Day 46 - Saturday Morning

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.