My time in Okinawa thus far has been spent helping Manny and Stephanie in their classes, helping with exams, helping with Confirmation, and spending time with the community. I have loved every minute getting to know the kids. I had a friend from the institute visit before she leaves, and as we were walking down the road, hearing "Teacher" being shouted from homes as I passed and being given many hugs, she told me how special my time will be here. I am reminded of that every time I walk into school, or down the street after school. I came here to be a presence and to be a witness of Christ's love, but I must say that I also experience Christ's love through the smiling faces I am greeted with every day. God truly has blessed me in calling me here to Bolivia.
This past Saturday was Confirmation for all the kids in our area. We spent the morning seating kids and waiting for the Bishop to arrive. We witnessed a beautiful Mass, congratulated the kids afterwards. That night we were invited to many Confirmation parties, and we experienced Bolivian hospitality at it's finest (we were offered food wherever we went and they don't take "no" for an answer). It was so wonderful being able to get to know the community, and to be able to celebrate with the friends I've made in my short time here.
I want everyone to be able to see a little bit of where I live and the kids I work with, and sometimes pictures are better than words.
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| The sunset over our only paved road takes your breath away every night. |
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| Many of the houses in Okinawa look like this. |
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| Our church, San Francisco Xavier |
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| Our village plaza. |
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| Home sweet home! |
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| Another feria in our town plaza. This was for Religion, physics, English, and chemistry in the high school. |
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| The school has a feria for each topic at the end of the year. This was the gym feria. |
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| Manny and I playing with some of our kids at recess. |
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| Some of the kids after one of the confirmation parties. They wanted a picture with "Teachers" before we left. |
