Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Christmas in Bolivia Continued...

For me, this pictures the beuaty, wonder and magic of Christmas.  Five-year old Amelia had no idea I was watching her as she introduced her new baby (her Christmas gift) to baby Jesus.

A gift of Italian fruitcake.  Yum!
Pictures after the Chistmas party.
Our Christmas cookies headed for the oven and the girls helping with the baking below...
Angel Anna...she really is!

Angela as Papa Noel

Christmas in downtown Cochabamba

Monday, December 12, 2011

Christmas in Bolivia

Dear Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas!  I hope it’s a beautiful one for all of you.  Many of the girls will be leaving on Thursday to spend Christmas with relatives, so we celebrated Christmas on Sunday.  I’m sure there will be more celebrating on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, but this way everyone was included.  The festivities start at around 6 pm.  The tables were covered with Christmas tablecloths and numerous homemade candle lanterns.  There were lights everywhere, three Christmas trees and a large nativity set. Angela played the role of Papa Noel, handing out gifts to the girls.  Each girl received a large Italian Fruit cake, underwear, a set of new clothes, and a toy for the little ones.  The gift for the older girls was a set of earrings.  The girls sang a couple of Christmas carols for the sisters and then the sisters served us a great meal of chicken, potatoes, rice, salad and corn on the cob.  Anna and I passed out the Christmas cookies for dessert and gave each of the girls a toothbrush.  

After cleaning up, we all headed outside to dance the night away.  The night was clear and warm, with a half moon and stars dotting the sky.  The sisters lit a huge bonfire, cranked up the stereo and we all danced to Bolivian music from around 7:30 until 11.   It was so much fun and what an amazing memory!  Anna and I just sat for a while, trying to take in every detail, and we talked about how very lucky we felt to be a part of all of this.  How many people have the opportunity to dance around a bonfire in the moonlight with 58 girls and three harmanas!

The week leading up to the celebration was very busy.  Anna and I baked dozens of Christmas cookies with the girls and everyone had a great time.  On a serious note, Angela, the other Salesian volunteer, told Anna and I that she will be going home for good on December 19.  I am still trying to process what this will mean for me, especially when Anna heads back to Germany later this year, but I have faith it will all work out.

There is still lots of celebrating yet to come, so I’ll let you know in a later blog how we actually spent Christmas Eve and day.  Today it is raining, so it feels a bit more like Christmas.  I was raised in southern California, but it’s been a very long time since I celebrated Christmas in 80 degree weather…I’m not complaining!  Oh, by the way, the puppies are three weeks old now.  Their eyes are open and they are walking.  They are sooo cute!  Love to all.  Feliz Navidad!      Pictures to follow tomorrow!