So Saturday night I had the opportunity to go to a dinner/culture show as a special thank you from the organization for some of the BSCP staff. It was such a nice way to spend my last weekend in Bolivia--authentic Bolivian dishes, amazing music, and beautiful cultural dances from various parts of Bolivia.
During one of the dances, the two women and two men came off the stage and started to survey the audience. Oh NO. They´re picking people to dance on stage! I started talking to one of my co-workers and say how funny it´d be if they came to our table (but of course pick someone else other than me). Right as I said that, a guy comes from behind and pulls me on stage. Suddenly, I flash back to childhood. I think I must have been six years old, my family and I were at Marine World watching the whale show. It must have been the intermission when a clown came out and started to perform these tricks. Then, as part of one of his acts, he pulled out an unsuspecting little girl to be his guinea pig. Me. Course I´m still shy now, but at that age, I was horribly shy. Anyways, that experience traumatized me because 1. He was a clown 2. I was forced on stage in front of a huge crowd of people 3. Everyone was laughing at his tricks, but basically I was the butt of those tricks so, as a six year old you can´t help but feel like everyone was laughing at you.
Flashback to La Paz, Bolivia, July 2008. If any of you know me well, you know I can´t dance, as much as I would love to know how. Especially latin-style dance. Anyways, I´ll spare you all the details and let you know that it was one of the most embarrassing things I´ve done in a while, and yet, it was SO much fun. It was a neat reminder for me--to not take myself so seriously, to enjoy laughing with other people about my silliness, and to seize opportunities to experience new things. It is a very wonderful thing to learn to laugh at your ¨bad dancing moments.¨
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It has been such a wonderful past four and a half weeks. Tomorrow is my last full day here, and then I´m off to return to the states. I have so much more to share as I´ve been reflecting much on my time here. I plan post a few more times, so please stay tuned.
Btw, did you know there´s a website called sleepinginairports.net? Yeah! Supposedly they tell you what airports are good for sleeping in and where the good spots to sleep are...! Yup, gonna rough it in the Miami Airport on my trip home, but I´m actually kind of excited. They say on the fourth floor near the post office is the place to be. We´ll see. =)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Kung Fu and The Streets of El Alto
Every tuesday, BSCP partners with a local church located in El Alto, the poor urban area that sits at the top of the bowl of La Paz to participate in street outreach from around 10am-1am, serving the children who live and sleep on the streets. They usually bring bread and coffee, provide basic first aid, play soccer with the kids, and just spend time forming friendships. Last night I had the privilege to join this group.
On our drive up to El Alto, Chi Huang, the founder of BSCP explained to three of us from the organization that the presence and need of street children in El Alto has increased so much in recent years. The Bolivian police have taken part in an intense effort to "cleanse the streets," physically removing children from the streets in La Paz by putting them in police vehicles and dropping them off in the Jungle (a few hours drive away) or putting them in government warehouses. Police are notorious among the street children--physical, sexual, and emotional abuse are very common experiences for these children. As a result, where there used to be an estimated 3,000 street children on the streets of La Paz, remains only a spattering. Though the problem still remains as robust as ever--children just have been shuffled around the area to avoid the police. Many have migrated to other parts of the country: Sucre, Cochabamba, and many now to El Alto.
El Alto has a night life of its own--people everywhere, food stands and stores still open, lots of cheap hotels and single room occupancy buildings, buses and cars jam packed the main streets. Streets smelled like a mixture of urine, thinner, rotting food, and garbage. Those were the loud elements, the things easy to see, smell, hear. But then if you really paid attention, there were "quiet" elements on the streets that were loud in a different kind of way. Groups of children sleeping under a blanket and tarp under an overpass. Teens walking around with bloodshot eyes, a large grin, and a stagger, fresh off of inhaling thinner. A stab wound from a police man hidden under a sweater sleeve. An infected wound from a blow to the head from a fist-fight four days ago. A large scar outlining the side of a young man's face.
I think it's really tempting to sensationalize such experiences and hold it in our minds for a little while until it starts to lose its sting...and we move on with life. I'm tempted by that even today. Maybe that's a way that we protect ourselves, almost as if we just saw some movie, we absolve ourselves of responsibility, and make the world seem a little more rosy and comfortable to live in. And I think this process is subtle. Yet I don´t see the solution to this being people of misery, wallowing in what the world is that we forget what can be done. Then we risk being overwhelmed by the enormity of the issue and are crippled by the fact that no matter what we do nothing will make a difference.
