Yesterday we arrived in Cochabamba, Bolivia. It is located about ten hours away from Santa Cruz. So it was a pretty long bus ride. Here in Cochabamba I have been able to re-center myself which has been a struggle for me this entire summer. But I really have felt God´s peace and presence here and I am very grateful for that. I still wake up pretty homesick but usually it gets better throughout the day. Yesterday when I arrived I wasn´t feeling well because of the altitude. So my host sister gave me mate de coca (coca tea). Yes, it is the same leaves that are used to make cocaine. The leaves (which are not a drug) are used to help out the dizziness and suppress appetite. It made me feel a lot better. So as I try to find God in all of this, He has been using those around me to help. My country rep gave me a book called ¨Sleeping with Bread.¨ This teaches people to reflect on their day and meditate on what drained life out of us and what gave us life. It is a really interesting concept but one that is necessary. I realized that I was completely burnt out when I graduated college and didnt know how to deal with all of those emotions. As a result, they came out in a very destructive way that almost broke my spirit ( some of you may know). But I have been trying this exercise and it has helped me tremedously so that I may process through my day and acknowledge those moments of despair, realized that I am loved despite them, not dwell on them, and let them go. It is hard but has been helping me tremendously. I don´t know...it really has aided me and I think its something we should all do because we are often taught to push those bad feelings or thoughts to the back of our minds instead of acknowledging them and letting it go. I am still very homesick but instead of feeling guilty about it, I have been embracing it. I love you all and thanks for your prayers :)
paz,
Arelis
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I'm so proud of you! Hope your doing well!!!!! Miss ya already.
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