Hasta Luego Bolivia...we will meet again.

It's a little crazy, all the emotions entangled and entwined though out the course of the mission life. The "Bi-Polar Roller Coaster of Emotions," as it's been referred to by a few of the VIDES+USA volunteers, and there's no stopping on this ride.  

I am now in Campana (Buenos Aires which is one of the twenty-one provinces of Argentina) about one hour outside of the Federal Capital, Buenos Aires, where I've been working, living and learning for the past month and a half, since I arrived the August 6, 2011. Heres to a little catchin' up...

For the past 6 months, I’ve worked to make Hogar Casa Main my new home. Digging into the heart of what this place really is about and how I can truly be of service to the girls and the Sister’s and how they, in return, can help me to learn and grow in life experiences, and in Christ’s love. But I could have never imagined the type of change I’ve seen in these girls, big and small, and the changes I have been able to make in myself.  

I learned how to take interest in things that are worth my while. To focus my time and energy on the important things, and leave the rest behind. I learned that the girl’s are really the treasure, and to learn to spend as much time possible passing the time together and just sharing LIFE. Life is too short (and mission especially) to dwell on your own understandings, and to, “...let the sun go down upon your anger.”

I have had to battle with quite a few demons throughout these 6 months. It was like every month was a different theme; homesickness, anger, weakness (physically, emotionally and mentally), fear, pessimistic and judgmental thoughts & actions, frustration, resentfulness, among many others. "Normal" struggles throughout life, but in a much shorter and potent time period. But through each of those struggles, I can say, that I learned something about myself by making it thorough each battle. And most of all, I learned to get out of the way of myself (in a timely fashion) in order to allow more time to love and cherish each and everyone of these absolutely Uh-may-zing girls. 

To recap, as many of you know  and if you read my last blog, one of my major battles was with my Bolivian visa. I started the process in December 2010, and continued to work for it up until mid May 2011. I tried as hard as I possibly could in order to get this thing figured out. Until I came to my physical, emotional and mental limit. The easiest way I can explain it is like this: The Bolivian Government asked for certain requirements, I did those requirements, and then when I was ready to apply, the requirements would suddenly change. For example, I had two pieces of papers that had to be “legalized” (I loath this word now). This “legalization” process meant that these papers had to be sent through the Washington Secretary of State, the Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s office, and then the Bolivian consulate in Washington D.C., all of which costing time, energy and a very pretty penn. 


God Bless my Dad for taking on the challenge of helping me do all this, since it was logistically impossible to be done by myself while I was in Bolivia. Once I finally got everything in order and my Father sent all the paperwork out, I found out that the requirements had changed. Meaning everything that I had just put myself and my poor Father through, was for nothing. Literally. These papers weren’t required anymore, and were of no use to me. Least to say, I had enough, and mentally couldn’t handle the thought of starting over again. And that's when I knew I had to make the change I was trying to avoid since February, and come to terms with the one thing I couldn't fathom having to do, leaving Bolivia and the over 115 relationships I worked so hard at, leaving the all the girls that I loved like my own, 6 whole months too early.

So here we are up to date, 3 months later. And I have to state for the record that those 2 and a half months without the stress, worry, preoccupations, anxiety and wasted time with my Visa were one-thousand times better (quality) than 12 months dealing with my visa problems (quantity). I was able to become completely present; not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. I honestly hadn’t realized what a toll this whole process had taken on me, but PTL (Praise The Lord) I was able to find a quality experience, sooner, rather than later. 

My time came to an end much too quickly in Bolivia. Besides not being emotionally ready to leave, I wasn't physically ready to leave, left everything for the last day and that day went by so fast, that while I was trying to get all of my last goodbye hugs and kisses, the truck had to drive away, because that was the only way they could get me away from my girls. It was really really difficult to say the least, as you can imagine. And i'm still recuperating. 

So as hard as it was to have to cut my original time in half, leave my girls, my life and all that I knew at Hogar Casa Maín in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, I knew that I was being called to a new place, not relying on my own understanding but relying on the faith that the Lord, Jesus Christ, has my life, my heart and my path in his hands, and that’s what has gotten me through up until now; September 19th, 2011, one and a half months into my completely brand new, totally transformed, mission experience in Campana, Buenos Aires, Argentina.  

To be continued...

"Establishing Confidence"

Carla's face says it all

"Leading to Truth"

Nataly did my hair for me.

