Eventful week

Wow. So much has happened this past week, I didn’t even manage to write an entry. Well, to cut a long story short: I survived my first week of the semester and I actually really love my classes. I don’t need any credits so I don’t have any stress. I can work at my own pace and decide which assignments I want to do and for which ones I don’t have time. Furthermore, it’s really nice to have a Christian perspective on education for at least one semester. I’ve always wished that something like “bible class” would belong to my curriculum. Now it does. I feel a bit old though because I’m the grandma out of 40 (only “Grandpa” is older) but that’s ok. Concerning denomination, our class is mixed. I guess half of it is Catholic, some are different kinds of Protestants and the rest is Adventist. Nobody claimed to be an Atheist though. I’ve never been in a class like that. Germany is somehow different…

On Monday, I was told that somebody was looking for me but they couldn’t find me. I thought it was some guy who wanted to spend time with me so I didn’t care, but an hour later they called me again. EUFRONIO!!!! I was so happy to see him again. He had been in Europe with his family and they had just returned on Sunday. They live in Quillacollo (that means just around the corner…) and he was the responsible person for the construction sides all the years I had been the cook (and many more) of the German group that builds 2 churches here in Bolivia every year. He is smaller than me, but a godly man full of energy who seems not to know any problems. At least whenever I had a problem (with the refrigerator or whatever), he knew how to fix it. And his big genuine smile can fix the worst mood anyways. His wife Cira helped me a lot in the kitchen in 2003 and 2005. I really love her, too! They invited me to visit them whenever I feel like it. I guess I’ve found my family in Bolivia. Leanny (19) and Abraham (20) are great siblings anyways. Thank you Lord for giving me a family far away from my own!

The next very important event was Wednesday night the arrival of exactly this German church building group. I’ve been the cook of this group in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and it was great to see familiar faces again. They’re a small group this time (17 people) but it doesn’t matter. I finally got some real bread and don’t have to eat rice twice a day for at least 2 weeks! I addition to that, I got the permission to leave campus without a permission as long as I’m with the group. Since the three couples of the group live in guest rooms in the girls dorm, I don’t even have a problem anymore to get into the dorm when the doors are locked (since they have keys). I feel just great. I feel free! On Friday, I went to the construction side with them since I only have classes from Monday till Thursday and yesterday, we went for a hike in the mountains (see picture). The majority of the group drove back, but Eufronio and Leanny asked if anyone wanted to walk back with them… =) I really enjoyed that Sabbath!

My body didn’t get used to Bolivia yet though. On Friday during lunch on the construction side, my stomach already felt strange. Since I had promised to buy some food stuff for some people of the group, I went to Quillacollo after lunch. Somehow I managed to find everything and to even carry all the bags to the bus, but some hundred metres away from the main entrance of the university, someone got off the bus… and I jumped out, too, and breakfast and lunch found their way back outside… After I got off the bus, I threw up again, but felt a lot better afterwards. Diarrhea followed. Well… I’m so happy, that all the 5 times I’ve been to Bolivia before, I’ve never had any serious health problems. This time is the first time I’m not responsible for anything so I can afford being sick once in a while. I immediately drowned the diarrhea with my cola-charcoal mix though and I’m already fine again.

Yeah, that was a short summary of the past week. The best one here so far =) I feel blessed, thankful and free. I hope many more like this one will follow, but for now I have to dedicate my time to some ordinary jobs like washing clothes by hand and doing homework…

Wish you all the best wherever you are,
maria