It's not ALL sunshine, lollipops and rainbows.

Sunshine, lollipops and RAINBOWS

I'm sick in bed once again. Part of the package deal of being here. This time I have company. Friends of ours went back to England for 3 weeks, so we are looking after their 2 cats.  It's a bit of a love/hate relationship. They are affectionate and there is nothing like a purring cat on your lap. But they also keep us up at night meowing and playing.

Rachel, Paul (Pablo) and Barnabus

We have had some good experiences recently, which 'almost' makes it worth while enduring the sicknesses. For example, on Tuesday we had our first afternoon group. We only worked one block in the territory. It took us an hour and a half. There was only one NH, the rest all accepted some literature and we started 3 doorstep studies.

The reason we have afternoon groups now is Troy asked the service overseer why the congregation doesn't have afternoon arrangements? The next meeting a new service schedule with afternoon groups was posted on the back board at the hall. Troy is responsible for 3 groups per week now. Of course they forgot to mention to Troy it was starting that week or announce it to the congregation.  But, oh well, we have afternoon groups now! The first group had an unsurprisingly small turn out considering the lack of notice given, just the 2 of us. But on the plus side, the territory assigned for Tuesday will be considered done. They don't keep track of NHs, so a territory is considered done after it has been scheduled to be worked. So we decided to work it as a personal territory, something they don't do here. We are working it like we would back home, keeping track of all the houses and working it thoroughly. This is what led to the great results. This territory has so much potential.

I wish my Spanish skills were coming along faster so I could take advantage of the potential. Often in the morning I work with the sisters. Some are great and know what I am trying to say and fill in the blanks when needed. It is more of a challenge with some others. They don't understand me and they are shy and quiet. As well, some who are newer in the truth are not able to overcome some issues that come up in the ministry, like the Trinity. A couple days ago I placed the magazines with a woman, then she started saying something about us not believing in Jesus. So I explained that we do believe in him and that he has an important role but that he also directed attention to Jehovah. She seemed to like that but she kept talking and lost me. It may have been about the Trinity. The newly baptized sister I was working with could only say 'read the magazines and you will learn'. That is true, but I so badly wanted to say more, I just didn't understand or speak enough Spanish!

There are those amazing moments, though, when it feels like Jehovah is helping me find the words. For example, last week I was with the same young sister that doesn't seem to understand me at all. One woman I called on I showed the 'Why Study the Bible" video. She was really excited and nodded along. Then I showed her the questions on the back of the "Good News". She picked "Who is Jesus?" I wasn't prepared for that one so I offered to return. Unfortunately she said she was moving to another city the next day. I was all out of copies to leave with her so I decided to go through part of it with her.  Despite my bad Spanish, no preparation and unhelpful assistant it actually went fairly smooth. It really felt like Jehovah was helping.  At the end of the doorstep study I encouraged her to continue with the Witnesses she would undoubtedly meet in her next city, Potosi. I really hope she does! She seemed to really appreciate the study.

Learning a language has been the biggest lesson in humility. Some see us as here to help and express appreciation while others, I can tell, consider me as a child. For example, there are times when I ask my partner in service how do I say ... I've been told don't worry about it just give them a tract. One sister explained that I should ask a question, share a scripture and then leave the magazines. I controlled myself and didn't say the sarcastic comments that came to mind. I just smiled.

Troy and his 8 year old friends

The other day I arrived in the territory by myself, Troy was home sick. The brothers and sisters asked how he was. Whenever we say we are sick the response they give is always the same. "It's the climate." A foreign sister last week had a stomach infection, the other sisters told her she let her stomach get cold. The 'belief' of everyone here is that any sickness is brought on because it is hot during the day and cold at night. That likely is a contributing factor, but not the main one. I feel like I am the only one aware of the lack of hygiene here. Every day I see men, women and children peeing in the street (yes, women too), which is disgusting enough.  But then you realize they obviously aren't washing their hands. Those are the same hands we shake. The day before Troy was sick he invited three 8 year old boys from our congregation over for lunch at our house. They were all over him and the next day he had a cold. Coincidence?  I don't think so!!!  We walk in service along open sewers and travel in buses with people that smell like urine. I don't consider myself a germ-a-phobic person, but I have many "ewwh" moments in a day.

Troy walking by open sewer ditch

Many things here could do with a good wash. The children for example. The other day one little girl wanted to climb on me during a study, but she stunk like pee. It's bad of me I know, but with a smile I pushed her off. I'm not sure which of the girls at the house was the mother. There are many young girls here, I would guess as young as 12 or 13 years old, carrying babies wrapped in colourful blankets tied onto their backs. I realized the other day that some of the women here who are grandmothers are probably my age. But I'm digressing. Lets get back to the topic of the dirt factor.  Many of the dogs are badly matted, I was told it is good luck for the owner. Yeah, good luck not getting some disease from your filthy dog.  Daily I see dog fights here, which are upsetting to see. A pack of dogs attacking a smaller dog. Dogs with disgusting injuries or ones dead in the street, the sewer ditches or even on peoples roofs. And we see a lot worse things I won't share because they're too disgusting. Yet I'm surprised by the fact I'm already getting used to it as a part of life. Now I just turn and look the other away.

Bringing it back around to the positive, another positive aspect of our life here is we have a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. Almost everything is bought fresh and boy do we ever walk a lot in service. Of course when we are sick like I am right now, it is a diet of instant soup, crackers and tea. Those are some of  the only packaged foods we buy.

Speaking of food, shopping here sure is different.  During the past 13 years I have been in charge of all food shopping, but now it is a joint effort.  We take our grocery bags and backpack and catch the minibus into town. Then we walk from block to block looking for the different items from street vendors who sell local produce. My most exciting purchases lately have been a cake pan and a cookie sheet. I can make 6 cookies at a time in my little oven.  It reminds me of a child's 'easy bake' oven, and brings me just as much joy to have real cookies.  While shopping Troy deals with the money and, like a faithful burro, packs all the groceries through the streets. I get the job of picking out what to buy and complaining I want to go home because I'm tired. This is part of our Monday routine.

Monday is our usual one day off from field service, but it isn't really a day off. It takes a long time to get the shopping done. Then everything is washed in a bleach solution to "get rid of the little beasties", as the missionary sister in the JW video said. Then the house is cleaned, shoes are polished, clothes are washed and there is always something that needs mending. In between all of this there are 3 meals to make. Then it is time for family worship followed by study time, if I'm not too tired. Although I don't have a job now, I feel more tired at the end of the day. But it is a good tired, knowing we are doing all we can.

Many times it seems like I am able to cope with more and do more than I thought possible when living our comfortable life in Canada. When the answer to our prayers for direction on where to serve where the need was greater ended up being Bolivia, I was nervous and surprised. But it seems like Jehovah gave me what I needed to make it possible and enjoyable. We have a sunny and safe apartment. There is a special pioneer sister living across the hall in the same building as us that speaks English. And although I had allergies to the wheat in Canada I find that I can eat the bread here in Bolivia, a definite bonus!

TTFN. Signing off from Bolivia.