Laymini water source/storage tank

Our next visit was a community outside Ancoraimes (Laymini). There we evaluated a WFP funded water system project. We got to see the "brick/mortar" we’ve contributed towards and also met with the community water system leaders, as well as the ARHC and Peace Corps staff that work towards keeping these projects sustainable. That is the key word that I took away from my trip and is truly the inherent goal of the work done in Bolivia – SUSTAINABILITY! We were treated to an indigenous meal by the community (I would have preferred beans and franks, but had to settle for beans and chunios – gotta love those chunios). We met with NGO representatives and those above regarding future needs in Ancoraimes and Puerto Acosta. Our discussions centered on the need for not just "brick/mortar", but health education and community involvement. It’s the old thought of if you give someone a fish, you’ve fed him or her for a day; teach them how to fish and you’ve fed them for a lifetime. I also quickly realized how vitally important the in-country staff is to the overall success of these programs.

Entrance to Cathedral at Copacabana

Before returning to La Paz, we headed to Copacabana, which is located on the beautiful shores of Lake Titicacca. We were fortunate to be able tour the famous Island of the Sun, which of course required that we traverse the lake to arrive at our destination. The views are indescribable, other than to say awesome. The remnants of the Inca's are readily apparent in the amazing terrace work that coats the surrounding landscape. Virtually every inch of land shows the affects of this massive manual labor effort. The city itself quickly brought one back to the realities of today, in that you couldn’t help but be reminded as to why we were here in the first place – every time we left our hotel we walked past the overflowing sanitary sewer manhole in the center of the main street. The churches and Calvary were truly inspiring, and I must remark on the very apparent religious commitment of the Bolivian people. Having been raised Catholic, I was very intrigued to witness the interesting blend of Roman Catholicism & indigenous religious customs. That night as I lay in bed reflecting on the days events, I couldn’t help but be amazed and humbled by the resiliency of the Bolivian people. They live in such dire conditions and seem to take it all in stride. I saw children (many the same age as my children, or even younger) roaming the streets, people begging for sustenance – many, ironically, outside one of the most ornately decorated churches I’d ever had the privilege of being inside. It made me reflect on how this at times parallels our organizations. We meet in fancy hotels and convention centers, dine on fine food, while countless masses wait in the cold for us to act.

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