Pics: Guest House, Cochabamba (2/11-2/20)

Pictures from New Tribes Missions Guest House in Cochabamba, Bolivia

(Gracious Hosts, Wonderful Accommodations,
Beautiful Views (tiny pic of the Christo on hill),
Yummy Food, and Very Nice People!)

Pics: Joel, Compassion Intn'l (2/13)

Visiting Joel, My Compassion International Child!

(Rode a bus to Oruro, Bolivia; Met Joel for 1st time in 5 years!;
Beautiful Family (3 bros & 1 little sis, mom & dad), Dad is a wonderful Artist)

Pics: Missions School; Coch, Bolivia (2/12-2/16)

Visiting the Carachipampa Missions School in Cochabamba, Bolivia

(Fun science labs, library, gym, eating outside, great teachers/principals, beautiful setting!)

Pics: Junior High Camp! Santa Cruz, Bolivia (2/7-2/9)

Junior High Camp
Learning Center Christian School
Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Lot's of FUN! Bowling, parrots?, Rickety old cabins,
Precarious 3rd level bunks!, Crazy games (yellow jello?),
Beautiful specimens of nature, Fun pool times, and lots of great GAMES!
(Plus some really great times with Jesus)

Pics: Day w/ Orphans (2/6)

Day with Orphans and Heather!

(Home for Boys w/ varying disabilities; Home for Girls)

Pics: Santa Cruz w/ Kelly (2/3-2/5)

Santa Cruz, Bolivia!

(Stores w/ interesting pizza, Bleaching the fruit!, Kelly's house,
Superbowl Party, Kelly's Church & Sunday School Class,
Kelly's School - The Learning Center, 6th grade Class I subbed for!, Kelly Leaving...)

Pics: Flying into South America (2/3)

Flying into South America: La Paz, Bolivia!
(Andes Mtns, Green Plains, Clouds, High Altitude Airport in La Paz)

Cochabamba, Boliva (2/11-2/21)

Cochabamba, Bolivia is a bit north of Santa Cruz, and is higher up in elevation, nestled in some large, rolling green, mini-mountains. The air and atmosphere is really nice; fresh and brisk, after the steamy plains of Santa Cruz. It reminds me a bit of California. (Which is quite the contrast I've heard you're getting in the States - a week-long snow emergency in Indiana!?! My brother got a week off of school! How fun!)

There are huge palm trees; probably 40-50 ft tall and maybe 4-5 feet in diameter. I should be talking in meters because everything here is on the metric system. I'm glad I was a science teacher, but it's still different! The beautiful green mountains are to the north of us, and the city itself is typical 2nd-3rd world. Meaning that it reminds me a lot of China, Ukraine, Mexico... open markets w/ tarps as roofs, semi-crazy driving (people making up and following their own rules), buses and taxis packed with people...

Here's a story about that. I was coming home from visiting my Compassion International child . . .

Pics: 3 Days in Miami (1/31-2/2)

3 Day Adventure in Miami!

(Beach, 4 Girls Meet!, Finding the SuperBowl Stadium, "Green Pasture", My Miami Angels!)

Day #3 in Miami!! (The Blessing)

When I got to the elevators in the airport, I checked the signs for the Restaurant. I saw it listed on the 7th floor. But then I also noticed that on the 4th floor there were some offices... managers of the airport. Hmm... maybe they can help me . . .

Day #2 in Miami!! (SuperBowl Stadium!)

I'm still in Miami. It's Thursday, but the good thing is: I'm OK, I had a nice hotel to sleep in last night, and there is BEAUTIFUL weather outside! And did I say that the SuperBowl is in town this weekend? (And my hometown team, the Colts, is in it?!!)

I spent the earlier part of the morning talking with my new roommates and friends; I got to tell them some stories about my buddy, Jesus, and why I liked Him. Then I asked them what they would ask God for, if they could ask Him for anything . . .

3 Days in Miami?! (Day # 1)

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be stranded in a city in which you knew no one... and you were traveling alone (by human standards)... Well, that's what happened to me. Its quite an amazing story . . .

The Adventure Begins: Indy to Chicago

Has anyone ever asked you what heaven is like, or how big the universe is? This is how it felt whenever I would think about my up-coming trip around the world. I couldn't quite get my mind around it. It was just kind-of out there; yet to be discovered and understood... but I knew I was moving towards it.

I was scheduled to leave Indy on the morning of Jan.30, 2007 . . .

Background Story and 1st Adventures in Bolivia

So the adventure begins... or I guess continues.
Here's a back-up story for you:
I grew up in Indiana, eating grilled cheese sandwhiches and playing lots of dodgeball games.
I was pretty good for a girl (I have 3 brothers). :) I went to college at Purdue University (Go Boilers!) and then started to teach at Arsenal Technical High School (Titans!!) in Indianapolis.

Teaching was going well, I was adjusting to a new environment, learning how to teach, and loving my students. I did a little coaching on the side. Then my 5th year hit, and I got burnt out. (That's the abreviated version.)

I asked Jesus if I could leave. I felt like He had brought me here, had shown me that this was
where He would bless kids' lives through my being there... and I didn't know if I could leave.
But after a lot of praying, talking to different people, and thinking... I made a decision . . .