we're back.

i'm sorry that i didn't post as many times as i would have liked to while we were in bolivia. things were hectic---but great! the trip was a complete success, despite the setbacks getting there! we had a super group of guys and i think that everyone had a good time. we brought back 2 trophies, one dunk-contest champ plaque, and a first place medal! so things went well all across the board---from working with the kids, to playing in a small tournament.

some of you may recall that we were supposed to have a quick stop over to costa rica after

bolivia. due to the immigration officers not accepting our medical release forms for yellow fever shots, we were sent straight back to miami. that was a sad and very frustrating afternoon, but we are trusting that god has a plan---even if it is hard for us to understand. we were so excited to spend time with jason, lindsey, & shelby. i'll admit it, i cried...for a while...

after making it to dallas, spending the night, and then coming back into omaha this morning we are finally home---with all of our bags. i know that this is going to be a super fun summer and can't wait for the things to come! (thompson basketball camp, remier harvest in kansas, dj & andrea's wedding, trip to savannah, trip to adventureland, etc!)

here is a link to some photos from our trip!http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/photo.php?pid=30145162&id=151700056

description photos.

abdeil. a sweet boy.

eli's pizza.

sunday lunch.

playing at the outdoor court. notice the little man trying to get in on the game.

here are the guys cleaning, they actually took the roof off of the building behind them.

today.

so this morning, we got up and attended an english speaking church. the meeting was small, and the pastor was from...omaha, ne! crazy! it was nice to be able to listen to the service, and also interact with the people who attended. after, we took a bus down to the plaza central and walked around. we then went to pollos america where they roast whole chickens on long sticks over an open flame. the meal was served with rice, french fries, and fried bananas. we came back to the guest house after lunch and took a nap. we got up and went to the soccer stadium that is nearby and watched a professional soccer game. the local team is Wilstermann and we are proud to say...they won! apparently they haven't had a very good season so far, so we attended a good game! now, we are back at the guest house, waiting to eat some supper. sundays are very laid back here, so it is nice to be able to take it easy. now that we are a little bit more ''settled in" i will try and keep you updated on the days happenings!

if you have any questions, feel free to ask them...i'm sure i'm leaving a ton out!

we're actually here.

ok. so it is sunday night, we have just finished our second full day in cochabamba, bolivia! after many flight issues {we missed our flight to bolivia due to schedule changes, so we spent the night in miami, woke up, came back to the airport and proceded to be up for close to the next 24 hours} needless to say, my brain was a tad mushy for a while. when we finally did arrive >with all our bags [ptl!] ***side note> i am typing on a spanish keyboard, and cannot figure out all of the parenthesis, or dash signs... ha!*** we were promptly picked up by Abel, [the bolivian missionary who is hosting us along with his wife Sonia, and their adorable one year old] and dropped into a taxi. the ride actually wasn't that bad...if you don't mind no lanes, cars three abreast, and no stop lights. we made it to the SIM guest house, ate breakfast, and went to bed. this all happened at 9 am. so we got up around 2 pm [you calculated right, that was 4 hours for our first "night"] we ate lunch and went out to the church. there, the guys helped clean up an empty lot that the church owns [i have some pictures, and will try and post them]. while they were all working hard i chatted with the ladies. rough. the guys also had a chance to shoot around for a while at some nearby outdoor hoops. we went to supper at eli's [pronounced ellie's] and ate some super delish pizza! and of course, coke. we went back to the church for youth group. it was really fun [for losing one of the games, one of our guys had to kiss a girl on the cheek 4 times. hilarious. especially since no one really understood why] after, everyone who was at youth group [of course this meeting was not limited to youth, there were little kids and ladies there also] went to the outdoor courts and played basketball and soccer. when we made it back to the guest house, everyone was shot. after a snack [fresh fruit and homemade bread], and showers we quickly debriefed the day and went to bed.

passport.

so here is the story...in abbreviated form.

i applied for my passport...it wasn't coming. shawn and i spent 3,4,(5?) hours on the phone yesterday trying to locate where it could be, and how it could get here. (asap!) to make matters slower, the entire passport computer system was down. that put a damper on spirits. to sum up all of our conversations, we figured out that our best option was to drive up to minneapolis, mn and apply for an emergency rush on my passport. this meaning they will cancel the current one (somewhere in south carolina), and make me a new one in a few hours, hand it over, and we are home free.

so that is what we did. packing up a tiny backpack, we jumped into the car and headed out of omaha at about 9 pm (stopping at wal-greens to get new passport photos, and runza to get some dinner---the highlite of the evening). my life-long friend, annette, lives close to the twin cities. she graciously folded out her hide-a-bed, scrounged up some clean sheets, and even set out towels for the shower we didn't take. only a best friend meets you in her drive-way at 2:45 am, excited to see you.

so that brings us to this morning. we wake up, run out the door and show up to the correct location on time for our appointment. the guy (jeremy) who helped us, was so nice! he did everything he could to get us the passport (saying at least 4 times, when meeting another dead-end , "well there is more than one way to skin a cat" ha!) finally, after calling over the head lady, more paper work & phone calls, he took our check (saying we will get reimbursed for the money paid for the passport that is now canceled) and gave us the all-important receipt, and sent us to target (actually we sent ourselves there) to wait until 2 pm...when the passport will be ready. we went across the street, picked up some coffee (yay! ...and a breakfast burrito for a hungry shawn) and then spent the rest of our time picking up needed things for our trip (so no time wasted) and grabbing lunch.

2 pm. PASSPORT IN HAND! we never really felt quite comfortable until we got it...but we did! and then headed back to omaha! we arrived home at 8 pm...and that about brings us up to speed :) packing, some sushi & veggies for dinner, and now we will be spending the rest of the evening finishing up and then leaving tomorrow for the airport at 9:40 am (thanks for the ride, dad) to spend the next 24 hours making our way to bolivia!

i'll keep you posted....now where is my passport......

the first.

this is my first blog. first post. ever. exciting! i have decided to do this for a few reasons, the main reason being we are leaving for bolivia, south america in less than 48 hours. this will be a good way to keep everyone (who cares) updated, as we will have internet access the whole time!

currently happening: trying to get my passport in our hands...long story, just pray we get it!
happening in a few hours: mom bringing over the 'big' suitcase. packing ensues.

i hope this turns into a central place for people to get ideas about what is happening in our life, things we think are cool, or random thoughts from me...or shawn, even more randomly.

i can't wait to develop my blogging skills!

love, anneliese