Heading Back, Again!

This past week has been full of wonderful memories and moments! Olivia, one of the residents of Corazon del Pastor, turned 15! She is the first girl to “become a woman!” I had the wonderful opportunity to take her to Pablo’s Peluqueria (hair salon) for her birthday haircut! She liked the cut, but hated that they put curls in her hair after. It was great to spend time with she and two other girls who came along for support. Last Saturday night, we celebrated her quincinera! I had so much fun dancing with the girls and the tias! The celebration turned out wonderfully! There is a tradtion where the birthday girl has 14 friends who walk in formally in gowns carrying roses and candles. Then, the birthday girl walks in with her dad and they dance and go around to each girl to collect roses and blow out the 14 candles. However, because Rosa does not have parents present in her life, her “sisters” and Tyson filled in. Fourteen of the younger girls put on their fancy dresses and walked in with purple candles and red roses. And, Tyson, executive director of Ninos con Valor, danced with Olivia and assisted her with the symbolic tradition. It was beautiful, and as I watched and took pictures, I thought about how lucky I am to be part of this amazing organization! The party went on past one in the morning--it was pretty happening! Also, some of the most popular boys in school came wearing ties and dress shirts. The older girls were very excited about this, and had a great time dancing with the boys!

Sunday was just as eventful with mass at 10 AM, an Indian lunch at Brooke and Tom's house (which was absolutely delicious!), and dinner with Juan Francisco and David! I am really enjoying my time in Bolivia, and am so thankful to have gotten to know and become friends with the tias whom I work with, David and Juan Francisco (two priests that live in front of us), and many others I have met along the way!

Monday I had a coloring session with a few of the young kids at Pedacito and it was so fun! They enjoyed scribbling, and were so proud when they showed me their work! These are the moments that have truly impacted me. I will never forget sitting there and encouraging them to color more and telling them how beautiful and amazing their pictures were as each kid held up his or her paper with pride!

Because of events like these, I have decided to return to Cochabamba in January of 2011! I will spend six weeks at the Maryknoll Language Institute refining my Spanish, and then about five months as a full-time volunteer again with Ninos con Valor! I am very excited about this decision, but it was a difficult one to commit to. I do miss my family and friends from home so much, but I know that returning to Bolivia is what I need to do right now. I am excited to return for a little bit to watch the little ones and the girls grow and mature, to celebrate birthdays and special occasions, to be and older sister and a confident to the older girls, to spend time reading and singing songs to the babies and toddlers. I only wish I could be in two places at once!

I know I have said this before, but I have to repeat it again, I cherish and appreciate each moment with these wonderful Bolivian kids, and could not imagine my time in Cochabamba without being part of their lives. The kids of Ninos con Valor have taught me and continue to teach me new lessons each day! I look fondly on past memories, enjoy the present moments, and look forward to what the future holds for me here in Cochabamba, Bolivia!