Technology

You know on Napolean Dynamite when Kip sings the song to Lafawnda at their wedding about how much he loves technology? That's pretty funny...

So, I'm pretty sure Natty's fascination with tech gagets at least rivals, if not surpasses that of Kip. My brother is briefly in town and their first interaction was over his Blackberry. It only took a short amount of time before she was rolling around the tiny mouse ball and pretending like she was talking on the phone. She goes crazy when she sees Scotty's ipod touch and begs to use it...she even knows how to change screens by swiping her finger across. Scary. Anyway, we were at my aunt and uncles' house on Saturday and had put her down for a nap in the back bedroom. I periodically checked the monitor to see if she was going to sleep, sometimes she has a hard time falling asleep in a new spot. At one point, all was quiet, but there was guitar music coming through the monitor. I wondered if my rocker cousin, whose room is next to the one Natty was in, was jammin' on his guitar (at which point I was ready to go back there and give him a piece of my motherly mind). When I peeked in his room, it was empty. I still heard the music. I opened Natalie's door and saw her sitting in her crib, in the dark, her face all aglow with ipod screen. She was sliding her finger across, picking different songs and completely oblivious to my presence. Apparently, Scotty was playing her lullaby music and left the ipod on the bed next to the crib...way too much of a temptation for monkey arms. I was able to sneak back out of the room and get my mom and Scotty in there to see this hilarious sight. She finally looked up with that face like, "What? I'm just listening to some music." I wish I had the camera.

Merry Christmas

Just a quick note to say "Merry Christmas!!". Natty helped me wrap presents yesterday, alternating between begging me for the "to/from:" stickers and stiring the bag of bows with a wooden spoon. She developed a pretty nasty cold yesterday, so I'm just grateful she was able to sit contentedly in her miserable state. Today she is feeling a bit better so we went outside to enjoy the AMAZING, dry, mid-'70s air with blue skies and a nice breeze. There is a big park nearby where Natty could sit and play with the recycled tire pieces on the ground- it's all we ask for when she's still too little to actually walk around and play on things. Tomorrow promises to be even warmer- a standard Florida Christmas. I hope everyone a relaxing day filled with the joy of our risen Savior!

Overheard

I was in Barnes & Noble yesterday, settled into a comfy chair and enjoying the privilege of reading through magazines without buying them. Seated next to the door, I heard many bits of conversations as people exited the building. A black mother and daughter passed by when I heard the girl, of about 8 years old, ask her mom: "Is Jesus really white?". I only caught the beginning of what must have been an interesting conversation, which started with the mom explaining that Jesus isn't really white- it's just a marketing ploy. Anyway, it definitely had me looking differently at the things that look normal to me.

I'm enjoying reading through an advent devotion book written by professors at Gordon Conwell, where Scotty is taking classes, as a way of focusing my thoughts on what is most important this season. I can't say I haven't gotten caught up in the shopping and buying and even expectations of what is "Christmassy". But, with the rare chance to be in the states with family this year, I am more aware of the things that make Christmas truly a blessed season. I also am constantly aware of the trends we set now affecting our children down the road and often ponder how to make this a Christ-centered time.

Natalie has started standing on her own a little bit more and has taken to crawling around the house, not on hands and knees, but hands and feet (much like you would see a monkey walking). It's quite humorous and also makes me think she is getting to like that sensation of her flat feet touching the ground. It won't be long now! My hope is that she can walk around the La Paz airport to show off to our Bolivian friends who come to pick us up...although I'm not sure I'll want her exerting herself at that altitude. Either way, she'll be a hit!

Last days

I feel like I have done a lot of "leaving" or "arriving" posts in the last few years. Although I have mostly adapted to our lifestyle of being here and there and everywhere, sometimes all of that catches up with me and throws my emotions into a tizzy. That happened yesterday. But, today I had a lovely day with my daughter, sharing a buttery, soft pretzel and lemonade in the mall and rough-housing on the bed when she should have been napping. As I sat in the cushy, leather chair feeding Natty little bites of pretzel, I wondered if that same scenario might happen in La Paz and what it might look like. Leather and soft pretzel will not be a part of the equation, I know that much. I have tried to be focused on where we are and what we are doing in each place we have been and not look too far ahead or behind, as that usually overwhelms my fragile mind. But, I can't help the "this is the last time I'll be (fill in the blank)" thoughts that keep springing up these days. We have almost a month in Florida to enjoy with my family before we go back- but I've been in this stage before, and that month is so very little. It gets filled with last minute coffees with people, shopping for things we want to take back, Christmas activities, and hopefully, lots of dates with my husband while we have Nana and Papa to babysit. All those things are wonderful, but speed up time somehow. And so I wonder in these 6 months that we've been here, have I made the most of my time? Have I learned what God wanted me to learn? Have I grown closer to Him and more faithful? Will I be a more effective and goldy wife, mother, friend, missionary when we return?

Thanksgiving festivities

"My thighs are tingling!" I resonated with this shivering teenage girl who was walking briskly behind me at the Seveirville, TN outlet mall around one a.m. this morning. Yes, I'm in the smokey mountains with my in-laws and have braved the "black Friday" madness- for the first time ever. Scotty and I left our cabin around 11:30 last night and joined the throngs hoping to find good deals. I thought it wouldn't be too bad as we stepped into a lightly populated Eddie Bauer right before midnight, but changed my mind when I shortly thereafter walked into Gymboree with lines that rivaled Disney World in the summer. Scotty and I split up with the agreement to meet at a certain place every hour and I hoped to spot him among the masses, with loot to show off. Sadly, my initial purchase at Eddie Bauer was all I ended up with- not desperate enough to wait in the lines. I did get a good work out, however, as I practically sprinted around the huge outdoor mall, wanting to warm up and also go in every store possible before needing to meet up with Scotty. I also got somewhat lost, managing to mis-read the map (not surprising) in a hunt for Baby Gap. It was a pretty exhilarating night, between the freezing temps and the boisterous hoots and hollers of a happy shopping crowd. We crashed into bed around 2:30 and decided on-line shopping is looking really good about now.

All that happened before midnight madness, so appropriately named, was great. I had an early morning walk around our cabin grounds while Mimsie and Papi played with Natalie. Mims did a beautiful job putting together our side dishes while Papi manned the turkey. We ate a pretty simple, but delicious lunch, and relaxed for the rest of the day- taking in a game of eucre and a good documentary on forgiveness in Rwanda before moving on to the wee hour shopping activities. I am so very thankful for my family and being together with them this year. We've spent half of 2009 in the states, which is pretty hard to believe, and God has been so good to us in this time.