So where is the balance, how do we properly hold in our mind and heart the injustice surrounding us in the world today? This is no easy question to answer (yet I would love to discuss if you have thoughts). Here are some thoughts though on how we can begin to live out of the difficult things we see and experience: I really believe that God has given us all unique passions and strengths from which to serve the world around us. For some people, this might involve working with government, law, or policy to change the structures from which societies are guided. For some people this might involve working in IT to bring technologies to areas that can be well served by accessing and storing information. For some people this might involve being the ones to physically touch the sick and provide the care that allows others to live a life outside of being sick. And for others this may involve creating photography, writing, and art that captures stories and experiences of those less fortunate to educate the world and bring injustices closer to home. The list goes on. What matters most though, is that whatever we do, we do in humility, courage, and love.
We must start small and hope big. And trust God.
On a lighter note, our group had an opportunity to talk with a group of younger men that evening. They were obviously high, slurred speech, blood-shot eyes, unsteady stance, and uninhibited speech. One of the guys, noticing I was asian, asked if I knew Kung-Fu. He kept insisting I do a demonstration for him and his friends, even though I kept telling him I didn´t know Kung-Fu. I couldn´t help but smile. Imagine me, on a street corner in Bolivia, doing Kung-Fu.
*Pictures: I have taken many since being here, but have not been able to get my hands on a card reader. When I arrive home, I promise a massive post filled with lots of pictures.
On our drive up to El Alto, Chi Huang, the founder of BSCP explained to three of us from the organization that the presence and need of street children in El Alto has increased so much in recent years. The Bolivian police have taken part in an intense effort to "cleanse the streets," physically removing children from the streets in La Paz by putting them in police vehicles and dropping them off in the Jungle (a few hours drive away) or putting them in government warehouses. Police are notorious among the street children--physical, sexual, and emotional abuse are very common experiences for these children. As a result, where there used to be an estimated 3,000 street children on the streets of La Paz, remains only a spattering. Though the problem still remains as robust as ever--children just have been shuffled around the area to avoid the police. Many have migrated to other parts of the country: Sucre, Cochabamba, and many now to El Alto.
El Alto has a night life of its own--people everywhere, food stands and stores still open, lots of cheap hotels and single room occupancy buildings, buses and cars jam packed the main streets. Streets smelled like a mixture of urine, thinner, rotting food, and garbage. Those were the loud elements, the things easy to see, smell, hear. But then if you really paid attention, there were "quiet" elements on the streets that were loud in a different kind of way. Groups of children sleeping under a blanket and tarp under an overpass. Teens walking around with bloodshot eyes, a large grin, and a stagger, fresh off of inhaling thinner. A stab wound from a police man hidden under a sweater sleeve. An infected wound from a blow to the head from a fist-fight four days ago. A large scar outlining the side of a young man's face.
I think it's really tempting to sensationalize such experiences and hold it in our minds for a little while until it starts to lose its sting...and we move on with life. I'm tempted by that even today. Maybe that's a way that we protect ourselves, almost as if we just saw some movie, we absolve ourselves of responsibility, and make the world seem a little more rosy and comfortable to live in. And I think this process is subtle. Yet I don´t see the solution to this being people of misery, wallowing in what the world is that we forget what can be done. Then we risk being overwhelmed by the enormity of the issue and are crippled by the fact that no matter what we do nothing will make a difference.
So where is the balance, how do we properly hold in our mind and heart the injustice surrounding us in the world today? This is no easy question to answer (yet I would love to discuss if you have thoughts). Here are some thoughts though on how we can begin to live out of the difficult things we see and experience: I really believe that God has given us all unique passions and strengths from which to serve the world around us. For some people, this might involve working with government, law, or policy to change the structures from which societies are guided. For some people this might involve working in IT to bring technologies to areas that can be well served by accessing and storing information. For some people this might involve being the ones to physically touch the sick and provide the care that allows others to live a life outside of being sick. And for others this may involve creating photography, writing, and art that captures stories and experiences of those less fortunate to educate the world and bring injustices closer to home. The list goes on. What matters most though, is that whatever we do, we do in humility, courage, and love.
