And back at the campo --- Water and Mud

Remember I wrote that we walked out through all the water. That was the beginning of the rainy season and we are hoping and praying that it will end. Jake choose to remain in the chaco for the entire time and was one of the five or six residents. The woman and children moved to other communities and the men stayed either at their chaco or with their families.

The December flood was only the beginning. By the middle of January the road had been flooded five or six times and the worst was yet to come. In the end of the month all of Bolivia was deluged with rain, so much that it made international news and calls for relief. Our community is situated very close to the Yapacani River. There is a loop in the river and when there is a lot of water flowing the flat land surrounding it gets covered since the water does not make the curve. The water just covers all the land with water and silt. There is really no way to explain all of this -- pictures will do it better. Apologies to those who have a hard time uploading this.

In early December we thought that the road was bad. The night before the rains the cat had disturbed some of the clay and made the road very slippery and difficult. After this espisode we went to Santa Cruz and bought chains.

The water covers about 2 kilometers of road. It is a low spot and the water runs straight through one of our neighbour´s house and yard. The top picture on the left is the house in early January (forget the date on the pic) and picture on the left is the same place in mid March. The yard has not dried up.

Although the water was a serious problem it recedes rather quickly and is usually done within a couple of days. But what is left behind is more of a problem. There is about a meter of silt dunes that resember snow banks in the road. These also extend into the rice fields. Some of the rice has been ruined by the rain and the silt since the heads were covered with water. Other is ready to harvest but it is very wet and muddy in the fields making it difficult to get people to assist with the harvest by hand.

The other day they tried to get a tractor in to take in the combine but the tractor became stuck in the mud and the owner returned home, leaving behind a very rutted road.

The road has to be opened. Jake offered to hire a cat to clean the road but the owner of the cat said it was too hard to do and would take about 40 hours just to move the silt. I am sure that he thought that he would never get paid for all his time. There is also a problem because there is no convenient place to put all the silt.

So it seems that we are still at square one with the road. There is a layer of dried silt that seals the water underneath. The men of the community built a cordoroy road using tree trucks and branches to cover the silt. In the areas where there are the silt dunes they loosened them with a spade and then moved as much clay as they could by hand. It was remarkable to see all them working, laughing and talking, knee deep in mud. But my night they were much quieter and very tired. They built the road well enough for Jake to get the truck out, for which we are very thankful. The next job was to get the tractor and the combine in. The men were very confident that that could be done. The challenge would be hauling the rice out on the wagons through all the mud.

A Visit to the Campo

Our first visitors arrived at the campo even though we were not prepared. Intentions were to have the house completed before they arrived but the rain squelched all those plans. So Karmen and Jo had to survive some of the trials we experience in the jungle.

Our friend, Dionisio, was kind enough to drive us in to the community so we did not have to ride the local micro. We could leave during the day and walk in when it was light. The road showed all the effects of the floods -- many washed out areas, many areas full of nothing but mud. The trip took an hour longer than usual but we were able to drive to within a kilometer of the house. Although Jake had sent pictures of the mud, I was still amazed at the condition of the road. For about 2 kilometers there is nothing but silt dunes. Imagine meter high snow drifts but instead it is all silt. You can walk on the top but just under the surface there is nothing but wet clay. The men from the community were laying tree trunks across the road to built a road for the tractor and combine. The rice is ready to harvest and timing is important or the rice will fall. We walked about a kilometer to the house and we won´t dwell too much on the shape of the house.

First job was to get some lunch ready and Jake still had some soup left over. Jake harvested some fresh moringa so the girls had a taste of that in the soup. I thought it was a bit heavy with moringa but Karmen said that she liked it. After lunch the girls rested and talked while I organized the kitchen. Most of the women have left the community. There are only 5 people living in Patajusal 2 and the girls said they could understand why they left.

The truck was thoroughly stuck in the mud so Jake, Jose and Dionisio spent the afternoon digging it out. Talk about muscles and patience. Jack it up, put boards under it, jack it up, put boards under it -- until it is level with the road and it could be driven out a few feet. Something was broken on the front wheels and oil was leaking so Jake returned to Yapacani with Dionisio and the women stayed at the house.

Having only women in the house was probably a good thing. Supper was -- you guessed it -- rice! But with sou sauce and with sugar and cinnamon. We played some cards but soon it was time for bed. Following a sponge bath in the bathroom with the tile floor we were all ready to crawl into the tent. Since Jake was not home we all slept together in the tent and the girls did not have to use the mosquito nets! I think they were relieved.

The next morning we had a wonderful breakfast of Grandma´s scrambled eggs and real ketchup! Our morning walk was interrupted with more rain and it continued for about two hours. Yes, it interrupted the walk but worse, it made things worse for the men who were trying to repair the road. Will it ever end!! In the afternoon the girlds decided to bake a delicious chocolate cake from Grandma Siebenga´s recipe.

Jake and Dionisio returned and quickly fixed the truck. Everything was working but Jake would not drive out the truck since there are a lot of parts of trees sticking out and he doesn´t want to damage the truck. So he stayed in the community to help with the road and wait for the tractor to compact the road. Then he will come out. The girls and I returned to Yapacani with Dionisio on a road that was much worse than the day before.

So much for impressing Karmen and Jo with the community and the work we do. They wondered what I did all day and they found out that it was much easier to get homesick out there without any communication and not much to do when it rains. I wish they could go back to Canada with a better experience.

More travels with Marg

Can you imagine an overweight, out of shape, fifty plus Grandma touring Bolivia with two attractive, slender, teenager girls. It did happen and we all survived.

Karmen and Jo are 19 and 18 respectively and experienced their first adventure in Bolivia. Coming from the modern North American world, it was a shock to find out that things do not happen on time or may not happen at all.

Carnaval is a South American experience that we didn´t think they should miss so we stayed in Santa Cruz for the weekend. The parade was scheduled for Saturday night but was cancelled due to rain. We heard it was rescheduled for 5 the next evening but in the morning that paper said it would start at 10. So off we went. The girls were a bit of a sensation and became the target for friendly foam and water spraying. It didn´t take long for them to purchase there own cans of foam and retaliate. And you can guess what happened next. Everything was in good fun until the paint spraying started and none of us appreciated that. Although there is some respect for the older people, we did get some paint on our clothes. The parade finally came but by then we were hungrey, burnt, and tired and didn´t even stay for the whole thing. The three women suffered from the affects of sunburn for the next few weeks.

Plans were to travel. It was not possible to go to the house due to mud and silt dunes so we thought that after a couple of weeks things would be better. Jake headed home and the women headed off. Due to the amount of rain in Bolivia many of the roads were closed with mud slides. Instead of taking the bus to Sucre as planned, we flew. Yes, it was a half hour ride instead of 8 hours by bus but we didn´t see the countryside. Sucre is a beautiful city and is the judicial capital of Bolivia. It is nestled in the hills (mountains) and is known as the white city. The hotel was downtown and close to the markets so the girls could shop to their hearts content. We didn´t do Sucre justice. We decided to go to a water fall which was supposely a twenty minute drive from the city. We were told that we could walk--not! It was more like an hour from the city center and would have included a long walk over many hills in the hot sun. We took a taxi and wondered if we would every find it. We didn´t. We saw the area in which the falls are located but would have had to hike for 3 hours to see the waterfall. I have a suspicion that there was a road to the falls but the taxi driver was unwilling to take it. We planned to go to the Children´s museum but it was closed. So much for Sucre.

