BOLIVIA: Lost in the Andes...8 years later
Let the journey begin! Here we are boarding the plane in Houston to begin our South American adventure. In all, we boarded 9 planes to get there and back. Lily was a trooper!
We first made it to Lima, Peru where we spent 5 days with the Smedes, including Thanksgiving. We were very thankful for the time we had with our dear friends.
We relaxed, laughed, played, went sightseeing, ate yummy food, shared and prayed.
This was one of Lily's favorite things to do while in Lima: play in the Smedes' backyard with Toby, Ellie and Gabe and take Coby, the neighbor dog, for a run.
We enjoyed seeing some sights in Lima including some Indian ruins and the beach, where the kids had fun rolling down a steep hill again and again.
Date night with Ryan and Angela! We had so much fun with our friends... once again. For the past 11 years the Lord has blessed us with rich, full, and fun times with Ryan and Angela. Many good memories have been made with these two dear ones. Can't wait till next time!
Lily, Ellie, Gabe and Toby had fun with Ryan and Pete one morning making a movie called, "The Pirate Kids." A must see!
We enjoyed delicious meals on the back patio in the perfect weather.
Lily with her buddies the day we left Peru.
Time to go to Bolivia!!! Here we are standing on the roof of our hotel in Sucre. Beautiful city!
Showing Lily all around our favorite city in Bolivia. Here's one of our favorite spots, the Recoleta, where you can look out over the city and enjoy a smoothie or iced cappucino. Yum!
Buying fresh veggies and fruit at the market before we head out to the campo!
The road out to Sorocoto. For some reason it seemed a lot more dangerous to me this time. Maybe because I'm older and wiser, or maybe because I'm a mother and one of my children was in the car with us!
Getting closer to Sorocoto(the excitement was building!). This picture was taken behind us after we passed Tomoyo. If you look closely at the river bed down below you can see a bridge. That bridge was not there 8 years ago and for those of you who remember our accident in the river... that's about where we lost our truck... right where that bridge is now!
First stop: Alejandro and Marcelina Pacaha's house. These were friends of ours from the beginning and their kids were little people when we lived there. The girl standing in the middle, Karin, was about 2 years old when we left.
We made a quick stop by our old house. It looks about the same from the outside. The community is renting it out to a few men who are working on the basketball court. They are putting a huge cover over the top to provide shade for the kids while they play.
Walking on the footpaths through the fields. Lily fit right into campo life as she skipped along the paths, played in the river and hung out with the kids.
Saira, who was Simon's granddaughter, loved Lily and followed her everywhere.
Pete and Juan(our friend who helped Pete build our house). It was great to spend some time with Juan and hear about his life. 
Lily with Juan's son, Moises. Moises was just 2 years old when we left. Kids sure do grow up fast!
We spent most of the day with Simon at his house and at the church. Here's Simon blessing Lily.
We had 2 services that day. Here's the worship service during the earlier meeting. Some additions were: a sound system with big speakers facing out the windows for the community to hear, young people helping with the instruments and leading the songs.
Lily and Lori praising God in Quechuan.
Pete had a great idea to take a pinata out for the kids to break. We had a little celebration with the pinata and then a few impromtu relay races that Pete and I taught the kids.
Pete preaching his second sermon of the day. It was a privilege to be able to worhsip with the "brothers" in Sorocoto/Soroscopa and to also encourage them in their walks with the Lord.
I also had an opportunity to "give some recommendations", as Simon would say.
After Pete and I both spoke and prayed for the church and Simon, the church gathered around us and prayed for us and sent us off with their blessing. It was awesome! A day we will never forget.
A family picture in the campo in front of potato fields.
It was an emotional reunion back in Sucre with my dear friend, Sinforosa. And she loved Lily immediately.
Little Heidi, Sinforosa's daughter (now 11 years old) sitting to the left of me. She was almost 4 years old when I left so she didn't remember me. Belen, Sinforosa's 6 year old daughter, is sitting to the right of me and little Katy, Karina's 5 year old daughter is standing in front of us.
