An Unexpected Christmas Visitor

I believe this critter came for a photo shoot since he didn't appear for his photo shoot for an earlier blog. Christmas Day mass was beautiful, though people are rusty on their responses, in the absence of a regular mass. All enjoyed hot chocolate and fruit bread after mass.

Christmas Get Away

On the fourth Sunday of Advent, the workers and volunteers of the Franciscan Social Center shared the celebration of mass and some informal times, before the Christmas Break. Above are a few of us posing, the group includes a doctor and two psychologists (the three other women of the group!)



A group of about 60 people came together from all the different ministries, and took an hour ride to the Franciscan Retreat Center in Tarata. We came in a bus, the ambulance, and a few private cars. As you will see the Center has beautiful grounds.




Finally a frog! Though thankfully there wasn't a plague. He was located at the rock bordered pools with fish in the formal garden. We weren't sure if it was real or not and got pretty close, the people closer assured me that the frog was alive.



We played various games, and sorry, as one of the organizers, I didn't get very good pictures. I planned most of the games, but thought it wiser to have some one describe them in plain Spanish. Despite this preparation, some things morphed into the most hilarious situations. One being, I had only planned to get people into groups, animal groups by using the sounds they make. Well people thought that to be silly and just called out their animal names. In groups, folks were to create short skits with a lesson. What I didn't know was that my collaborator told everyone to do the skits using the animal noises!



Another first to see the fruit called tumbo here actually growing. (Rick hope you like the shot!)



This is the back of the church, seen from the retreat center grounds. This is where many locals go to church, the retreat center has it's own chapel. In the mid ground is an old fashioned well, which is no longer in use. Below is a view looking down from the center to some of the walking trails that are on property.

This is the Way I Wash My Clothes

Well the truth is, George Washington, this is the way I wash my blankets. I hand wash my clothes. It is one of my favorite chores, well that is if limited to small items such as shirts and dish towels. Jeans, large towels are a real chore! A load of laundry can take an hour or two to wash by hand.

When I knew I was moving back to the Franciscan Social Center, I wanted my blankets clean. Doña Severina suggested the stomping method. I couldn't help but think of crushing grapes for wine making, it worked well but wringing out soapy water and rinse water was strenuous. By the end of the day the "solar dryer" completed the work. (solar dryer is synonymous for clothes line) I had to add the hint, as my friend JC was disappointed not to view some new technology, when I used this term years ago. The old system works just fine.

I can't recall seeing many rainbows my first time in Bolivia. This time I have seen many and have found them hard to photograph. The rainbow seems to brighten up the city photo!

The Franciscan Social Center

My New Home

 

Originally a building to cloister young women entering the convent, the two story structure surrounds a small garden. A second floor balcony also surrounds the garden on 4 sides over hanging the walkway below it. Each room opens out to either walkway or balcony. This type of architecture necessitates movement of people outside, to go from room to room.

 

Johnny is the secretary/receptionist in the afternoon. He became one of my first new friends after returning to mission last year. In the mornings he teaches religion and theology to religious in formation.



A view from the second floor balcony of the chapel steeple of the Santa Clara Convent. The convent is home to the Franciscan Sisters who opened their doors, so that many groups could provide services to Cochabamba's many needy and poor people.

 

Doña Lydia is one of my favorite people who take care of the children of Mosoj Ph'unchay. Mosoj Ph'unchay is a home for children with severe burns housed within the Franciscan Social Center. Lydia works 24 hour shifts, every third day, taking care of between 5 and 12 children. She cooks, cleans, bathes the children, washes bedding by hand and so much more. For 3 or 4 hours morning and afternoon (Mon-Fri) Volunteers come in for tutoring, physical therapy, playing games, and crafts.

 

Here I am with one of the kids from the center besides a poinsetta tree. They grow over 15 feet tall. We have 14 foot ceiling and the plant grows well past the second story.

 

A view from above, Nora and I live in the second story in one corner. The children of Mosoj Ph'unchay live in a connecting corner and along the next side.