Greetings from Sucre, Bolivia,
And so the journey home begins. We have come to the end of another mission to Sucre, Bolivia. In many ways it was like others. Surgery, dental, clinic, construction, and Water With Blessings. This is the format that we have used for the last few years. Yet, it was also different. We have a much stronger focus on finding hospital equipment for Hospital Cristo de las Americas. The clinic team is seeing a need to range farther into the country side of Bolivia. Construction and Water With Blessings has shifted over to PASCAR (Pastoral Social Caritas Agency, The Bolivian version of Catholic Charities). This is a great new partnership with the Brothers of St. John of God, the Archdiocese of Sucre, and the Diocese of Joliet. Our new relationship with PASCAR has allowed us to reach out to the indigenous people of Bolivia. This is a exciting opportunity allowing us to have a year around program with the indigenous people through PASCAR. Over the next 3 to 5 years leaders of the Qhara Qhara and Yampara will receive training on the laws of Bolivia and how to incorporate those laws into their indigenous culture. This will allow peaceful solutions with the people of the respective communities. As the leaders develop their skills they will establish Justice Houses to resolve problems in a peaceful way that is fitting within their culture. By creating a peaceful environment this in turn will help develop human and economic development.
Another point we will have to consider is how far out of Sucre do we go? The Sucre area is developing rapidly. We all are surprised by the building going on in and around Sucre. Do we send teams into the countryside for several days at a time? On this mission the construction ranged the farthest it as ever gone. There is also a growing interest in working closer with agencies that work with children. Could we supply resources to these groups?
So many opportunities to serve the poor. How do we use the resources we have and how do we identify new opportunities and the resources to make them work? It's going to be an interesting year as we struggle with these issues.
Bruce
