A Plate of Spaghetti

  I've been told that a man's mind is like compartments; one category of thoughts at a time. A woman's mind, however, is like a plate of spaghetti, where everything is kind of mixed together- this post will probably be evidence in support of this idea. It's been a long day with a little of this and a little of that going on, so this should be a fun little update :)
  This morning started out with a visit to the heart surgeon for Esperanza. She's had two more episodes in the last week where she's quit breathing, so we've been praying tons that she would finally be able to have this surgery (it was postponed due to a urinary infection) and we found out today that it will be post poned again. We thought that these breathing issues were due to her heart but the heart doctor says that it's not, but in fact it's probably siezures or an arithmea, or a combination of the two. So, we've got a heart monitor on her now to keep an eye on things for 24 hours and then soon we'll be hoping to get her into another doctor to figure out why she's having these episodes where she just quits breathing, because it would be dangerous to have the surgery and then have that happen in the middle of it. So, we're now hoping/praying we'll be able to get this figured out and then have her on meds and better so she could be ready for surgery in early April when a team is coming down from the states that could perform it for free. So, this was fairly upsetting as we were hoping she could have the procedure Monday, but at least we're on a path towards getting her better.
  After Paul came back from taking the baby to her appointment we went to Interpol, which is a place that makes sure I'm not a terrorist, to recoger (it's sad when the word comes to you in Spanish but not English...) I mean pick up my papers that were supposed to be done last Friday. We got there at about 11:45 only to find that they close at 11:30, but the guard let us through and the police lady behind the desk (women who are police officers here are kind of scary! or intimidating, at least) said they wouldn't do it. But after explaining the situation and that all we wanted to do was pick up our paper, she got it for us. Praise the Lord!! We called over to the immigration office to see if they were still open but they were closed till 2:30. Let me explain- in the States people go on lunch breaks while other people cover for them... here they just close the place down for a few hours... kind of strange, but hey. Anyway, we showed up there at 2:40-ish and stood in line for 15-20 minutes just to be told that we didn't have all the paperwork, even though the man we talked to before told us we had everything except the paper from interpol. Well, needless to say I was fairly ticked. We drove home and got some of the papers we needed and then went and got a letter typed up by a lawyer which was a declaration by myself basically saying that I wasn't gonna become dependent on the Bolivian government. Sixty bs and a half hour later we were on our way back to immigration offices. Stood in line for a while, stood in a different line for a while, got a stamp (yes!), stood in another line and paid a fee plus a late fee (didn't know interpol was going to take 20 stinkin days, which actually meant 25, and business days, mind you), stood in yet another line, and then finally turned in my things and got a slip saying I paid and could pick up my stuff in three weeks. Hallelujah! I've been working on this since I've got here and finally have this phase finished. Thank you Jesus.
  So by this time it's about 7, and we had a few other errands to run before heading home (all this time it was Paul and I with their two younger boys, Willy, age four, and Manny, age two, who definitely made things more interesting). So yeah, I was/am tired, but I was glad we were able to get everything done today. Twenty bs isn't a big fine, about three dollars a day, but that can add up pretty quick! So, I'm glad I have 3 weeks before I gotta start the next phase (getting a bolivian i.d. card...).
  During all this, I spent a lot of time pondering what I want to do with my life. I've got some time to think about it (since I'm here till december), and I've been enjoying living for today each day very much, but at the same time it's always on the back of my mind what I might do next.  I just finished reading "Wild at Heart", which is a book with the goal of helping men find their heart (I read it at the suggestion of my brother and a few friends, since hope to marry a man someday...), and I feel like I've gotten a different perspective on guys a little bit from it, but I also read this quote that got me thinking:
    "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." So, not only does this book have me thinking about men and how I want to get married, it's also got me pondering hmmmm, what "makes me come alive". Once I go home will I want to come back here? Should I go back to school first? Do I want to go home and stay home and go get a degree? Do I want to go home and work? Do I want to go home and save up a little money and then go on an adventure? Just go somewhere- see some new places, spend some time with God? Can I go back and get married?  hahaha, just a "few" questions I've had running through my brain.
    On another note (does this seem like a plate of spaghetti yet?), I was able to make an appointment to get my echocardiogram for next tuesday. But another place says they'll do it cheaper so we'll probably call them tomorrow to set up an appointment.
  Other random things you should know (should know? more like don't care to know, but I'm gonna share with you): I had scrambled eggs for supper, and they were delicious. Also, it's about 85 here and I'm sweating to death! Not sure I'm gonna sleep well tonight, but we'll see. I may wind up on the tile flooring where it's a little cooler. Overall I'd sum up today/these last few days by saying that the Lord has blessed me immensely and I am so thankful to be a part of what He is doing in Bolivia. I get frustrated at times, but it's also encouraging to me to know that there's a force out there that is trying to discourage me, if that makes sense. Few things bring me more joy than having "my boys" both just sitting in my lap (although they don't really like to share, but that makes me smile as well), and how can I not be content when I know that God is in control? Well, you can't complain that I didn't warn you this would be a bit of a strange update. And now I'm craving pasta... shoot...