Bolivia Bound.: Getting to know this every day life.

Due to popular requests, this week I will be sharing lots of pictures and introducing you to my home life here in Bolivia!

The Family
I am with a great family! When I first came here it was really a struggle to get close to them with the language barrier. I couldn't joke around and be myself, I spent a lot of time silent while the family interacted. For anyone who knows me, that was a difficult task. Not being able to connect made me miss my family even more but through prayer and a lot of hard work with the language I am slowly starting to form relationships with each and every one in a different way and
I love it!

David & Toty (María Antonieta)

These are my "parents" for the year. They are so sweet and caring. They are always coming into my room wanting to clean things for me, making sure I've had enough to eat, and giving me safety tips in the big city. The best thing about meeting this couple is their incredible faith and willingness to serve Christ. They are always ready to pray with people and show support in any way possible. Toty works at The Center, teaching her own class. David is the assistant pastor of our church, the work force behind building our New Center, and a volunteer for just about anything someone would need help with.

Joana & Shari

My "Sisters"! Shari is the oldest and is very busy working long days, every day as a lawyer in the city. I don't spend much time with her but when I do she is always making everyone smile and laugh. Joana is the Center director and the most hard working person I've met. She cooks meals for the family every day, cleans, arranges everything for The Center, teaches in The Center, prepares meal plans for the children, sings on the worship team in our church, and is always there to lend an ear or try to learn more about me. I started talking to her through email months before I came as she prayed with me through every step of me getting here. Now that I am here I feel very blessed to know her.

Jorge & Isaac
Jorge is a couple years older than me, studying English at a university in Cochabamba. Isaac is a couple years younger, just beginning high school like my little sister in The States. The boys are always blaring music, playing their guitars, kicking the fútbol (soccer ball) around the house, or watching movies. These two were the hardest to connect with because they have a lot of missionaries in and out of there house. The boys are so hospitable and nice but somewhere lost in translation was me trying to tell them I actually wanted to be their friend. Over the past month through playing soccer and watching movies we've slowly started to develop friendships and maybe somewhere down the road I'll be able to call them my second set of "Brothers".

And now for the house!

I am living in a beautiful home on the North side on Cochabamba. Set up on the hill towards the mountains you can see the entire city from our house. It's just a short walk from a main road but in a nice, safe neighborhood. There are frequently guests, Bible studies, and the hustle bustle of every one's lives making this house feel very much like my own home.