On we went to Potosi, the highest city in the world and at one time, the richest city in the Americas. The economy is based on silver mining and the city has fallen on much harder times. We had the opportunity to tour the silver mine, an experience that I will leave to the younger crowd next time. It was mind boggling to imagine that people work in those conditions without the safety regulations that we are used to. We also toured the mint museum where all the money was made at one time. Although Potosi has a lot of history it is not as attractive as Sucre. It was good for me to visit this area since many of the people that we live with come from here.

Busses do not run frequently to the small community of Uyuni so we took the night bus -- another 8 hour ride through the darkness, arriving at 2 in the morning. Try finding a hotel at that time of night! We thought we had reserved a place but they didn´t receive the email. Thankfully we were able to find a place for three. There were still many people walking around looking for a place at that time of night but they were not willing to spend the money on a bit more expensive place. It costs us 45 bolivianos or about $5.50 to $6.00 each that night.

The next morning we left on the more interesting part of the trip, the Salar de Uyuni 3 day trip. The three of us, along with a couple from Denmark and a young girl from France and the driver, loaded ourselves into a 4 wheel drive and started on the trek. Only a couple of kilometers out of town we hit the salt flats and from then on we had to have faith in the driver. Due to the amount of rain we were travelling through between 12 and 18 inches of water on top of the salt. Imagine what that does to the engines! At this point there were a lot of vehicles, all travelling in the same direction toward the Salt Hotel. This building is totalling made of salt -- the building, the beds, the tables, everything. But it is closed due to contamination. Imagine a building closed in Bolivia! They are now building a new faciltity with a better sewage system.

From the hotel we headed once again into the horizon - literally. I tried to determine how the driver knew where he was going but I could not find the landmarks. I imagine that after driving the same ´róad´for years, you know where you are going. At this stage there was no longer any water and we drove over salt. hearing it crunch under the tires. A delicious lunch of potatoes, llama, and veggies was served and after lunch we were encouraged to walk around Fish Island. We didn´t even make it half way around and turned back due to heat and tiredness from our time in the mine. Next time. This island, one of 63, is in the middle of the salt flats and is covered with cacti. From Fish Island we again headed into the horizon with much less company. Day trips only go to Fish Island and then return to Uyuni. After a couple of hours of driving through nothing but salt we arrived at some thing -- either another island or the edge of the salar. Our driver decided to take one of the roads and told us not to be scared. We were not sure of what but it soon became clear that we were driving through mud, the kind of mud we have in the community. It wasn´t long before the bald tires were covered in mud and we were stuck. Unlike North America, people don´t stop. It wasn´t until we sent out Karmen and Jo that another group stopped. They looked at the situation and said they would send help from the village about a kilometer away. No one came. Thankfully a couple of other vehicles did stop and we finally got out. Now only to describe it. They took the spare tire off, placed it on the ground and put a 4 x 4 on top of it for more height. Then they took a long pole, placed it under the wheel nuts and leveraged the whole truck up. While a number were leveraging the truck, others placed rocks and boards under the tire until it was level with the road and then we could drive out. We arrived at our hotel in plenty of time and enjoyed a piping hot shower before our supper. Lights went out literally at 9.

Dawn came about 5:30 and we were on the road by 7. The salt flats were now behind us and we drove by small fields of quinoa and then nothing but desert type plants. The whole day was spent driving through some of the more desert areas of southern Bolivia. Some of it resembled the badlands of Alberta but the wind erosion was much more evident. One of the highlights were the flamingos. We could not get as close to them as we would have liked but were able to get some good pictures. Unfortunately though, they all disappeared with the computer. By evening we were high up on the Altiplano and experienced some colder weather. All of us were bundled up in sweats and blankets. It is hard to believe that most tourists go here in the winter when the weather is down to -30C. There was no hot water and so no showers. But we did have electricity for two hours so some were able to charge batteries on cameras, I Pods, etc.

3:30 in the morning, What a time to get up. But we were to be on the road by 4:30 and we made it with a minute to spare. The first few hours were spent driving in the dark. The point was to get down to the bottom of the park and then come back in the light. It was still dark when we passed the geysers and the cold and lack of light didn´t make it a great experience. The next stop was the hot springs. Although the water was warm there was a lot of algae present and that did not make the experienec that pleasant. But we can say that we sat in the hot spring in Bolivia. The rest of the day was a long drive back to Uyuni. I wished that there was more time for photo stops but it was not to be. The colors were a painter´s palette and there is no way to describe it. The rock formations were incredible. We did have a couple of incidents -- one was getting a little stuck in a creek and the other was a flat tire when we were about an hour out of town. I know that there are not many tools in the vehicles in Bolivia and understood that we did not have a spade or shovel when we were stuck in the mud, but not having a jack was something else. Thankfully, again, another vehicle stopped and helped us. We made it back to Uyuni safely and spent the next few hours waiting for the train to Oruro.

If there were train service throughout Bolivia, I would use it. This was a wonderfully smooth ride without all the stops. We travelled through part of the night, leaving at about 3 in the morning and getting to Oruro at about 9:30. The scenery around the lake was beautiful and it was a relaxing ride. From the train station in Oruro we had to go the bus station. Things were very busy and hectic there and during this hassle I had my computer stolen. What a way to end a good vacation! We could not change our tickets so had to leave right away so I could not even look for it. Not only was my computer taken but also all the cords to the rest of my electronic equipment and my identification. However, our passports are in La Paz so we still have those. Somehow I will survive without Bolivian ID until I leave again. The scenery from Oruro to Cochabamba is absolutely gorgeous but the whole trip was shadowed by the loss of the computer and by the infomercial guys who were selling health supplements, videos, and hand cream. What a way to travel. Our ears are still ringing.

We arrived in Coch, spent a day there, and planned to take the bus to Yapacani. But it was not to be. The roads were still closed, or closed again, due to mud slides so we ended up flying back. In all honesty, I don´t think any of us minded that we were not spending another 8 hours on the bus. We arrived safely back in Santa Cruz and spent the night in wonderful beds at the New Tribes Mission. What a treat to be back.

Travels with Marg

The river came rushing down the road the evening of December 21, announcing the beginning of flood season. Plans for Christmas in Santa Cruz were in place and we were eager to get out and have some quiet time. I had hoped that the house would be completed by Christmas and I needed to make some mental adjustment when I realized that would not happen. Now I was hoping for everything to be done before the girls came in January. We were expecting our first visitors -- my grand-daughter, Karmen, and her friend, Jolyn. We were hoping to give them a good experience so that they would go home and spread the word that we had a wonderful place.

But everything changed with the rains. We, along with some of our employees, decided to walk out on the morning of the 22nd. There were about 10 of us in all. The waters started about 100 meters from our driveway and it was not long before we were walking in water up to our calves, and at one point, up to our thighs. That was not bad for us -- imagine the height on our short Bolivian friends! We walked about 3 kilometers through the water and then hit the dry ground. From that point on we walked periodically through water but at one point it was thigh deep and running rapidly. After I had a bit of a spill, we all joined arms and walked across that section together. If only I had had my camera on that trip but I had left it in Yapacani.

The length of the journey was about 11 kilometers and although I would like to say that I managed it well, I have to admit that I rode a moto part of the way. When we arrived at the La Pista corner we waited for some type of transportation for the rest of the way to Yapacani. Marcos went to the next town to try to get a taxi but was unable to do so. So we ended up riding in the back of a three ton farm truck, along with the goats, sheep, fish, produce and people. It was an experience but not one that I would want to do every day. It gave us an appreciation for the local transportation available but also made us really appreciate our truck! Meeting the locals was a great experience. We realized that we were well known in the communities as the people who picked them along the road when they were going to town. What goes around, comes around!

