Watts Happening in Bolivia 9

Hola Family and Friends,

It's been a LONG while since I've written anything so here goes!

It has been interesting being here during this time of elections/transition to a new government. I guess our personal take on the election of Evo Morales as Bolivia's first indigenous leader since the time of the Incas is that it's a good thing. Since Bolivia is 66% Indigenous, why should their leader have a white face instead of a brown one? Although he is open to the people growing coca, that doesn't mean he is pro cocaine. Interestingly we heard a story that when the Incas were conquered by the Spanish they prayed that they might be given something that would be a blessing to them and a curse to the conquerors. They were given the coca plant, which in its natural form acts as an appetite suppressant and a mild pick-me-up (sorry, I can't bring back a supply to those wanting to lose a few pounds/be more alert!), which enabled the Indigenous people to survive working in the mines, etc. But it is a curse to the conquerors because they have made it into cocaine.

One answer to our prayers is that Evo has included some Christians in his government - Saul Escalera, from the Calama English congregation, who is a PhD. in Engineering, will be heading up the Bolivian Natural Gas and Juan Carlos ?, a Pentecostal whose recovering Drug addicts/alcoholics have been doing the construction work at the Seminary, will be heading up social services programmes. Isn't our God awesome?

Things have been relatively quiet since the election, and election day was TOTALLY dead - no cars were allowed on the road except with special permission, no public transportation, no liquor sales and no gatherings were allowed, all to ensure a good, sober voter turnout with no violence.
Anna has had a few Bolivian "snow days" when there were blocqueos on the road out to school because of some political infighting with the mayor of Quillacollo and some of his councillors who wanted to take over and continue their skimming of the tax take.

Pat and Terry Janke had a team here from First Baptist Church, Thunder Bay, ON, the church that Terry pastored for 12 years. The team worked on a construction project at the Seminary, alongside some students and the recovering drug addicts/alcoholics from Juan Carlo's project. Kent and I (and Anna on her bloquoes days) prepared lunches for the team and students - mostly a hearty soup and additions - sandwiches, buns, cornbread, etc with fruit and cookies for desert. After the first day's lunch, where we had served Chinese Beef and Broccoli Noodle Soup and Sweet and Sour Stir Fired Chicken and rice, the compliments were flowing. I said, disappointedly, "Does this mean I'm not fired?"

The team brought us down some gifts - a teen magazine for Anna, black licorice for me and Starbucks Chai Tea for Kent - all products that are impossible to get here (the Dutch contingent would have a REALLY hard time with no licorice!).

Pat prepared suppers for the Thunder Bay team - we figured the best way to get the most work out of them was to keep them healthy and the best way to keep them healthy was to cook for them ourselves! We had a few team members get a little sick, but mostly they worked like troopers! We enjoyed getting to know the team - they really worked well together and with the students and construction workers. Terry, whose Dad owned a construction business, showed that he knew which part of the shovel was the business end and also that he knew how to be a foreman when anyone showed signs of lagging behind!

Now it's back to cataloguing (and avoiding cataloguing by writing to you all!) and getting ready for a couple of women who are coming to help me in the library for the next few weeks, as well as help out at the Casa de la Amistad prison children's programme. Kent figures I'll just call them Cidalia and Eve, after my aides in Victoria (yes, I do have AIDS!). We hope to take a trip up to La Paz with them.

Hopefully in the next few days, Marcelino (the principal of the Seminary), Terry and I will be interviewing for my replacement, whom I'll have to train. Please pray for wisdom and insight as we do this.

Please keep Ivan and Imigdio, our volunteer coordinators for Canadian Baptist Volunteers, in your prayers as they coordinate many teams and individuals coming down through the spring, summer and fall. They both do an excellent job of keeping us all on track and happy, healthy, busy workers! We are so blessed to have two such godly men with true servants' hearts to help us serve Christ here in Bolivia.

The weather - well it's summer, but that doesn't mean too hot. We've had lots of rain (everything is beautifully green, until when we first came down and everything was brown and dusty), but also lots of warm sunny days (usually the same day!). They call Cochabamba the "City of Eternal Spring" and I can see why. For us Victorians we've had everything from late Feb. weather (rain, but not too cold) to late June weather (hot and sunny).

Poquita is now an IT, so no more novios (boyfriends) will come jumping in over the gate! The vet (who speaks great English and is supposed to be the best vet in Coch) said that Poquita was very strong - she's little but it took as much anaesthetic as for a 50 kilo dog! Her cone/ lampshade/ megaphone/ funnel/ umbrella is off and her stitches are out and she's running around like a wild woman!

Kent has started teaching ESL at Calama along with 3 other teachers, for a twice a week, ten week course. The course in in the evenings, so I'm not teaching since someone needs to be home for Anna. We've been having fun looking up all the great resources there are on line for teaching ESL (or more correctly - I discovered today - EFL - English as a foreign language, since we're teaching in a country whose native language isn't English). The first night Kent was pleasantly surprised to discover that his class consisted of 12 women ... and if you know Bolivians you know that they are 12 BEAUTIFUL women. Hum-mm, maybe I'd better teach, after all!

We continue with a Bible Study for the college and Career group at our apartment, having people in for meals and the revolving door of Calama English Congregation. People come to Cochabamba to learn Spanish and Quechua and then move on to their place of ministry. Our congregation are busy people, who sometimes have commitments elsewhere on a Sunday morning. I think for some it's hard not to count who's there on a given Sunday. But the Lord said "Feed my sheep", not "Count my sheep", so we continue to enjoy the blessings we receive each week.

Anna continues to keep herself busy at school, hanging out with friends and school soccer. One development after Xmas was the advent of uniforms at Carachipampa School. The kids all dislike them, and parents are split - those of us leaving after this year or with children graduating didn't much like having to shell out for something going to be worn for only 4 months, and those who are staying who are glad to be rid of the hassle of children deciding what to wear each morning. Anna misses friends back home (and her bathtub!), but has made some good friends down here to visit back and forth with and talk and giggle with for hours on the telephone. They have been a real blessing for her.

Carnival (beginning of lent- Feb 27, 28) approaches and with it comes being pelted with water balloons - at least if you're young and beautiful, or happen to be walking with someone young and beautiful! Carnival is lots of parades and drinking and debauchery, so we'll lay low. Anna has a few days off school then and we'll either celebrate her 14th birthday (Feb 26) before or after Carnival.

We want to say again thank-you again for your prayer and financial support. We really appreciate emails from those of you who find the time to write us.
In Christ's Service,
Susan Watts

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