Graduation and Birthday Cake

October 18, 2014

I can’t believe how fast the time is passing! It’s already mid October and I have been in Bolivia almost 3 months. Everyday is a new adventure, not always positive, but an adventure in every way. I haven’t done a post in a while, so I thought I would catch up a little today.

Recently I was able to attend Mauro’s graduation from the youth military. The family invited me along for the ceremony. Teresa was gone to Cochabamba and was unable to attend, so I rode with her sister Donella. We arrived at what we thought was the right place and watched soldiers marching and receiving awards, but then she told me, in sign language cause she doesn’t speak English and I don’t speak Spanish, that we were in the wrong place. We hurried over to another field and caught Mauro and his dad just coming back from finished the ceremony. So, we missed it. But got some good photos.
We then went to a restaurant to have dinner. The Bolivians love their BBQ. I had just started to feel better after being sick for several days with the stomach bug….I’m sure from eating bad food in Samipata. So, I wasn’t really wanting to eat, especially meat. Mauro made the comment that I never would eat with them, and that has been sorta true. I’m really trying to watch what I eat cause I don’t like being sick! The LDS missionaries here are not allowed to eat pork, lettuce or strawberries, so I’m trying to follow that when I’m eating out. I do eat strawberries that I buy and bring home and wash. I felt bad, so I did eat some of the food. One of the meats they were having was intestine, so I gave it a try. It didn’t last long in my mouth, but now I can say I tried it! I love this family! I’m proud of Mauro! He is a wonderful young man!

The ladies from the church are so good to me. They came over 2 days after my birthday and we celebrated with a yummy cake. There were several kids that came with their moms and they swam in the pool. I have this pool in my back yard that is perfect for kids. Some people call it a beer pool, but I think it is perfect for kids. They stayed for quite a long time, and then my maid’s sister’s husband came to pick her up and brought another son. He wanted to swim too, so they stayed longer. Then they invited me to dinner. I tried to act like I didn’t know what they were saying, hoping to miss the opportunity. Again, I was thinking of my stomach, but they kept insisting and trying to explain, so I went along with them. We went to this little restaurant that is really just this big empty garage they have turned into an eating place. They pointed to body parts asking me what piece of chicken I wanted. It was actually very yummy chicken served with rice and fries. Everything here is double starch! And it’s usually rice and potatoes.
Their house was next door so they invited me over to visit and then took me home. It was a great night. Love my ward members!