It was going to be our first Christmas without the family, and it was some time since we had done a “proper” visit to our friends in Mision La Paz, so we figured this was the place to spend the festive season. In fact it was part of a longer trip of three weeks taking in some high profile events such as handing over land and inaugurating a new church, as well as lots of social visits, a few business meetings and yet more confirmations!
The road was good, it was hot and dry, and there was little shopping to do, so we started in good spirits. The Chorotes are neither fearsome nor sullen, but generally jolly, and we were well received and cared for throughout our stay. The weather changed regularly, including rain and wind, but this didn’t seem to affect the apparently round the clock commitment to make music, eat and play games!
In fact it was a bit like being at a pop-festival (and we were housed, together with the loud speakers, in the room behind the main stage!) What a variety of music – performance, worship, dance, and more. Women’s and men’s football, volley, tugs of war, blindman’s buff, sack and wheelbarrow races. Children improvising with whatever came to hand – bicycle wheels, bits of pipe. And food – in all shapes and sizes, and lots of it to share.
And endless visitors – La Paz is situated at the Argentine end of the road-bridge frontier with Paraguay, which, apart from all the associated problems of drug smuggling and prostitution, means that it is the first stop for the many Indian groups who travel through the Chaco to visit their cousins in Argentina. There were dozens of Tapietes and Chulupies from several hundred kilometres away, all of whom were fed and watered and welcomed to join in the festivities. When people knew we were there they also came from far and wide, and we visited some 10 nearby communities as well.
We were struck by people’s cheerfulness, even many who were sick and asking for prayer. We spent much time doing this, often with the same people. Catherine’s skills were much in evidence as she visited families, encouraged the women’s group, and pestered the health services! There were some marked improvements (maybe healings – almost all health issues relate to spiritual causes anyway), but it’s still hard to leave knowing not much action will be taken, and some will probably die.
Oh, and lots of opportunity to practice our fledgling language skills. Strangely although 4 or more languages are spoken in La Paz, it was in some ways easier to try out wichi as well as chorote, precisely because of the mixture and acceptance and understanding of others.
Today is Epiphany – time to get clean now we are back in town, and have an ice-cream or a glass of wine in celebration of Jesus coming for all the nations!
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Love reading your blog Nick & Catherine! Miss you lots but know your doing awesome things out there. Think of you often. Much love. X