We spent Christmas with friends in Santa Cruz and I ended up staying in the city until I left for Canada. There was constant rain in the city and I knew that every drop would make its way into the campo at some point.

While in Canada I spent time with the the kids and grand kids. It was a memorable, and emotional, occasion to witness the baptism of our grandson, Kolten. We also celebrated the birthdays of our oldest grand daughter, Karmen, and our youngest grand daughter, Sophia. It always is great to see the kids. We also celebrated another birthday -- the 60th birthday of my sister, Agnes.

Plans were that I would fly out on February 9 and the girls would come on Feb 12. So I was at the airport on time, went through customs and security in about 15 minutes and thought things were going great. But the plane never left due to a mechanical difficulty and I stood in line for the next three hours to rebook the flight. Understandably, I was unable to make my connections after that time and I was quite sure that this would not be easy. Santa Cruz airport has a habit of being short of jet fuel so flights are regularly cancelled. It turned out that I was not able to catch another flight to Santa Cruz until the next Thursday. Jake took care of the girls when they came and I enjoyed the luxury of a first class flight and a restful night in a hotel in Miami. Finally I returned to Bolivia but was still not able to go home -- but that is another story.

Apologies!

Sorry, it has been some time since I wrote in the blog. There are a number of reasons for this. First, I spent the month of January in Canada and was somewhat unaware of what was going on in Bolivia. Then I went on a two weeks whirlwind Bolivian tour with my grand-daughter, Karmen, and her friend, Jo. One this tour I lost my computer -- I think it was stolen. So all my information and pictures are gone for now. Thankfully, I backed up all the information when I was in Canada. Talk about God at work. I have never, never, in the twenty some years that I have used the computer, have I backed things up unless I was bringing the computer in for a problem. So I am very grateful that I have all my pics and info in Canada. The only thing I am missing is the pictures from the trip but I am sure that we will go there again. Karmen has pics that I can use. However, the blog will not be as colorful for the next while until I can obtain a new computer along with pen drive to transfer information. I am very thankful that it was only the computer and not one of the girls. Can you imagine if I had to explain the unexpected disappearance of one of them! But I am over the woulda, coulda, shoulda and am going on with life.

THE ROAD IS CLOSED!!

The last month has been frustrating! More often than not we have a ‘trunca’ across the road when we wish we enter or leave the community. The road in Patajusal 1 and 2 crosses private land so literally belongs to the community. Anyone who uses the road does so only with the permission of the members of each community.

The main ‘user’ of the road is the lumber company. An agreement was made that the company could use the road provided it would build the road and maintain it. The company built the road by cutting a swath with a cat through the forest and they maintain it by driving on it. Logs cut from farmers’ fields are hauled day and night while the weather is good. But there is a problem. All this driving puts holes in the road and when it rains, the holes get deeper since the trucks drive straight through. After some time the road is nothing but potholes and the community decides to stop all traffic until the road is repaired.

This is the problem with which we were faced in November. We could understand why when the road was wet since we could see the damage. Even though our truck is light we still try to be considerate of the community. But when the road was dry we became quite frustrated – until we realized what was happening.

One day I returned from Yapacani after attending a meeting there. The weather was fine and I did not anticipate any problems. But when I came to the entrance of Patajusal 1 the trunca was closed. I had taken some people with me and they checked at a couple places for the key but were unable to find it. I walked to the school and the store but at neither place did I find the key. So what do I do – turn around and go all the way back to Yapacani or stay in Hotel Chevrolet for the night? The people from the community are always warning me that it us unsafe to drive at night but does that include sleeping in the truck in the middle of nowhere? Let’s just say that I have spent much more comfortable nights. The next morning I returned to one of the places where I was told the key would be. They had returned from the field the night before and they gave me the key after making me promise to bring it back as soon as I opened the gate and also promise that I would not let anyone else through. I was home in time for breakfast and a nap!

Another day we were expecting some supplies for the workshop and had obtained permission for this truck to enter. We received the key with the usual conditions of letting no one else through. When I arrived at the gate the truck was there as well as the road grader. But the man from the road grader, who happened to work for the lumber company, would not allow me through the gate. After some very frustrating conversation, I went home and told Jake to deal with the problem. He went to the gate and negotiated that the truck could come through in one hour. Part of the problem was that I was a woman and there is no way that a man will let a woman tell him what is going on. And then when I had the key, there was no recourse except to stick to his guns. When Jake came, things could be negotiated. It was at this time that we realized that there was some serious negotiating being done with the lumber company. The company wanted to grade the road even though there were wet spots and the community leaders wanted them to wait. From that time on, one of the members of the community was assigned to stay by the trunca and open it for those who were allowed to pass through but to keep the lumber company from moving trucks. We appreciated that since we did not have to look for a key every time we went in and out of the community.

The road has now been ‘fixed’ in Patajusal 1. They raised it so that water does not run over it as quickly, but it is still made of clay which causes great problems when it is wet. It is not unusual for the micro (the bus that provides public transportation) to be stuck somewhere on the road. One night we were coming back and made sure that we were at the trunca when the micro would come through. It had been a bit wet but we were sure that we could make it. After a couple hours of waiting we were told that we could only go to one of the farms but we would have to wait there until morning. However, the micro could go through. So we stopped at the farm and Jake stopped the micro so that we could get a ride. Then the people on the bus decided that we could go down the road after the bus. So off we went – for a few hundred meters. Then the micro decided that it could go no further and would back down the road. Then we could go – if we took the people and the cargo. Although we were loaded down much heavier than we wanted, we agreed and we were able to make it to our own beds. Not another night in Hotel Chevrolet!!

But now we have another problem. The road is fixed in Patajusal 1 and they have started construction in Patajusal 2. A bridge needs to be built to divert some of the water so a large hollow tree about 5 feet in diameter is put across the road. The first time I encounter it I am somewhat concerned about how I will get over it. One man (my dear friend from the lumber company who has his truck in the middle of the road, waiting to get through) tells me that it will be in the morning but another man says an hour. It is lunch time. It turns out to be about 20 minutes and they tell me I can go through. OK, but how and where. I make my way up the ‘bridge’ and get high centered. No problem! They hook the wench from the cat on to my truck and pull me through. But the next time it is not so easy and that time Jake is driving. It takes an hour or so to get out the next time and we are glad that the guys have a great sense of humour and adventure. Not only is the lumber truck still in the middle of the road, but also the cat has broken down and is sitting on an angle across the road with the blade in the air. Thankfully Jake has some experience although this is worse than driving on snow covered ice. He figured out how to manoever the truck through the greasy mud and we were able to move in and out of the community once again.

But things changed again. We planned on taking a few days of R and R over Christmas but the day before we planned to leave the road was closed – and we could do nothing about it. Although we did not have a lot of rain, there had been ten days of rain up river and all that water comes down to Patajusal. There is a curve in the river where the water flows into the community and the night before we were to leave, the river literally came down the road. By morning the road was covered from our laneway toward the crossing in Patajusal 1. That meant that we had a choice – stay in the chaco or walk out. I had made sure that all the fruits and veggies were eaten so that nothing would spoil while we were gone. So that reduced our options and we walked out. There were 10 of us who waded through about 2 miles of knee deep water with slimy clay under foot. Many of our neighbours had water running through their houses and the chickens were perched on the roof. It reminded me of the newscasts of the floods and hurricanes, except this was something we were experiencing. Words cannot describe, nor would you believe, what it was like. (And where was the camera – safe and dry in Yapacani. Although I wished I had it with me, it probably would have fallen in the water since I am such a coordinated person that I fell as soon as we started!) Fields that were green with rice the day before were now lakes as far as the eye could see. At the bridge we walked through water to our hips and the bikes we had with us were covered in water. I was wearing shorts so did not have a problem. Some of the men didn’t have a problem either – they just took off their pants and walked in their underwear and then dressed again at the end of the adventure.