Tick...tick...tick

Although this time in Charlotte has been crazy, I am thankful for so many things here. Somewhat consistent exercise has been glorious- even when I am jogging in frosty air that makes my thighs burn and nose run. I always feel OK about what the day has to offer when I have spent some energy in the morning. Today I took the most refreshing walk, wanting to make the most of these sunny days that have been sadly absent since the weather has turned cool. I find it much easier to think about other things when I'm walking, as opposed to jogging, in which every fiber of my being and mind is working to convince myself not to wuss out. So many bits of joy flashed through my mind as I walked and the gold leaves raining down around me when the wind blew was an extra special bonus. Natty and I went out for a stroll after lunch- she clutching a red leaf I had plucked off a tree and me verbalizing all those things I was thankful for that had been running through my mind earlier. I know Scotty is feeling a lot more pressure than I am these days- he's got several papers, tests and projects to finish before his classes end in the next few weeks, not to mention 1500+ pages to read from assigned books. I'm trying to spend a lot of time creating a space for him to concentrate on, which means taking Natty on errands with me. She's very familiar with Trader Joes and Wal-Mart and has visited several parks in south Charlotte. We discovered a nearby Big Lots yesterday which carried a decent car seat cheaper than I could find it anywhere else, including online. She makes friends wherever we go, usually by grinning sheepishly at them, or lately, by forcefully pointing and making a sharp yell/grunt sound at them. Whatever works, I suppose. She's in a really fun stage where she's got lots of energy (which has led her to finally drop her morning nap) and is learning so much. She's much steadier on her feet, although still not interested in walking. She loves to give kisses and her first words every morning are "Da-da" when she discovers him on the bed directly in front of her bedroom door. She loves playing with crayons and eats every half hour when awake.

I can practically feel the shortness of breath that is so familiar upon arriving to La Paz (or am I having a panic attack?)- our time of return is so soon. I see our last chunk here in several distinct, rapid phases: Thanksgiving trip to hang out with Scotty's parents in the smokeys; Scotty's last classes (i.e. late nights)/packing and organizing for me; drive back to Florida (via TN to drop off the borrowed vehicle); Christmas; last minute crazy shopping, packing, unpacking to scale down on stuff, repacking; tearful good-bye at the airport. And then the readjustment to La Paz. Will Natty do OK this time in the altitude? Will I remember how to speak Spanish? Will the strange place and strange language scare my baby? Will our house be in good order when we arrive? Will our cats remember us? Will I be truly happy to be back? I'm not worried about these things and yet, they are genuine questions that pass through my brain from time to time. I guess we'll have to wait to find out!

I am still blogging.

Scotty sharing at Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis

No, I haven't given up on blogging to only "facebook". I much prefer the blogosphere but I just haven't had a lot of time lately...or anything interesting to say. I'm not sure that I do right now, but I thought it was past time for a new update. We've been busy. As soon as we moved into our cozy basement at Mike's house in Charlotte, our lives suddenly sped up a few notches. We are trying to see all our friends and supporters here, but until now, haven't been in town long enough to make much of a dent in those plans. We had a wonderful SIM retreat a few weeks ago- moving into the guest accomodations on the SIM campus and spending every day in meetings or rest time where we actually had all freedom to read, sleep, meditate on scripture, pray, eat, walk, whatever! It was glorious and surprisingly difficult to remember how to be still. One of the main points of the retreat was to remind us how to find rest and incorporate it into our daily lives...most people have a hard time doing that, but missionaries seem to be the worst sometimes. We did have this amazing time learning from the other couples and singles that were a part of our week- all of them on the field for 20+ years. There was a lot of gleaning to do from these people that have so commited their lives to foreign service. My mom was awesome and flew in to hang out with Natty during the day so we could be all there and not worry about her. She learned to say "Nana" that week- very cute. We went straight from SIM onto a plane headed to Minneapolis. It snowed the first day we were there- all day. I was so not ready for that. We had some lovely interactions with friends, supporters and Scotty's home church and loved "doing life" with the family we stayed with while we were there. However, we are thrilled to be back in one spot for a while.

Natty is advancing so quickly now. She began crawling a few days before her birthday and is a pro. She seems to understand so much and is trying to imitate the words you say. She's just started pulling up a little but gets pretty angry at the fact that she doesn't know how to sit once she standing. She loves stuffed animals. She's been super flexible on our trips and we are having so much fun with her!

So, there is really only a little over 2 months left until we leave. This is a very short amount of time and it's hitting pretty hard right now. It's hard to describe what it's like to live in one world, but know you have another life waiting for you in another. We've spent the last 5 months enjoying all that the US has to offer, enjoying old friends, enjoying family, enjoying church in English. Although we are in no way planted here, we are comfortable here. I am comfortable- with clean houses, carpet, central heat and air, big grocery stores, parks, dogs on leashes, reliable plumbing, libraries, friends that understand me. I'm a little apprehensive about re-entry and all the things I know so well are stressors for me. And yet, I have no doubts of God's call on us. So, even though God has blessed us in this time home and I am thankful for His generosity and kindness, there is another type of life He has asked us to live and I want to live it joyfully.

Listen to good, live music= support adoption

Check out this awesome opportunity for those of you in the Charlotte area. And, here's another one.

Natalie has one year.

Literally translated from Spanish, "Natalie has one year" is how our Bolivian friends would say she is one today! If we were in La Paz, we would be throwing a big party, inviting every small child we see on the street, hiring a clown, serving hot dogs and smashing Natty's face in a cake...although I'd like to leave that particular tradition out of my own birthday celebrations. Since we are not there, we are having a more low-key day. I woke Natty up with "Happy Birthday" while she stared at me from her crib, enjoyed her last nursing session, and then opened birthday presents on the bed with Daddy. She enjoyed looking at the new stuff- almost completely handed down from other friends (who needs new?) and helping me unwrap the special monkey we bought for our own precious monkey. I read my first journal entry after she was born, highlighting the ups and downs of labor, my first thoughts as I held her, and the beginnings of a lot of doubts and joy too. I gave her banana- fitting for a monkey and also her favorite fruit- and we played on the floor with new toys. I'll be making a cake this weekend when our parents come in to celebrate, so today, we'll go to Krispy Kreme for Natty to be introduced to the soft, flaky manna that is a Hot Donut Now...it's a bit of a celebration for Mom too. Then, Scotty has surprised me by making arrangements for us to go out on our first date in a long time for dinner- sans Natty!

This last year has been indescribable. So, instead, I'll describe my baby girl. She is full of wonder and constant observation of everything and everyone around her. You can see in her eyes as she carefully watches your mouth and your movements that she is tucking it all away to be

reproduced by herself in the near future. She is not quick to giggle but will often give a very satisfied grin when she sees her parents or a toy that she is particularly attached to. Her daddy can get some "chortles", as he calls them, out of her and her whole face lights up. She is laid back and flexible during long car trips and time zone changes and loves to watch other kids play. She is sweet and sometimes shy and will wave and say "ba ba" to almost anything- including the toys she throws from her car seat. She has taught us a new level of love and a new recognition of our desperate need to depend on the Lord for wisdom an

d patience. She is so much more than we prayed for. Happy Birthday, Natalie!

Back in Charlotte

Well, it's a bit surreal, but we're back in Charlotte. We spent the first year of our marriage in this beautiful city and have somewhat idylic memories of our time here. The home whose basement we are occupying is in a cute, older neighborhood close to all the areas where homes are being renovated and remodeled- the kind of homes we dream of owning. I think Charlotte, unlike any other city, tempts us to return from the mission field and grow a nice family here where there is Trader Joes and IKEA and parks and seasons. But, our love for Bolivia and the strong call God has on our lives will lead us back when the time is right.