We must start small and hope big. And trust God.
On a lighter note, our group had an opportunity to talk with a group of younger men that evening. They were obviously high, slurred speech, blood-shot eyes, unsteady stance, and uninhibited speech. One of the guys, noticing I was asian, asked if I knew Kung-Fu. He kept insisting I do a demonstration for him and his friends, even though I kept telling him I didn´t know Kung-Fu. I couldn´t help but smile. Imagine me, on a street corner in Bolivia, doing Kung-Fu.
*Pictures: I have taken many since being here, but have not been able to get my hands on a card reader. When I arrive home, I promise a massive post filled with lots of pictures.
Hope everyone is well! I miss you all!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Tuesday Too
I had such a wonderful day today. After spending the morning in the office, I got to go to Casa Renacer again for the afternoon. The kids know by this point that I speak mainly english, so when they see me they say ¨hi!¨ and ¨bye!¨ all through out the day. One of the staff suggested that I spend some time with the kids teaching them some english words, and of course, I jumped at the opportunity.
The boys, ranging from ages 7-14, crowded around and asked away. How do you say... !!!
hola
ciao
amor
te amo
Patty =)
futbol (soccer)
casa
cuaderno (workbook)
madera (wood)
lapiz (pencil)
libro (book)
perro (dog)
cocina (kitchen)
naranja (orange)
computadora
...y mas!
Honestly, it´s after this moment that I became so grateful for the little Spanish I did know. Even if for this short hour I could spend time with the kids and help them learn words that maybe they´ll forget tomorrow, I still think it was worth every second. To smile and laugh with the kids. I had the best time today.
On the ride home, the BSCP special education teacher, also my host mom, told me how the boys who live at Casa Renacer ask her if they can call her mom. That was the most precious thing to hear. Mom. She´s only there three hours a day, four days a week. 12 hours. And yet this means the world to these boys. Someone who´s willing to invest 12 hours of her life teaching these boys how to read, to finish their homework, to behave...and to the boys, this ultimately translates into love.
The boys, ranging from ages 7-14, crowded around and asked away. How do you say... !!!
hola
ciao
amor
te amo
Patty =)
futbol (soccer)
casa
cuaderno (workbook)
madera (wood)
lapiz (pencil)
libro (book)
perro (dog)
cocina (kitchen)
naranja (orange)
computadora
...y mas!
Honestly, it´s after this moment that I became so grateful for the little Spanish I did know. Even if for this short hour I could spend time with the kids and help them learn words that maybe they´ll forget tomorrow, I still think it was worth every second. To smile and laugh with the kids. I had the best time today.
On the ride home, the BSCP special education teacher, also my host mom, told me how the boys who live at Casa Renacer ask her if they can call her mom. That was the most precious thing to hear. Mom. She´s only there three hours a day, four days a week. 12 hours. And yet this means the world to these boys. Someone who´s willing to invest 12 hours of her life teaching these boys how to read, to finish their homework, to behave...and to the boys, this ultimately translates into love.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Monday with the Boys
After three weeks of winter break (it´s winter here in Bolivia), schools started back up again today. This means that everyday after school, all BSCP children will gather at Casa Renacer to eat lunch together, complete their homework for school with house tutors and volunteers, and spend free time together. Casa Renacer is the transitional home, which houses children who have recently left the streets. Casa Batana and Casa Bernabe, the permanent homes, house the children who have been off the streets for longer than 6 months and are ready to enter into a more stable environment. The permanent homes are located about a 15 minute drive away from Casa Renacer, but the afternoon is the time when all the children from all three houses come together in one location.
The majority of my work thus far has involved working in the BSCP office, about a 10 minute drive from Casa Renacer. I have really enjoyed my work here so far. My work so far has involved a lot of internet research on volunteer program development, collaboration with the Bolivian staff at BSCP on creating formal volunteer positions, and (the best part) spending some time at the homes and on the streets to learn not just by hearsay, but by personal experience.
Today I got to spend a full afternoon with the children. It was the best. My intent that afternoon was really to learn and observe: what type of homework did the children have to work on, what was the schedule of the afternoon program like, how did the children interact with the staff and volunteers, etc. Just being there I learned so much about all these things, but there was so much more...
