It's Always Sunny in La Paz

This is my view on the way to work as I cross this bridge over the street. GAH. Seriously every day it looks like this--perfectly blue and gorgeous. There are very few street lights in the city, so either there are policeman that direct traffic, or there is chaos. Actually there is just chaos all the time. I love it. I think I would love to drive in this city.

I will never get over the beauty of these mountains. In the distance in this pic is La Muela del Diablo--the tooth of the devil. Going to climb it soon.

Work has been great! And a doozy. Whew. So far, I've learned how to use Excel in Spanish, and I've translated several financial presentations into Spanish. My vocab has increased by about 100%, haha, but solely financial terms! Not super helpful in life. Work is a challenge for sure but I am loving finally having a schedule and contributing something to the world.

The fruit here is one of my favorite facets of Bolivian life. Like that alliteration? Mhmm. Every day I drink at least 5 cups of freshly squeezed fruit juice. Amazing. And, I've picked up some useful fruit info, por ejemplo, there are mangOS and mangAS. Who knew.

In other news. Lately... let's see, I watched Toy Story 3 on Sunday, WATCH IT, hilarious, hearing Buzz Lightyear speak in Spanish was kind of a highlight. Tonight was caregroup, love hanging out with these people. This weekend is a youth retreat for the church, down in Las Yungas, which is the jungle-ish area a bit to the north. Apparently one can see llamas on the drive down. I'll keep you posted.

Observations from Bolivian Church.

- We left at 10:30 for church at 10am. Turns out we were early.

- Worship lasted for nearly an hour. BLISS. We sang Eres Todopoderoso--ah mi favorita!

- First time I've ever heard Song of Solomon quoted during worship. Interesting.

- I love, love small churches. This one is a church plant off of the main church in the city center. Everyone, even the 10-yr old kids, was serving! Made me even more excited about church planting in the future!

- It was a stupid idea to think I could read my Greek NT and absorb Spanish preaching at the same time. I'll work on that.

QUE TRUCHA

That's a favorite Bolivian phrase for LAME. Which is what today was since the US lost to Ghana. Que triste! :( (Thomas don't hate, you deserved the win I guess...). I watched the game with a group of Bolivians and Americans--they didn't sympathize too much with us because everyone here is supporting Germany or Spain. ?? But the World Cup is great here--everyone knows every stat and every rule and watches every game. And every Sunday there's futbol after church!

Yesterday Moises gave me a tour of Obrajes (he's a son in the family here) for a couple hours--whew, everything is up and down! There is no walking in straight lines. I LOVE the city though. Everything is nestled inside the folds of the mountains and the architecture is unique since nothing is flat. Afterwards we hung out at the apartment of some American interns working for IJM and World Vision here in La Paz. Hilarious evening of cookies, crepes, and travel planning. Things are already in the works for a bike ride down Yungas Road, more affectionately known as El Camino del Muerte. I won't translate that for you so you don't freak out, but no worries, many have succeeded!

Today I ate my first saltena!!--a delicious spicy meat/potato pastry that Bolivians eat between breakfast and lunch (Dad--I will try to bring one home for you!). Sara (oldest daughter in the family) gave me saltena-consumption class as it's a work of art to not squirt spicy juice all over oneself. Of course I was so full after the saltena that I couldn't eat much lunch (dinner to us! HUGE meal at 2 pm) and I could barely manage dinner, although that was the best giro I've had! We drove up to the skirts of the city tonight and oh man what a view (for some reason the moon is 1000x brighter here), and afterwards some beautiful Spanish songs around a bonfire. Good day. The people here are making this very easy for me--they are wonderful! Can't wait for church tomorrow!!

Five cups of coca tea later, and no altitude sickness yet!

Well as you know I am no blogger, if you tried to follow my Scotland blog (ahem)... :) But being alone in a non-English speaking country, this will be my English respite as well as a motivation to record what God is showing me here. Because frankly I don't really know what I'm doing and I know I will be veeeery stretched and very in need of his daily provision. So dear friends, here's to my hopefully consistent and definitely short and sweet blog! Hurrah.

And this is La Paz!! Golllyyyy, my jaw was dropped the whole ride back from the airport. And the entire trip from Lima to La Paz. Here's a snapshot out the window of the plane: the Andes are GLORIOUS. Sure puts Sugarloaf into perspective.

I begin work on Monday at World Vision. I really do NOT know what to expect. But I do know God opened many doors for me to come here, and even though I've been a stupid gringa for the past two days and I can't foresee myself being a service to anyone anywhere here, God has some reason... even if it's just to show me the work he is doing among the nations and to increase my dependence on him and my open-handedness to his plan. I finally finished Isaiah this week and was encouraged as I set off with this--"But now, O LORD, YOU are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand." -Is 64:8. I'm prayin that he uses this time to mold my character, skills and vision for my future career and life. Please pray for that!! My goal for these two months, though my present skills and Spanish render me seemingly useless, is that the Lord creates a humble tool out of this clay for his purpose. "I long to be kept by God in an attitude of willing surrender so that he can go on to perfect that which concerns me; so that he can go on stripping and whittling and sandpapering until he is content with the new arrow he is creating." - Helen Roseveare

More on Bolivian life and culture later. May I just say their diet is stellar. Good thing this is the highest capital in the world and I will hopefully get some intense exercise. Oh and Peru!! I got to spend a surprise 30-hr-all-expenses-paid visit to Lima. A cancelled flight turned into a gift. Yes.