Today is my first chance to write. Not because there aren´t internet cafes (there are many, in fact.) Our schedule has been so full, so packed, there hasn´t been a spare moment. To give you an idea, on Saturday we spent all day at INELA Bolivia yearly meeting sessions. On Sunday we visited four churches starting at 9 am and ending at 9 pm: one each from the Holiness yearly meeting, INELA and Bolivian Union Friends, all in El Alto, and a fourth church, another of INELA´s, in La Paz. It was great to hear the young Friends at the last church lead worship and music in the Andean tradition.

On Monday once again our day started very early, with two meetings, including one with Bolivian Union Friends yearly meeting who have expressed their wish to affilate with FWCC. We have had so many invitations to eat with Friends. Huge plates of typical dishes are set before you. Not surprisingly to those who know me, I´ve enjoyed everything so far!

Tuesday was spent on the road, as we left La Paz and headed to Peru, and spent the night in Juli. We drove by Lake Titicaca under a brilliantly blue sky and huge clouds that seemed so low you could almost touch them. Today we spoke, in the open air, to a group of Friends in a rural church not far from Juli. Just as my Meeting relishes hospitality time after worship, so do these Quakers. A blanket was spread on the ground and then on top was placed a clean, white cloth, and bags of chuño, small fried fish from Lake Titicaca, fried cheese, and puffed corn were laid out for all to partake. Peruvian Friends joked about how much they look forward to eating after worship!

With such a busy schedule - and it doesn´t look like it will slow down until the end - I´ve reached the conclusion that I need time to process what all our visits have meant, not only to FWCC but to those we have visited. My mind jumps from face to face of those I´ve met. I´ve been greeted with hugs and kisses by probably hundreds of Friends so far. Old, young, professional, humble. So many discussions on faith, the world family of Friends, world economy, global change, youth in our churches and why they are dissatisfied, and yes, even politics. I know that once I´ve left I will have alot to share on matters far more important that what I´ve eaten or how many churches I´ve visited.