Stolen Cars, Bolivian Police Stations & Pringles
Greetings and blessings to all our friends and family (or should I say brothers and sisters in Christ). We miss you so much. Here is some of the latest information from Cochabamba, Bolivia:I had not driven car in over 1.5 months and our plans to buy a cheap ugly car for transportation ($1,800) has met some unusual twists. Christian and I took it for a test drive one day early last week and ended up in a police station about 25km from Cochabamba because some of the tags apparently were not up to date. Just like a bad movie we were escorted to a dark room supported only by a single bulb hanging from a wire and surrounded by flies. A Bolivian police officer dressed in drab olive uniform shouted questions at us in Spanish from behind a desk but too fast for us to really understand. Luckily I had some contact phone numbers with us and after about 2 hrs we were able to leave. Not sure how the issue was finally settled but I think it had to do with a couple of dollars? The next problem was that the vehicle ID numbers apparently are not original. That was another full day at another police station. Not sure if we will be able to complete the purchase of this car or not but it sure is ugly. Perfect for Bolivia where there really is no law on the roads. You have to crowd your way in to get anywhere and the uglier the car the better chance you have! Do you remember playing chicken? Were you good at it??
The service at both orphanages is going well. October is really going to be a full schedule for our family at house 1 and house 2 since two other volunteers have just recently finished up their service and no replacements arrive soon. Also we are short on Bolivian Tia’s at house 2 which is for the older children (4-11). Christian and I have been serving as a team and Kathy and Shekkinah as another team. Micaela and Judah serve as a team on Friday afternoons and then on the weekends as well since they are attending Cochabamba Christian School during the week. Early progress reports show they are doing great in school and I have to give Kathy mucho credit for preparing them the way she has. We were able to take 5 of the oldest orphan children on an outing the past Saturday to hike in the mountains. This was our first experience with them outside the orphan walls. They were so elated. The children that did not get to go this time cried as we left. They will get a turn next time. I made lunch and the Pringles potato chips I brought were one of the biggest hits. They also liked playing Frisbee which I introduced them to for the 1st time.
We continue to try and serve every Saturday at the washing of the street children at the plaza principal. What an honor to to do this. It seems like most of them make eye contact with you and it seems like they are actually appreciating what is being done for them without any words being spoken. I found that one of the most fun things for all children here is to pick them up under the armpits and throw them in the air a little bit then catch them. They line up to go again and again…..I have to stop when my back and arms tire (too bad I’m not the bionic man).
God has answered many prayers here. Even in small things such as changing out a light bulb at the orphanage that shattered and welded itself into place. I encourage everyone to talk to God and involve Him even in the seemingly small things of your lives. I believe He takes pleasure in this. I ask you also to continue to pray that we will get better with the language. Kathy and Shekkinah are trying a new Spanish school and Christian and myself are thinking of transferring as well. We are blessed with a great apartment to stay in. What comes to my mind is that God has gone before us, he is with us, and he comes behind us as well. I just pray that we will do our part and that lives will be changed for the better.
In His service,
-Rick and family
PS. We will try and post some new pictures soon so keep checking this website
PSS. Be sure to send us an e-mail (thealsethfamily at yahoo.com) with any specific questions you may have or if you have info about your work, family, life etc. etc. We are starved for communication from our partners in the U.S.A so get busy filling us in.
Pretty funny post. Did they hancuff him? Did he get a ticket? Was Christian scared?
No he wasn’t cuffed, Christian was nervous but, he wont admit fear. I was really worried about them because Shekkinah and I had made plans to go to the market with them when we got off work. When we got here they weren’t here. No note, or anything. So, we waited almost two hours and finally just went because I don’t like to be in the market place at night alone. So, we got back at 6:30 PM and still no one here and no messages. Just as I was about to freak out he called. The person we are trying to buy the car from came to the police station and helped resolve the issue. (Which we think was a bribe.) But, then the next day they went to finalize paperwork and spent the whole day at the policestation because they said it was a stolen car. Rick had gone down there at 9 AM. They had detectives putting acid on the numbers and saying they were changed. The car is an ’87. The owner has proof that the number was the same as of 1990 but, the cops said it must have been changed before that. Finally around 4:30 PM the guy we are buying it from showed up at the station and told Rick that they wanted money (a bribe) to release the car for sale. So, we don’t want to pay it. The owner took the car back home and we met with them last night to work out an agreement to lease it for the year. Since they can’t sell it and we wouldn’t be able to sell it when we leave either. So, I think that is what we are working out. They don’t care to follow up on the car to find out anything else so we know they just wanted our moula!
On top of that we took money out of the teller machine to pay for the car and one of the 100′s was a fake. So, it got rejected when the owner of the car tried to spend it. Rick spent 3 days and numerous trips to the bank to try and make them exchange it but, they wouldn’t. They said, it wasn’t their responsibility even though it was there machine. So, he finally spoke to the president of the bank yesterday and they decided after all of this deliberation to make and exception this time and give us a real 100 dollar bill.
The craziness of being in a corrupt foreign country!
Finally figured out how to access the web site. I apologize for not doing it sooner but the passwords were getting screened with my spam filter so I never got them. Just doing a test run now but wanted to say hello and hope all is well with you guys. Stan Schooler
Hi Stan, thanks for your persistence! We are glad to hear from you also. We are all doing well and keeping busy here. We hope things are well with you! Kathy
hey kathy its us the lemkes juswant to say hi
Hello our dear lost friends! How are you? I see your family has been growing. Congratulations on the new baby! I am so happy that you found us and decided to get in touch. We love you guys. Kathy
were doing good merry christmas you guys r growing too