August 5th 2008

Since I had a good night sleep last night, I woke up a little bit before my alarm went off with the sun shining in my face. When my alarm went off at eight, I got up and went downstairs to have breakfast. I had the usual piece of bread and glass of water for breakfast. After breakfast I came back upstairs to lie in bed and relax or possibly go back to sleep. However, I was unable to go back to sleep so I decided to get back up. As soon as I got back up, I did my morning devotion. Then I took some more time to reflex on my time in Cochabamba and then I used the internet. After being on the internet, I decide that I would look at the Scripture for a devotional I will being doing on a retreat when I return home. I did this because I like to wrestle with it and allow God to give me insights to what he wants me to share with the group. Since I had a lot of time before I needed to leave; I started reading a book that Betty let me borrow and that was a recommended read before I left, but I never got the chance to read Gracias by Henri Nouwen. I was able to read a little bit of the book before I had to leave. My decision to leave early was a good on because the main road that the truffi normally was closed because some rocks fell off a truck and was blocking the road. So the truffi had to take another route, but I still got where I needed to go. Then the micro I took was extremely full so I was glad that I had all my valuables in my backpack; so nothing was stolen from me again. When I arrived at Casa de Nazeret, some of the boys were there because they did not have school today because tomorrow is Independence Day for Bolivia. However, all the boys greeted me and even when the rest of the boys came home; they greeted me as well. While waiting for lunch I played some soccer with some of the boys. It was weird today because as I was playing soccer, it was very windy and it even rained for a little while. This is the second time it has rained since I have been in Cocabamba. Then I even talked with one of the boys that I become good friends with. Also, Tom told me that he talked with Larry for my evaluation and said that my only problem is that I am quiet. However, Tom said that this is my personality and that it can not be changed. This information, some of the reading I have done, and the praying I have done before and while I am in Bolivia has helped me to know more and define my calling. It was then time for lunch in which I realized again I was quiet because the boys were talking at the table when I came and sat down and did not realize I was there until later on. For lunch I had really fatty piece of meat, with some cabbage, rice with cheese, and a potato. The boys at lunch talked about not having any homework since there is no school tomorrow. After lunch I supervised as the boys did their chores. As I went around, I went up to the same boy who I have become good friends with and instead of telling him to do his chore; I told him to do his homework so we both had a good laugh about that statement. Before it was time for the boys to do homework, I sat down with another missionary to figure out the method that they do multiplication and division here. When it was time to do homework, I practiced with one of the boys division problems. I think after working together for awhile he finally got it. Then he went to the other missionary who gave him a problem and he was able to do it without my help. I then went to the park with the other missionary and some of the boys to play soccer. However, the boys did not want to listen today. So I practiced passing and other skills with some of the boys. When the boys headed back to the house I decided to leave to go home since I heard that festivities start tonight for tomorrow, so I wanted to be home before it was dark. It took me a while to get home because the truffi that I normally take was full. So I walked quite a ways up the street to catch another truffi that goes near the house. Upon returning to the house, I used the internet and then noticed that Larry had called me, so I called him back. While talking with Larry, I lost the call but he called back so that we could confirm plans for meeting tomorrow. After talking with Larry, I decided to relax until dinner. For dinner I had beef in a peas and carrots gravy, long with pasta, and a potato. During dinner I talked with Susana, Lucas, Quique, and Adelina about today and its craziness. Susana told me about some blockades today and that there is an election on Sunday. I also saw Lucas walk a little bit with help and then told him that if he keeps using his foot that it will not hurt any more. When I was finished eating dinner, I went back to my room to continue reading the book that I had begun earlier on in the day. I read until I felt tired and then did my night time devotion, got ready for bed, and went to bed.