Most of Patajusal 1 was dry but we did encounter a few spots where the water was running over the road. The worst part was about 100 yards of fast flowing waste deep water. We formed a line and all went through together. Then it wasn’t far to the corner at La Pista where we waited for some type of transportation that would take us to Yapacani. It ended up being a farm truck but we were happy to ride with the sheep, the fish, various types of produce and about 20 other people in the back of the truck. It was an experience.
So how is the road now? I have no idea. Jake left for the chaco by micro three days ago and I have not heard from him since. Hopefully he is safe in the house and is just waiting for the road to be dry enough to pick up the truck.

Congratulations Leonarda and Crisobal

Sometimes couples get married in Bolivia. Most of the people we know are not officially married although they have been living together and have established homes and families. There is difficulty obtaining the proper documentation for marriages so the ‘official’ status is not something that is easily obtained. There is no stigma if a couple is not officially married.

But one of our part time employees, Cristobal, and his wife, Leonarda, decided to get married. This was going to happen in September but the papers were not in order until a week before the wedding in December.

If you get married in La Pista, the church puts on the wedding and covers the expenses, I think. But then the minister and his wife were the padrina and madrina so maybe they covered those expenses. All we know is that the couple did not pay for the wedding. Each person in the church and a number of people of the community were asked to bring something. We were asked to pay for the wedding cake along with two other people. Others were asked to bring pop and others prepared the meal. Two days before the wedding Leonarda came with us to Yapacani to buy a dress. Now who in Canada would wait that long!

The wedding was to start at 2 so we came around one. The noon meal still had not started. I was to take pictures and was surprised that both the bride and the groom were wearing the clothes they wore every other day. It was about 3 o’clock when Jake was asked to come into a room and I went in with him. Things had changed. They wanted Jake to tie the groom’s tie. Now, Jake will have to learn this – it is the second time that he has had to do this. The bride was now dressed up and things were starting to look more like a wedding. A minister came from Cochabamba for the wedding and his wife took along all the finery that went along with a wedding – the bouquet, rose petals, veil. We decorated the church with flowers that we picked from the garden at the hospital.

Finally things were ready and the service started. First came three little girls spreading rose petals, then the groom and his madrina, and the bride and her padrina. The service was much the same as in Canada except that there was a part where they placed a gold chain around the couple signifying that they were tied together for life. They wore it until they got out of church and then the woman wore it.

After the service there was the gift line and each person received a bottle of pop and a bag of tostatos (puffed corn) when they presented their gift. The gifts were not opened but put away to be opened later. Following this, everyone enjoyed a dinner of chicken, rice, and yuca. It was nice to be just a member of the congregation with no extra privileges.

After dinner there was a bit of a program with some music and activities and then the night was over. It was only 10 o’clock so it seemed very early for a Bolivian celebration. Everyone went home and the bride and groom and their children went to their house – and life goes on.

A Milestone for Lidia

While you in North America were busy with Christmas preparations we were experiencing a different type of festivity. December marks the end of the school year and with that comes graduations or promocións. We were asked to be padrina and madrina for the promoción of one of the young girls from Patajusal 1. We know her father but we really did not know her so we were rather surprised, and a bit anxious, when we were asked. We had heard that being a padrina or madrina carried a lot of responsibility and that there was usually a fair bit of money involved. But we were assured by the father that all we had to do was attend the ceremony and come to the house for a little meat, and at a later time assist her in making her decisions about what she wants to do after graduation. After reading some information, both positive and negative, we felt that we should agree since it appeared that it was an honor more than an obligation.

But there were some obligations, although not the type that we would have thought. We were asked to be at the school at 3 so that they would know everyone was ready but instead they were at our place in Yapacani at that time asking if we would pick up the tables and chairs and bring them to the house. Then the pop had to be picked up. That was done and the time had changed to be at the house by 5 so we were there but the father was still in the shower and we were given a meal. We arrived at the graduation ceremony after it started but they just joined the end of the line to enter. They were certainly not the last ones to arrive! I had offered to take photos so I was kept busy.

We attended the ceremony although the other relatives did not. There were not a lot of people there considering the number of students graduating. The outdoor ceremony started with each student, dressed in their school uniform, being introduced to the people along with their parent of the opposite sex. The parent congratulated the student and presented her with a flower or bouquet and then the principal presented the certificate. And that was that. There were some messages from the staff and some singing but everything was rather low key and things were all over within the hour. We brought everyone back to the house and thought that we would have supper right after the ceremony. But that was not to be – supper was at 9 – in reality it was at 10. By that time Lidia had changed into a formal dress.

Since we were honored guests we were given the best of the meat and we each received a piece of beef at least a foot square. Then we also were given baked potatoes, yuca, and platano. There was no way that I could even think about finishing all that, especially since we were already fed earlier.

Following the meal, Lidia stood beside a table and each guest brought a gift and congratulated her while Lidia threw confetti on their heads. Those who choose to give money instead of a gift sewed the money on her dress. Oh,yes, Lidia had another long dress on by this time.

After the gifts were given, the dance started and Jake had to have the first dance since he was the padrino. That was a bit of a shock for him and he was totally unprepared. After a bit of a rough start it was OK. The night went on and on but we left about 1 in the morning. The last ones finally left at 4.

We returned the next morning to help clean up, we thought. But first we had to eat! Then it was time to open the gifts. First all the money was given to Jake and he had to count it. Then he was given the money to keep so that neither Lidia nor her family would spend it unwisely. When she needs it she will come and ask for it. Jake then had to open each gift and present it to Lidia. None of the gifts had names on so she has no idea of what each person gave. This whole celebration took a couple of hours and after that Jake brought back the tables and chairs.

We were thankful that alcohol was not a main focus at this promoción. At the next one we attended there was a ‘bottoms up’ drink after each dance and each person who presented a gift also had a ‘bottoms up’ drink. It amazed me that the ‘honored guests’ were still standing after a couple of hours. However, the party was still going on at 7 the next morning.

Although the father said there were no financial obligations we have a feeling that Lidia will be asking for money for her education. Instead of just handing out money we are asking that they submit their grades and also write an essay telling us how higher education will benefit themselves, their community and their country.

One for the Hoogland Clan

We are thankful that our new grandson arrived healthy and safely on December 2. His name is Kolten James Barrett and he is being spoiled and cared for by his Dad and Mom and his six sisters!

Handling the Money

It all started two years ago. The kind-hearted people from Canada left some money behind for the community to build a school. However, the community was not ready to build the school so the money was sent aside for as a fund that could be used for revolving loans.

The first loans were given out a year and a half ago to the women to purchase pigs. The idea was that after a year the pigs would have piglets and either the mother or the piglets could be sold. The pigs and piglets; some were sold. But the majority of the women did not pay back the loans, instead using the money for the family. Whether they did not understand the loan concept we will never know but the incident triggered the establishment of a Credit Committee.