I couldn't contain my tears every time I looked at Heidi. When we left Bolivia 8 years ago I had wanted to put her in my suitcase and bring her home with me.
With the whole family, minus their oldest daughter, Ilvia, who lives in Argentina and their son, Ivan, who is 14 years old and working full time at a shoe shop. Pictured from left to right is Sinforosa, Alejandro, daughter Karina holding her daughter Katy, daughter Belen, daughter Susie holding her 8 month old daughter Mayti, Lori, and daughter Heidi.
Pete and Alejandro
Lori with dear, sweet Sinforosa. Thank you Lord for allowing us to be together again!
With dear Karina in the pink shirt and Susie in black (and 5 year old Katy in front).
The trip was sadly over and it was time to start heading back to the United States. First, we took a plane from Sucre, Bolivia to La Paz.
A shot of La Paz below... a huge, dirty, busy, crowded city. (can you tell I'm not a big fan of La Paz?)
Sitting in the airport in La Paz, showing off her new hand made coin purse and her pink, crocheted back pack that Karina made and gave to Lily as we were leaving.
The day we left for Bolivia, Silas turned 5 years old! Here we are celebrating with Quinn and Olivia for lunch before we headed off to the airport.
The day we got back from Bolivia, Dottie turned 95 years old! Here is the beautiful birthday girl with her beautiful daughter, B.
Here's Dottie at her birthday party with 9 out of her 14 great-grandchildren.
Dottie sitting with her sister, Gladys, who turned 102 years old the day before! Happy Birthday Dottie and Aunt Gladys! We love you both!
Let the journey begin! Here we are boarding the plane in Houston to begin our South American adventure. In all, we boarded 9 planes to get there and back. Lily was a trooper!
We first made it to Lima, Peru where we spent 5 days with the Smedes, including Thanksgiving. We were very thankful for the time we had with our dear friends.We relaxed, laughed, played, went sightseeing, ate yummy food, shared and prayed.
This was one of Lily's favorite things to do while in Lima: play in the Smedes' backyard with Toby, Ellie and Gabe and take Coby, the neighbor dog, for a run.We enjoyed seeing some sights in Lima including some Indian ruins and the beach, where the kids had fun rolling down a steep hill again and again.
Date night with Ryan and Angela! We had so much fun with our friends... once again. For the past 11 years the Lord has blessed us with rich, full, and fun times with Ryan and Angela. Many good memories have been made with these two dear ones. Can't wait till next time!
Lily, Ellie, Gabe and Toby had fun with Ryan and Pete one morning making a movie called, "The Pirate Kids." A must see!
We enjoyed delicious meals on the back patio in the perfect weather.
Lily with her buddies the day we left Peru.
Time to go to Bolivia!!! Here we are standing on the roof of our hotel in Sucre. Beautiful city!
Showing Lily all around our favorite city in Bolivia. Here's one of our favorite spots, the Recoleta, where you can look out over the city and enjoy a smoothie or iced cappucino. Yum!
Buying fresh veggies and fruit at the market before we head out to the campo!
The road out to Sorocoto. For some reason it seemed a lot more dangerous to me this time. Maybe because I'm older and wiser, or maybe because I'm a mother and one of my children was in the car with us!
Getting closer to Sorocoto(the excitement was building!). This picture was taken behind us after we passed Tomoyo. If you look closely at the river bed down below you can see a bridge. That bridge was not there 8 years ago and for those of you who remember our accident in the river... that's about where we lost our truck... right where that bridge is now!
First stop: Alejandro and Marcelina Pacaha's house. These were friends of ours from the beginning and their kids were little people when we lived there. The girl standing in the middle, Karin, was about 2 years old when we left.
We made a quick stop by our old house. It looks about the same from the outside. The community is renting it out to a few men who are working on the basketball court. They are putting a huge cover over the top to provide shade for the kids while they play.