So, we are busy doing the "settle in" thing and I got a jump start to our first day by hitting Aldi. If you don't know about Aldi, it's a discount grocery store that saves money by not having the standard display shelving, but just keeps their stuff in the cardboard boxes it came in. You pack your own groceries to take home in those same cardboard boxes- no plastic bags. It's simple and pure and I have no idea where the stuff comes from, cause only 11% are recognized brands, but I love it. However, they do not accept plastic. This is a detail I had impressed somewhere in the less-used regions of my brain, and happily cruised to the store with the hope that my Visa would do the trick. As I'm filling my cart and loving this first major grocery trip we've taken since returning (thank you Parents for buying all our groceries), an old friend calls. We met her and her husband at our SIM training close to 4 years ago and parted ways after that- them to Africa, us to Bolivia. We are back at the same time and thrilled to be reconnecting. So Jen calls, I happen to mention I'm at Aldi, she throws out that it's a bummer they don't take credit cards. What?! So, it's true? I look at the mountain of generic, cheap groceries that are about to topple over the edge of my cart and wonder how foolish I will look trying to unpack them onto the shelves. However, God had a plan for that phone call and Jen offers to drive over to bring me some cash. Awesome. That works out great, I meet their new son, we make plans for them to come over to our place...perfect.

So, something else that isn't as cool and is just more weird happened today while we were out. While Scotty is getting Natty buckled into the carseat, I trot over to a Thai restaraunt that is next to the store we were just in, hoping to find a take-out menu. I'm looking at the front door to find out the hours when I hear a man's voice behind me say, "Are you Lisa?" Yes, I say. He says, "Hi! I'm Matt." Oh, Matt! (Was I supposed to meet this guy here and I forgot? Is he someone from our church in town that I never met but recognizes me from our prayer card??)What was your last name again? "It looks like we're a bit early to the restaraunt- I'm pretty sure it doesn't open for another 15 mins", he mentions. Click. I think he must be on a blind date. Oh! So you were meeting a Lisa here? I ask- somewhat embarassed by the fact that when he told me his name, I acted like I knew him. "Oh" he says looking confused. "You must be a Lisa also..." What are the odds??? I tell him I am, that I was not here to meet a Matt, and I hope his dinner is nice. Walk quickly away and jump into the van and try not to look over to where he's standing. Has anything so random and strange ever happened to you?

Labor Day

Continuing the idea from Kelly's post, here is my Natalie's Labor Day info from Sept. 22, 2008. If you want to join in, please leave a comment and tell us where to find yours!

How long were your labors?
3 hours

How did you know you were in labor?
As a first timer, I didn't know I was in labor initially and just wondered what I had eaten the night before that was making my tummy upset. I actually started contractions a couple hours before I was scheduled to be induced and realized I was in for-real labor as I showered in prep for my early morning hospital appointment.

Where did you deliver?
CEMES Clinic, La Paz, Boliva. Think- the hospital your parents were born in, but in Spanish.

Drugs?
Was hoping to not need them. However, my Bolivian doctor decided I still needed to be induced because I hadn't progressed after an hour and a half of contractions (hello! first baby- could take longer...). Those of you who have been induced know what kind of pain there is. Zero to Ten in less than 2 hours- ouch. I was begging the nurse for an epidural almost from the moment the first drop of pitocin (or whatever it was) went into my vien- but, alas, the doctor had gone to his office a few blocks away and the nurse couldn't administer the drugs until he returned. So, when he got back, I was at 10 and they still gave me the drugs...which made for slightly ineffective pushing, as you can imagine. No surprise that...

C-section?
I ended up with the big surgery. This is where I whine and stomp my feet and blame everything on my doctor. I fight wishing I could go back in time and demand things differently, but then wonder if I would end up in the same situation, knowing that my doctor really does know more than me about delivering babies. So, I will continue to pray that God will remove my bitterness and I will trust that in His sovereignty, He allowed things to unfold this way.

Who delivered?
My German/Argentine/born in Bolivia Dr. Koziner. Nice man, very warm. Known as the "King of C-sections". Maybe that title should have led me to look for a different doctor. Except they all live in his kingdom.

That said- Natty was extremely healthy- fantastic Apgar scores for being born in such high altitude. Although the C-section was very hard to recover from, especially given the lack of drugs in Bolivia, I do thank God for the perfect little girl He gave to us, no matter how she arrived in the world.

My life by Richard Scarry

Remember that Richard Scarry book that had all the different scenes from everyday living on each page, with words stating what each thing was? There was the tools page, the house page, the cars page, etc... I saw that book in my in-laws attic and got it out for Natty to look at. As we were looking through, I distinctly remember always being enamored with The Supermarket (ok, and a tiny bit loving to pick out the mittens and socks and skirts and such that my little bear would wear on the bear twins page). All the fruits in their bins, the veggies in theirs, the boxes of stuff on the check-out belt. I realize now something that God had put long ago into my little heart- a love of creating meals and serving them to people! I still get the biggest kick out of going into a grocery store and seeing what treasures it might hold and what kind of delicious feast could be formed from each item. When Scotty and I have visited other countries, I always ask if we can browse the aisles for a few minutes at any grocery stores we come across, curious about what the labels on their cans might look like or if their fruit will be in wooden bins or on shelves like ours. I know what you're asking yourself..."Why didn't you like the Mealtime page best?" Well, to tell you the truth, that massive turkey and red T-bone sitting on the table always grossed me out a bit. Did you ever notice that the pigs are serving themselves from that bounty and that there is inconspicuously no pork product on the table? Good thinking, Richard. Anyway, I find myself thinking these days how I have been on the receiving end of lots of people creating gorgeous meals for us and constantly providing so much. And not just food! People are passing on baby clothes, toys, and offering anything and everything we could possibly need while we are home in the states. It has been wonderful to be on this end, but it can be hard to not always know exactly how to express our gratitude, or find ways to be back on the giving end again. Our parents have been amazing in providing so many of these needs, taking care of us and little Natty, and generally entertaining us these past many weeks...but it will be a joy to have a small space to call our own where I can once again use that gift that I first discovered within the world of Richard Scarry. But, how grateful we are for all of you who have seen us and spent time with us and showered us with your generosity and love!

Content

So sweet and cuddly.
I've thought a lot about the blog lately, wondering what I could write about that would be of any interest to anyone. I feel fairly busy and like things are happening in life but I just don't have the "umph" to write about it. Sometimes I feel like I need to have something terribly funny, exciting or new to report, but that just isn't happening in my life. What is happening is lots of time with family, watching Natalie develop little by little each day, resting, reading, jogging, enjoying comfortable Tennessee weather, good conversations with Scotty, good meals with the in-laws, etc. Have I said lately what a wonderful, adorable, beautiful, funny little girl we have? So, the Lord is being very gracious to us and blessing us with a time of rest and doing the things we like to do most. We miss our friends in Bolivia, we wish we could attend church at IBM and then beam back here, we smile when we think of those that are part of our daily lives there...but we are so content here. I often wonder what I would say if someone were to ask me, "what is God teaching you these days?" There is nothing profound, nothing new...but a constant sense of thankfulness and recognition of His goodness. I'd love to develop a better habit of prayer and a discipline of memorizing scripture while I have this free time in the states. But, for now, I am just soaking in the goodness of my Father and seeing His presence continually around me in the love of my family.

