I am back home in Colorado now and I guess it is time to catch up on my blogging. I feel like nothing I can say can explain how amazing our trip was so I will just give a little summary and then let the pictures speak for themselves.

Our trip began in La Paz, Bolivia and God was watching out for us the whole time. He helped us make amazing connections with people who really gave us a good view of what missionary life would be like there. Also, God was watching out for our health because none of us got sick from the food or water and the worst altitude symptom any of us has were headaches and being 12,000 feet and above that was pretty amazing.

We met with missionaries who works for Youth for Christ, a woman who works with women who prostitute themselves, church planters, and the only Church of Christ in the city. These were all amazing people who were serving this city with all their hearts.

This is a view of La Paz from above. It is set up in a huge valley within the Andes mountains. Most parts of the city are on a hill and it is continually spreading south. Unlike most mountain towns, the higher up you are the poorer it gets and the further down you go the richer it gets. This is because of the extreme conditions in the higher altitude. But even in the rich areas it still seems poor.

This is El Alto, the city above La Paz where the airport is and it is the poorest in the area because of its altitude. Bolivia is the poorest South American country and El Alto is the poorest city.

These are shoe shiners that work in the city. They cover their faces to avoid discrimination and shame for cleaning people's shoes. Randy, one of the missionaries who works for Youth for Christ focuses on these shoe shiners for his ministry. He teaches them basketball, takes them hiking and tries to teach them about Christ.

La Paz is a city mixed with many different types of Bolivians including Quechua and Aymaran Indians. These people lived in the country but as work disappeared they moved to the city and you can see their huge influence everywhere you go. Many of the women look like this woman carrying things on their back with a little top hat on their head that we never really figured out.

This is just me touring the city taking as many pictures as I could as I went. I really loved this city and found it beautiful and fascinating. I have never seen anything like it and I wish the pictures could capture its grandness.