A week in Bolivia ...

Our journey began with a dream and a plan, and when we had to book our around-the-world flights last fall, we chose LaPaz, Bolivia as a stopover before our volunteer work in Peru. We were not aware of how special Bolivia would be, and that we would meet someone with bigger dreams and plans...Dr. Jose Velasquez. I will introduce him and the organization Mano a Mano shortly.

But first, it was our close friends, Drs. Brooks Donald and Karen MacKenzie who introduced us to Bolivia. With their daughter Shannon, they have been involved with Mano a Mano for the past 9 years and told us their stories of the wonderful people, culture, and country. We gave a donation to a school they were helping build and it was our chance to see firsthand what they had been describing. Brooks sent a letter of introduction for us to Jose (perhaps overstating our importance), and suggesting a bunch of things we may want to do. For sure, we did receive the royal treatment, but realized that they treated all of their visitors and guests with the same gracious hospitality.