Through the good, the bad and the ugly, these girls were always there for me, waiting for me to come around and I for them and that's why they are so special.
"Freedom to Love."

Quality Not Quantity

So once again I'll start my blog off with an excuse, even though I know you don't want to hear it. 
So at first, writing this blog was like a chore and I wasn't willing to take the time to do it, and now (well it's still like a chore) but I can say it's because I am actually spending my time much more efficiently and not just because i'm a floja.

As you will recall in my last blog, it was becoming more and more of a reality that I wouldn't be able to fulfill my year long commitment here in Bolivia alone, because of my Visa. Now, after six long months of trying to obtain this unobtainable Visa, exhausting my time, energy and resources, I have accepted the fact that I am not going to get this thing, and therefore will only be able to stay here for 6 months. 
After having the requirements change for the last time, I was at my wits end and feeling extremely lost and confused. 


The thing was that when I first decided that I wanted to volunteer, I knew that I wanted it to be for a long period of time. When I finally found VIDES and what they stood for and that one-year missions were the norm, I knew I was in the right place. 
After getting accepted for one-year at Casa Main, I knew that I was on the right path, that the Lord was indeed guiding my path. 


The benefits of being in one place for a long period of time was always what I held onto when I was going through a rough patch, that I knew the Lord wanted me here.
For this reason, I was very reluctant to accept the fact that I might have to leave before my one-year was up and had a very unsettled feeling in my heart. But during this whole experience, my friends and loved ones all had a similar message; that in the case of having to leave early, ENJOY the time you have left and LOVE them with just as much love as I would in one year, concentration rather than duration. 
So when I finally gave up the fight, surrendered and said I'm done trying, I found a peace in my heart and that's when things started to change. 


The day after deciding that I was only going to stay for 6 months, I felt this immense weight lifted off of my shoulders and I realized the difference between being physically present and mentally present. I hadn't realized just how much I stressed and worried about this thing, and after giving up the fight, it gave me more time to actually be present for the girls, mentally and physically.
Before, when there would be free time or a chance to just lounge around and BE with the girls, I always had the mindset/excuse that if I didn't use my time for my Visa now (emailing this person, calling that consulate, applying for those papers, etc.) that I wouldn't ever be able to have free time with the girls. All be it warranted, in the end it made for a lot of wasted time. 


Now, I feel like I've been more productive and spent more quality time with these girls in this past month, than I had in my first 3 months. I am not full of regret or anger, I am just full of thanks. I'm finally giving my whole self, and doing what I came here to do: to play, to care, to share, to correct, to learn, to laugh and to love. Taking the time to be present in the little moments, which are what really matter the most.


My situation as of now, is that my director of VIDES+USA, Sr. Mary Gloria, is working on finding me a new site, still in South America, but out of Bolivia, for my last 6 months. Now, we wait and see what the Lord provides and I couldn't be happier and more full of thanks. I don't know or understand why the Lord has chosen this path for me, but I choose to trust and keep the faith. Because I know that no matter what happens, as long as I trust and keep saying yes, He will provide.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path."Proverbs 3:5-6

P.S. STILL waiting on my first letter/picture/postcard/coloring page/anything that can fit in an envelope. 
So here we go one more time peeps, take notes...

• 3 stamps
• USPS
• To: Rebecca Steichen Casilla 542 Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

So all you people that were like, "We're sending you something!" get on it cause I'm only gonna be around for 2 more months! And let's just say the Bolivian postal service isn't the most reliable in the world, so better sooner than later. God Bless. Hasta Luego. 

The girls in their traditional Bolivian dance costumes for the Maria Auxiladora Festival

The Little Things

So about a month and a half ago, I found that that my time here in Bolivia could very well be cut short. As some of you know my VISA process is a living nightmare, while at the same time being quite costly. Who would have thought that living in a foreign country for a year without a steady income would cause problems to arise? Obviously, not me. I was so focused on getting here to Bolivia and making sure I just had enough money just for a plane ticket, that I didn't exactly think about the long term a whole lot, and I couldn't have anticipated the hoops that i'm having to jump through for my VISA. Anyways, after finding out that there IS NOT an easy, less expensive way around this whole VISA thing, I have had to accept the fact that my time here in Bolivia could very well be cut short. This has been a great test of strength and willpower for me, and has actually been a blessing in disguise (to some extent).