Lift-off

We've been counting down the last week to our big, month-long trip to Tennessee to visit Scotty's parents. Yesterday was the big day and came after a few days of gathering all our belongings that seemed to have been spread throughout the house, something I'm beginning to understand as normal once you have a child, and some good-byes to friends and family. But, we'll be back in December! My parents had planned to drive us half-way to an outlet mall in Georgia where we'd meet Scotty's parents, have lunch, and drive the second 4 1/2 hours or so to their house. As we set off down the interstate, there was an unplanned lift-off, of sorts, which came in the form of our car top carrier, holding Natty's stroller, new (used) hiking backpack and pack 'n play, flying from the roof of our car. It was like a scene in a movie, usually quite amusing to those watching, but a bit horrific if it's your stuff...or stuff you're borrowing from your church, in the case of the stroller. (Sorry Vineyard, we'll replace it.) We heard the pop and I immediately looked behind me to see a large, black lump being quickly approached by a large, red truck doing about 80. He managed to aim so that he didn't drive right on top of it, but couldn't help catching the bag with his underbelly, strewing the contents all over the road, into the path of a few others. By the time Scotty and my dad arrived at the scene of the crime, the only salvagable items were the pack in play, saved by the floor of the crib that you wrap around the frame and the backpack. We just realized today that the pack is also a gonner. I have to say I was very disappointed and frustrated at the extra cost that we will incur because of this accident, but as my mother in-law has reminded me, God knew this was to happen and had a reason for not preventing it.

So, we see a new chapter of the trip beginning, and the first chapter closing. Time always moves faster than you want or expect it to, but we have a lot of good memories and exciting times ahead. Natalie is getting the chance to see her cousins again and is now at an age to really enjoy watching them, even though she's a bit young to play. We're enjoying the company of the whole Miser clan together, which doesn't happen very often. Thursday we'll take another road trip to Ohio to see some supporters there and look forward to this more active segement of our home assignment.

How I purchased my favorite backpack carrier.

So, here's the deal. We need a backpack carrier for Natty. I have been recommended the Ergo by several moms and I haven't marked it off the list yet, but the major concern I have is that there is no option (as far as I know) for a sun/rain canopy. This is at the very top of the list as a necessity for any carrier we purchase. All you moms out there- let's hear what you like and why. Pretend like you're writing an 11th grade persuasive paper for English.

I haven't seen the beach yet.

I just wanted to throw that out there. I've been close to the beach twice, but haven't actually seen it or walked on the hot sand. Things change when there's a baby in the picture.

St. Augustine

So, my in-laws were her last week. We met up with them in the oldest city in the US, St. Augustine, which is about 2 hours from Gainesville.

Scotty's parents

Besides the beach that I didn't get to, there is lots of fun architecture, pretty houses, shopping and a big Spanish fort. We wandered around in the hot sun without much of an agenda, other than to eat fried seafood and to modestly nurse in the foyer of the welcome center, which proved difficult as St. Augustine turns out to be a not-so-breastfeeding-friendly town. A bit of a challenge when both you and your baby are sweaty. But, the trip was fun overall.

On top of the fort.

During the week we ran errands together, read, played games, ate and generally enjoyed each other- especially the time all 4 grandparents were able to hang out with Natty.The ladies bowl at UF. Mom comes in 1st, Mims in 2nd and me, pulling up the rear.

At the end of the week, we drove down with Scotty's parents to the home of some good friends of the family, Tom and Marilyn. Marilyn is the hostess with the mostest- meaning gourmet salads, a pool, lots of personal touches in your room, a listening ear and great conversation. Tom is a character and loved playing with Natty and making her giggle.

Tom, me and Natty. We're trying to get Natty a spot in the next Chic-Fil-A calender.

Scotty's dad, whom we call "Papi", volunteered to stay with Natty Sunday morning so we could enjoy a care-free church service without worrying if she'd melt down on the nursery staff. His parents returned home on Monday and now we are starting to get into gear for visiting some of our supporters around here before time runs out on us...it always seems to pass faster than we expect.

"Hello little girl. Why aren't you blinking?"

Natalie is growing at rapid rates and astounds us with how quickly she is changing. We're encouraging her to crawl, which she seems very close to doing. If fussiness is any indicator of soon to arrive teeth, I'm pretty sure she'll have a mouth-full by the end of the week. But, she still is plenty sweet and adorable and is loving the summertime almost as much as her mommy. Public libraries are an indulgence that we sorely miss in Bolivia and have been able to visit twice now to find all the books that satiate our interest in home building and design, novels and board books for the baby. I also checked out a book on signing that will hopefully help us communicate a little better as time goes on. I love the idea of her being able to talk to me without words! So, the enjoyment of home continues...

Scotty, Lisa & Natalie, Home from Bolivia

We're now back in the US for six and a half months of Home Assignment (the new term for furlough) and currently enjoying some R&R in the Florida sunshine! We're thankful that we're not coming off the mission field feeling burned out and grateful that we're here to reconnect with family, friends and supporters. Please pray with us that our time back will further equip us for effectively ministering in Bolivia.

Easter church retreat
Since our last e-newsletter was way back in March, we need to catch you up on a major event in the life of our church, the retreat we took over the Easter weekend. Besides all the good relationship-deepening stuff like preparing food and eating together, playing games (like volleyball with a massive soccer ball), swimming in the pool and roasting marshmallows, it was our chance to share the church's vision with a majority of our regular attenders and plenty of guests, too. In one sense, our vision isn't that earth-shattering (because it's pretty basic and straightforward). On the other hand, it is profound stuff if we can really make headway as a church in these three areas: love God (worship & sound teaching), grow together (discipleship and community), and reach the world (evangelism, missions and meeting human need). The 3 talks during the retreat were just the beginning in the process of explaining and incorporating these values in the Mallasilla Bible Church. A story that best fits in the green circle came about because we invited a particular family from our small group to ride down to the jungle camp with us in our loaded-down Land Cruiser. We had a great time talking there and back, and they really enjoyed the retreat. Afterwards, they expressed their extreme gratitude to us, saying they wouldn't have been able to go if it had not been for our invitation to ride with us.

Men's book study
With a desire to encourage men in the red and green circles of loving God and growing together, I initiated a study of John Piper's book Don't Waste Your Life, bringing 20 copies in Spanish back after our brief visit last November. The books sold (at cost) like iPhones and were bought both by men who participated in the study as well as others from the church. In the book, pastor John encourages us to live radically as Christians, treasuring God in such a way that He is glorified in every aspect of our lives, from worship to evangelism to how we spend our money to how we work. We met to discuss each chapter and though attendance varied from 3 to 10 guys, the discussions went really deep and we were able to pray for one another in specific ways that the book applied to our individual lives.
There was a good deal of interest in continuing the study with another book during our absence, which is a huge encouragement to me! It is so important that the men of our church go deep with God and each other, step up in leadership roles, and guide their families in living for God's glory.

