Bolivia in Pictures - Explore Archived World Race Alumni Blogs

I can’t believe this month is coming to an end! We have learned so much here at Camp Monte Blanco (M.B). I know personally I have been reminded of a few things.

I have come on this race to serve, not to be served. This is a constant reminder as I am scrapping gum off of a floor, washing piles and piles of dishes 3 times a day, or wiping down dirty cabins that I just cleaned 3 days prior.
Along those same lines, our team has been behind the scenes here at M.B. We have not had much interaction with the numerous kids who have come by bus 5 hours from Santa Cruz. We all understand the team behind the scenes that keeps this camp running and serving the youth of Bolivia.
Again, I am reminded about meat safety and how seriously we take it in the U.S.A. Here at Monte Blanco, they hang some carne (meat) out on the clothesline for a few days…
After washing clothes in an OLD Maytag washing machine (from the 50’s), rinsing them by hand in three separate water “tanks”, putting them in a separate machine that spins the water out and then, preparing them to hang (you have to turn them inside out to keep from the sun and the bird poop), I have come to appreciate appliances more! (shout out to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor!)
You can use brooms for EVERYTHING! From mopping floors, to sweeping floors, to washing screens, use a broom! Wet, dry, awesomeness.
Here at camp, I have been reminded of the multiple uses of powered laundry soap. They come in tiny little packs that yes, you can dump into the old Maytag washers, but also, you can wash dishes, floors, screens, wood, and toilets with it!
One of my favorite things so far on the race is finding bleach to clean with- since most places we have been are very dirty. Not here! They bleach EVERYTHING! During the cleaning process of the cabins or the dining hall, trust me- there is a combination of SURF laundry soap and BLEACH! (insert happy Emily here).
God’s creation is AMAZING. There are not words to describe how beautiful the mountains, the flowers, the night sky, and the parrots that squawk loudly all day really are. When I see these, I am reminded that God created this for US to find joy in. And, I do!
Yes, Bolivia has large spiders that come out at night! We saw a tarantula. YIKES!
Nescafe is the coffee of choice (just like Peru and Ecuador).
The currency in Bolivia is called the “Boliviano” and it is basically 7 Boliviano’s for $1 USD.
We love kitchen work with Choka and Maxima! They are the most fun ladies I have met! They love playing practical jokes on people and yet, work SO hard from 4am-9pm six days a week.
Camp is FUN! We have all felt a sense of joy and youth as we have been here at M.C. There is something about just forgetting how old you are and being silly that is freeing and FUN!
I am in love with German Shepherd dogs…seriously, I never thought I would like a breed of dog that was so large! But, I do. There are 3 that live here: Porque (7 years), Chocolate and Cappuccino (2 ½ months). They stole my heart this month for sure!
Our team has been reminded of what HEALTH looks like! We struggled so much in Peru with sickness, it was nice to have a month of HEALTH! Praise God!!!
We met a man, his name is Chuck. He has been a missionary with the Ayore Indian tribe in Bolivia since the 50's. He ventured into the jungle, with a wife and a baby on the way to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is an amazing testimony to what your life will look like when you TRUST in the LORD with ALL of your HEART. I think we all fell in love with Chuck and his stories and his wisdom.

On October 12 we will head to our next location, ALBANIA! We do not know much about Albania or what we will be doing there, but we do ask for your prayers as we travel many hours by many modes of transportation (planes, trains, busses, and crazy taxi's) to get there. We will update you as soon as we can from Albania!!

You are special to us and again, we WANT to pray for you. If you have something we can pray about, please, send us a message or leave a comment and we will faithfully pray for you. You can also email us, [email protected]

Blessings!

Angela and Chuck in the kitchen. He is special to us.