“I’ll be there in nine minutes.”

“I don’t know” was my reply. “It is late in the day and it is a bit of a half baked plan”, I continued. “I’ll be there in eight minutes” was the only reply. Reluctantly I said yes and in eight minutes we were off to the “the concha”. The “we” was CBM Global Field Staff missionary Duane Guthrie, my son Matthew and myself. The “where” was “the concha” or shell in English which is the familiar name for the mother of all open air markets here in Cochabamba. Imagine an open air market the size of West Edmonton Mall with 100 times the amount of vendors in the same location. It is a city unto itself. There are numerous restaurants inside, barber shops on the outskirts as well as places to buy every item ever conceived as well as the required daily fresh fruits and vegetables. It is the only destination for many items and definitely the only destination for items at reasonable prices in Cochabamba. The mission was to find a small barbeque for our apartment. We have been living in Bolivia for 7 weeks now and so far we have done a good job of being Bolivian by consuming nothing more than chicken the whole time. For a Saskatchewan farm boy and a Calgarian who normally get nervous at the thought of less than 50 pounds of red meat in the freezer, we were starting to develop a combination between a nervous twitch and a Pavlov’s dog response at the site of red meat. We did some initial investigation and although natural gas is plentiful here, natural gas or propane BBQs are not. They cook things “old school” here using charcoal or “carbon” in Spanish. This idea is that eating is a social experience and taking more time is not an issue. As well it firmly secures the universal concept that the means to grilling meat must be complicated and multi-staged to ensure that the grill is the sole domain of the male of the species. (insert grunt sound here). We heard word that barbeques existed in the “la concha” but like finding a needle in a hay stack, the ‘where’ was the key to the problem. I knew that in order to succeed we must go further and deeper than anyone with white skin had ever ventured into “la concha”. This is why I had chosen my partner carefully. Having left a business in Canada to run the virtually non-existent micro loan program in El Alto Bolivia, I knew Duane was my man (not to mention his Spanish is better than mine). Because this was a significant cultural event, my son asked to be involved which was good because his color might make them think we were Bolivian for a second and make them slightly disoriented which would mask the disoriented looks on our faces. We landed in the extreme North West corner of the market knowing that the elusive BBQs would likely be in the extreme south but navigating the roads to that location is only for local and taxis. We set out walking and asked an unsuspecting young girl on the outskirts of the market if she knew of the existence of small BBQs in “la concha”. We both understood “that way” but not much else. Undeterred we marched on. We breezed through electronics and small appliances, then took a back route and walked for two blocks in a four foot wide aisle with nothing but clothes. Every five feet or so of the two blocks was a different vendor. How do these businesses survive? We emerged at section 1 of the market which is tourist items, musical instruments, school supplies and food stands for the people who work there. Continuing south we passed by section 2 which I have named Fabricland but also includes more food stands, backpacks, luggage and sporting goods. I think there is a bakery in there as well. As we came to the end of that section we were presented with a wide road and what appeared to be another market. This was the new world for all of us and in it laid the promise of a BBQ. With little hesitation we crossed the bus laden street and waded in. There were many vendors selling pasta, flour and similar cooking items and, of course, there were the ever-present food courts but there seemed to be no sign of anything like a BBQ. We paused to get out bearings, not wanting to get lost. As we discussed where we were, Duane suggested that we were likely deeper into the “la concha” than most gringos choose to go and motioned over my shoulder. I turned to see the aisle of ancient Inca herbs and mystic items, thought to bring good luck. There were herbs and other things hanging from string but what was impossible to miss was the sight of dehydrated llama foetuses. I had seen pictures and heard stories about such items and the ancient religion that exists here but it was numbing to see it first-hand. We decided that we were indeed not in the right place and it was time to move on. We turned and moved one more aisle only to find much of the same cooking supplies. We were about to give up when Duane asked a elderly female vendor if she knew of any small BBQs. Of course there are two or three words for the same item depending on your location in Latin America and after some back and forth she understood and proceeded to physically take us to them. It was only two aisles over but the scenery on route was a blur. There were numerous stands selling meat and parts of a cow that I am pleased to say I did not know or care to know. By now the smell was also somewhat intense and indescribable. We rounded a corner to find the aisle we had heard so much about and wondered if we would ever find. There we two vendors left open and they had BBQs from ultra-compact to top of the line waiting for purchase. We chose a small one that would we could use in our apartment. It was hand made from steel with collapsible legs and sold for just under $20. I completed the deal cheerfully and we made our way in the direction of a clear view of the sky. As we began the long walk back we talked and revelled in our success. We had gone deeper into “la concha” than most dared and survived. Another successful day in Bolivia, we agreed.
On a serious note, seeing the Inca “spiritual” items reminded me of the spiritual state of this land. Our adventure came on the heels of a large 3 day festival called Urkupina which took place in the town just outside of Cochabamba . It has become a major cultural celebration with lots of dancing and unfortunately a lots of drinking as well. The festival is actually based on a believed sighting of the virgin Mary by a shepherd girl near the town many years ago. Many people make a pilgrimage walk out to the town in hopes of bringing good fortune for themselves for the coming year. It is a strange mixture of Catholicism and mysticism. For the pastors and Christians represented by the Bolivian Baptist Union the struggle is great. There are many people who believe in a god or even the God we know yet are seeking hope and peace. They are searching for answers from anywhere but the truth of God’s Word and a relationship with His son Jesus and this is the challenge. Pray for a new ability amongst the Christians here to speak truth to their fellow Bolivians.

Today was a good day.

