Returning, Adjusting, and Rocks

After spending a month and a half back in the U.S. for summer vacation, we have returned to La Paz. For Mark this is year three at Highlands, and for Audrey this is year two. Since arriving on August 1st, we have been thrusted back into our lives here with teacher in-service starting August 3rd. Audrey starts her first year as head of the Member Care Team and her second year as a kindergarten teacher-aid. Meanwhile, Mark continues to teach high school history, and has added two new electives, Intro to Sociology and Latin American Studies. It has felt great to be back and see the old faces as well as meet the new faces on staff. We know this year will be full of challenges and plenty of unexpectedness, but we also know we have a good, good Father in heaven who we can always lean into and trust.

One of the challenges thus far has been finding a groove and rhythm for the year. As of now the school's plan is to have classes online for August, and then by September 1st we would start doing hybrid classes in-person. This means that one group would be coming to school on Mondays and Thursdays while the other group comes on Tuesdays and Fridays. We are still waiting for the government's approval on this but other international schools, such as the French and German schools, have already started to go back in person, so we are hopeful. We are both very eager to have students back in the classrooms. For Audrey, she has only known her students virtually, and so seeing them in person is very exciting and seems well overdue. The school has also decided that even though we have started school online, they want all the teachers on campus everyday. Thus we have been trying to figure out our new daily routines as this is very different from last year. The mornings have been especially difficult, but I know we will figure something out soon. Although an unexpected curveball was thrown when the road to school was blanketed by a rockslide!

This has made for some very inconsistent and unexpected windows where we can get to school and then return to our place. However, it looks as though things will be all cleared up in the upcoming week or two. We both never imagined a rockslide would be something we would ever have to deal with, but thus continues our life in La Paz and we continue learning what the new norm can be. Our learning about Bolivia continued as we ventured out on a Saturday with some of the staff to visit the ancient Aymaran ruins which thrived around 800 AD. It was pretty interesting to see some of the history that Bolivia boasts, but is often overshadowed by the more well-known Machu Picchu in Peru. It was also a great chance to cultivate relationships with many of the new teachers.

We started school on the 11th and it has been somewhat bittersweet as we are still virtual, but there is so much more hope about going back in person this year compared to last year. We have also really enjoyed the community of going to school everyday and having the staff on campus. So as we start the new school year we have lots to be anxious about, lots to be thankful for, and even more we know we must trust God with. We pursue Him earnestly in all we do, and constantly need to remind ourselves to temper our own expectations and rest in Him. We appreciate the prayers, encouragement, and support that we receive from many of you. We are very thankful for another year here in Bolivia, and ask that you continue to lift us up in prayer as we seek to serve those here in La Paz and at Highlands.