I have had to remind myself that everyday is such a blessing just to be here, and I can't forget that. I am here, now, and that's what counts. It took me sooooooo long to get here (even though I always knew I would make it somehow) that now I need to appreciate and embrace every...single...moment. Even when i 'm at my wits end with the girls, ready to break down, I have learned to just take a second to myself, say a prayer and then let it go cause I don't have time to feel sorry for myself, there are 120 girls that need way more love and care than I do. So as a wise Sister Gloria told me, "Just think that if you might not be able to be there as long as you desired, do now with greater love, so that what you could have accomplished in duration you do it now in concentration." This has kind of summed up my new mentality which is to LOVE LOTS!!!! and embrace what makes this time all worthwhile, the small things. 




My Little Ones
It's official, i'm in love. My little ones are the best gift that I could have been given coming here. Two months in i'm discovering all of their idiosyncrasies and habits and being able to embrace them and inspire confidence. I now know can recognize the times that I need to stop and give them a hug, when they need to take a nap, and when I really just need to take a moment to play with them. I love them so much.

Sor Marinita
Sor Marina, (add the -ita since she's the cutest thing ever) she's gotta be one of the most adorable little old ladies/nuns in Bolivia. (VIDES Volunteers-she's the equivalent of Sister Mary in Austin). She's an 85 year-old Sister whose work ethic is the perfect example of the Salesian Sisters. She's always on the go, and always working on something that has to do with perfecting something to the minute detail. She arrived here just a few weeks after I got here, and I really enjoy talking to her, although I really can't understand what she is saying most of the time, but it doesn't matter cause we both just smile and laugh. One night, while all the Sisters and Volunteers were having a goodbye dinner and sharing songs for some other volunteers, she asked Thea and I if we knew Edelweiss, and then we were like, "Ya!!!" (Thea's cool like that) and then Sor Marinita joined in and sang it better than the both of us ever could. But then again why wouldn't it make sense for a nun to love The Sound of Music?? So Sor Marina is amazing. And now, because of her Thea and I are singing Sound of Music songs all day, everyday. AND to top it off the Volunteers are going to sing Edelweiss for Mother Superior whose visiting for a few days. So awesome. Praise the Lord for Sor Marina.

My Sleeping Beauties
My little ones are required to take naps in the afternoon (by me of course) and when they have finally given up the fight and passed out, they are the most beautiful sleeping kids ever. I know i'm probably a little biased, because i'm guessing this is very similar to how every mother/motherly figure feels about her little ones, but they really are just amazing.

The Bolivian Countryside
After living in a place like Wenatchee, it's easy to get spoiled with being surrounded by beautiful countryside all the time.  There are many pluses and minuses to living in a big, crazy city of course, but the lack of wildlife is a minus. But, after taking a day trip to a town called Yapacani, about 2 hours outside of Santa Cruz, to meet other American volunteers working with the Salesians in Bolivia, and after getting the see the beautiful Bolivian countryside, and the beautiful mountains, and no big deal, the ANDES Mountains, I feel a little less homesick.


The Micro
Man, talk about mad skills, these guys put the bus drivers in the U.S. to shame. Not only to they pick up or drop off anyone anywhere they want which is stopping and going literally every 15 seconds, they also are taking money (without being able to look behind them), calculate the change, drive a stick shift and on top of all of this, drive in Bolivian traffic...on Bolivian roads. Man, i'm impressed.

More...

1. The stars here are so amazing, I love being able to see them from a completely different point of view. 

2. The little kids at the little one's Kindergarden. Not only are all the kids adorable, they are so hilarious. They play the funniest games and when it comes to curiosity they have no problem coming up to me and staring and asking all sorts of questions, like "Why are you white?"

3. The abbreviation for all things Bolivian, is BS. The currency, Bolivianos,  BS. The bank, BancoSol, BS. My name, Becca Steichen, BS. It's everywhere and I love it. 

4. At anytime during the day, you can hear music, it surrounds me all the day. A positive to living in a city.

5. There is no such thing as road rage here, even in the most absurd traffic imaginable, everyone is soooooo chill. It's like this unspoken Bolivian rule of respect and it's a nice alternative to American traffic. 