Walking on the footpaths through the fields. Lily fit right into campo life as she skipped along the paths, played in the river and hung out with the kids.
Saira, who was Simon's granddaughter, loved Lily and followed her everywhere.
Pete and Juan(our friend who helped Pete build our house). It was great to spend some time with Juan and hear about his life. 
Lily with Juan's son, Moises. Moises was just 2 years old when we left. Kids sure do grow up fast!
We spent most of the day with Simon at his house and at the church. Here's Simon blessing Lily.
We had 2 services that day. Here's the worship service during the earlier meeting. Some additions were: a sound system with big speakers facing out the windows for the community to hear, young people helping with the instruments and leading the songs.
Lily and Lori praising God in Quechuan.
Pete had a great idea to take a pinata out for the kids to break. We had a little celebration with the pinata and then a few impromtu relay races that Pete and I taught the kids.
Pete preaching his second sermon of the day. It was a privilege to be able to worhsip with the "brothers" in Sorocoto/Soroscopa and to also encourage them in their walks with the Lord.
I also had an opportunity to "give some recommendations", as Simon would say.After Pete and I both spoke and prayed for the church and Simon, the church gathered around us and prayed for us and sent us off with their blessing. It was awesome! A day we will never forget.
A family picture in the campo in front of potato fields.
It was an emotional reunion back in Sucre with my dear friend, Sinforosa. And she loved Lily immediately.
Little Heidi, Sinforosa's daughter (now 11 years old) sitting to the left of me. She was almost 4 years old when I left so she didn't remember me. Belen, Sinforosa's 6 year old daughter, is sitting to the right of me and little Katy, Karina's 5 year old daughter is standing in front of us.I couldn't contain my tears every time I looked at Heidi. When we left Bolivia 8 years ago I had wanted to put her in my suitcase and bring her home with me.
With the whole family, minus their oldest daughter, Ilvia, who lives in Argentina and their son, Ivan, who is 14 years old and working full time at a shoe shop. Pictured from left to right is Sinforosa, Alejandro, daughter Karina holding her daughter Katy, daughter Belen, daughter Susie holding her 8 month old daughter Mayti, Lori, and daughter Heidi.
Pete and Alejandro
Lori with dear, sweet Sinforosa. Thank you Lord for allowing us to be together again!
With dear Karina in the pink shirt and Susie in black (and 5 year old Katy in front).
The trip was sadly over and it was time to start heading back to the United States. First, we took a plane from Sucre, Bolivia to La Paz.
A shot of La Paz below... a huge, dirty, busy, crowded city. (can you tell I'm not a big fan of La Paz?)
Sitting in the airport in La Paz, showing off her new hand made coin purse and her pink, crocheted back pack that Karina made and gave to Lily as we were leaving.
The day we left for Bolivia, Silas turned 5 years old! Here we are celebrating with Quinn and Olivia for lunch before we headed off to the airport.
The day we got back from Bolivia, Dottie turned 95 years old! Here is the beautiful birthday girl with her beautiful daughter, B.
Here's Dottie at her birthday party with 9 out of her 14 great-grandchildren.
Dottie sitting with her sister, Gladys, who turned 102 years old the day before! Happy Birthday Dottie and Aunt Gladys! We love you both! 
1 comment:
Dear Lori,
I'm so glad you were able to return to Bolivia and bring your kids to someplace that holds such a special place in your hearts!
The veggie seller that you bought from (in your photo from the market) was my casera during the time that we lived in Sucre. I visited her booth several times a week and we always had nice chats. I've been feeling sad lately because her face has become more fuzzy in my memory, along with so many other everyday people around town that I loved meeting and developing a relationship with. Life in Bolivia has been feeling farther in my past and it makes me sad, as I'm sure you can understand! Seeing your photo was a blessing to me. Thank you for posting! I'm so glad you were able to take this trip and I hope to have a similar opportunity someday!
Claire Plantenga
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