The Beginnings of a New Work

Months before I began my new work with Voces Para Latinoamerica and Voces para Cochabamba I attended the dedication and blessing of the new Therapeutic Center called GuainaCapac and it's workers. The work of Voces has been going on for many years, but this was a new project, that was coming to fruition after years of preparation. The above photo shows the beginning of the ceremony of the Q'owa, the Andean blessing. The Q'owa is similar to incense at a high mass (for purification and sanctification), or the Native American Smudging Ceremony (with sage for cleansings). Specific and significant elements as well as herbs are burned to receive protection (from demons) and blessings from the Andean Gods.



image left from a bolivian culture website

At the new Therapeutic center, the burner with a long handle, was walked around the house to the 4 corners to bring a blessing down upon the house. At each corner, there are 8 because the center is in a U shape, and at various outbuildings, the group of followers stopped as the leader said prayers. Another part of the blessing is the Ch'alla, which is a reverent action toward the Pachamama (mother earth). Pure alcohol (though others are used) is splashed on the earth at the 4 corners also. In this reciprocal process, we feed mother earth and she protects us, helps us with family, love, work, and business.



The air was festive as groups of people toured the grounds. The Therapeutic Center has been designed for a model project. The large center, out buildings, grounds are rented for less than what I was paying for a second floor apartment with friends after university. The hopes are that other organizations, who are working in similar projects, would come for training at the center. Currently Voces para Cochabamba provides the training, centralized through the Mayor's Office for all organization who work with children and teens who live in "situations of the street"



The most impressionable part of the day was the blessing of the workers, a sort of commissioning of their work and the new center. Many people came in support of the Center and the workers; they were from so many different connections, political, religious, associates, medical centers... There was even a dance troupe that performed a couple of numbers. One gave much food for thought as the dancers started within cardboard boxes. The symbolism of cardboard boxes and street living was obvious, but the struggle to gain freedom from the boxes, and the frequent return to them, sometimes alone or with other dancer was poignant.





Jose "Pepe" Alvarez Blanco is the man behind the dream and the vision of the center. He is from Spain has worked in Bolivia for years. He's a pretty amazing guy; even his old friends come to Bolivia for their vacations just to help out with his work or the center. Most recently a friend who is a nurse spent three weeks of his vacation living at the center and providing much needed medical assistance, as well as an excellent mentor figure.




Amazingly the center is about a 40-50 minute drive (in public transport up to hours!) from Tiqti Sud and yet you can still see Mount Tunari (to the west) as clear as day! It's nice to have this old friend looking over my shoulder when I work at the center in the countryside.

Below, looking northeast is the backyard of the center, wintertime. In the mountains you can almost discern the dirt roads that switchback their way over the mountains to the rural communities that reside at very high altitudes.

Small Towns - A Few Snapshots

 

Though I now live in the Big City and enjoy the conveniences of many things close to home, and being able to walk to many events close by, I still really like the small town life. I like the picturesque old buildings, and quick walks to get to the countryside.

 

I like the fresher air and the space on the side walks and streets. I like the slower rhythm, the friendlier people. These are a few snapshots to the adjacent valley to the valley where I live. Most are from Tarata where I have been many times, more than any other small town, and I still want to go back! The Franciscan Retreat Center located there, where we went on the Christmas excursion.

 

I took a similar shot of this street (above) when I first lived in Bolivia, but I couldn't help take another image so I could share with more people. I think the street lays out like a painting. You can see how the street fades into the country landscape at the end of the road.

 

Photo Contest

Bolivia is filled with new and interesting things. I loved to capture the different. As a way to pass the after Christmas blues and the northern winter's short days, I have created my own 1st photo naming contest.

Contest consists of:

1. Correctly naming what is in each photo.

2. Creating alternative names or identifications for the photos.




Responses can be placed in comment section of this blog entry, or emailed. Please put date and time as certain programs and computers date things with incorrect times.

Contest ends February 17, 2012

Winners will be announced February 29, 2012

Prizes awared for correctness, and for originality. Prizes to be announced on February 29. Good Luck.

All are eligible to participate, family, friends, employees, contracters, supporters and board members of FMS.

New Guarderia - Seeds Sown - New Year Hope

When I first lived in Bolivia I was the admistrator of a childcare center, and I was also it's director for 6 months. The Center was created by Lorraine and Diego, returned FMS missioners. Their hard work and vision of creating a center that served two purposes. The first was to provide a Day Care Center for poor and / or single moms, so that they would be able to work. The second was a center for handicapped children. The nearest center was a 30-50 minute bus ride away, making it impractical for people of Sacaba.



The above photo is of the Center in it's third year. Dona Hilda (in tan) became the director and retired just last year. Dona Leo worked as an educator for many years.



The history of this endeavor would take a book to tell the whole story. This coming year the center will celebrate 10 years! Lorraine and Diego started with a vision, a space behind the church, which included over 3 walls, and a dirt yard. With bags of cement, strong backs, volunteers, collaboration of the pastor, mayor's office, and a few other projects (again I need a book), Lorraine and Diego began a breakfast program and a Day Care Center. The playground equipment above came from a grant written by Diego to the Mayors office, installation was followed through during my tenure.

 

During my time at the Day Care Center, Fr Honny decided to reallocate a donation of land that was to be used to build nursing / retirement home. Though The Church of San Pedro had ministries for old people, Fr. Honny believed that creating a better space for a daycare center as well as a special center for handicapped children and young adults was more important.

Culturally families take care of their parents and grandparents in their own homes. Major fund raising and then building were done during 2005-2008. In 2010 the two centers were finally opened, more construction will continue, for example the daycare center hopes to build a second floor to double it's current enrollment.

 

The above photo is just the Day Care Center, the handicapped center is far larger, and includes meeting hall, cafeteria, physical therapy, speech therapy, doctors offices and more. The first three photos in the post are the old center. The last four are the new center. Notice in picures three and four, the same plastic playhouse has survives many years and it's move to a new location. So many things that were obtained in the first years are still functioning.

 

As a missioner I know that the seeds that I sow in my time in Bolivia, I may not see bloom into flowers. It has been good to see the seeds that Lorraine and Diego sowed and that I watered and fertilized (as well as many others) have blossomed and even been transplanted. I was a special invited guest at the end of 2010, for the first graduation (of kindergarten) to take place at the new center. Some of the younger siblings of the children who attended the Day Care Center in my time were graduating!

 

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!