Weekend Trips...My favorite day in Bolivia!

So, I´m going to apologize ahead of time for this being so long. I think I have a lot to say because its been a week! So, first of all, I am beginning my project here. It is a proposal to Word Made Flesh in hopes of being of some use to them in their field. After talking with several people about ideas of what to do because the range of ideas is so huge, I have decided to possibly do market research with the tourists of La Paz. This is for a potential product that the girls could make. My ideas are some kind of pastry, cookie, basket, or knitted sweater. I am actually writing this to see if you, my wonderful readers (haha...I feel VERY strange saying that for some reason), have any great ideas. We must keep in mind that these girls don´t have many skills, so hopefully, we can find a product they can make easily and with a profit that tourists would like to buy. Let me know any ideas or recipes or anything to try out!!!

On to my fantastic weekend...and the pictures i just added...
The first one is of an amazing time on Good Friday. I was hanging out at my friend, Autumn´s house with her family. We watched "I am Legend," which was random, and then, they insisted we sing Kareoke! I was super nervous until I realized, "who cares if I can´t sing? And its so much more fun to not care." So, we belted it to some NSYNC "Bye bye bye" and Savage Garden "I knew I loved you." It was pretty incredible and an amazing time! We attempted Christina Aguilera´s "What a girl wants," then realized we never really knew the words except the chorus...but I had an amazing Good Friday with friends and new family!
I wasn´t looking forward to the weekend because a lot of people were traveling and I thought I´d be really bored. Sipriana (I realized I´ve spelt her name wrong the ENTIRE time!), Rebeca, and I went to the market to buy food for Saturday. While we´re there, we decide I will make pancakes for lunch the next day because they LOVE it when Gringos make pancakes. We´re talking on the way back, and I keep saying I´ll go get the things we can´t find in the morning, and they say "no!" It is soon after that we realize I had no clue that we were traveling the next day. Apparantly, they talked about it all day, and with our language barrier, I had no clue. It all came back to me when Juan was talking about throwing me in a river the next day that he was talking about our trip! So, the next morning, I wake up at 7 AM to make 40 pancakes for about 17 people. We leave at 9 to travel to Sipriana´s pueblo...where she lived as a child before she moved to the city of El Alto. Her sister, Juana, lives there with her 9 kids. They are incredible kids! Our bus ride was about 45 minutes to an hour and the views along the way were amazing. There were tiny little huts in the middle of fields all along the way with sheep and cows grazing the fields. We arrive to their little house. They have a duck (shown in one of the pictures with Nancy, Sara, and cousins, Kevin and Steven), 5 pigs, and 6 sheep! It was a dream! I really loved playing with the animals.
Shortly after I arrive, we begin lunch. It began as MY MOST FAVORITE lunch since I´ve been here. Pancakes with banana and apple cut up topped with chocolate sause! YUM! I finish my delicious (if I may say so) lunch, and am ready to go. But wait...this lunch turns sour. It ends as possibly my worst favorite...Then comes a blanket COVERED in chuños and potatoes. I´m weird and don´t really love potatoes, and if you remember, chuños are the things that taste like a sweat sock! So, if that isn´t enough, they pull out a bowl and put 4 fried sardines in front of me. I like fish...like when its battered well, fried, and you can´t tell its a fish...but its little eyes were looking at me. I kept thinking I´ll get out of it. But then, they kept saying, "hermana, come pescado" like 4 times...So, I honestly prayed at this moment for the Lord to pull me through this awkward time. I slowly pick one up and without ever looking at it, pull its head off and slowly eat it picking the teeny bones out of my mouth. And then I did it 3 more times. I could NOT believe I was doing it. I´ve always said if I was to go on Fear Factor, I´d dominate...except when they eat certain animals...I just hate it when they still look like the animal! :( So, after that I peaced out. They were saying we were going to work. Next thing I knwo I´m in a potato field with tool in hand whacking at the ground digging up potatoes! Juan was kind enough to document this occasion (also the pictures in the blog before!) I found some MASSIVE ones! These were for us to take home. They say they´ll last us a month. Then, we went up a huge mountain to a field of peas and beans and began to pick those for an hour or two. It was also amazing. The little boys were so sweet giving me flowers for my hair and asking me to speak English to them. The kept saying "Good morning...what is your name?" They were adorable! After this, we went to the top of the mountain where they is an INCREDIBLE view of the neighboring town!
After all the work was done, we had to end with a game of football. Excuse me, soccer...Americans are weird! jk! I began as goalie not thinking I could hold my own in a Latin American soccer craved culture, but soon enough, Sipriana came in and took my place insisting that I take the field. The call was flat, the field was a basketball court, and I was wearing jeans, but it was incredible! The whole family laughed and played together for probably an hour. I scored on Sipriana 4 times and she kept beating me and saying I need to find a new home! Honestly, this was by far my favorite day because I felt so at home here. Even though I´m pretty sure the kids thought I was a strange foriegner freak, I really felt a part of the family. i enjoyed traveling with them, getting to know Juan better through our travels together, and seeing the beautiful countryside of Bolivia.
On an awkward sidenote, as we were leaving, I asked where the bathroom was and got blank stares. They looked around and said "wherever!" This family doesn´t even have running water, yet they LOVE their life! To wash their hands, clothes, or bodies, they must walk about 8 minutes to a small river. This is the river Juan was talking about the day before! Sipriana said this is where she always washed kids as a child, and I got to understand a little more of where she comes from.
I wanted that day to never end! It ended spectacular also because Autumn was making spaghetti for her family and I got to join! This cancelled out my foul experience at lunch! Praise God for spaghetti and pancakes!