Being the church to one another
A man in our small group, Cesar Lozano, has been out of work for over a year. He and his wife, Teresa, and their two teen-age girls have been faithful and encouraging members of our Saturday Bible study and IBM for about a year. Cesar explains how it was always a chore to get the girls to attend any other church consistently, but his daughters and wife have found such a connection with other women in Mallasilla that they are the ones urging him now. A few months ago, one of the other men in our group, a very new believer, brought up the idea of taking a group collection of money to help out the Lozano family. Everyone was excited by the idea so the initiator followed up with each family and presented the Lozanos with a significant gift. We spoke privately with them several weeks later and found them very grateful but also admitting that their pride caused them to initially be embarrassed and reluctant to accept the money. However, God taught them all that He has much good to be offered from His hand, and to receive it with thanksgiving. We see that our group is growing so much in depth of knowledge of the Lord and love for each other. We've confidently left the group in the hands of our friends Hugo and Ericka Ramirez and saw the entire crew taking initiative in conversing with each other in order to change the meeting time to fit their schedules better and deciding on what they are going to study.

Being the church, part II
Last year we introduced you to good friends that live a few minutes from us, the Astorga family. They have been building a home on the same street as our land for around 2 years and have saved every penny possible, even when Javier was without a job for many months, to move in. About a week before we left, they were finally able to get the house to a point where it was livable- without showers and finished flooring- but livable. They are ecstatic to live on the same street as another Christian family from the church, and eventually, us too. In order to celebrate God's faithfulness in providing their own home (the 4 of them have been living in one bedroom at their parents' house for several years) and to say good-bye to us, they threw a pizza party in our honor. As we sat around their first fire in the family room's fireplace with several different families, watched all the kids running around, their screams bouncing off the cement walls, ate pizza, and sang karaoke, we realized what a gift we have been given in these relationships. The different individuals in the room that we are closest to spent half an hour or so thanking us for our service and friendship, sharing the things we have taught them, and laughing with us over the various language blunders we have made along the way. What a sweet way to be affirmed in God's call as we reflect on the ups and downs and joys and sorrows of ministry.

Bolivian highs and lows
This country that God has called us to has its extremes: low altitude with high temperatures in the East and high altitude with low temperatures in the West. I experienced the latter pair with six adventurous friends as we tackled Bolivia's highest peak at 21,463 feet, Nevado Sajama, right before Lisa's and my return stateside. It was an appropriate farewell activity for two good friends in my men's accountability group that won't be returning to Bolivia. It was also among the hardest (and coldest!) things I've done in my life! At this point, you may be expecting the anology between ministry and putting one crampon-clad boot in front of the other to eventually make it to the top of that mountain. So I hope you're not disappointed that instead I share my decision to hang up the ice axe in mountain climbing retirement in favor of future vacation plans to chill by the pool in Bolivia's lower climes and higher temps with Lisa, Natalie and any other progeny God blesses us with. I guess this is more a reflection on priorities; deciding what's really worth putting my energies and resources into in work as well as in leisure. And priorites change, too. I'm grateful for the memories of two very challenging, very beautiful Bolivian peaks I've climbed with friends, and content to leave it at that. Other challenges await us in life and ministry in Bolivia. We experience extremes of cultural differences on a regular basis, as well as highs and lows in energy and in spirits, but we rely on God for the perseverance and joy to keep taking the next step.

Praises

We feel we finished our term well in Bolivia, handing over our primary ministries to capable people so that they will be continued and we can start some new things upon our return!

God is providing richly for our needs, including a pair of guys to sublet our apartment in our absence, a family to take care of our cats, and countless things here in the US from a high chair for Natalie to a place to stay in Charlotte for several months. We praise God for this season to be back in our home culture to rest and spend time with family, friends, and supporters.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for the Mallasilla Bible Church as they wrestle through some big issues in our absence, such as the role of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Please pray also for more and more people from the congregation to step up in ministry and leadership roles in the church.

Please pray for us as we try to raise more financial support in this tough economy, that God will provide and that we will trust in Him to do so.

Please also pray for us as we try to see and visit lots of people

Our time in the USA

We're enjoying time with Lisa's family in northern Florida and will be with my parents in TN beginning in August. If you live in Ohio, we'd love for you to come to an open house in Coumbus we'll be announcing for sometime in August. We'll arrive in Charlotte, NC in mid-September in order for me to take two more classes toward a master's in Christian Thought at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and be there through the beginning of December. In October, we'll fly out to Minneapolis to be a part of Bethlehem Baptist's missions conference and see friends and supporters there. Finally, we'll wrap up our time here in Florida again for Christmas and New Year's before returning to Bolivia on January 8. We hope we'll get to see you during our time here! But if we're not able to get together in person, we'd love to be in contact by phone or email. See our contact info below to set something up!

During this time of home assignment, we do need to increase our financial support. Please prayerfully consider joining the team of people and churches that make it possible for us to live and minister in Bolivia. If you are already support us, please consider increasing your monthly amount. Thank you so much for your support as friends, financial partners and prayer warriors on our behalf!

More on joining our support team...

God has graciously provided for all of our needs through your generous support ever since we (separately) hit Bolivian soil in 2003. Now, with a new fiscal year and little Natalie having joined Team Miser, we need to boost our support level with SIM. If you would be interested in joining our support team, please contact us or you can begin giving here!

Thank you! Scotty for the Misers

Pool- check. Blueberries- check. Home church- check. Relax- check. We are enjoying checking off a mental list of all the stuff we've been looking forward to upon arriving home. Mostly, we were ready to relax, sit around, eat good food and hang out with my family- which we are doing a lot of. We are in no rush to mix and mingle or even visit supporters...yet. There is plenty of time for that. The trip home went fantastically, even with a few delayed flights. As He always does, God answered our prayers by giving us an empty seat on the long leg of the flight between Bolivia and Miami for Natty to hang out in. Big girl in her own seat.

We had her up by 4am on Wednesday and she eventually fell asleep on the trip home from the airport at about 10:30pm. While travelling, she did a great job of playing, sitting, staring, napping a bit, eating, and making everyone fall in love with her (at least, that's our perception). Although it was a very long day, she was up at her normal time the next morning and hasn't skipped a beat in her routine. I'm afraid she takes after me. We were able to share the flight home with good friends from Bolivia, James, Julie and Maya. James, Maya, me and Natty waiting to board the plane.

The girls have just reached an age where they seemed to be enjoying each other a little, but we sadly said "good-bye" to the Bellinghams in Miami, not sure if we'll ever see them again.

Although Natty takes a few days to warm up to new people, my parents have really loved watching her at this new, fun stage.

Natty's "Papa" feeding her dinner.

She's getting much more comfortable with them now and it is a delight for me to watch them interact and give me and Scotty a chance to escape a bit and do some dating again. Our first date since Scotty's birthday in April was a trip to Border's and out to a local Mexican dive, where we were able to chat with our waiter in Spanish (which scored us some free chips). A few days ago, we crashed my best friend's parents' house (which was like a second home to me growing up) to soak up the sun and float in the pool. Natty had her first dip, surprising me and Scotty by loving it and happily splashing around. Poor thing has done a lot of sweating since we've arrived- a feeling she's not at all accustomed to in La Paz. Days like that are exactly what I have been dreaming about in the weeks and months leading up to our return. We can't wait to catch up with more friends and see Scotty's parents this weekend!

