Friday – 8/22

Last night was a short night as we had to hit the road at 6:30 am which meant getting up about 5 for most of us. We were flying back to La Paz. All went very smoothly for our 35 minute flight. Checked in, bags through, security survived, and then our much smoother flight. We have been impressed on these very short flights that the crew can serve drinks and a quick snack and have it all picked up before we land! Maybe American crews need to come down here to learn.
After landing back in the hilly city of La Paz, we checked into our hotel, got our bags, pulled ourselves together a bit and then headed over to the WV headquarter. The national director met with us to overview the work here and to give us time to ask questions and debrief our time in Cochabamba. Luckily there was tea and coffee available to keep these sleepy girls going!
Really, the presentation was very well done and it was valuable to share with the director. We could encourage him about all the amazing changes we had seen and assure him of our commitment and continued support, especially in raising awareness for the need for child sponsors. In that area, it has really been impressed on us the importance of staying in touch with one’s child. It means the world to them, even if the response is fairly rote. Here the staff is teaching the children how to really share their lives more effectively.
That time took the rest of the morning, and of course before we left, gifts were exchanged. We each received a darling carved llama painted in bright cheery colors! An embarrassment of riches!
Lunch was next on the agenda and as our last time with WV, a few of the staff joined us at a nice restaurant for lunch. It was such a privilege to share good food and fellowship with these wonderful people. We probably lingered over the table for two hours or so. Final goodbyes were said and back to the bus for some free time for the rest of the afternoon. George first took us to the cathedral of St Francis – San Francisco. It was lovely and quite ornate. Along all the side walls were these large niches. Each niche had a large Biblical figure in it. They almost looked like mannequins but were often richly dressed or graphically painted as in the case of the suffering Christ. A section would usually include one central figure with two others on each side, one on top of the other. Often there were large vases of flowers in front of each shrine. I had never seen anything like it before. At the front was a massive gold leafed altarpiece which went from floor to ceiling. It also held niches with figures. It is always interesting to see what other cultures do in their religious practices. The Spanish and Catholic influences are powerful here. In fact George claims that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were not shot because they were robbers but because they weren’t Catholic!
We then headed out to a street of shops to do our best work – economically speaking! Most of the shops specialized in textiles but I think everyone found something she wanted and LuAnn and I found something very special for a friend so we were happy! A couple of us are more surgical shoppers – in, see if there is anything desirable, purchase and out. Others wished to browse, which they should be able to do, and we all got back to the hotel, happy and very tired. The only down note was that we had to say goodbye to our faithful George. He had been with us all week, translating for hours, herding us around, sharing his version of Bolivian history while we were on the bus, being oh so patient with all these women, and serving God by serving us. We will all miss him.
After a little collect oneself time, we mostly dead women met in the dining room for dinner. After our great, and rather late, lunch, it was light supper for me – just soup. We did a very short debrief time – a process we will continue when we get home. Devotions were meaningful as we shared where we had seen God working in us this week. Then we talked about not losing our compassion and concern for this place and these people. Worthwhile time.
Our group was now splitting up – 4 of us are headed off to Peru and the rest back to the U.S. They had to leave the hotel at 4:30 am so said our goodbyes, grateful for this time together. Truly seeing God “where two or three are gathered.”
Our Peru group doesn’t have to leave the hotel until 7:15 so we, a bit smugly and gratefully, headed off to bed – a little sad to leave this essential and deeply fulfilling part of the trip behind but also looking forward to the adventure ahead. I can never really wrap my head around all the adventures I have and God’s overwhelming kindness and generosity to me. Blessings all mine and ten thousand besides. Great is thy Faithfulness.