I got to watch a volunteer lead some of the children in drawing with pastels and painting with dot art and it was precious to see how much the children loved it and how proud they were of their work. We put up their work on the wall. It looks amazing.
Everytime I heard a child refer to ChiChi, the house dad at Casa Renacer, as ¨Pa¨ it made my heart melt. It´s just amazing to think that these children, who previous to living at the homes had no parents or could not see their parents as true parents, now have someone who truly loves them and invests in them like a father. There are no words to describe just how incredible it is to hear ¨Pa¨ and see these kids look at ChiChi with such admiration and awe.
The younger kids really look up to the older kids. It´s so neat to see the older kids play-fight with the younger ones. I think that´s the way young boys express friendship with one another.
Kids also have such a neat way of bringing you into their world. I think sometimes all that they need or want is you to pay attention to them or spend time with them. Something as simple as cutting out chickens and turtles from magazines for a project they are working on. I realized that today as I cut that kids know you care when you care about the little things in their lives. It was amazing to me how easily they brought me into their projects, even with my broken spanish.
It was the best to spend time at Casa Renacer today. It reminds me what BSCP is about. It´s about the kids. These children who formerly had the streets, drugs, abuse, now have so much more. But it´s not that easy. We can´t force the kids to stay at the homes. Often they run away, sometimes more than once. You can´t convince kids that doing chores and homework and having a schedule is better than the streets. But when you love on the kids, they stay, and learn with time that this life is better.
****************************************************
Many of you have sent emails commenting on how wonderful it sounds like things are going here. It´s so true--I am learning so much about international work, children, what it looks like to care for an individual, Bolivian culture, speaking (hopefully) better Spanish. But I do realize I haven´t communicated the harder aspects with you all since I´ve been here and I desire to communicate an honest experience.
The two most difficult challenges thus far have been being far from a network of family and friends by which I feel known and loved. The first few days were brutal for me, being in a completely new place, with a new family, with no friends, and hardly any Spanish to help the process of settling in. Most of my experiences abroad have involved travel with a group of like-minded individuals with whom I could easily build relationships and communicate reflections of my experiences to, but this time, I´ve had to really let go of the expectation that I´d have this within a matter of weeks. But I do see progress, even after two weeks, and with time these relationships will continue to build. I am reminded that relationships take time and cannot be forced. I am also reminded of how precious my family and friends back at home are to me.
Another difficulty of being abroad in Bolivia has been the language barrier. Although I love the practice I´m getting with my Spanish, it´s painful at times to not be able to fully express myself or to allow others to express themselves to me. Co-workers, the children at BSCP, my host family, the street vendors, etc. It makes work at the office interesting at times, having to communicate very slowly in either Spanish or English something like, ¨Can you please help me print this,¨ or ¨What training do you think this position should involve?¨ While this was difficult at first, I´m also learning in this situation that there´s also an incredible amount that can be communicated in spite of language barriers, only it takes a bit more time.
Two weeks later I see how these two challenges seem a little smaller now than a week ago. And how they also are like blessings in disquise, for the way it´s causing me to trust less in myself and more in God.
***************************************************
By the way, the 3-day hike was gorgeous and also the most physically demanding thing I´ve ever done in my life. I´m so glad to say I´m in one piece (with a handful of the most itchy mosquito bites in the world on my lower legs). More details to come! I´m still trying to get a hold of a card reader so pictures will come eventually!
The majority of my work thus far has involved working in the BSCP office, about a 10 minute drive from Casa Renacer. I have really enjoyed my work here so far. My work so far has involved a lot of internet research on volunteer program development, collaboration with the Bolivian staff at BSCP on creating formal volunteer positions, and (the best part) spending some time at the homes and on the streets to learn not just by hearsay, but by personal experience.
Today I got to spend a full afternoon with the children. It was the best. My intent that afternoon was really to learn and observe: what type of homework did the children have to work on, what was the schedule of the afternoon program like, how did the children interact with the staff and volunteers, etc. Just being there I learned so much about all these things, but there was so much more...
I got to watch a volunteer lead some of the children in drawing with pastels and painting with dot art and it was precious to see how much the children loved it and how proud they were of their work. We put up their work on the wall. It looks amazing.
