When our contruction efforts were done for the day, I was greated with the news that we can, once again, communicate with the outside world. There is not a whole lot of news to report, other than the fact that we can now read the e-mails you guys send…. Because last weekend was the aneversario de Ixiamas and most kids were gone, they thought it was a good chance for the newcomers to test out their cooking skills. The pizza on Saturday was a success, however the potatoes here in Bolivia are not extremely conducive to the making of hash browns as we found out on Sunday morning….. The kids began to return to the Internado throughout Sunday, and Olivia, Rachel, and Mateo arrived with the team that afternoon. They brought many pairs of glasses of various prescriptions and the second floor of the Internado was turned into a makeshift optomatrists office for Ixiamas. While half the team helped with that, the rest worked with me and hermano Juan setting and plumbing the forms for the second floor columns on their soon to be new building. A large number of people with whom I can speak my native language has been a treat. We are all well and send our love back home! Now that the internet is back, we should be back to our 2-3 updates a week. Until then!

Bryan

Dear faithful readers. 
Sorry it has been so long since our last post.  The internet in Ixiamas has been down for over a week, and who knows when it will be back up.  Rachel, Mateo and I came to Rurre last night to meet the team from Christ Community Church, hence we have internet for the day.

We are continualy learning so much about Bolivian life, ourselves, each other, and ways in which the Lord works. 

There have been times when we wanted more work to do, but God is teaching us to instead give love (and to recieve Love).  We are learning to be good recievers…of the lessons learned, and the ways in which the kids love us and most importantly recievers of God´s love.

We celebrated the birthday of Ixiamas by taking some of the kids to the parade in town.  It was a good time and everyone was in high spirits because school was cancelled for 3 days. 

We are all excited to see the group from Columbus today.  Our Spanish is improving, but it will be fun to communicate without haveing to ¨listen¨so hard.  Continue to pray that God will reveal himself to us and we can see the ways in which we can best serve him and be apart of his will in Ixiamas. 

-Hermana Olivia

We are almost finished with our first week here in Ixiamos, and it has been very educational. This week we definitly started off as the students, starting with me and Olivia’s lesson on peeling carrots, potatoes, and onions, (there really isn’t a special method, it’s pretty self explanatory, which we learned from the look on Roxie’s face when we asked her how) to our first time washing clothes in the river. Things that the kids have known all of there life and are somewhat non-traditional for us. It has been great to learn from them, and to begin helping them with computer, english, sewing, and guitar lessons.

Yesterday we visited Miguel’s (a student at the internado) home and family. He is from Tahua, a very small farming community, techniacally two hours away, but for us four. The mud delayed us for a bit, but only increased the joy of being there. Miguel will be the first student from the internado to graduate. His family was so welcoming and friendly, they fed us a delicious meal, showed us around their farm and saw mill, and introduced us to their extended family. It was a really great opportunity to hear from one of the families who are so greatful for the internado and the opportunity that it provides. It just really impressed upon us the importance that the internado plays to these kids and their families. It was an exciting trip into the life of one of the students we see everyday.

Katie

We finally caught our flight to Rurrenabaque yesterday and began the treck to Ixiamas. We took a bus, then a ferry across the river, then hopped on the back of the truck for the 4 hour drive to the Internado. We met Rachels parents and sister who are incredibly nice. The drive was beautiful. The scenary was lush and green with mountains all the way around us. We were all surprisingly comfortable and had fun kareokeing for the ride which did not seem as long as it actually was. We were overjoyed to meet some of the children who were still awake last night, and jumped right in this morning. We have been getting acquainted with the Internado, the children, the schedule, the town, and our respective duties. I am really excited because I get to teach piano and work on building a new wood burning stove. We are also preparing for a Mothers Day program tomorrow which should be alot of fun! -Abby

Fishing

One Saturday, I told the small kids we could go fishing in the river. Whenever I wash clothes in the river , I noticed that there were many fish.

Judith told me sometimes the small boys go fishing. Others heard me told the little ones, and they got excited too. I asked the small boys to prepare; the fishing pole and the baits. They were quick to move found some fishing poles, some insects and worms for bait.

About 10 kids (which was not a good idea to have that many company) came with us.

I told everybody, we will all go fishing but you have to be silent because the fish will go away if they hear you.

They said, “bien,bien”. They almost promise to be quiet. As we walked down the trail to the river, it seems they forgot the rule right away. They were talking, giggling, and the littlest one, Zorayda was too excited that she kept shouting. While walking someone will yell, “Maria, I need a bait”. I had to keep reminding them, “shhhsssh. Silencio!”.

I told them to spread out, so off they go with the poles. They put the baits, then threw the poles to the river. We saw fishes, but nothing came off with the baits. (with the noises, the fish were smart enough), After few minutes, the kids decided to move to another spot. They said, “there are more fish on that side, lets go”. I thought okay, you go, I’ll stay here. The fish don’t come because they hear you.I was waiting for everyone to move. Some moved, but 3 kids stayed with me. I told them to go, but they stayed, they wont let me be by myself. When I realized they wont leave me alone, I moved with them.

We walked through the trails, bushes and trees and got to the other spot.

They were right, there were more fish in that spot. We put insects in the bait and threw the poles to the water. More, and more baits but still no fish in the hook. Some kids were not patient enough and left. The two small kids saw the tiny fishes and tried to catch them as baits for bigger fish. Still no fish were caught, except for the tiny ones for bait.

Then the kids told me that there is another river across the forest. They said there are bigger fish there. I do not know the place and I didn’t know if it would be safe. So, I said, no, we stay here. I told them if they would be quiet the fish wont go away. They tried to be quiet but they couldn’t help it. Kids are kids. I realized okay, its not really about getting fish. I was serious to catch fish, and even prayed. I wanted to have some fish for diner so we all could have some meat or protein (which seems to be scarce here ). I was reminded that the whole thing was not about the fish or about fishing, but to have fun. I saw the littlest girl, Zorayda, She is suppose to be 9 or 10, but she looks like 6 years old. She looks filthy and grimy the whole week, and was wearing the same clothes the whole week. I kept saying to her the whole day, “Would you like to have a bath?” She would laughed and giggle and say “No, its cold”.

When I saw her in the water trying to get some fish, I told her again, “Its time for bath!”.

And she wiggle and giggle. She finally got to wash and bath, as I tried to help her clean her hair (with full of dirt) and body. The other kids followed and dived to the water. Julio the other 11 year old boy, who I was nursing for a wound on his face, asked me.

“Hermana, could I swim?Could I wet my face (as he pointed out the newly dressed wound on his face)?”

I thought for 2 seconds, and said, “Si, si! (yes, yes, Go!).

Everybody dived to the water and played and had fun. I was happy to see them having fun, then I suddenly thought.

Everybody had fun and they forgot about the fishing.

Vicky