On Sunday, our church traveled to Tuni for an Easter retreat! It ended up only being our family and the pastor basically. We had seven representatives, but there were 14 churches represented! I actually understood a lot of the service (Thank you for those prayers!) That had a lot to do with Juan repeating to passages for me to find them on my own, and put together what he was probably saying. I was honestly somewhat dreading the trip for some reason, but it proved to be an amazing time. It was great to worship our Lord with so many people with different languages. There were many Aymara, Chetua, and of course, Spanish speaking people there! We were there for six hours, but it seemed like 2. At the end, every church had to come up and sing a song in front. The seven of us went...I was so awkward because I didn´t have or know the words, but it was fine. As soon as we finished, someone yelled..."sing a song in english!" That was comical. But so we left and waited for a while on what some would call a road in the middle of a field for a bus. Anyone who DID go by was full, but usually, there was no one. So, after about 25 minutes a truck somes by. Like a truck with wood on the sides. I jokingly said, "I want to go with him!" But I got my wish. We road the 40 minutes back standing up in the back of a truck! It was AMAZING, and so much fun. A woman got on and handed me her baby. I had no idea who´s it was even until about 20 minutes later when she wanted to get off and took it back! I honestly LOVED this experience, and am grateful that no buses came because I would´ve missed out on all the fun!

Anyway, I told you this would be long...Today is Sara´s birthday! I found a little barbie with clothes and a bracelet for her. All of them love it, and are arguing over who gets to wear the bracelet (that I bought for .26 in American money). I have just really loved it here, so thank you for all your prayers. Of course, I still love and miss home, but I am really beginning to feel at home. I know I´ll be sad to leave here in 75 days, but I´m grateful for the time I do have!

More pictures...stories to come in next blog!

Church Anniversaries...

So, this weekend has once again been a fun one. On friday, we served lunch to the girls and then, I really enjoyed learning a new game afterwards with a couple of staff and a couple of the girls that come to the center. It was basically yahtzee, but apparantly this game came first! I can´t remember the name! Then, Friday night was fun movie night. Saturday morning, we got together and died eggs! This was extra fun and challenging because you can´t find white eggs in El Alto, only the brown ones. We died them which didn´t work very well, and continued to just paint them to make them fun and pretty! In a couple days, we may even get to enjoy deviled eggs! YUM!

Saturday night, we had a community dinner with other missionaries in the La Paz area. This was super fun to be able to speak English for the night and enjoy new friends and fellowship. We worshipped and ate great food! Always a great combination. I even made a new friend that has mutual friends in Auburn...CRAZY!!!

Sunday proved to be interesting. We went to church for about 3 hours, then ventured home for lunch real quick and came back around 2. The festivities began for the all out anniversary party soon after. There was singing, performances, and cake. The entire church went up to the front and sang happy 12th birthday to the church at the end. It lasted until about 6:30 and about 4 times as many people that come to church came to this event. It was a fun celebration. It could only been better if I understood anything that was said or sung, but thats what spanish tutors are for! :)

I have been doing a little better with being actually homesick. It does make it a little tougher to be RIGHT next to the La Paz Airport (actually in El ALto), but I am a month in and realizing that the time really does fly by while I´m here. I definitely don´t want to wish the little time I have here away. One thing that helps me cope, and one thing I am REALLY desiring and appreciating are any letters from home. All the words I read here in this internet cafe, I must rely on my memories, but just a small note from home really rejuvenates my spirits! I will warn that packages can take up to 2 months to receive, especially if large, so don´t send anything after one month from now unless it is a small letter! In case you´re wondering... :)
Kelly Eckert
C/O Cara Strauss
Casilla 25022
El Alto, Bolivia
South America

I love and miss yall! Peace!