Everytime I heard a child refer to ChiChi, the house dad at Casa Renacer, as ¨Pa¨ it made my heart melt. It´s just amazing to think that these children, who previous to living at the homes had no parents or could not see their parents as true parents, now have someone who truly loves them and invests in them like a father. There are no words to describe just how incredible it is to hear ¨Pa¨ and see these kids look at ChiChi with such admiration and awe.
The younger kids really look up to the older kids. It´s so neat to see the older kids play-fight with the younger ones. I think that´s the way young boys express friendship with one another.
Kids also have such a neat way of bringing you into their world. I think sometimes all that they need or want is you to pay attention to them or spend time with them. Something as simple as cutting out chickens and turtles from magazines for a project they are working on. I realized that today as I cut that kids know you care when you care about the little things in their lives. It was amazing to me how easily they brought me into their projects, even with my broken spanish.
It was the best to spend time at Casa Renacer today. It reminds me what BSCP is about. It´s about the kids. These children who formerly had the streets, drugs, abuse, now have so much more. But it´s not that easy. We can´t force the kids to stay at the homes. Often they run away, sometimes more than once. You can´t convince kids that doing chores and homework and having a schedule is better than the streets. But when you love on the kids, they stay, and learn with time that this life is better.
****************************************************
Many of you have sent emails commenting on how wonderful it sounds like things are going here. It´s so true--I am learning so much about international work, children, what it looks like to care for an individual, Bolivian culture, speaking (hopefully) better Spanish. But I do realize I haven´t communicated the harder aspects with you all since I´ve been here and I desire to communicate an honest experience.
The two most difficult challenges thus far have been being far from a network of family and friends by which I feel known and loved. The first few days were brutal for me, being in a completely new place, with a new family, with no friends, and hardly any Spanish to help the process of settling in. Most of my experiences abroad have involved travel with a group of like-minded individuals with whom I could easily build relationships and communicate reflections of my experiences to, but this time, I´ve had to really let go of the expectation that I´d have this within a matter of weeks. But I do see progress, even after two weeks, and with time these relationships will continue to build. I am reminded that relationships take time and cannot be forced. I am also reminded of how precious my family and friends back at home are to me.
Another difficulty of being abroad in Bolivia has been the language barrier. Although I love the practice I´m getting with my Spanish, it´s painful at times to not be able to fully express myself or to allow others to express themselves to me. Co-workers, the children at BSCP, my host family, the street vendors, etc. It makes work at the office interesting at times, having to communicate very slowly in either Spanish or English something like, ¨Can you please help me print this,¨ or ¨What training do you think this position should involve?¨ While this was difficult at first, I´m also learning in this situation that there´s also an incredible amount that can be communicated in spite of language barriers, only it takes a bit more time.
Two weeks later I see how these two challenges seem a little smaller now than a week ago. And how they also are like blessings in disquise, for the way it´s causing me to trust less in myself and more in God.
***************************************************
By the way, the 3-day hike was gorgeous and also the most physically demanding thing I´ve ever done in my life. I´m so glad to say I´m in one piece (with a handful of the most itchy mosquito bites in the world on my lower legs). More details to come! I´m still trying to get a hold of a card reader so pictures will come eventually!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Backpacking Adventure!
For the longest time now, I´ve wanted to go on a backpacking trip. I love the idea of being in nature for an extended period of time. I love the momentary and acceptable dirtiness. I think it´s also a really neat way to bond with people and see a different side of them. The I-havent-changed-my-clothes-in-3-days, my-hair-looks-like-an-animal, watch-for-people-while-i-go-behind-this-bush side of people.
I never would have thought the opportunity would present itself so soon, let alone in Bolivia!!
A local church that works closely with BSCP is taking a group of about 30 people on a 3-day hike through mountains and jungles in Bolivia. We´re sleeping in freezing cold weather the first night, and warm jungle weather the next. I´m so excited because the pastor leading the trip said the views on the trip are reminiscent of scenes from the Lord of the Rings. We´ll also be studying the book of Galatians over the 3 days!
So, I leave tomorrow morning for an adventure through beautiful Bolivia. I promise to take pictures and share them with you all!