The regulations of the Credit Committee were instituted at a monthly meeting. This committee consisting of three men set up further guidelines regarding the borrowing of money and drew up a standard application form. From our point of view, the amount of money borrowed is a pittance but this small amount can make a huge difference to the farmers.

In the first year of the project under the direction of the committee, each farmer will be able to borrow 1000 bolivianos or the equivalent of just under $120. Most farmers will use this to mechanize farm. This means that they will hire a custom farmer to work the field and seed the rice for the first year. Then next year the custom farmer will use that land for soy and plant the rice in exchange for rent. The greatest expense occurs in the first year and many of the farms are just ready for mechanized farming.

Jake was appointed President of the committee so he, along with two other farmers, will evaluate the applications. This process has enabled Jake to meet personally with most of the farmers and he has been impressed with their interest in the project and their knowledge of money management. Most have been able to reserve money for planting the crop but are only short the amount needed for the chemicals, usually around $100.00. We still are not sure if all of them keep their money in a sock or in a hole in the ground!

Open air church services

When we arrived in Patajusal we had no idea about the faith life or the church life of the people. Although we had heard many stories about Andean religion we did not know if the people were strong in their cultural religion. However, we did know that there was a church in Chiavitto, about three quarters of an hour away, where people we knew attended.

Within a few days, Dionisio, the man from Chiavitto, contacted us and welcomed us to the community. He was helping construct a new church at La Pista, about a half and hour away – if the roads were good. Earlier in the blog I have talked about that church.

Since that time there has been great interest in establishing a church in Patajusal. The distance to La Pista is a barrier, even when the roads are good. Inquiries have been made for land within the center of the community but it is too expensive. One of the farmers has agreed that a church can be built on his land. They would build a small wood building with a roof of matacu, the local palm leaf. We have offered the use of our facility but distance again is an issue.

There are three families who attend church on a regular basis, either in La Pista or in Patajusal. When a service is held in Patajusal the attendance increases, especially if there is a workshop or Bible study. We meet under a shelter of matacu to keep us out of the sun or the rain, or else under a mango tree. The service starts when most of the people are there which usually means when the truck arrives. One of the men of the community will start the service with singing. Most of the singing, accompanied by guitars and local instruments, is done in Quechua with some Spanish songs added for our benefit. I am not a musician but it seems like the tunes to all the songs are very similar and have a similar beat. There is great enthusiasm and the volume of the singing of our small group would challenge many North American churches with much larger congregations. The community service centers on singing and prayer with a little bit of additional ‘preaching’. It is a service of praise.

Dionisio comes to lead workshops or Bible Studies once a month. Because the churches of Patajusal and La Pista work closely together, we benefit from his leadership twice a month. We are divided into groups and work through the theme which Dionisio is presenting. Sometimes the material is easy for the people to understand, other times it is not. Since this is an oral culture, any of the people are illiterate or have great difficulty with reading and writing, making comprehension harder. Sometimes we see men with their Bibles upside-down or on the wrong page trying to follow along. It tears at our hearts. In spite of this they are eager to learn and we enjoy sharing. It is humbling when asked to interpret a passage in Spanish so that they can understand.

We are eagerly awaiting the construction of our building so that we can begin literacy classes and Bible studies for men, women, and children. It is a challenge and I often wonder if I am capable. It will require a lot of prayer support and strength that only God can give.

We are also anticipating that Dionisio will become part of our team in the future. It has been our desire to work with a local person who understands the language and culture, and is respected in the community. Dionisio has these qualities. He is a gentle, wise man who loves the Lord and wants to share God’s love. He is presently working part time with another organization but that position ends in December. His funding for his church work also ends at that time. We are praying that he will continue providing local leadership and training to the churches in this area. We are willing to provide materials, leadership and guidance for his work and are hoping that other funding will be provided for his vehicle. We would also like to remunerate him for some of his time. Presently he does all his church work without pay. He supports his wife and three girls from the income from his farm, but that is not always easy. Supporting Dionisio and his work is another way that you can become involved.

Solving the Water Problem

Modern technology – what would we do without it! The other day Jake needed to clean his spade after using it in the chaco. There was a bucket of water from the well sitting there so he just cleaned it in there. The next morning when he went to use the water for the plants there was no scum! The water appeared fairly clear from the magnesium and didn’t have an odor. Quite the discovery – maybe.

So he took 2 more buckets, filled them well water and let them sit in the open air for a day. The usual yucky, unattractive scum appeared. If you put a plate or a container in this water you would immediately get a reddish scum which, if you did not wash it, would stain badly. After a day, Jake took clay in which there was no humus and mixed it with the water. It sat undisturbed for another day at which time he found that the water was clear, a bit dirty but clear. We left it for another day and most of the dirt had settled to the bottom of the bucket.

When we had the water tested in Canada we were told that it was not harmful, just disgusting to look at. Now that it is clear it should be good for the people to use. We hope that they will apply this simple technology and use there wells. It was two years ago today that we came to the community to drill the wells and now we hope that they can actually use the water. We are very thankful that the solution is simple and economical.

The Garden

According to the people in the community we planted our garden too late. Thankfully, they didn’t look at how we seeded! Jake cleared the land with the machete and I hauled the largest trees away and pulled up the majority of the vines. The rest of the material we left and planted the seeds among the rotting leaves and weeds.

They, on the other hand, have very clean garden without many weeds since they burn everything. Theirs does look neater and cleaner but…..

In 3 months we had a wonderful garden fed by the decomposing plants and all the kitchen waste. We planted everything much closer than they would and we had great growth and production.

We received our seeds from ECHO and planted Malibar Spinach, lettuce, and lablab beans. Unlike our neighbours we leave the lettuce in the ground and only harvest the leaves. They take everything out by the root when it is ready so we hope to teach them that the length of production can be lengthened just by harvesting only the leaves. The lablab beans, used for eating and for green manure, are a great topic of converstion.

Our tomatoes are producing enough fresh tomatoes for the two of us. The are getting ripe after all the rest in the community and again we will experiment next year with succession planting. The men who work for us are amazed that the corn was planted 3 or 4 inches apart in the row and still produced wonderful ears. They plant their corn at 1 meter spacing in the row with the rows 1 meter apart. The variety we planted is an open pollinated corn from ECHO and is quite tasty. Next time we hope to plant some good American sweet corn. When we ate the first corn the men were amazed that yellow corn was so sweet!

There will be great demand for the amaranth seed since Jake has been making that for breakfast laced with butter and brown sugar. The guys love it!

So we are very pleased with our first garden and people are coming to look at it. That is exactly what we want so we hope and pray that some of our ideas for producing food throughout the year will work.

Life Without Marg

It’s our anniversary. It has been two years since we first came to Bolivia on the well drilling project. In some ways it seems like longer and in others it seems like yesterday. Never did we imagine two years ago that we would be living here!


Marg spent two weeks at language school in Cochabamba learning how to say things in the past tense. While she was there things continued at the chaco – the house was being built and there were still workers there every day.