Friendly ladies, cranky baby

I had one of those afternoons where just about everyone wanted to talk to or touch Natty- and she wasn't having any of it. The first tooth just arrived last night, and with it, a heightened degree of fusiness that we have not experienced before. So, as we arrive at the pediatrician's office, I'm happy that she seems to be entertained by a young girl sitting across from her. Then, this old lady sits down next to us, practically on top of my diaper bag, and starts mumbling incoherently. Then comes the touching. There is no etiquette on baby-touching here- it was the same way with the pregnant belly...if you can reach it, you can touch it. So here come the hands toward the face- very dirty hands, I must tell you- and there was lots of face groping and patting and caressing, as well as hand grabbing. And all the while, mumbling. I wondered where this lady came from and who was responsible for her. She held out her hands several times like she wanted me to hand the baby over to her. I'm not too down with giving my baby to very old, dirty-hands lady that doesn't seem to know how to speak. I smiled and prayed that she was healthy (we were in a doctor's office waiting room) and shook my head, explaining that she scares easily- which is true. She was border line about to bawl but seemed rather fascinated with this cloudy-eyed woman. Then, up she went and back she came with her caregiver/daughter/younger friend (??), who sat down on the other side and started stroking Natty's head. Now they were coming from two directions and I thought I might just bust out of my seat and politely explain I needed to go to the restroom. The pair eventually moved to another row of seats where there were two open together, but the old lady would periodically come back, almost trying to take Natty out of my arms, and the younger one would say, "no, honey, you're going to drop her.". Oh, boy. So then, after a traumatic visit with the pediatrician, in which Natty screamed her head off the entire time like that little measuring tape they put around her head were squeezing her brains out, we went back into the waiting room to wait for the nurse to come and give her 2 injections- perfect. So, a little girl came over who appeared to have pink eye and started babbling a mile a minute about babies and how they eat and what her little sister is like and also interpretting every sound Natalie made..."She wants to eat the grapes whole. She wants to eat them faster. She's bored." Again, I wondered who was responsible for this child. Of course, Natalie likes small people, so she was trying to reach out and grab the girl's face, which had me a bit concerned about pink eye. But, at least she wasn't screaming...until the vaccinations. So, thankfully after that joy ride through the pediatrician's office, we came home and she was actually cute and happy and laughing until bedtime- which made up for all the screaming. God has given us a great gift in this little girl.

An Unforgettable Night

We met with Greg yesterday to go over our end of term reviews that are part of what SIM requires before returning on home assignment. Filling out the review form and thinking about the last 3 years was a great exercise in being reminded of all that God taught and the continued need to be open to where He is leading and how He wants to change us. One thing that stood out to us as a continued frustration is how different we, foreigners, deal with time. I have realized how tied to the clock I have been all my life and we see how loosely most Bolivians hold onto time limitations...there really are few limitations when it comes to time. We see so much benefit in this, but it is so hard to conform to this way of living when you are used to punctuality and starting and ending times. Last night, God threw me a big test after talking through these things with Scotty and Greg- realizing that I was the one that needed to change my atitude about it. We were invited over by good friends who have been working on their house for several years- it's on the same street we will be building on. They still haven't finished, but they've gotten it to a point where it is livable and they wanted to throw us a going away party and celebrate the fact that they've finally moved in. Great idea! They invited other good friends who live at the end of the street and some of their family. I had talked with my friend on Sunday and we had planned for a little after 7, since Natalie goes to bed at that time. We called a friend to come over to be in the house while Natty sleeps and took off about 7:30, realizing that showing up on time would not be the best idea. We've been running hard these past few days and I was already tired, although looking forward to hanging out with these families. When we walked over to the house, there was no one there. Not too surprising. When we called our friend, she said, "can you come at 8:30?". 8:30??? I must say, that was the point where I totally forgot about the need to change my attitude. I was a bit upset, to say the least. We walked back home and spent the next hour chatting while waiting for everyone to show up. By the time we were ready to leave again, I had calmed down and wondered if I should bring up the issue at all. We went back and the house had been opened by another friend, but our friend still wasn't there. She came about half and hour later and explained the long list of things that had caused her to run behind in everything. After hearing her explanation, I realized how short of grace I had been and that I would want someone else to understand and be patient if I were in the same situation. Well, we all sat down, they cranked up the English ballads from the 80's, and we waited for dinner to be finished...I was getting pretty tired by this point. There was lots of excited conversation going on, kids running around, Air Supply crooning in the background, promises of karoke later in the evening and our friend promising us "an unforgettable night". Oh! Don't worry, I thought, it already has been.

Around 10 we finally ate, talked, started the first fire in their fire place, and out came the karoke videos. We sang a few and then Scotty and I reluctantly explained that we needed to leave to relieve the babysitter and also because he had to get up early this morning to head to Sajama, the highest mountain in Bolivia, which he intends to summit in the next 3 days. Then, as Bolivians are so skilled at doing, they blessed us by sharing how much we mean to them, how much we have affected their lives and how much they will miss us. We have been very humbled in the last week or so as various friends share these going-away thoughts and confirm what we sometimes wonder- that God really is using us here. Back to the house by 11:30- it was truly an unforgettable night.

The count-down

We leave for the US in 2 weeks! Because of this fact, I have been too busy to blog but I thought I'd throw a quick one out there to notify everyone of this. I also will not be adding pictures because I just let my computer do "updates" and it has wreaked havoc on my programs- including rendering me incapable of using the program I used to use to shrink pictures. I need to become more computer savvy. Anyway, it continues to get cold here- I am wearing a long sleeved shirt, sweater and fleece in the house. The air is crisp inside, even when it has warmed up considerably outside. Therefore, I am ready for the Florida summer, even though I haven't experienced that kind of humidity since 2006. I went through my wardrobe today and threw out socks I think I've had for 10 years in an effort to consolidate, figure out what I need to buy when we're home, and make room for the boys who will be living here while we're away. God has answered a big prayer in providing a family to take our cats! All we have left now is some more organizing, packing up a whole bunch of stuff and trying to get together with all our friends before we go. I feel like this is what has been going on in the last few weeks. I've thought many times about how wonderful it will be to be in the states with our friends and family, but how nice it is that we aren't leaving feeling burned out or that we're tired of this place. It is a good time to go and we are leaving things in very capable hands. We will miss our friends here but know that the break will be healthy and a great time to meditate on all God has taught us in these almost 3 years and seek out what He wants to do in the next phase.

Good stuff

Have you ever had a chocolate urge but there were no cookies or miniature Hershey bars or anything else remotely chocolate in the house other than chocolate chips? And you think, "I'll just have a little handfull to take the edge off." And then the next thing you know, you've emptied a "small" bowl full and you feel totally gross. Just wondering...





