Bolivia Yes 06-07: January 2007

It is once again my pleasure to be able to update you all on what we´ve been doing around here lately. Since it´s my turn again, that means we´ve been in Bolivia for over 1 month already! The time has certainly flown by. With Christmas not to far behind and the New Year right around the corner, we´ve certainly been busy with various activities lately. We all spent Christmas Eve with our host families. Christmas Eve is when everyone celebrates and opens presents in Bolivia, and they don´t open presents until midnight, so they usually have a fairly late supper right before the present opening begins! I am living with an older couple that have one son who is 30 and still lives at home, and 3 older children, 2 of which are married with kids. This means that for the very first time in my life, I am no longer the oldest sibling in my family, but, in fact, the youngest. It also means I have 4 nieces and nephews for the first time. I very much enjoyed these changes for at least one Christmas season.
For Christmas Eve dinner, the whole family came (minus one son and family) to my house for dinner and presents. The festivites began about 11 or so at night with a full roasted pig lying on the table. For Carolina (a Swiss girl staying with one of my host brothers and family) and I, this was a very new and interesting experience. The only thing missing from the movies was the apple in the pig´s mouth, which my teacher/host sister Shirley said they actually do put in sometimes. In any case, we ate pretty well that night. There is also an MCC couple from Pennsylvania staying with my host family and Krista, the wife, made a lot of cookies a couple nights before. On the 23rd, our team got together for a huge cookie-baking, supper-making, movie-going event in the Guaderia (daycare where we will be working in Feb.) kitchen and all were able to take several plates of cookies home to our respective host families. Like I said, we ate pretty well.
Christmas day we all rested until going to Chuck and Cindy´s house for a huge Canadian/American in Bolivia Christmas dinner. (At least this is one holiday all 3 countries celebrate on the same day.) I believe there were about 23 of us there and it was a time enjoyed by all. I myself would have enjoyed it more if I wasn´t feeling so sick b/c I cheated on the diet my doctor had given me two days earlier. For those who don´t already know, last week I was diagnosed with the H. Pylori bacteria, the cause of my gastritis and potential cause of ulcers if not caught in time. This means that I must refrain from eating chocolate, coffee, pop (soda for you easterners), citric stuff, and tomatoes because of the acid they contain which will make my stomach mad as it was after Christmas Eve. I also have to be on 2 antacids and 2 antibiotics for 2 weeks and then get re-tested for the bacteria at the end of January. As you can see, this was a Christmas present that I didn´t really want or need.
Since Christmas, we´ve finished our classes and are now relaxing and preparing to go into SASS on January 7th, and as far as knowing anything about SASS that´s all we know. Seeing how everyone seems to go on at least a 2 week holiday break around here that may be all we find out. Last night I had my very first ever manicure and pedicure right in my own home for a grand total of 20 B´s (a little over $2). I thought it was a very nice way to relax and end the week. Today I am at MCC and wouldn´t you know it, I ran into 2 old Hesston friends, Marissa and Matt. I was very surprised and glad to see some familiar faces. You have no idea how nice. Marissa I hadn´t seen for 2 years and we sat down and talked for over an hour just catching up. Matt is in a mountain town called Moro Moro with the MCC SALT program.
Overall, it´s been a great week and we hope yours has been too. Happy New Year everyone! May you continue to find God in the little everyday things!
In Him,
Raquel (Rachel)
Prayer Requests:
1) That the antibiotics I´m on will kill the bacteria I have.
2) That we will be flexible and learn alot in SASS
3) That we would not get sick while in SASS for 3 weeks
4) That God would continue to mold us together as a team
5) For the political situation between La Paz and Santa Cruz (check out www.boliviatimes.com for more info)
Praises:
1) We made it through the holidays and God provided families and people who care about us to celebrate with.
2) My host mom who the doctors thought might have cancer went to the Dr. yesterday and they said they couldn´t find anything wrong!