I never would have thought the opportunity would present itself so soon, let alone in Bolivia!!
A local church that works closely with BSCP is taking a group of about 30 people on a 3-day hike through mountains and jungles in Bolivia. We´re sleeping in freezing cold weather the first night, and warm jungle weather the next. I´m so excited because the pastor leading the trip said the views on the trip are reminiscent of scenes from the Lord of the Rings. We´ll also be studying the book of Galatians over the 3 days!
So, I leave tomorrow morning for an adventure through beautiful Bolivia. I promise to take pictures and share them with you all!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Mystery Meat
Yesterday I went with Angie, my house-sister, her fiance, and one of their recently married friends, Raimy, to look at some wedding ceremony venues around La Paz. After we visited two locations, we went to get some food to eat. En route to the Gyros eatery, Raimy took me aside and said I had to try something special from La Paz. She had a suspicious look to her as we approached a street stand where two women stood cooking some delicious looking meat. It almost looked and smelled like Bulgogi, korean-style sirloin cut up in thin slices, except it appeared a deep-reddish brown color and looked really smooth. She bought me some and had me try.
Chewy, good marinade, weird metallic-y taste.
She then told me it was cow heart.
We laughed. Then I gave her the rest to eat.
Chewy, good marinade, weird metallic-y taste.
She then told me it was cow heart.
We laughed. Then I gave her the rest to eat.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Heartbreak (and Hope)
This week I´ve had the opportunity to learn more about street children in Bolivia and the work Bolivian Street Children Project (BSCP) does to address this reality.
The city of La Paz is shaped like a bowl, La Paz being the bottom of the bowl, and El Alto being the sides and top. (El Alto is where my plane landed when I first arrived in-country). David, the street outreach worker, took a Bolivian-American volunteer, Camila, and I out for a day of walking the streets of El Alto and La Paz in search for a child who ran away from his home at BSCP.
On our drive up to El Alto, we dropped by a church that had contacted BSCP about housing a boy named Luis who had been threatening to run away from his home. Together with the pastor and his wife and the three of us from BSCP, Luis´mother began to share her heartbreak. She explained how her 12-year old son had been disrespecting her for many years now, worsening as he grew older. She has other two younger children that she cares for, is widowed, and works all day cleaning clothes and cooking...only to later come home to a defiant son who spends most of his time on the streets, slowly acquiring a premature sense of authority and independence. Although I don´t know what types of things Luis did to his mother, all I know is that tears poured down her face as she explained how desperate she was for help. She loved her son so much and wanted to try to work things out, but she couldn´t bear it anymore. She came to the decision that the best thing, at this point, was to have him run away to BSCP where she knew he would be taken care of. While BSCP usually seeks to help abandoned street children with no parents at all, this, according to David, was a special case.
I can´t imagine being a mom in her situation. The stress of working all day to provide for three kids as a widowed woman, only to come home to a child who needs so much more than perhaps she feels able to offer... It was a tragic thing to witness, to see the love of a mom so strong that she willingly offers her son a home and family she can´t be a part of. Some might not call this love. I think I would have too if I hadn´t been there. But being in that room with her, you just knew it had to be love.
After this visit, we proceeded to the streets of El Alto. It was everything you might imagine the most urban, poor parts of any large city would look like. Street stands selling candy, juice bags, and snacks, little ones shining shoes and selling from a small pile of fruit. Wafts of pollution, urine and garbage. Potholes, broken buildings, dirty arcades. It was quite the flurry of people. No picture here because 1. David said not to use our cameras on these streets because people would try to steal it once they saw it, which could often involve violence, and 2. It would just feel inappropriate taking pictures here.
David told us that the children usually come out at night, but that´s when it´s more dangerous. Children come out during the day to either play arcade games (David said they are addicted to this, even though they have no money), find day jobs like being a caller, or ´vocero´ that rides in a minibus to call out the destinations to faces whizzing by, or to steal items they can later sell for money. At night, kids are more apt to come out because they are less visible to the police who are notorious for abusing them or maybe because they feel like this is the time that they own the streets. We roamed the streets for a few hours as David told us more about the street children. As David spoke, I sensed a great understanding and passion for the kids. Where did this come from?