So, I'm feeling better (or was until that chocolate episode) and am praising God daily for my health and Natty's health and that her cute little smile has come back. She was even flirting with a little boy at church on Sunday- something I did NOT teach her. We're getting out often and my goal this week while Scotty is away is to organize my stuff (meaning, throw out a ton of junk that I haven't used since we moved back to Bolivia) and start packing things into boxes for when we're in the states and someone else is living here. I'd also like to visit someone each day, since that is what I love doing and haven't had a chance to do lately.

Yay for happy Natalie!

We've switched our Saturday afternoon Bible study to Friday nights. This is because it is much more convenient for everyone and allows them to hang out after study is over for as long as they like- in my experience, this is easily until mid-night. Because of that fact, I am thankful it won't be in my house any longer. This past Friday, we joined forces with another small group from church in order to have an open forum with Scotty and the pastor- a free-for-all, if you will. No question was off limits- we wanted to give everyone the chance to voice the doubts and questions they've had on their mind since our little church began a year and a half ago. Topics ranged from women preaching to spiritual gifts to worship styles (just how demonstrative can we be during praise time?) and then back to spiritual gifts. It was a good time for people to be really honest with where they stand, admit that they don't know where they stand, and to hear exactly where the pastor stands. It was good for the leadership to also emphasize that they haven't talked about everything or decided where we will stand as a church (on form issues, not doctrine). We talked a lot about love and grace and how those must trump differences in style and grey issues that will often arise. I feel like it was another time for us to grow as a body as we wrestled together with what it means to be a church and how that is practically played out. It could have gotten messy, but pastor Edgar did a fantastic job of reminding people that above all, we are called to love each other. And I think it made people feel like they really are important in the process. We've been told how much we will be missed in the time we are away. It is good to hear and good that we will miss them too. We're at such a tender age right now as a church- I can't wait to see where we are when we come back.

Heatlh update

Well, praise God, Scotty remains well and has not yet caught the monster cold that is going around. Natty seems to be mostly better, other than a nasty cough, but has retained a mostly fussy attitude, which I'm hoping is related to teething and doesn't mean she still has something that needs to be looked into. Poor thing eats like a mouse- good thing she has some reserves in her chunky thighs. I am finally on the mend, after seeing a doctor yesterday who prescribed some stuff for the congestion and some drops for a minor ear infection. I spent most of yesterday sleeping while Scotty took care of Natty, neglecting a whole lot of other things he's got going on right now...what a great husband! My Bolivian friend, Ericka, came over today to visit and made some chicken soup for us. Then Faith sent over some soup with Greg- so I'm good for the next few days. I can't even tell you what Scotty has been eating while I've been bed/couch bound. Did get in a good read by Chinua Achebe: "Things Fall Apart". Very interesting and simply written look into Nigerian culture. I appreciate all the well-wishing and prayers. God is always good and takes care of His children.

One more thing. This is a funny glimpse into how life changes once you have a baby...I know you know what I'm talking about.

Overheard (in baby monitor)
Scotty changing Natty's diaper

Scotty: "Good job Bo-D (don't ask about the nick-name, I have no idea)!

Natty: "Ma."

Scotty: "You're a rock star...a pooping rock-star...you're a poop-star!"

Yes, we might need to get out more.

Uuuuugh....

There will be no pictures today. There's nothing cute happening at our house this week. Natty and I have decided to have our first mother-daugther bonding time (besides the whole birth/breastfeeding/raising time, etc...)- we have the flu. I'm a couple days behind Natty, so I get to watch her to see what's in store for me. She's held on to a particularly nasty strain for a whole week now- most of that week with a low grade fever and lots of crying/whining. I, being an adult and very healthy, figured that this would not be an issue for me. Oh- was I wrong! My body also is not letting go of this one, or it's not letting go of me, and every day seems to make me feel a little more awful...I wasn't sure that could happen. So, that's been our week. A couple times, I've felt up for leaving the house and thought maybe a distraction would be good for Natty so we went to the park and into town once for sherbet. Bad idea. There was lots of crying and a few quizzical/judgmental looks thrown our way. I did have a melt-down yesterday after going into town, feeling not so hot, but determined to have my gyro and sherbet. Natty fussed as soon as we got her out, I lost something in the car, Natty cried through the gyros (which I couldn't really taste but left a nice, gritty film on the roof of my mouth), and then couldn't find my sunglasses upon leaving. Needless to say, we skipped the ice cream and drove directly home, Natty crying just for a minute before falling asleep, and me crying for a good while after that. Well, I suppose that is enough complaining for one blog. I did listen to an excellent sermon from John Piper this morning about John 3:16. He unpacks this well-known verse into the 7 most profound, important, life-changing truths you will ever hear or hope to understand. It was effective in making me see how petty my little sickness is and how great is the God who raised me from death to life through Jesus Christ.

And now, I shall put the egg casserole in the oven that Scotty prepared last night in honor of Mother's Day. This was a big deal for him, as cooking is #567 on his list of favorite things to do. May the Lord sustain us as mothers and bless us today as we celebrate the gift of our children!

Little. Yellow. Different.

So, Nattybear is fighting a nasty cold this week, so I'm inside a lot. Therefore, I decided to wander around the house while she was napping to capture a few, everyday things we live with that are different from the US. Not better or worse- just different.


There's no such thing as central heating and air in the homes or buildings of La Paz. 12,000 ft. can mean warm, if you are outside in the intense sun, or cold, if you are inside- at almost any part of the year. Now that it is coming on winter here, it is COLD inside. We cart this puppy around- a gas heater with wheels that warms up a room in no time. It's a must for heating up the kitchen for breakfast, Natty's bathtime, and sometimes even the bathroom when you don't want to come out of a warm shower into a frigid bathroom.

Bolivian builders are less than creative when it comes to light. The majority don't figure into the equation how lighting will affect a room and most rooms sport the classic lightbulb-hanging-from-a-wire look. Thankfully, our landlord has an artistic side and most of our other fixtures have nice iron work of some kind.

Hot and cold water coming from the tap is extremely uncommon (which, paired with the chilly temps of the city, makes for constantly icy fingers). But, if you have a magic box like we do, you can get hot water from the tap AND the shower. The other alternative is what is affectionately called the "widow maker"- an electric device that is wired to the spout where the water comes out in your shower. DON'T TOUCH. This is an electric water heater and I love it.

Dish washers are pretty much unheard of. I don't mind hand-washing, especially since we have the electric water heater.

There are no electric stoves/ovens, that I'm aware of. Gas is nice and heats up quickly.

They do exist, but we don't have gas lines that come from a gas source directly into the house. Most people don't. So, we (meaning Scotty) lugs a very heavy gas tank to and fro the shop down the street or from gas trucks that drive by to replace your empty containers. I'm afraid to change the tank on the stove because I'm convinced I will do something wrong and blow up the house. It's not out of the realm of possibility.

Drinking tap water is a "no-no". Here is our beautiful water filter that actually says "Stefi" on the side. I guess that's her name.


We drink milk from liter bags. No milk jugs here. Sometimes they spring leaks on the way home from the grocery store and you don't realize it until you start unpacking milky food products.