When we hired our employees or ayudantes (helpers) we told them that their food was included and I think that they thought the food would be cooked. But with the chief cook in Cochabamba, who would cook? Jake took over and found how long it took to peel and cut all the veggies every day. (He would do the garlic at night since he read that garlic would repel snakes. Now I never worried about snakes because I knew from experience that Jake would kill them for me.) Then he would throw all of them in a large pan in the morning along with our favorite Maggi seasoning cubes and let it boil. When it came time for dinner it was done. For the second course it is essential that you cook a large pan of rice. Although he never figured out how to get the rice less sticky he managed well with that also. Then the meat. Cutting up some more onions, peppers and tomatoes was no bid deal and then just add the hamburger. Put freshly cut tomatoes and onions on the table and everything was ready to go. Pretty standard stuff and there were no complaints from the ayudantes. They told me they were well fed but that they were glad that I was back. Like Jake says. “When all they usually get is just a bowl of rice and some veggies, anything is good!”

He also had to take over the taxi role and that proved to be a bit more interesting. One morning he had planned to take our neighbour to La Pista to the doctor. Her little boy had an operation on his leg and the bandage needed regular changing. So he was getting ready to go at 7 in the morning when another neighbour came by and asked if he would take his wife along. Now, remember, that Jake’s knowledge of Spanish is limited and it is sometimes difficult to know everything that is being said. So Jake just said he would pick her up. Imagine his surprise when he found out that the wife was in labor! OK, now what does he do – drive quickly to La Pista through all the wonderful ruts or drive slowly and make sure he doesn’t bounce her too hard. He heard that the tale that if you wanted to have a baby come, ride on a rough road. He decided to take the middle route by going as fast as he could without bouncing too much. As they proceeded down the road, Juan Carlos, the future father, cheerfully chatted to Jake as he drove. He didn’t seem concerned about his wife who was riding in the back seat with the other lady and her son. When they arrived at La Pista, Roberta, the future mother, was squatted between the front and the back seat and Jake was sure she was going to have the baby right there. Juan Carlos nonchalantly walks to the hospital, talks to the doctor, and Roberta makes it to the door. Not ten minutes later a beautiful baby boy was born. Jake picked them up a day later and brought them to her parents. After a couple days they returned home on the back of the family motor cycle, the baby riding on her back and their other son in front on Juan Carlos.

Feed Them and They Will Come

Building a brick house does not come under the list of things that we know how to do. It was suggested that we hire a maestro (a master builder) with some ayudantes or helpers to assist Jake.

Our good friend, Serafin, attends church in La Pista. When Jake was attending the dedication of the church, Serafin introduced him to one of his ‘brothers’ who happens to be a maestro but prefers to farm. A number of other ‘brothers’ offered to work so we soon had a team that works well together.

We had first intended to drive them back and forth to their homes every day. That would mean 4 hours on the road but it was much better than if they walked. However, when we picked them up the first day, they came with their belongings for the week and informed us that they would build a shelter and stay a week at a time. Wow! I wouldn’t have to get up early and drive to La Pista every morning. But – that meant I would be feeding them three times a day instead of once!

Now that could present a challenge. Maybe they won’t like my cooking (and are too polite to say so). How much food do I make? What do I make for three meals a day? OK, when we ate here before we had a bowl of soup and then a ‘segundo’ or second plate of rice, some veggies such as tomatoes, onions, and carrots, and a small piece of meat. That would do for a start.

So now to buy the veggies and figure out what to do with meat without refrigeration. I picked up the basics for the first few days and then headed into town for a weeks supply. The shopping list was:
Black pepper
4 l. oil
large margarine
bottle of coffee
1 flat eggs
12 ½ lbs. onions
25 lbs. carrots
12 ½ pounds potatoes
12 green peppers
12 garlic
5 lbs. tomatoes
2 celery
bunch of parsley
5 lbs. beans
3 lbs. salt
10 lbs. rice

At the end of the week I had used nearly everything. I had some carrots left but had to buy more eggs, peppers and tomatoes. Some of the neighbours also gave me some cabbage, okra, peanuts and a few other veggies. We have out own plantain. I bought a frozen chicken to cook at the chaco but also took along frozen cooked hamburger. Lentils were also used for one meal.

A sample recipe for 3 Bolivianos, Jake and I for one meal.
3 cups lentils
3 lbs. swiss chard (I also used one of the lettuces from the garden)
8 carrots
6 potatoes
lots of celery leaves
some parsley
5 tomatoes
4 green peppers
1 large onion
3 cups of rice

The meal began with a bowl of rice and veggie soup. In addition I sliced the usual 4 tomatoes and 1 large onion. Everything is eaten with fresh tomato and onion.

When I am in Yapacani I bake since they love to have cake in the morning and afternoon. They are used to plain white cake but decided that banana cake was good, and chocolate cake was great!

They are a great bunch of guys and are eager to teach me traditional Bolivian cooking.

Big Red - The Little Red Truck

Deciding the type of vehicle to purchase was a major decision. We wanted something reliable since Jake is not very mechanical. Because we were not familiar with the country we didn’t want to purchase something that did not have the correct papers; thus creating problems. That meant buying something new. We felt we needed something that could haul a fair amount of stuff since we would be building the house and other buildings. After looking at a number of trucks we ended up with a Chevrolet Work LUV. It is a cheaper truck, not as heavily built as some of the others. We certainly notice that difference. But it does what we need it to do.

We have had the truck since April and already have 10,000 kms. on it, much more than we ever anticipated. It seems like the truck becomes a taxi to the doctor many times a week. The doctor is located in La Pista, 11 kms. away. The road is rough with many potholes and it takes about 35 to 40 minutes to drive one way. But when a mother comes with a small child that has diarrhea and is vomiting, I cannot refuse to take them. When I go, I usually pick up a number of people along the way, either going to La Pista or returning to Patajusal.

Because the men working on our house live in La Pista we pick them up early Monday morning. Sometimes we are on our way from Yapacani and have a load of supplies and equipment. It is not unusual for us to have the truck loaded and then add more stuff – bags of rice, bikes, chain saws, machetes and bags of personal belongings. One day we had 8 men on the back of the already full truck, then added 4 more, plus a woman and her child. Not only were they hanging on the back, they were also perched on the top of the cab. Some of the passengers were going to another community farther into the jungle. They walk or bike 17 kilometers to and from their farms so they were very glad to get a ride for the first 11 kms.

On Sundays we bring a load of people from Patajusal to La Pista to the Evangelical Church. There might be 12 persons on the truck; there might be 20 persons, along with their musical instruments. If the service is in Patajusal, Jake drives to La Pista first and brings those members back to Patajusal. It means a lot of driving but it is part of what we do.

Last week included a trip to another pueblo, Cascabel, about 40 kms. from Patajusal. I had never been there before so I was interested to see it. The purpose of the trip was to bring two couples and the pastor to obtain marriage licenses. I was driving – speeding at 60 kmp – when they told me to stop. I had passed the office of the notary without even knowing I was in the village. It was just another small village that spreads along the road with no true beginning or end.

