Carolyn Price, December 23, 2011

When I boarded the plane in Sucre and realized the finality of the fact that I would be residing in Santa Cruz, I couldn’t help but think, “And so the new adventure begins!” I had no idea how much so.

Living in this large city is very, very different from living in Sucre. I have to admit I am still adjusting. I am learning that 48 hours actually means 6 days to most people. I am learning that I must close the screen door at night if I do not want to sleep with a thousand hungry mosquitoes. I am also learning that if I do not leave the door open in the day time, by nightfall my room resembles an over-sized oven. I have yet to find the perfect times to open and close my door. Purchases, even just one item, requires at least two hours – sometimes more – depending on how many people are packed on the rattling contraptions people here call “buses”. I use the word “packed” loosely. I could have used, just as easily, the words, “crammed, bursting, overflowing, jam-packed, full to capacity, and then some.” And the roads…what can I say about the roads? Well, a couple of times I thought my teeth were going to be jarred loose. I also think the heat here must affect people’s perception of time. Hardly anyone is ever on time for anything. I am still sleeping on the floor. I still have clothes in suitcases. My hair is flat on the right side because I work on my projects on the computer with a fan blowing full blast in my direction. (The fan sits to my right.) The wind from the fan flattens my hair! (It’s kind of cute actually.) I have little ant visitors that no matter how many I kill, there always seems to be a million of them scurrying everywhere. I’ve taken a shower twice with frogs. I’ve been startled by wall-hugging lizards. I’ve had the fan fall on top of me at night as I tried to adjust it so that I would feel the breeze where I was sleeping. (I also smacked my head on the chair by my mattress as I got up to turn on the light to fix the fan!) My daughter won’t let me go anywhere alone. The reason? Both my daughter and son-in-law tell me that Santa Cruz is a dangerous city. She says I am too white and as soon as I open my mouth, it will be obvious that I am a foreigner. I actually don’t mind having someone with me as I go out. I haven’t the foggiest idea how to get anywhere since Santa Cruz is so big – and getting back home, well, that’s another story! Yep, an adventure indeed! And I am thankful for all that God continues to do in my life…heat, bugs, buses, flat hair, and all!

I’ve had the privilege of having Cynthia here for two days. My first visitor! I prayed with a young woman who is going through some difficult times. I was able to use circumstances in my own life to encourage her. (God is good that way, isn’t He?) I’ve taught Sunday school for the pastor’s wife when she was out of town with her husband. I also taught the small children on Wednesday night and had a wonderful young helper, Sandra – one of the girls from the orphanage. And my projects…I continue working on them. When in the States, I was able to progress well until I began traveling. This will be my schedule: Week 1: Graphics Organization Project. Week 2: Deaf Materials Organization Project. Week 3: Bible Materials Organization Project. Then I will begin again with the same schedule. I decided to break the projects up this way so as to be able to keep them from becoming overwhelming. (These are materials that I have collected over the past 12 years working with the Deaf!) Several people have already expressed a desire to have these materials when I am done. It is not hard work, but it is very time consuming. Next Week, I will begin working on the Deaf materials. Please pray with me that I can get much done. I would also like to create one Bible lesson a week.

The church here will have their Christmas program this coming Sunday evening. Even the adult Sunday school class is participating. Please pray with us that there will be many visitors and Christ will be glorified.

I’d like to share a quote in closing,

“Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world of the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years… Underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart.”
George Matthew Adams

May you have a wonderful Christmas as we remember why Jesus came to this earth!
Your sister in Christ,
Carolyn
John 3:16
Field Address: I will continue using the Sucre address for now. Casilla 562, Sucre, Bolivia, SOUTH AMERICA
Mission Address: Baptist Pioneer Mission, P.O. Box 5114, Kincheloe, MI 49788
Email Address: carolynsucre@yahoo.com or serving2gether@gmail.com