I FINALLY DREAMT IN SPANISH LAST NIGHT!!!

I feel like I've been waiting my whole life for this. 

Oh I am just so happy. So, so happy.

Ob La Di, Ob La Da!

Hey guys back home! I miss you! Life has been overwhelming here since I last posted. The days are long and non-stop, and I feel like I'm in over my head. Still loving Bolivia, but please pray for me! 

Some of the highlights since you've heard from me include the Mardi Gras celebration here called Carnaval. We had a huge party and all dressed up, danced, and ate the night away. The personnel won 2nd place for our Flinstones costumes! The three days before Ash Wednesday comprise Carnaval and pretty much the whole city shuts down. Everyone outside goes crazy and we can't leave the Hogar. There were bands of guys out ready to attack any random person, and they were armed with paint guns and water balloons filled with bleach and animal guts...Some things about this country are just a little too intense for me. 

Now 1/2 way through Lent, I'm busy working on the newsletter and Easter cards for the girls' sponsors back in the States.

Last week we all got to attend the arrival ceremony of St. Don Bosco's reliquary in Montero. To explain this event, I'm going to quote an excerpt from the blog of my friend and fellow SLM Steve Widelski: "[The reliquary is making a] pilgrimage celebrating the bicentennial of the birth of St. John Bosco, the founder of the Salesian order and champion of underprivileged children. The holy relics of St. John Bosco’s right arm and hand are inside a likeness of the Saint and contained in a beautiful and ornate crystal and aluminum urn. The urn weighs over a thousand pounds and is being transported in a specially converted van that will travel throughout South and Central America and then proceed into the United States and Canada. The urn's journey began in Turin, in northern Italy, on April 25, 2009 in a celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Salesian order. The urn will travel to 5 continents over the next 5 years stopping at Salesian sites in more than 120 countries." Needless to say, the arrival was a huge deal, especially here where Don Bosco's presence is really felt. Many of the orphanages and schools here in Bolivia are Salesian. I have never seen such a huge, energy-filled ceremony as this one. It was mainly filled with cheering, speeches, dances, and a skit, and the spirit of the people was one of the most moving things I've seen here.

 

This is Adam, the director of the Salesian Lay Missioner Program. The nun is Madre Rosario, who runs our Hogar. Last week, Adam came to visit us during his month long trip in Bolivia. He actually served for two years in Bolivia a decade ago and is fluent in Spanish as well as a master Bolivian musician. We had a blast with him and got some great counseling - he's a very fun, easy-going guy. He also brought us tons of chocolate. He knows what we need!

 

Some footage of the daily Kindergarten walk of terror. Normally, Jenna and I switch off days for Kinder duty. As you can see, we have the kids hold on to a rope to more efficiently get all 13 of them through the dangerous, trash, truck, moto, and animal filled market street. At least once, someone falls down in the mud, throws a tantrum, loses a shoe, etc. It's always an adventure! 

This was funny - we were eating out one night, and turned to see this big dog gazing into my eyes. He was quite endearing and I had fun feeding him. Also, here you can take a gander at my "Paige Boy" haircut, as Carmen and I dubbed it. Nearly every girl at the Hogar informed me that I look awful - to them, short hair = punishment (the Madre chops theirs off when they misbehave really badly). Love that honesty! I'm just happy to be cooler in this heat. 

Here is a peaceful moment in the Jugue. This is very, very abnormal, mind you. I cherish this memory, because I'm normally running around screaming like a mad women in there - timeouts, hitting, crying, dirty diapers, fingers smashed in doors - that is the norm. But I love them, really I do, and this photo reminds me of that. 

And now, you can meet Yordania, aka Dora the Explorer.

In my opinion, she is the closest resemblance to Dora in existence. She is also the most classicly-cute little kid ever. She normally has a huge grin spread across her face, and likes to skip rather than walk. The other kids listen to her when she bosses them around with her loud, commanding voice, and she often organizes make-believe games for them. She's also a huge drama queen and throws the best, wildest tantrums ever - she's so entertaining I don't want to put her in time out. Most of the time, though, she is a great, crazy, loving kid, and always a huge help to me. Here is a link to a youtube video of Yordania and two of my other kids performing "La Bamba" at a party. They are so cute!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evhTMO8o46c

I just accidentally swallowed a tictac, which feels awful. On that note, I'm going to say goodbye and goodnight! I send my love and prayers to you all!