Another trip brought me to a new community that borders Patajusal 1. The trip started with a baby that needed to be brought into La Pista to the doctor. Before we left the community we picked up the veggies from one of the chacos so that they could sell them in La Pista. The doctor was not around that night but the trip was not in vain. We returned, minus the veggies but with the additional company of three loud squawking ducks. Thankfully, they were in bags in the bed of the truck and not in the cab. While returning to Patajusal, we were stopped by the micro (small bus) and asked if we would take some passengers back to Patajusal. This did not make sense since the bus was returning from there. The driver thought the road was too wet and muddy to proceed. Since I had just driven the road I was somewhat surprised. I hadn’t seen any wet, muddy road – but this is Bolivia! We proceeded for a few kilometers and came across a group of about 12-15 people who had been dropped off, along with all their purchases from Yapacani. Normally the micro would take them another 2.5 km. It was very dark and the people were tired so they all clambered on the truck and off we went. I thought that all the people would get off at the crossing between Patajusal 1 and 2 where I turn to go home. Then I was told that there was another community farther –much farther – down the road. So what do you do? Part of the problem was a lack of understanding of the language so I ended up driving them up the road – one kilometer, 2 kilometers, 2.5 kilometers to the last bus stop, 3 kilometers (the road is now a track) to 4.5 kilometers. At this point they said they had to walk in the rest of the way since I could not drive any farther. I still don’t know how far they walked that night but I know they were very grateful for the ride. On the way back I was again flagged down and asked to take a young man with his bags of products that needed to go to Yapacani. I agreed to take him to the crossing where he would sleep so that he would be there when the micro came in the morning – if the micro came in the morning. There is no hotel at the crossing so I am sure he just found a place to sleep somewhere on the ground. During the previous conversation at the crossing I agreed to be at the crossing at 6 in the morning in case the micro did not come. I had to take the child to the doctor anyway. So at 6 I arrive – and no micro. By the time I arrived in La Pista, Big Red (the truck) was loaded with 10 bags of stuff, four half bags of stuff, gas cans, bikes, baby baths, and 20 people. It was then that I realized how important some type of reliable transportation was needed for the community. When we arrived in La Pista the people piled out and boarded the micro for Yapacani. No one became really upset at the driver but one man asked why he didn’t come that morning. When the driver started to make excuses about not being able to drive down the road he was told quite calmly that the lady could drive it quite well – implying that he should have been able to do it also. That was probably harder on the driver than if the man had shouted at him.

So we are very thankful that we have Big Red. She hauls lots of stuff for us from the road to the house – bricks, sand, gravel. She enables us to get our food and supplies from Yapacani and Santa Cruz. But she performs a much more important job in providing needed transportation to the people of the community. We are truly thankful that we have our faithful red truck.

Oh, one more duty of Big Red. She is a playground for the kids!

Our First Winter in Bolivia

It is winter in Bolivia. That means that the temperature is lower and they say that the insects are less. Watching the weather in North America we realize that the temperature has much less variation and I am not sure that it ever gets as hot as it does in some of the areas in North America. We spent some time in Cochabamba and it was very cool at night, cool enough that I wore a sweater. While in Coch airconditioning was installed in our truck and we bid farewell to our good friends, the Watts, who are returning to Canada. I also signed up for a couple of weeks of Spanish lessons starting August 21. The month in Canada was a good one. We arrived in time to attend our grand daughter’s play, the anniversary celebration of some good friends, another grand daughter’s graduation, as well as birthdays for Marg, Tim and KerryAnne. Jake’s was busy tying up the business and getting solar panels and a generator to take along. He also made a low flying trip to his family in Iowa. And all of this in three weeks. Next time he might have to stay longer! Marg’s 94 year old aunt was hospitalized and is nearing the end of her life. Although we thought she might die while we were home, she didn’t. Marg spoke at a couple of churches and hosted a dessert and information night. Jake came back to Bolivia on July 7 and has been busy organizing the materials for the house. The windows and doors are ordered and the bricks are on site – well, close to the site at the road. Men from an adjoining community have been hired to help build the house. Jake attended the dedication of the evangelical church in La Pista on July 14,15, and 16 – a three day celebration was filled with singing, sermons, and food. It started Friday night about 7 and lasted until Sunday at about 3 in the afternoon. Our little truck took about 22 people from Patajusal each day. As well, about 250 people came from neighbouring communities to celebrate. About 30 to 40 people came on an old International farm truck which served as there motorhome. The excess people slept in the old church. The community gave their all and were very happy to share their meals with their neighbours, even though it was very little by North American standards. Both baptism and communion were celebrated on Sunday and the sermon was delivered by Matther Zoller, a missionary with World Concern. It was the one sermon that Jake could understand. It was a great time for Jake to get to know the men on the community. And where was Marg – she was having her last day with the kids and grandkids in Canada. Marg arrived back on the 19th. We spent couple of days in Santa Cruz and then headed for Cochabamba to spend some time with our friends, Kent and Susan Watts and their daughter, Anna. Kent has served the last year as the minister to the Baptist English congregation, Susan acted as head librarian at the Baptist Seminary, and Anna attended school. They are returning to Canada at the end on July. Marg also signed up for another couple of weeks of language school in the end of August. Keeping up with the language in the community has been difficult. Our life now will be centered in the community. Marg will spend many hours on the road between Yapacani and Patajusal bringing materials for the house. She will also drive each day to La Pista to provide transportation for the men who will be helping with the house. Jake will supervise the building of the house and a driveway. We plan to attend church services in La Pista and provide taxi service to the members of Patajusal. We are scheduling a visit to Santa Cruz once a month to attend an English church service and visit with the rest of the EFCCM team. And about the weather here. We do get some cold nights -- or at least cool! I ended up wearing a couple of sweatshirts a couple of nights and one day I wore one for most of the day. The next day the sun was shining and it was back to shorts and t shirts. Oh, what a winter!

PROJECT PATAJUSAL

As associate missionaries through EFCCM (Evangelical Free Church of Canada Mission), we are supporting our daily living expenses ourselves. However, we realize that others would like to be involved in our ministry so we invite them to be included through donating to ministry needs.

Since moving into the community we have become aware of some of the needs of the communities. Access to supplies is very limited since the nearest town is two hours away by bus. Very limited medical service is offered in a nearby village but anything serious requires the two hour bus ride. The nearest evangelical church is located 11 kilometers away but even this distance is a 45 minute ride in the truck. We do not have solutions to these problems but we are hoping that we can offer these people other benefits through Project Patajusal.
This project will cover three main ministry goals: education health, and spiritual growth.

Education in all areas of their lives is something that is lacking. There is no access to libraries, magazines, books or internet. The culture is an oral culture and most of the people are illiterate. Our training will need to reflect this while encouraging them to learn to read and write. The people are eager to learn and have enrolled in a literacy program sponsored by the government. We hope to enlarge on this program and make information available through printed material but also through videos and audio material.

We will work with the people in the development of farming practices that will retain the nutrients in the soil through using green manure cover crops, the development of small efficient machinery for seeding and harvesting, and the exploration of new varieties and crops that will provide a wider range of nutrients for their families. Assistance in market planning and economics is also an area that will be developed. A library containing Spanish books, videos, and audio tapes will be available to the community. The children will have a place to study and to obtain some tutoring.

Health is a major concern for these families. Although the children appear to be well fed we know that the diet consists mainly of rice and yuca, another starchy plant. Eggs are the main source of protein although some are starting to eat red beans. he mothers rely on the vitamins from the health clinic although this is simply soy and sunflower oil with added Vitamin A and D. Infections are common, especially in the eyes and on the legs. Little is understood about either the cause or the treatment of diseases, infections, and minor ailments. Accompanying this is the fear of death.

Teaching the women about nutrition, balanced diets, and cleanliness is not an easy task. It will require many demonstrations and repeated information. We will include the cultivation of family gardens, basic hygiene, basic nutrition, and sanitation in this program.

All of this will be integrally tied to spiritual growth. Since we believe that the world belongs to God and that every part of creation falls under God’s plan for redemption, everything is connected to God. We cannot work in health, education, or agriculture without emphasizing God’s plans for our lives.

