Here at last!!

Hello every one. I have finally made it to Bolivia, it took a little longer than I expected, but I´m here and loving it! Right now I´m living in a hacienda with five other interns, who at the moment all happen to be girls. There are two Katie´s, a Kristen, and a Bethany. They are all super nice and have been taking really good care of me showing me around and just helping me get accustomed to the living here. On my first day here in Coachabamba Bolivia, we went to Sydney´s (one of Mike timmers daughters) highschool soccer game. We took the Fruitiar kids with us. The Villa fruitiar is the one of the orphanages and is just a few blocks from the hacienda where we live. The kids loved it and we even got to play some futboll (soccer) ourselves on one of the open fields. The boys had a blast and it was just a lot of fun playing with them.

      It has been a little overwhelming with trying to take every thing in. First of all my Spanish vocab right now is ¨UN pequito¨, very small! So that is kind of a bummer and is totally my fault since I could have been practicing before I left, but just always found a way out! Also I´m trying to learn my way around the city and the new mode of transportation that is used here when you don´t have your own car. The two main ways to travel here other than walking are, Troufii´´s and taxi´s.Troufii´s are like buses and cost a boliviano and a half;which is a Bolivian dollar and a half. * One American dollar is seven Bolivian dollars*.These troufii´s have letters on the front which is a key to their route. For instance, the ¨O¨, ܨ, and ¨M¨all come up to the somewhat close to the hacienda and go different places throughout the city. Its a little confusing still, but the girls are teaching me.

       I am writing this in a local Internet cafe. This morning, which is Tuesday morning I think, I went with Katie and Kristen to meet their Spanish teach,Tina who is a favorite among the interns and Timmers. She is especially for her grandmotherly character and love for her students. Once I figure a schedule for my time here.I hope to start taking Spanish lessons with her.

      Mike has said that for a few weeks at least I will be here in coach working at the orphanages with the kids. But I think at some point I will be heading to the chapàre (jungle) to work with Romberto who is one of Mike´s Bolivian builders. Actually tomorrow morning me and some of the interns are taking a day trip out there to deliver some bunk beds for the orphanages. I´m big time looking foreword to going out and seeing Romberto and the progress on the orphanage he is currently working on.

      I real quick just want to say thank you for your prayers. I had a real good trip here. On both flights I met someone who spoke English, and were able to help me with any questions. Both happened to be missionaries; one was a Bolivian from LA Paz who was a missionary in Japan, the other was a women from the states who was a missionary in coach. So God´s watching out for me! A few prayer request would just be that I would be able to learn Spanish quickly, I am normally a slow learner when it comes to things like that. But, I know that can change with God´s help, and plus I´ll be putting more effort into it, not like I did in school! A good overall prayer would just be that I adjust well and learn quick.

                                                               Love you all Lots and God Bless, Craig, ( or as the kids here say it,Grag!!)