The Return to Normalcy

Nearly 40 days after the election it is safe to say we have achieved a return to normalcy here in La Paz. Evo Morales has escaped and is seeking asylum in Mexico, while Bolivia has elected a new interim president and new elections are in the workings, most likely to occur early in 2020. The path has not been smooth, and not all in Bolivia can claim a return to routine, but as far as I can see we are on an upward path to national recovery. A big part of my journey to normalcy has been the long road to have school life be consistent with consistent attendance and normal routines. The past month has seen over 10 days of school get cancelled and many others where we had very low attendance due to optional attendance measures.

Bolivian Flag Day Ceremony at Highlands

The past 30 days have been chalked full of tension, protests, blockades, and shortages. One thing that has hit our apartment of guys pretty hard during these days has been the lack of beef, chicken, and eggs. This past month saw a shortage of these items, as well as gasoline, and the effects on us were unexpected. I didn't realize how much I would crave protein, and many times this led me to wander the streets looking to score some eggs as if our lives depended on it. Stores were closed most days, and when they did open for select hours the options were limited and shelves were barren. Never did we go hungry, but the question was always "how long will this last" and how best to manage and scavenge for the things we had grown so accustomed to. Transportation also took a big hit and a couple days the Teleferico shut down and cars were few and far between on the streets.

Once Morales left for Mexico his supporters became even more violent. It was the days following his escape that things were the worst. Many of the days we were told to stay inside and avoid going out if we could. The US Embassy put us on level 4 alert. Violence broke out all over the city and many times within a couple blocks of my apartment. Many people armed themselves with whatever they could find and midnight clashes were common. One of the cooler things to come out of this was the opportunity to see the Christian community in my area call for prayer and organize meetings outside a major church in the area. Pictured above on the far right you can see one of these gatherings with crosses and various Bolivian areas posted on them where the violence was most intense. I think it was very encouraging and brought a lot of hope to many that remembered God still cared about them, and God will carry them through this time, and ultimately He still sits on the throne. It's amazing to look back and reflect on how far things have progressed since then, and to remember the process that much of this takes. Patience and faith was key throughout all of this.

With everything going on throughout the country a big part of my mission here was stalled. However, when we did have school I was intentional with whatever time and whatever students showed up. The students and administration have done a really good job at trying to keep things light-hearted and hopeful. One thing that has been cool to see as school has resumed has been a Highlands tradition of class competition through something they call the "October Olympics". However, because of the circumstances the students have renamed it the "October Olympics, November Edition" and really the activities have only resumed the last week and a half of November and will continue into December. Below is a video of the senior class competing in one of the more unique events, "Water Bottle Flipping". Other games include soccer, volleyball, kickball, and dodgeball.

The return to normalcy was made complete with the news that the busses were now running again, just in time for Thanksgiving break. So two days before Thanksgiving my roommate Mark and I decided to hop on a bus and get out of La Paz for a little Thanksgiving Day adventure trip. We headed to Lake Titicaca, the highest lake in the world at 12,500 ft. We made camp at the city of Copacabana and took a boat to explore the legendary Incan Island of the Sun. We got to explore the the area on foot, by boat, and by ATV. Overall it was a much needed vacation and adventure, just in time to recharge our batteries for the home stretch and final days of first semester. December 13th is the last day of school before Christmas break, and I look forward to both finishing strong and coming back to the states to visit many of you that have supported me throughout this first season of my Bolivian life. I can't tell you enough how thankful I am for those of you that have kept me in your prayers and continually encouraged me through this first semester. I had much to be thankful for while in Copacabana, and I'm so thankful for this opportunity to serve God in Bolivia and have people support me while doing so.