MY LIFE IN BOLIVIA IS ESPANDING

MY LIFE IN BOLIVIA IS EXPANDING TO INCLUDE VISITS TO A HOME FOR YOUNG BOYS AND A HOME FOR YOUNG GIRLS. WHEN I COULDN'T DECIDE BETWEEN THEM MY FRIEND KATHRYN SAID, ‘WHY NOT DO BOTH’, SO I DID. I’M ALSO DOING YOGA IN SPANISH TWICE A WEEK AND A CLASS IN BOLIVIAN TRADITIONAL DANCES, SO AS YOU CAN SEE MY LIFE HERE IS BECOMING VERY FULL OF MEANINGFUL AND LIFE GIVING ACTIVITIES.

I BROUGHT WITH ME FROM THE STATES A MEDIUM SIZE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CALLED ‘FREE NOTES’, THAT I PURCHASES AT A CHAPLAINS CONFERENCE. IT HAS A VERY MELODIC SOUND. THE CHILDREN AT BOTH HOUSES WERE DELIGHTED AND INTRIGUED WITH IT. MUSIC IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE AND IT CREATED AN INSTANT VENUE FOR US TO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER, THE SMILES ON THEIR FACES WHEN THEY PRODUCED MELODIC SOUNDS ON THE FREE NOTES INSTRUMENT LITE UP THE ROOM.THEY WERE MORE OR LESS PATIENT WHILE WAITING FOR THEIR TURN TO PLAY, MAKING UP AN EAGER YOUNG AUDIENCE.

THE CHILDREN FOR THE MOST PART ARE PLACED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THESE HOMES RUN BY CATHOLIC AMERICAN NUNS. THE FAMILY BREAKDOWN CAUSED BY PEOPLE HAVING TO LEAVE THEIR TRADITIONAL RURAL VILLAGES BECAUSE OF LACK OF OPPORTUNITY FOR GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, AND IMMIGRATING TO THE CITY TO LOOK FOR WORK. WHEN THE CAN’T FIND WORK THE STRESS OF DIRE POVERTY OFTEN LEADS TO FAMILY BREAKDOWN WITH THE CHILDREN AND WOMEN BEARING THE BRUNT OT THE WORST OF IT.

IN THESE HOMES THEY ARE SAFE FROM THE STREETS OF THE CITY, RECEIVE NOURISHING FOOD, GO TO SCHOOL AND ENJOY THE CAMARADERIE OF THE OTHER CHILDREN. MY FATHER SPENT ALL OF HIS SCHOOL YEARS IN A LARGE ORPHANAGE AND WHILE HIS PHYSICAL NEEDS WERE MET THE WHOLE LEFT IN HIS PERSONALITY FROM NEVER BELONG TO A SPECIFIC FAMILY WITH PARENTS OF YOUR ON LEFT AN ENORMOUS LACK OF SELF CONFIDENCE IN HIM THAT HE WAS NEVER ABLE TO FILL.

SO I SEE THESE LITTLE CHILDREN WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH IN THEIR YOUNG LIVES AND I KNOW THAT THEIR FUTURE WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO BE DISADVANTAGED, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT LIFE IS FULL OF UNEXPECTED BLESSINGS THAT CAN SOMETIMES TRANSFORM A LIABILITY INTO AN ASSET IN THE MYSTERIOUS WORKINGS OF GRACE,
SO WHILE I MAY FEEL MOMENTARILY SAD FOR THESE CHILDREN THEIR JOYOUS SMILES REMIND ME THAT THERE IS ALWAYS MORE AT WORK IN ANY GIVEN SITUATION THAN IS APPARENT TO THE NAKED EYE, AND WE ARE ALL HEIRS TO THIS BENEVOLENT MYSTERY WE CALL LIFE.

I'VE USES ALL CAPITAL LETTERS BECAUSE I TRIPED OVER MY SHOES THIS MORNING WHEN I WAS MAKING MY BED AND SPRAINED MY WRIST IN A FALL. SO WRITING IN ALL CAPS IS EASIER