New friends and family are what I live for!

Well, I have had an interesting couple of day...in a good way this time!! Saturday, some of the team went down to La Paz (some of the team is a little sick with colds and head aches, so pray for them), and we ate salteñas! These are amazing little pot pie type things...almost like a hot pocket, but like 600 times better. There are vegetarian, chicken, beef, and all kinds. They were incredible and it was great to just sit with my team and new friends to just hang out and enjoy time together. We were then going to go bowling. Here, bowling consists of a building 2 lanes wide, smaller ball, smaller pins, and after every bowl, kids jump down on the end of the lane and adjust the pins for you. SADLY, it was closed all morning. We decided to go to the Museum of Modern Art instead which was great. We then enjoyed time sitting on a park bench together for an hour or two in the bright sun!

Sunday, I went to church with the kids, and even though I love the singing and the atmosphere and the charisma of the preacher, I still haven´t learned enough Spanish to fully understand what the sermons are about. This Sunday is the anniversary of the church, so a VERY funny and interesting thing occured after church. Directly after offering was taken and the songs stopped, it went directly into a community meeting about who was cooking what and what times everything was happening. There was little volunteer and much debate over time, so the meeting lasted about an hour after church. So, church begins at 10:30 and we all left at around 1:30. It was a pretty tense, but great experience. I look forward to this Sunday´s celebration!

Monday, we went back to Missionaries of Charity. Yes, I went with a little apprehension about the day, but it went great. I helped the women make their beds, sweep and mop the floors for a couple hours, then worked on a craft. We ran into the mom of the baby, and I asked her how she was doing and she said well. We have since learned she has lost one other baby and has 7 children. So, although she is recovering, she still has a tough life. She is very poor and works to support her seven children and alcoholic husband. I also learned the baby was only allowed to be there because she worked there. They normally do not take children under the age of 1.

This morning, the team, our servant team coordinator, Cara, and I did team building. We played so many games that taught us so much about ourselves. In all, it was a GREAT time to play these challenges and just hang out. I am really enjoying my community here with new friends and new family. They are friends I have already learned a lot from and about, and they are people I truly look up to and aspire to be like...when i grow up! (I am the youngest, so I can still say that!) Well, I am still having a small struggle with missing home, but I have really appreciated the support from my community at home, church, and school. Without this community of support, I would not be where I am today, physically in this place, emotionally stable, or spiritually seeking God´s heart for the poor of Latin America. Thank you!

More pictures!

This is a view from our house on a clear day. Although it rains a LOT here, it occassionally looks like this and you can see the BEAUTIFUL mountains! I love them!

Cipriana. This isn´t a great picture, but that is mostly because no one smiles here! I can´t figure out why, but she is beautiful inside and out! My second Mamá!

This is Tarzon! My dog...I couldn´t get it to turn around after I loaded it...and since loading it took 40 minutes, it wasn´t worth trying anything different, but he´s great...except when he tries to attack my friends and I have no control over him to stop him...
Yay for more pictures! Hope you enjoy them!

Feliz Cumpleaños Nancy!

I have been recovering from the traumatic events of the other day. I don´t know if it is right or not, but it helps that I don´t have to go back until Monday. Andy, my old friend and director of WMF Bolivia, did a short bible study on Wednesday about hope. We read Isaiah 65:17-25. Verse 20 says, ¨Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his year´s; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth¨ This definitely offered me hope of a heaven so greater than this Earth we all dwell in. And I am so happy for this baby that is now living in this place next to our Father.
Thank you for all your comments, prayers, and emails! It is tough, but I pray for the faimly now most of all.

On a happy note, last weekend was also Nancy´s birthday. I had brought a coloring book or two, and after noticing her intense LOVE for coloring, I decided it was the best gift for her. Her birthday almost went unnoticed except we had jello at lunch and the pastor over after church. Then, I gave her the coloring book and a box of crayons. I have never seen a kid so happy in all my days. She RAN aroud the house screaming THANK YOU THANK YOU...Momma LOOK!!! She has colored at least 5 pages every day and organizes her crayons when she´s done. She takes it to school. Today, I got to pick her up for the second time all by myself! I get a couple stares from the other moms, but for the most part they are extremely respectful here. But anyway, as I was picking her up, I saw her showing off her coloring book to a friend and giving her one of the stickers from inside. It really made me happy to bless her in this way. Next, it is Sarah´s birthday...she will be 11, and I must figure out a gift for her!