6. Finally learning all the words to the Our Father and Hail Mary in Spanish.

7. Sharing the road with cows daily, literally. 

8. My spiritual health is at an all time high.
9. The taxi driver on the way to Yapacani ate his WHOLE sucker without biting it once, even when he got to the gum! Too bad I didn't count how many licks it took!
10. Getting bedtime blessings from the girls every night, especially my little ones.
11. The fact that the girls still get excited to see met, I haven't gotten old yet!
And the list goes on...here are some of my favorite quotes to get me through the tough times.


"Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing is as gentle as true strength." -St. Francis de Sales


"As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do that same."
-Nelson Mandela


"If you have come to help me, you're wasting your time, but if you have come because you realize that your liberation is tied to mine, let us work together."-Lill Watson


"When your heart speaks, take good notes." -Susan Campbell


And my favorite one, that my Nana and Bompa gave to me right before I came down here:


Peace of Soul by St. Francis de Sales
"Do not agitate yourself over anything; do all things with tranquillity and in a spirit of repose. Do not lose the peace of your soul even if everything should be turned upside down; for what are the things of this life compared to interior peace? Our Lord loves you; He would have you all His, that nothing may come between. Forget all the rest, troubling yourself about nothing."




P.S. Happy Belated Birthday to my Uncle John! Although it's taken me about a week to finish this, I started writing this again because you inspired me not to procrastinate anymore. So I hope you were able to get your fence posts up. :)

My Daily Life

First of all, I want to apologize for not updating this thing more often. There is so much going on and I want to share it with all of you but it's harder than I had anticipated to muster up the energy to write. My apologies but I'm going to try harder and that's a promise. 

So my day starts at 6:50 a.m. with supervising the girl's breakfast in the Primera Etapa and there are about 50 girls in this Etapa (phase). They wake up at 5:30 a.m., get ready for school and do their daily oficios (chores), which range from cleaning the bathrooms, to gardening, to preparing breakfast and are quite labor intensive to be doing on an empty stomach, but that's just me. So after their chores they get in their lines and we say their morning blessing, which is quite elaborate. Breakfast is bread (made in the little bakery on site), some sort of drink (tea or milk) and some kind of topping (jam, margarine, dulce de leche, etc.) After breakfast they say another prayer of thanks and then it's off to school. My responsibility after breakfast is with the three little ones, Alejandra, Carlita and Nataly. I make sure they are all ready with their uniforms and whatnot (which they never  completely are) and then we take off for their Kindergarden. It's a nice walk right off of the main road, that is quiet and semi-picturesque, except for when it rains and it's literally like a war zone. There's usually small rivers we have to trudge over and I've had to accept that the girls will never make it to their classroom in the condition they were in when they left the Hogar, clean. Rain boots would do wonders for these girls. 

After I drop them off at school, I get to take a break for a few hours and have my breakfast my favorite meal of the day. It's amazing how much my outlook on the day changes after I get a little food in my stomach (and have a cup of instant coffee). Breakfast is bread and water, and some fruit. Toppings and spices are everything here since we have the same bread everyday and everyone enjoys something different, and i've found mine at the local supermarket, peanut butter!

During my break, I usually try to wash my clothes, by hand, which takes me about an hour (i'm hoping with more practice I can get the art down), take a shower, use the internet, or nap and sometimes all of the above. 

Around 11:30, I pick up the girls from Kindergarden and we head home. They get changed into their play clothes and shoes, go to the bathroom and gather up their dirty clothes to wash. Keep in mind that these are three, five year-olds so these simple tasks easily take up to an hour. The older girls come back from school and then there's the task of getting them to do these same things; change their clothes, change their shoes, and wash their clothes, etc.

And after that, it's lunch time and I get another break to eat. This is everyone's big meal of the day and we usually have some combination of rice/pasta, beans/lentils/stew and lots of vegetables, if we're lucky we get the dessert and lately it's been watermelon. :)

After lunch, there are estudios, which is homework/study time. The girls are separated into their different classes. Since at the moment we have profesoras for each estudio, and my profe is the most strict and in need of the least amount of help, i've been helping Daniella in the Library. The three little ones get to read their little hearts out and get the chance be in a quiet place to take a nap. The girls read and sleep and Daniella and I chat a lot and work a little. It's a nice mental break.

After estudios, it's merienda (snack) time, and the girls have to get all their dry, clean clothes and put them away, I'm in charge of making sure they do this. And then they get their snack and have more free time to play. The girls have the most interesting games here, and I love to watch them play and enjoy their time being kids. And by this time it's around 6:00 p.m and I have time to use the internet and hopefully Skype one of my family members, since it's finally a decent time for people in Washington, around 2:00 p.m. And if it's been a tough day, it isn't uncommon to find Thea and I down the street eating ice cream!

