I woke up a little bit before my alarm went off, but I was able to fall back to sleep. Since I fell back to sleep and was comfortable in bed, I reluctantly got out of my bed with my alarm at eight. Then I went downstairs to have a piece of bread and to glasses of water for breakfast. Lucas was downstairs along with his grandfather so I talked with them as I had breakfast. After breakfast I came up stairs and went back to bed since I still felt tired. However, I could not go back to sleep, so I got up and got ready for my day. Next, I did my morning devotion and then used the internet. I still had some time before I needed to leave for my last day at Casa de Nazeret. In that time I decided to relax and get myself mentally ready for the next couple of days. While relaxing I realized that I failed to mention on Tuesday that I have connected with what I have read in my book and it has helped me to understand my experience. Also, on Tuesday I had a discussion with Tom that helped me understand more of my experience in Cochabamba. When I was done getting myself prepared for the next couple of days, I decided to read some more of my book so I finish it by tomorrow. I then headed out for my last day with the boys at Casa de Nazeret. The truffi ride was normal except, I got out early so I could run into the grocery store to get matches for a craft that was due later tonight and chocolates for the boys as a good-bye and thank you present. I was successful in getting the chocolates, but no luck at all finding the matches. It also took me longer than I expected in the store so I thought that I was running late, but I had to remember that here in Bolivia there is no such thing as being late. Next, I went and caught a micro to the boy’s home and arrived later than I ever have. So late that I thought that I would be interrupting their lunch, but when I arrived they had not even started lunch. When I arrived I was greeted by the lady in charge and then by all the boys. For lunch I had this plate with some lettuce, tomatoes, onions, with a potato, a piece of cheese, and it was all covered in a peanut sauce. At lunch I sat with the boys and talked about many different topics. The funniest one was the fact that I grab two forks by accident instead of a knife and a fork so the boys and I laughed about it. During lunch I tried to act as if it was another normal day at the home. However, when lunch was almost over I saw the head sister go to one of the tables with some of the older boys and talked with them. The next thing I notice is the boys at the table look at me with an expression of shock and sadness so I figured that she had told them that this was my last day. When lunch was over, one of the boys from the table walked over with the head sister and the head sister announced that it was my last day and then the boy gave me a gift. Then the sister asked if anyone would like to say thank you to me and almost all the boys hands went up in the air which made me feel very special. Next, the sister called on about a dozen boys and they all said thank you to me for various things and then they came and gave me a hug afterwards. A majority of the boys thanked me for helping them with their homework, for taking them to the park to play soccer, and for being at the home with them. Some of them wished me well on my travels and made comments on my character. This was very nice of them and emotionally hard for me. The boys wanted me to open the gift afterwards so I did and it was a small bag for holding money that is typical here in Bolivia. It was then time for the boys to do their chores and so I talked with one of the other volunteers about flying back home because I have been told that flights are usually late here. It was then time for homework so I went into the room to help out one last time all the boys I could with there homework. I helped with solving math word problems the whole time during homework. This meant that there was every kind of math problem addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. After homework I was able to talk with Tom and he gave me matches so I went to do the project of creating the project of miniature replicas of some of the books of the Bible. Then I went to say good-bye to the other people at the boy’s home and then the boys that were still at the house. It was hard to say good-bye to the boys because all of them said that they did not want me to leave and when would I return. During this emotionally rough time, I told them that I had left my email with the volunteer who helps the boys send emails and that they can write to me. Next, I headed to the park to say good-bye to the rest of the volunteers and the boys who were with them. I gave the chocolates to the one volunteer who has a system of giving the boys chocolates and then say good-bye to the boys. All of them gave me a hug and then I told them what I had told them the information about my email because the same events of not wanting me to leave and when would I return occurred. I then headed up to Shawnee’s house for my meeting with her and my final time of taking public transportation in Cochabamba. When I got to Shawnee’s, I was greeted by Shawnee and then Omar and Paula as well as they were doing their homework for class later in the evening. Shawnee and I then went outside and she did her laundry, we had our meeting. We discussed the summer, my evaluation, and then I shared other thoughts that I had and events that happened while she was back in the United States. Before I knew it, it was time to head to class so Shawnee took us to class. On the way to class, we stopped at a grocery store to get a snacks and a drink. While Shawnee and Paula went shopping, Omar and I stayed in the car and talked about my time here and then Omar gave me a bracelet and basically repeated to me what he had told me as we were getting to go on the retreat. Basically, he told me I was Bolivian which made me feel very blessed to hear that. This class we talked about the homework that we were given and looked at several different Scripture passages that had analogies of what the Word of God is. I was able to share my thoughts and read with minimal difficulty. After class the youth showed up at the church office and so we greeted each other and then I made it a point to say good-bye to Father Walter. The youth along with Shawnee gathered with me to discuss what we wanted to do with each other for my final night in Cochabamba. It was then decided that since Shawnee had not been bowling here and neither have I; that is what we would do. So all of us went bowling; however, I did not realize until we got there that it was everyone’s first time bowling except for me. So Shawnee explained the rules and the how to bowl. In the beginning, nobody really did well but everyone got better as the game went on. I enjoyed bowling very much because it was a great time to socialize one more time with the people I have spent the most time with. I think everyone had great time because there was a lot of smiles and laughter. The game was very interesting for me because I did not do so well in the beginning. However, I came back and was able to break one hundred and so they said that I had won the game. We then drove one of the girls home because she had school tomorrow and her parents wanted her not to be out to late. Before she went into her house she said good-bye to everyone including me and wished me well with my travels. Afterwards, I thought that I would be going back to my house here in Cocabamba, but Shawnee had other plans. She asked the group what they wanted to show me before I left. So we went to this restaurant and got hamburgers, fries, and Coke to drink. During the time at the restaurant, the group went around telling jokes so we all laughed a lot. Then we went to this café and they showed me this game that is kind of like Yatzee. It was very fun and interesting because my team ended up winning both of the games that we played. Next, I was brought back to my house and prayed for by the whole group. All of them thank God for my example of coming into another culture and language and talking about His Word. They also prayed for my travels. This prayer was such a neat experience and once again a very emotional time for me. After the prayer, I received hugs and more well wishes from everyone in the group. I then gave Shawnee the bag with all the bookmarks and another present for Juan that I forgot to give him and asked her to give them out. She said that she wanted to copy Juan’s gift first and then told him he would get it later. Also, I thanked the group for everything and then said if it was at all possible that if I could come back for their retreat in January that I would be here. Then I told them that they were all good friends of mine and so I went around and got hugs from the whole group again. Before I entered my house, I decided to give Omar my cross because he said that he liked it the whole time I have been here and also he has helped me out a lot the whole time I have been here. Also, I had forgot to get my capo back from him I told him that he could have that as well or I thought he might give it to Samuel since he now has one. Upon entering my house, I immediately got ready for bed, said some night time prayers and went straight to bed.
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