Fruit and veggies must be soaked in disinfectant for a few mins before eaten. It's even advisable to soak your eggs cause they come in the nice, little egg cartons with bits of poop still stuck to them. Don't want to crack that into your frying pan!

Yogurt is sold in liter bottles and labeled "Ready to Drink". That's right- we don't want any rich, creamy yogurt with big fruit chunks...right? This stuff is drunk (drunken?) from a glass.

220, not 110. Too bad we've blown stereo equipment, coffee grinder, telephone, Vonage system, and various other things forgetting that fact.

Hence- there are many converters littered around the house. This one is very important- for our imported coffee grinder and crock pot.

Bath tubs aren't so common- standing showers are. I haven't taken a bath in at least a year (but lots of showers, don't worry).

Plumbing is not up to the standard necessary to flush your toilet paper. So, you put it in the trash can...I know, a little yucky. It also messes with your mind when travelling to and from the US.

Whirwind weekend

Frisbee... grocery shopping... cooking... cleaning... Bible study... friend's house... sleepover in the living room... church... friends for lunch... picking up furniture... sick baby. It was a full two days! The party in Mallasilla seemed to continue picking up speed and volume until it reached a crescendo Saturday afternoon. We had been invited mid-day on Saturday to visit some friends we haven't spent time with in a while and right before our weekly Bible study, we decided to invite ourselves to stay the night in their living room to avoid the drunken mayhem. It's Mallasilla's official birthday on Labor Day and one family each year throws a party for neighbors far and wide. What this includes, explained to us by our Bolivian friends, is spending tens of thousands of dollars on tents, sound equipment, and beer. Lots of beer. The families that participate in hosting these parties are the lower class and they are asked by the previous year's host, only to be completely rejected from the community if they are to say "no". No one says "no". Aymara are very communal and relational- there is no such thing as the individual, so to be rejected is basically the end of your life as you know it. So, what we know of construction workers, which would be a typical job for one of these men, we figured a yearly salary of less than $4,000. $4,000 yearly income and a 3-day party for $20,000= debt for years to come, or possibly the rest of your life. Besides being horrifically annoyed by the noise, we were extremely saddened to see so many living their lives for a momentary party that brings them acceptance from their neighbors. At one point, sometime late during the night before I had given up and put earplugs in (wanting to be able to hear Natty, who seemed to be waking from the music), I felt like I was in a scene from a movie. You know when someone goes to a fair and they get terribly sick or poisoned and the cameras pan to a close-up of a clown wildly laughing, children screaming with cotton candy in their hands, the merry-go-round whirling out of control- all with blurry, bright lights and blaring carnival music? Are you with me? This is how I felt lying in my dark bedroom- that's how ridiculous it was. So, we made the decision to skip night #3 of that all-inclusive party and work-it camping style on the living room floor of friends. It was SO quiet there.

So, after we had friends over for lunch today, we headed over to the house of a US military family who had offered us some old couches. Since they are moving, they also threw in a couple things they didn't want- a wooden rocking horse from Africa and a great, red kid's bike for Natty! As missionaries, we've learned the best things you can get here are from other missionaries (or foreigners) who are leaving. Natty looks too cute on her rocking horse!

Green pie and other stuff

I'm feeling terribly uninspired lately, which is why you'll note the lack of blogging. So, in order to not expend too much energy trying to summon my writing creativity, I will simply fill you in in list form. Maybe a few pics of Natty will make it better.

1. Can anyone tell me why the sweet potato pie I baked turned green on top the next day. Not just kinda green- GREEN. Thankfully, there was still a third of it that wasn't totally green that I could serve to our neighbors who came over for lunch- they're not so much into Dr. Seuss here.

2. Had the neighbors over for lunch- Edgar, Hortensia, and their 30+ aged kids, Pablo and Sylvia. Good food, loud conversation, family arguments over whether or not technology introduced in Bolivia brought alcoholism. Fun times.

3. Making my own baby food. Natty pretty much puts it all away the same, so I'm not sure what her favorite is. I'm partial to the prune apple oatmeal. She did cry the whole time I fed her carrots today, but she kept opening her mouth for more. She sends some mixed signals during meals. The bottom shelf of the freezer is full of ziplocks with frozen food cubes. It's pretty.

4. Fair amount of hosting going on. I'm starting to wonder if it'll be worth investing in a dish washer down the road. Favorite new salad is chinese cabbage salad- look it up on allrecipes- yum.

5. IBMers seem to be opening up since the retreat. More honesty about what people like, what they dislike, confusions they have, etc. Our small group times tend to be more relaxed with more conversation and more chatting afterward. This is great progress.

6. New family commiting to attend our church. The son says he thinks he's met some real Christians at this church (after attending a handfull of others around town). Awesome.

7. The summer is officially over! This causes even more of an urge to return to the states where people are wearing shorts. It's quite chilly at night and now stays cooler in the house than outside. Natty is getting a chance to wear all those cute jackets and hoodies we've been given (but only in the house- still pleasant in the sun). I really want to keep slippers on her feet to keep them warm, but the only ones I have look like little animals and she constantly pulls them off to taste them.

8. We've got plane tickets home! June 17th-January 8th- woohoo!

IBM Easter camp

So, we were back to the Yungas last weekend for our first camp as a church- for Easter! There was a ton of planning that went into this and a lot of praying that it would be a success. I suppose there are different ways to judge success when thinking of camp. For me, it meant that Natty slept most of the way there and back, that she slept well at camp, that the food cubes I had made to feed her didn't spoil and that she ate well, that she enjoyed the company of 100 different people grabbing, petting, cooing, touching, and holding her off and on throughout the weekend, that the kids program being held in our cabin didn't interrupt the naps, that I had someone to talk to while sitting inside the cabin waiting for her to finish her nap...I'm sure you get the picture. So, for me, it was a great success! The weather was beautiful, I had nice conversations with people who were in and out of the mission's cabin where we were bunked, and Natty was a dream. For other people, especially leadership, we found that there was a lot we would do differently next time. The turnout was amazing and had me continually in awe at how good God was to bring so many people to our church camp. Lots of people invited friends and family, many of whom are not believers. However, there were enough unexpected visitors to warrant smaller portions of food and even one run into town to buy more chickens. We also need to work on delegating more responsibilities, as there were 2 families who did the brunt of the work and really burned themselves out. I'm not taking credit for this, as we were not included in those running themselves into the ground, but for their sake, something needs to change there too. But, overall- the games were tons of fun, people seemed to be getting to know each other better, the messages were great, and I would rate the camp a success. A petty thought came to mind on Easter- outweighed by gratitude for the life I've been given through the death and victory over death by Christ- but it was there nonetheless: Natty celebrated her first Easter without a dress! Or a basket or any of those other things I grew up with. Now, living in Bolivia and potentially participating in camp every Easter in a remote jungly area that is a bit rough, I'm guessing a pretty new dress won't be part of the picture for our daughter. So, that got me thinking about what I would like to see as tradition in our family. I love traditions and I remember looking forward to specific ones when I was little. I want our traditions to first, point the way to Christ, and also be lots of fun. Scotty and I have some thinking to do- what are some of the traditions you guys enjoy at Easter?