Saturday Morning
Today I woke up around 6:45. It was windy. We had a cold front this week, called surazos
in Bolivia, but it was a mild one. This
week the mornings were cold, in the upper 50s, and by the afternoons it was in
the 80s. This surazo cleared the skies
of all the smoke covering the city. The
smoke is caused by farmers burning their fields; many still use the slash and
burn method here. After a surazos there
is usually a lot of wind from the opposite direction. It was hard to get out of bed this
morning. I love being wrapped in a
blanket, the breeze coming in the window, and reading my bible.
But I needed to go to Dr. Zabala’s office. Yesterday I got a call from Tabitha, the girl
I was carried around the city with when we were getting some work done on our
visas. She had called Dr. Zabala’s
office to ask about the progress of the visa, which I had been thinking about
doing. She was told there was a paper we
had to complete that they gave us. They
told her I had completed my paper. She
didn’t know what paper they were talking about so called to ask me. I knew of no paper either. I went by his office on Friday and
called. He wasn’t at his office when I
went by, and nobody answered when I called. So I went back this morning after trying to
call.
First I stopped by the Starbucks for breakfast. I can get a cheaper breakfast, but it is nice
to splurge once in a while. Besides, it
only cost about $5. For those who want
to know, it is basically the same as in the states, coffees, teas, and
pastries. The restaurant is clean and
upbeat. It is one of the nicest places
in my neighborhood.
Well, Dr. Zabala was not at his office, nor were any of the
neighboring offices, nor was the immigration building open. I also realized that immigration makes that
street busy. It was so empty today that
I was able to cross the street to the rotunda and take a good picture of the
statue. It was early so I stopped by the
Fidalga, my grocery store, and walked a little further to Teconté, my favorite
bakery.
Well, Teconté just grew even further in my esteem this
morning. They have awesome baked goods
like sonso, baked yucca with cheese; cuñapé, baked cheese rolls; a baked rice
bread wrapped in banana leaves; and slowly I am discovering more, like the
bread with cheese baked inside. But
today, I noticed the owner taking time away from her customers to give an old
man, who I have seen begging outside her store, a cup of coffee and a breakfast
roll. She was not giving him the food
in disposable cups or plates, but in the regular dishes she serves her customers.
Proverbs 19:17 says, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to
the LORD, and He will reward them for what they have done.” Say a prayer that the owners of this
establishment will come to know the Lord, or if they already do, that He will
bless them.
Walking home I noticed two ladies I have seen several times
in the last few days. They are from one
of the highland tribes, but I can’t tell which. Every time I see them, they are on the corner
of Las Americas and Iralá, begging as the cars go by. Once in a while a driver gives them a 1 or
.50 Bs, so I don’t think they make more than $10 a day, if that. I have really wanted their picture, because
they look so distinctive, something you don’t see in the States. I offered one of the ladies 10 Bs. to take
her picture. That is around $2. It took a few minutes for her to understand
because she does not speak Spanish. She
called the other lady over and they soon understood I wanted their
picture. As I was leaving the second
lady asked for 10 Bs. too. It was worth
it to get their picture. If they had
asked for more, I probably would have given it.
I don’t feel I gave enough, so I will look for them again in the next
few days.
Then I was off to my apartment for lunch, house cleaning, and lesson plans.
Then I was off to my apartment for lunch, house cleaning, and lesson plans.
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