After this short break, it's time for the nightly rosary. It's another chore to get all the girls into the chapel, but once we do, it's a nice time for prayer and I enjoy this half hour to silence my overloaded mind and leave all my troubles and frustrations of the day behind. And on Wednesday nights, a local priest comes to perform mass. After rosario, it's dinner time. Dinner is soup and MORE bread (so much for loosing weight on mission). Although, Thea and I found are very happy because we just recently found some oil and vinegar at the very americanized supermarket, not too far away from the Hogar, and it's such a treat! After dinner, the girls have some more time to play and then it's time to get ready for bed around 8:30. I'm in charge of getting the 3 little ones ready first since they take a bit longer to do everything. The girls are finally done loly-gagging around 9:30 (hopefully) and then I get to go to bed. By 10:00 p.m., I'm exhausted and ready to pass out. Never in my life have I gone to bed so early, but then again never in my life have I been in Bolivia working in an all girls Hogar. :) Wake up and do it all over again. I’m in love with my life...can I say that?


Here are some pictures I was able to post...

Can you spot our pig? Chancho just chillin' in his domain.

Can you spot our pig? Chancho just chillin' in his domain.

Our first night out together: Gina, Kevin, Thea and I. We felt like such rebels being out after 9:00 p.m. Cheap beer (a coke for me of course) cheap food and loud music, it was grand.

One of the games the girls play, I still need to learn what the rules are, but I do know it involves a lot of jumping up and down. They love it.

One of the games the girls play, I still need to learn what the rules are, but I do know it involves a lot of jumping up and down. They love it. 

The First of March-Carlita's 6th Birthday and my one month anniversary-we went out for a special treat. :)


For more pictures check out my facebook album at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=553384119&aid=330973

One week in...!

It's been exactly one week since I arrived in Bolivia (and a few more since i´ve been able to finally post this) and…my thoughts are pretty much all over the place. I don't really have a lot of time to be alone with my thoughts, but when I do, there are a few things that seem like they are consistently on my mind. 

I keep going back and forth about the one year thing it seems like, it's been on my mind the past few days, weighing the good and the bad. I think, how can I possibly do this for a year? I already miss eating the food that I want, being in control of my own schedule, leaving whenever I want; pretty much the amenities and luxuries of my daily life that I took for granted. But on the other hand, I think I CANNOT believe i'm here, after all this time working towards this goal, I finally have my reward (the actual physically being here part). I am literally living my dream, and how many people get to say that? I'm trying to live in the moment and not future trip, but i'm not doing too well at the moment. I do know however, and have to remind myself everyday that I have someone much bigger and powerful than myself guiding my path, who gives me strength and serenity in my many times of weakness, and this is what gets me through the rough patches that are sure to come.

Also, I think about, how difficult it is to explain everything that is going on and everything that I'm  experiencing. All the little things that make it all worth while are so important, and it's going to be a little difficult to relay the significance of this information, but I want to try because I want to share my entire experience with you guys, not just the things that are easy to talk about. 

So i'll tell you all about my daily routine another day but I think that I said before how i'm partially in charge of the three littlest girls in the Hogar. Their names are Nataly, Carlita and Alejandra. These girls can be very difficult and trying to work with sometimes, well most, of the time but I live for the little moments when they let their guard down and forget they are supposed to have this rough and tough exterior. Their only 5 years old but they have already been conditioned by the other 123 girls in the Hogar. For instance, they have learned that when someone hits you, you hit them back 2X harder, which every minute it seems like. Things like this are hard to get used to, but I try to remember that i´m the  foreigner here and this place has been here long before I arrived and it will be here long after I leave, so I don't expect to change the whole place while i´m here or even one girl but I do know I am here to show an example of something different.

I keep hearing "horror" stories from Daniella, the Belgium volunteer that I am job shadowing, who as already been here for 8 months and will be leaving the beginning of March. I was warned when I first got here by another volunteer that Daniella has a very realist/pessimistic outlook on things and to take what she says with a grain of salt, more or less, so i'm trying to appreciate the forewarnings she has for me but at the same time realize that my experience doesn't have to be the same as hers, and it's not going to be. My biggest challenge right now is showing the girls that using force isn´t the only way to get things done (although it may be the easiest). I have heard that other volunteers have come here with the same intention, but this idea hasn´t seemed to stick. I can already tell though that the girls appreciate the respect that I show them, and I know i´m going to have to try very hard on the daily to keep up this attitude, as Sister Gloria would say, “Inspire them to do good.”

