The end of February marked the end of two years living and working on MCC projects in the Charagua area. Since it coincides nicely with two project years being completed, I'll take a moment to note some of our highlights:
- Forging an open, comfortable working relationship with Durango Colony leadership;
- Developing work and friendly relationships with many others in all four of the Charagua-area Mennonite colonies;
- Aiding in the provision of dozens of water wells, pumping systems, and cisterns for large Mennonite families;
- Coordinating the building of larger water systems in the Guarani communities of Caipepe and Aguaira Guasu, and witnessing the cooperation between Mennonites and Guaranis in the process;
- Opening and developing an MCC resource center and library that is utilized by Mennonites and Bolivians; and
- Hosting several North American learning tours that examine water issues as they relate to Mennonite and Guarani communities in the area.
And on a more personal note:
- Bringing a baby into the world;
- Cultivating thriving gardens;
- Visiting with friends while shopping in the market;
- Hosting friends and co-workers for weekend visits;
- Spending hours living "the slow life" under our shauten dack; and
- Sitting outside under the black, starry, quiet night sky.
It's been a good life.
And there was a good, slightly humorous ending to it. As we were getting ready to eat breakfast shortly before leaving for good, our neighbor lady, Anastasia came to say good-bye. And she brought a live chicken with her to give us. A few frantic possibilities came to mind: leave her (the hen) here for the Lands, tie her up in a sack and transport her to Santa Cruz, take her along but free her along the way. The obvious solution wasn't even an option in my mind, since neither Ramont nor I are exactly proficient at butchering. But, luck of lucks, my mom volunteered to do the deed...and had that hen in pieces in a Ziploc bag in no time. Whew.
The photo up top is of our "milk lady" taking leave of Jonathan. Below are a few snapshots from our last few days.
And now we are living in Santa Cruz, where we have agreed to be until the end of July 2012. Ramont continues as a Low German Mennonite agriculture worker and will help staff Centro Menno. My main work will continue to be editing the Menno Bote and coordinating the other literature distributed by Centro Menno. Essentially we are now doing full-time what we have done part-time, from Charagua, for the last year. We are VERY content to settle in here, that is, not move between two homes each month. Stay tuned for more information on our new life.
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