David, at the age of 8, was kicked out of his house by his mother and forced to the streets. Though this was more than 30 years ago, he still knew the secrets of the streets. That´s what forges his connection with his work, with the children. He says that when he sees policemen abusing the kids, he´ll step in between them to protect the kids. Incredible. It´s no surprise that he has devoted most of his life to working with and for street children in his home country.
After this, we head back down to La Paz where we continue look for the little boy who ran away. More kids are out at this time on the streets of La Paz, I think perhaps because you see more middle and upper class persons roaming this area willing to drop a boliviano or two out of pity or to get their shoes shined.
David stops in front of a kid we see leaning against a store window with a shoe shining box in front of his lap. David recognizes him. David pulls out of his journal and shuffles through many pictures to pull one out of this boy with his older brother. Apparently he´s met the boy before, not sure when or for how long he knew him. David gives him the picture, holds out his hand, and says in spanish, ¨5 Bolivianos.¨ The kid chuckles. He crouches down next to the boy and asks him how he´s doing. He asks him where he´s living now. He asks him where his brother is. David pulls out a piece of paper with his name and number and lets the kid know that when he wants to come back, all he needs to do is call. The boy nods and David ruffles his hair as we say goodbye to the him. Wow, that picture deal really rocked my world. How special it must have been for this child to get a picture of him with his brother? How special to be recognized...and sought after.
It is nearly five and Camila and I need to head back to the office for our ride home. David hails us a taxi and sends us back as he continues looking for this little boy. I wonder how long he stayed out. I wish this boy knew how much he was cared for.
The beautiful thing is, many have and more will.
The city of La Paz is shaped like a bowl, La Paz being the bottom of the bowl, and El Alto being the sides and top. (El Alto is where my plane landed when I first arrived in-country). David, the street outreach worker, took a Bolivian-American volunteer, Camila, and I out for a day of walking the streets of El Alto and La Paz in search for a child who ran away from his home at BSCP.
On our drive up to El Alto, we dropped by a church that had contacted BSCP about housing a boy named Luis who had been threatening to run away from his home. Together with the pastor and his wife and the three of us from BSCP, Luis´mother began to share her heartbreak. She explained how her 12-year old son had been disrespecting her for many years now, worsening as he grew older. She has other two younger children that she cares for, is widowed, and works all day cleaning clothes and cooking...only to later come home to a defiant son who spends most of his time on the streets, slowly acquiring a premature sense of authority and independence. Although I don´t know what types of things Luis did to his mother, all I know is that tears poured down her face as she explained how desperate she was for help. She loved her son so much and wanted to try to work things out, but she couldn´t bear it anymore. She came to the decision that the best thing, at this point, was to have him run away to BSCP where she knew he would be taken care of. While BSCP usually seeks to help abandoned street children with no parents at all, this, according to David, was a special case.
I can´t imagine being a mom in her situation. The stress of working all day to provide for three kids as a widowed woman, only to come home to a child who needs so much more than perhaps she feels able to offer... It was a tragic thing to witness, to see the love of a mom so strong that she willingly offers her son a home and family she can´t be a part of. Some might not call this love. I think I would have too if I hadn´t been there. But being in that room with her, you just knew it had to be love.
After this visit, we proceeded to the streets of El Alto. It was everything you might imagine the most urban, poor parts of any large city would look like. Street stands selling candy, juice bags, and snacks, little ones shining shoes and selling from a small pile of fruit. Wafts of pollution, urine and garbage. Potholes, broken buildings, dirty arcades. It was quite the flurry of people. No picture here because 1. David said not to use our cameras on these streets because people would try to steal it once they saw it, which could often involve violence, and 2. It would just feel inappropriate taking pictures here.
David told us that the children usually come out at night, but that´s when it´s more dangerous. Children come out during the day to either play arcade games (David said they are addicted to this, even though they have no money), find day jobs like being a caller, or ´vocero´ that rides in a minibus to call out the destinations to faces whizzing by, or to steal items they can later sell for money. At night, kids are more apt to come out because they are less visible to the police who are notorious for abusing them or maybe because they feel like this is the time that they own the streets. We roamed the streets for a few hours as David told us more about the street children. As David spoke, I sensed a great understanding and passion for the kids. Where did this come from?