One thing that I look forward to every day is breakfast. It´s amazing how when I wake up in the morning, I have such a bleak outlook about the day, but after breakfast and a little bread and coffee in my stomach, I have a whole new view of the world. I have also learned that chocolate is the key for energy boosts here (which is now added to my long list of things to get at the supermercado in the city center). I should let everyone know that February is a very rainy month here so it hasn´t been as hot as it was when I first got here (Praise The Lord).

Lastly, I'm realizing now how important the little things are, pictures of family and friends that I took for granted, little reminders, and pictures from home, I brought a few but now I wish I would have brought more of everything. And speaking of bringing things with me, I wouldn´t mind receiving something in the mail, ANYTHING. hint hint.

I love you all! Keep me in your prayers!

Becca

PS For what it´s worth my address is: Rebecca Steichen Casilla 542 Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia J

Bienvenidos a Bolivia!

I am in Bolivia! I made it here in one piece after 20 hours of traveling. My first huge hurdle though was just making it through Seatac, which some of you will know is a miracle in and of itself. My passport arrived to a Tacoma post office at 6 AM in the morning, after not knowing when or where it was going to arrive exactly, and....my flight leaving at 8 45 AM. Could it have been any more last minute? I think not. My Mom and Jenn will vouch for that. It's a long and arduous story of what we had to go through to get my passport back from the Bolivian consulate but for now I'll just say that ultimately, the fact that it came through so miraculously is just another sign that I am truly supposed to be here.


I really can't believe i'm here finally, it's so surreal being in this foreign place, completely the opposite of everything that i'm used to; the climate, the language, the traffic, etc. Speaking of traffic, just like other infamous cities, Santa Cruz is no different, the driving is insane! The kind of driving you have seen portrayed in movies or on TV, but it's completely real. Go as fast as you want, change lanes whenever you want, well actually there aren't really any lanes, just cars weaving in and out of each other. I'm amazed we different see a crash the whole way back to the Hogar from the airport. 


Once I arrived I got shown around a little bit by Thea, a volunteer that I went to formation training with in Austin and then went to my room to rest a little. I thought I was hungry so I ate an orange that I brought with me from the states, but it didn't sit well in my stomach, and I got sick, which scared me a little bit but I think it was because I got too hot unpacking in my room. One of the volunteers Gina gave me some tea and I felt much better. It's so hot and humid here that you I don't think i'll ever be dry again, and i'm slowly forgetting what it feels like to be dry. 


Sor Ines, La Directora de Casa Main, told me to rest up (descansa mucho) on Tuesday and Wednesday because I start work on Thursday (which is today). I was finding it really hard to do considering that it was probably 90 degrees in my room and sunny and beautiful outside and there's construction repairs going on right below me, but I decided to stay inside and try to rest anyways because I know this will be my only chance to do so, before I get thrown into work. 


I am continuing to meet a lot of the girls and trying to remember their names, so far I can probably remember 10 names after being introduced to 100. They get a little frustrated when they quiz me and I say I already forgot but they forgive me, thank goodness. The girls are treating me very kindly, which is nice, and they are so full of love and aren't afraid to show it, it's very refreshing. I love it, and I love them already. 


The grounds here are beautiful but the mosquitos are hell; there's no escaping them. Today, Thursday, I start work officially, and so far so good. I'll write more about my routine later, but throughout the day i'm in charge of three little girls named Nataly, Carlita and Alejandra. I'll tell you all about them later because it would take a whole post to describe them. For now, that's all I can think of but with everyday there is something new to write about, it's just a matter of finding time and energy; considering this post took me 3 days to write. :) I love you all. Pray for me! 


Becca

First post!

This blog is about my trials and tribulations, living and volunteering in Bolivia for one year. I'm volunteering with the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco through a group called VIDES+USA (Volunteers International for Development, Education and Solidarity) and during this year, I'll be working in an orphanage and school for girls. It's been many years in the making to find the right group, do all the footwork and turn this dream into reality. The title of this blog is "Be The Change" and it comes from one of my favorite quotes by Ghandi which is, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." This journey, for me, is one small step towards becoming that change.