It is El Alto day today. The president, Evo Morales, walked the streets in a grand parade that lasted the entire day. From the windows of the center, we got a great view of the hundreds of thousands out to celebrate. It was incredble.

But sorry to cut this short, but I must go to dinner! I can´t be late!

One Crazy Morning...

I´m going to be honest...today has been SUPER hard! I have experienced things I never expected to when I signed up. Since it is Tuesday, the team and I spent the morning at Missionaries of Charity. We decided to switch off and today, I was in charge of the kids. The kids are not disabled as the rest of the residents. They are only a day child care for impoverished families to not have to pay for child care. Well, this in itself was an experience. First, there are 35-40 kids all under the age of 4 in one little building where they run rampant. It is only me, a resident (meaning a severely disabled man unable to communicate), and another girl that is in charge. Immediately after breakfast, she somewhat dissapeared and I didn´t see her again for a couple hours. So, I was basically left with this chaos. There are at least 10 kids crying at any given moment, kids hitting each other, and going to the bathroom in their pants all day. At least 20 have constant runny noses that flow all over everything, so I in turn end up picking them up, having their wet pants seep through my clothes to my skin and their snot all over my hands and clothes. They go to the bathroom in little buckets that are all over the floor of the bathroom. Many of them miss, and the smell of urine and ´number 2´ are everywhere you go. This in itself would have made for a hard day, but unfortunately, there´s more...so much more...

So, I have been holding this one child for about an hour and a half because she cries every time I put her down. Finally, she falls asleep, so I carry her into the sleeping room. In here, I find another little baby wrapped up in many blankets. It is sleeping soundly, so I go back out. I went back in an hour later to check on the kid I laid down. She was awake, so I got her...the other baby was waking up by the noise, and moving around a little bit. I took the little girl out and since no one else seemed to ever care to go back into this room to check on this baby, I did about ten minutes later...and the baby´s eyes were open...but it wasn´t moving. Immediately, I began to panic and unwrapped the baby as quick as possible...and it was so warm, but it wasn´t breathing. I sprinted out of the room already in a panic and sobbing and unable to breathe myself. I find the girl ´in charge´ carryingi n food for lunch and have her come quick. I then find out the mom works there, and she comes running and grabs her baby. In the moment, I sprint to find a sister (one of the nuns) and my team. As I reach my team, I can´t even talk...Honestly, I collapsed to the floor in their presence telling them. Laura knows CPR and so we sprinted out and she attemped, but they stopped her within 3 seconds and sent the mom on her way to the hospital with the baby, but they don´t realize it needed it now...by the time it got there, it was too late.

I discovered later, the baby was sick and unable to eat and receive milk, and it had many issues breathing. He was only 2 months old, and I know that is Heaven looking down on us now. He is so much better off than any of us here on Earth now. My teammates have comforted me and let me know I did all that I could, but I still have never witnessed anything like this before. I´ve seen a baby pup die of pnemonia as I pet it, and that was so tramumatic, but this was a human life!!! Please pray for comfort for the family. He is now in the hands of the Lord, so the babe is now in the best of hands. Thank you in advance for your prayers!

WALLYBALL!

Hey! Not too much has happened since the last post. On Wednesday and Fridays, we go to La Casa de Esperanza to serve lunch to the women. On Friday, there was a meeting, so tons of women were there! I was helping with childcare, which is MUCH harder than you think. Since these kids have such a violent and crazy upbringing, they are in turn, violent and undisciplined. They ended up being alright, but my spanish needs some touching up since all I can say to them is careful and don´t run.
On Saturday, we had a GREAT time playing Wallyball with our families. All of us got to invite our families to a court in town. Wallyball is Volleyball, but you can use the walls! It was so fun to laugh and plau not only with our families, but with all of our teammates since we haven´t all met everyone. It got pretty competitive, but I must say, my team was amazing!!!

Cipriana has taken yet another hit. Her aunt died last week, so she had to attend the funeral last Thursday all day, and I know its been hard on her. She often sneaks away to have a few moments which is not usual of Bolivians to not always be with family and friends. Continue to pray for her healing and for peace for her without her sons.