David, at the age of 8, was kicked out of his house by his mother and forced to the streets. Though this was more than 30 years ago, he still knew the secrets of the streets. That´s what forges his connection with his work, with the children. He says that when he sees policemen abusing the kids, he´ll step in between them to protect the kids. Incredible. It´s no surprise that he has devoted most of his life to working with and for street children in his home country.
After this, we head back down to La Paz where we continue look for the little boy who ran away. More kids are out at this time on the streets of La Paz, I think perhaps because you see more middle and upper class persons roaming this area willing to drop a boliviano or two out of pity or to get their shoes shined.
David stops in front of a kid we see leaning against a store window with a shoe shining box in front of his lap. David recognizes him. David pulls out of his journal and shuffles through many pictures to pull one out of this boy with his older brother. Apparently he´s met the boy before, not sure when or for how long he knew him. David gives him the picture, holds out his hand, and says in spanish, ¨5 Bolivianos.¨ The kid chuckles. He crouches down next to the boy and asks him how he´s doing. He asks him where he´s living now. He asks him where his brother is. David pulls out a piece of paper with his name and number and lets the kid know that when he wants to come back, all he needs to do is call. The boy nods and David ruffles his hair as we say goodbye to the him. Wow, that picture deal really rocked my world. How special it must have been for this child to get a picture of him with his brother? How special to be recognized...and sought after.
It is nearly five and Camila and I need to head back to the office for our ride home. David hails us a taxi and sends us back as he continues looking for this little boy. I wonder how long he stayed out. I wish this boy knew how much he was cared for.
The beautiful thing is, many have and more will.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Welcome!
Dear Family and Friends,
Here is my blog as promised. I am excited to share in this journey with you...four full days have passed since I´ve been in La Paz, Bolivia and there have been many moments I´ve seen things I´ve wanted to show you and heard things I wanted you to hear and thought things I wish I could ponder and discuss with you. This blog is a small attempt to begin to share these things with you...
I´ve named this blog ¨La Paz is Now¨ to guide my posture towards these next five weeks. I want to steer away from thinking about this as an overseas experience--it´s real life, happening now, and I want to be fully present to live it. A dear friend shared recently the desire to live her life with her ¨suitcase unpacked¨, living each day with full intent, not letting the other ¨permanent¨fixtures of her life (which are never even guaranteed to be permanent) to keep her from involving herself with new things that come her way. I´ve felt at times bombarded with so many new things I feel tempted to think upon things that are more familiar...the smell of home, friends´ faces, having a predictable schedule, etc. Of course this is a natural reaction to being in a completely new environment, but I know it´s not OK when I start to check out of my present situation. I´m not just here as a volunteer, but as another human being who normally walks this earth a few thousand miles away from La Paz.
Thank you for letting me share my thoughts with you. Many posts and pictures to come. Email me when you want to share the things happening in your life. I´d love to hear (even the small things)!
I realize again how blessed I am to know you all.
In His grace,
Patty
Here is my blog as promised. I am excited to share in this journey with you...four full days have passed since I´ve been in La Paz, Bolivia and there have been many moments I´ve seen things I´ve wanted to show you and heard things I wanted you to hear and thought things I wish I could ponder and discuss with you. This blog is a small attempt to begin to share these things with you...
I´ve named this blog ¨La Paz is Now¨ to guide my posture towards these next five weeks. I want to steer away from thinking about this as an overseas experience--it´s real life, happening now, and I want to be fully present to live it. A dear friend shared recently the desire to live her life with her ¨suitcase unpacked¨, living each day with full intent, not letting the other ¨permanent¨fixtures of her life (which are never even guaranteed to be permanent) to keep her from involving herself with new things that come her way. I´ve felt at times bombarded with so many new things I feel tempted to think upon things that are more familiar...the smell of home, friends´ faces, having a predictable schedule, etc. Of course this is a natural reaction to being in a completely new environment, but I know it´s not OK when I start to check out of my present situation. I´m not just here as a volunteer, but as another human being who normally walks this earth a few thousand miles away from La Paz.
Thank you for letting me share my thoughts with you. Many posts and pictures to come. Email me when you want to share the things happening in your life. I´d love to hear (even the small things)!
I realize again how blessed I am to know you all.
In His grace,
Patty
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