Suma Machaqa Mara!

That's Aymara for Happy New Year! Today, New Year's Eve, the streets in Copacabana are chock full of people buying and selling in anticipation of a whole lot of celebrating. One of our favorite meat vendors, Marta, told us "Here everyone eats pork (cerdo) on New Year's Eve." Indeed, every butcher shop is displaying still-hairy pig heads and whole, split-bellied pigs piled five or six deep. So guess what we are having tonight...

All this despite muddy streets and pouring rain (at this time of year it normally rains from about midnight to noon). But the sense of exuberant anticipation and optimism are palpable. Friends and neighbors hug, kiss, and pat each affectionately. Smiles and laughter abound.

It's good to be back. Re-acclimatizing to altitude this week was nearly painless, and our friends and neighbors here lavished us with an overwhelmingly warm welcome back. Neighbor Carmen invited us to her beach-front restaurant tonight to watch the fireworks spectacle over the lake. Last night we hosted a quirky but fun farewell dinner party for friends and co-workers to celebrate and thank our local Bolivian pastor who, to our regret, has been reassigned.

Reflecting on our time here compels to thank our generous supporters. Your backing has made it possible for us to help launch three self-sustaining greenhouses, teach English, raise funds for construction projects through the sale of Andean handicrafts, train community public health teacher- workers, explore the prospect of cuy, rabbit and quinoa farming and the possible construction of a residential senior center, and nearly finish.

With Love and Blessings,

Deb and Jeff

All the pics were shot today, New Years Eve.

First, at the meat market, pork piled high.

Second: These little piggies went to market.

Third and fourth: A big day for street vendors. In right foreground of the fourth pic, note the red and yellow clothing for sale - it's all women's underwear; this is one of five vendors selling exactly the same stuff. Only for women, only red and yellow. We don't know why, but hope to learn and report back to you soon!