of hours needed and they ran out of hours before the channel was completed – so it doesn’t work!

José is eager to complete the building. He is in a quandary right now but we cannot find a way to help him. His wife, Juana, and their children, Moises, Karen, and Katleen are living in Santa Cruz. Moises is at the age where he either moves from the community or no longer attends school. So the family moved to the city, leaving José behind. Juana is able to find work as a maid in Santa Cruz. She loves to work and there is nothing for her in the community. José, although an excellent mason, prefers the campo and realizes that he needs something for himself. He is 40 years old and knows that in a few years he will no longer be hired because of his age. It is a no win situation. We would like to offer both José and Juana full time work but that means that Moises would likely be apart from the family. We pray that things will work out as time goes on.

This is a typical situation in Bolivia. Some of the schools go to grade 4, others to grade 6 and others to grade 8. After that, the students go to Yapacani or another city to school. Often the boys further their education and the girls remain in the campo. We have a number of neighboring families where the mother and some of the children live in the city and the father and some of the kids remain in the campo. They visit back and forth but do not operate as a single unit. Some of the women have a vegetable stall in Yapacani to help with the family income but we are not sure that they make much money. The whole situation does not bode well for family unity.

This situation is difficult for the schools also. The school in Patujusal has lost about 10 students in the past year but the school at Km. 32 lost over 20 students. As the schools loose students, they close. When we travel to Yapacani, we find that the schools between Km. 23 and Yapacani have all been closed because the families have moved into the city.