Independence Day!

It´s beens a few days since I´ve had a chance to write!

On Saturday the team and short term volunteers went to San Javier (a nearby village) where Kings Kids did a performance and we taught them some of our favorite songs. We brought some craft supplies to leave with them and had a pretty good time there!

Afterwards we went to the lake and ate delicious steak and fish in this beautiful little restaurant. Nate (from the Mpls team) was baptised by Lucho and my dad in the pool outside the restaurant. This was an exciting moment for him and fun to witness.

On Saturday night we took the younger youth group out to eat and did a craft and Bible lesson with them while waiting for our food. We then rushed back to the school for the older kids´youth group where we had a soccer tournament! Saturday was a very packed, but very fun day.

We had Church as usual on Sunday but went straight to the Plaza afterwards for a parade. Today, August 6, is Bolivia´s Independence Day and they began celebrating it yesterday. All the students from all the schools in Trinidad marched in a parade around the Plaza. It was fun to see the La Palmera students!

Last night my family and I went to a family´s house for dinner. It is an extremely poor family but they displayed more love and hospitality than you would find in the United States.

After Church last night we had a farewell party for the Minneapolis team. There were lots of native Bolivian dances in honor of independence day - and we even joined in on some of them! The party was very emotional as usual. It´s always so hard to say goodbye.

The team left around 9 this morning after which the volunteers returned to the plaza to watch another parade - this time just teachers and the graduating class. Jimmy, Callum, Amanda, and I had lunch at a nice restaurant and we now have the rest of the day off to rest. After such a busy schedule with the team it´s nice to have a little break.

Well that´s it for now.
Viva Bolivia!!!
-Laura