This morning after Brian's English class we headed over to the Casa de la Amistad. Brian wanted to quickly go assess the ceiling fans in each class that need repair and make an inventory of the things he needs to repair, replace and add more of. I wandered around for 10 minutes or so trying to figure out where I should be. Finally I was directed to a classroom where 5 teens were working on their homework. I was introduced to Sandra, Fernando, Luis, Porfirio and Breydi. Their teacher showed me that Luis was working on English homework. I sat down and for the next 1.5 hours we worked through his lesson. Although everyone else has their own work to do, Porfirio was very eager to listen and join in on Luis' lesson. When the work was done the boys invited me to play a few rounds of game called Jenga in Canada but something else here. I lost the first two rounds and luckily they didn't laugh at me but with me (at least that's what I hope). At 12 noon we headed downstairs and out into the court yard to eat lunch after which it was time for Brian and I to leave. These boys would be off to school in the afternoon. As I sat and hung out with them and worked on homework and played games I forgot the reality of the lives of these kids. Tonight when I snuggle my kids into bed they will go home, as they do each night to a home that is behind prison walls with their inmate parent. Their faces looked like any other child. They laughed and joked as if they had no care in the world. The boys were nicely dressed with uniforms from our partner from Obadis (the Sharing Way in Bolivia), they had shiny black shoes (provided by the Bolivian government) and their hair was neatly groomed yet, as I walked away and passed by the men's and women's prison's my heart was saddened for the path which they walk each day. They are exposed to so much danger and struggle. Please pray for the many children who live inside Bolivian prison's with their parents. Pray that these programs and the many people who work at the Casa and care about them will help them rise above their situation but more importantly that they will come to know the God of the universe who knows them intimately and loves them as much as he loves you and I.

Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to school we go.

Today was the first day of school for Matthew and Sarah and in typical Bolivian fashion it came with a hiccup or two. We weren't sure if a school bus was coming for them until around 8pm last night and even when we recieved the call all of the instructions were in spanish. We were outside waiting 5 minutes early for the bus that eventually arrived 20 min late and across the busy street. The bus showed up at 8am which was the same time we were supposed to be down town for the first English class that Brian would teach. Luckily us being 15min late still meant we were the first one's there. Í'm not sure how long it will take me to get used to the Bolivian late factor. Nothing starts on time. Unfortunately I have had 40years engrained into me that being late is wrong! I think by 8:30 all the students arrived but the class is only 1 hour long from 8-9. Brian was able to teach some general greetings and the differences between the Spanish and English phrases. After the class we walked over to the Casa de la Amistad where we tried to discuss with the director Rodrigo what he wanted us to do. In similar way Brian has a few electrical jobs to work on and give him some clear purpose and me not so much.
Please pray for me that I would be placed in the area or classroom where God wants me as right now I am frustrated with my willy-nilly purpose.( see Julie Parr for definition on willy-nilly)
We will be teaching and working at Casa every Mon/Wed/Frid for now.

Friday in Chapare

On Friday us and several others decided to go on a road trip to Chapare. Chapare is about 3 hours east of here towards Santa Cruz at the Amazon Baison. We were shocked at how quickly the landscape changed. Currently Cochabamba is very dry and dessert like in a valley with the mountains to the north. The further we drove the more tropical it became and the humidity definately went with it. The vegetation was very similar to Hawaii. Many different types of trees all packed together to make a jungle. It was great to see the ferns, palms, banana's and thousands of others. Houses we raised off of the ground. We arrived at a town called Villa Tunari at lunch time and went to an anual fish festival for lunch. The food was delicous. We had surubi with rice. After lunch we drove down the road and found a place to go swimming in a local river.

We changed in the bush and then negotiated our way across the rocks to get in. Some of us sat on the rocks just dangling our feet while others plunged right in. I eventually decided I didn't want to regret just watching so got on my suite and headed in. It was hard to tell if the strange feeling on my legs were the fish nipping at us or not. After the river we drove a little farther down the road for some fresh juice with milk. Passion Fruit was the most popular flavor and definitely worth the drive. We started to head off to begin the journey home as it started to rain and in the jungle region when it rains it rains. Unfortunately one of the vehicles died along the journey. We managed to drive one car into the town where we had lunch and find a mechanic to take back out to the highway. The outcome was all bad and the car had to be towed into town and left there while we hired another driver and vehicle to take 7 of us back to Cochabamba. We have learned that pretty much anything can be bought in Bolivia and for cheap too. For the driver, the van, the gas for a 3 hour trip costs us around 35 Canadian. Unbelievable!! We all made it home, tired, wet and hungry but safe and sound and seeing some of the most beautiful parts of Bolivia.

I really had one of those days when I couldn't believe I am actually here. How amazing is this!

Thank you God for this journey. You are so Good to me.

Today we fiesta!

Today was Bolivia's day of independence and we were invited to a BBQ to the home of Ivan and Christine along with his family and our other friends of team Bolivia. We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of eating and eating and eating oh and did I mention eating. I think Ivan cooked enough meat for 3 or 4 more families. The meal was fantastic and the company even better. We sat in the backyard and enjoyed conversation and of course some amazing music played by Wilson(Ivan's brother-in law ) on the churanga and Ivan on the guitar. Wow do those boys have talent! The sun was shining and I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful way to spend the afternoon. I must say for all the hype leading up to this day around the city I've been rather disappointed in the city's festivities but maybe we just weren't in the right places. I've been waiting for the fireworks to go off as it's now 10 at night and usually they are going off on any random day for whatever reason. Flags are waving from every balcony, building and taxi car. We were able to purchase a large Bolivian flag for only $3.5 Canadian. As tomorrow is the last day of summer vacation for us missionary families before the kids start school we're all heading on a day trip tomorrow to Chapare. I will post more regarding this trip on the weekend.