Since these people know the Bible only through oral tradition, many of the stories and concepts of God have not been related. Showing God’s love and grace though Bible story telling will be emphasized. We will also begin Bible Studiesand praise times to promote faith development.
So how will be accomplishing this? First two buildings are needed. One building will serve as a workshop in which the men can build machinery, cages, and other equipment that may be used around their farms. It will also contain a demonstration area, and area in which to grow small animals such as guinea pigs, and an area for the storage of tools and equipment. The second building will contain a library for recreational and non-recreational reading, a space for women to learn to develop a wider choice of nutritious food for their family, a space for women to develop projects through which they can work together to increase family income, a classroom space for all ages, a private area for meditation, counseling or rest, a bathroom and bedrooms for guests and groups. Then we will need the materials and equipment to accomplish the goals.

Our budget for this project is"

Buildings
$20000.00

Electricity and Communication
$11000.00

Education Materials – ongoing but start-up cost is estimated at $2000.
Written materials
Video materials
Audio materials
Video machine
Radio/CD-tape machine

To assist with this project, your donation can be sent to:
EFCCM P.O.Box 850
Langley Stn. LCD 1,
Langley, B.C. V3A 8S6.

Please indicate Hoogland Project Patajusal.

All donations are tax deductible and a receipt will be issued by the office. We are sent a list of those who are supporting our project.

Two homes - transition time

Who would have thunk it! Marg cooking over an open fire and shelling corn by hand! It is not something I had every imagined for my midlife crisis but here I am.

Last week we came to the chaco (farm) for the first time as owners. We packed the truck with the things we thought we needed for a three day stay. Some times I feel like Gilligan! We did pretty well as far as bringing along supplies. The things we didn’t bring were things we didn’t think we needed – coats and an extra blanket. It gets quite chilly here at night and there is a lot of dew so the mornings are brisk.

Jake immediately became a typical Bolivian and does not go anywhere without his machete. The first day he cut down an area where we hope to build the house. Unlike the Bolivians we did not cut the area and then burn it a couple of days later. Instead I hauled all the debris to the side and piled it. If they come and see what we did, they will think we are crazy. The debris what not heavy since most of it was haliconia and light trees. The worst is the miles of vines. I had already pulled miles from inside the ‘chalet’. Another pesky item is a tree in which the ants live. I am sure of the name but it is the one that they tied people too and let the ants eat them alive. Of course, this tree grows nice and straight and looks like an excellent pick to fix the poles of the chalet. Not a good idea. Jake also cleared a place on which to put the sand and gravel when it comes.

In the evening he was called to a meeting. The forestry company wants to harvest trees and needs a better road. So, in exchange for some labor, the community will get a road. We are not sure what the labor is but I am sure we will find out. One part is that each person has to clear 2 meters on each side of the present road—better called a path-- so that the cat can come in. So Jake has more than his share of machete work cut out for him. He is enjoying it after spending 5 months in school.

I have been busy setting up house in both Yapacani and Patajusal. The house in Yapacani is a bit more permanent with a proper roof and floor. We have purchased the major appliances and a mattress so we live in comfort there. We have two rooms, one is the kitchen/office and the other is the bedroom/living room. No one visits in the living room so we are OK. Only the one room is secure so we have all the valuables in there. The third room is a storage room for both ourselves and the landlord. Until we need it, we will leave it that way.

The house in Patajusal is portable. It is called a tent. We take it along each time we come and then take it home again. We also have four containers that have become our traveling companions to the chaco. One contains our bedding, another the cooking and eating utensils, another the perishable food and the last, the non-perishables. They we have the things Jake is supposed to take along which includes his tool box, machete (of course!), the powerpack and a number of other small things that are needed. Oh, yes, we should also take along chairs but we forgot them this trip.

I am writing this in the chalet with the computer on my lap. I am thinking that I should write Canadian Tire and get them to do an advertisement on us using the Eliminator PowerPack and Solar Panel for energy in the jungle of Bolivia. Maybe we could get some good funding for out projects!! Anyone have an ‘in’ with Canadian Tire???

The biggest shock is that it is pitch dark by 6:30. We try to have our supper, shower, and dishes done by that time but then there is not much to do. Jake can’t work until 11 every night. We read by flashlight –or the Canadian Tire PowerPack—and I am able to do work on the computer. I am learning Adobe Pagemaker and it is a bit of a challenge with no directions. Just wait – when Jake gets a proper generator he will hook up a light so that he can work at night. We can’t expect everything to change, can we?

A Place of Our Own

Leaving Cochabamba was bitter sweet. We looked forward to the next step but stepping out into a world of only Spanish and a different culture was a bit scary. We had friends and projects that we were leaving behind; relationships that had just started to develop and a lifestyle in which we were quite comfortable. But we felt the time had come for us to move on. Jake, especially, was getting very antsy and wanted to so physical work rather than brain work. The only thing holding us back was that our truck did not have the air conditioning installed. Jake had driven around and found a place that built bumpers and racks. Since the truck has a very small box, we needed something to haul larger objects and needed a rack over the cab. We were promised it would be done on Thursday, and in spite of all the warnings that it would not be done on time, it was completed by Friday afternoon. We loaded the rest of our belongings and headed for Yapani on Saturday morning.

Sunday was the day of the meeting, the day in which the community would hear what was happening and would have an opportunity to ask questions. We really had no idea what to expect – did we have to make a formal presentation? Nathan was with us to interpret. We were told the meeting started at 2 and we would be the last item on the agenda, but we thought it would be good for us to be there on time. It was evident that all of the men (yes, it was a men only meeting) were happy to see us and there certainly did not seem to be any animosity. It is Bolivia and things change. We were the first item on the agenda, and the middle item, and the last item. First, Jake was asked to tell them what he was planning to do. So, in his best Castellano (Spanish) he started. After the first two sentences, the men asked him to speak in English and have Nathan translate! After Jake finished speaking, there was a time for questions. Silence! Finally someone asked how much land we wanted and there were a few other questions for clarification. The general consensus was that we would be welcome but the conversation continued. It reminded me a church council meeting! Salidonio finally said that they should make the decision so that we could get on with our lives. That was settled and they went on to other items of business, one of which was how this was to be written in the minute book. That was decided and then they discussed other items and finally the last item came up – the signing of the official papers. By this time it was six in the evening and the sun was rapidly setting. Poor Eduardo was writing the official transfer document and I could not believe that he could see what he was doing. Thankfully, Nathan had a flashlight and the final documents were signed by all the officials.

Because many of the people in the community do not have carnets (proof of citizenship) they are not able to vote, not able to marry, not able to own land. Although they are in the process, there are many problems. For example, the person has to have his parents and two other people in the community sign that he was born on a certain date in a certain place. If the parents are not alive there are more problems. All of this has to be done with a lawyer so the process becomes very expensive. Some of the people from Patajusal did the work and then were told that the papers were illegal and they had to start over again. It is very frustrating for them and are now considering filing in Santa Cruz since it is easier there. But then they have to pay for the transportation. Either way they face obstacles. When all the paper work is completed and the people have carnets, the land can be transferred to the individual owners.

So, we are now land owners (kind of) in Bolivia and the community has accepted us. We have 35 hectares of prime Bolivian soil that used to be a river bed. There are 4 kinds of bananas planted in the front of the property and there are a couple of relatively cleared areas where Jake can start some of his planting. And of course, there is a house. And yes, we will live under it in our tent for the first while. At least we will be sheltered. Many would like us to move there immediately but we want to take some time to get a proper house built. We will start working there in the next day or two but we certainly will not move. Our lives for the next few months will be a few days in Yapacani and a few days in Patajusal