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Past Boliva Journals


Bolivia 2006

Friday, July 21, 2006

The team met at noon today at Epworth Center.  The usual pre-departure routine was conducted by
in-country team leader Blake Bentley.  The routine of weighing bags, loading both bags and boxes,
and any final announcements for both team and team family members.  After all packing was
completed, we gathered for a group prayer and picture.  We then boarded church buses headed to
Atlanta.  We arrive and get all bags checked and boxes zip-tied and head to the gate.  Fight from
ATL to Miami went smoothly besides having a “middle” seat.  We’ve been sitting in the MIA airport
for an hour and a half or so, waiting for the flight to La Paz.  Blake just gave a nice devotional
regarding life and life needing an anchor.  It has been great seeing members of the team from two
and three years ago and meeting new team members as well.  I look forward to the trip ahead and look
forward to seeing how God works within the team and how God uses the team to help the Bolivian
people of Quesimpuco. 

Brooks Bailey

 

Saturday, July 22, 2006 

American Airlines flight 922 lifted off around 11:30 PM from Miami bound for La Paz, Bolivia. As
most team members settled into their seats, conversations drifted from small talk to the first stages
of sleep.  As American served a meal to those who were awake, strong weather turbulence presented
itself.  This was short lived. Touch down in La Paz was on time at 5:30 AM.  Benjo paved our way
through baggage claim after which everyone loaded all provisions on five jeeps.  David Smalley
launched our ground travel with a prayer.  After a quick traditional breakfast at Burger King our
caravan headed south. After 3 hours on the Pan American highway we reached Auruo for an early
lunch at the El Fogon restaurant. 
Each mile took it higher into the Andes.  Traditional sops for food and bathroom broke up the day.
At 30 hours into our journey, much of the sparked humor and banter began to fade away as backs
and legs grew weary.  Night fall and steep mountain roads slowed travel time, but we finally reach
Quesimpuco about 9:15 PM.  Villagers braved freezing temperatures to present their welcoming
ceremony.  After everyone unloaded bags and boxes, team members choose rooms and made their
bunks.  Bill gave a short but very meaningful devotional based on Matthew 25:32, with lights out
around 11:30.

Jack Burkhalter

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, July 23, 2006

We were allowed to sleep in until after 7:00AM to make up for a late lights out.  Breakfast made
by Blake Bentley and Cecil Yarbrough, was simple, yet filling and plentiful, of hot oatmeal, cereal
and coffee. Team members went down to Quesimpuco by foot or vehicle for the church service led
by Benjo and Geronimo Cory, the local religious leader.  The team was introduced to the
congregation by Tom, the SIFAT representative.  We were treated to a song by a local group. 
The team met many people of the village and toured some of the old facilities used before the
more modern medical building and the Guest/Training building were built.  After Services the team
went back to the house.
            After a lunch of chicken rice soup, with hot sauce, water and lemonade to drink the team
broke up into 2 teams.  One for the medical facilities and one for small construction projects. In the
medical building the team checked the layout of the building, cleaned the building, set up the dentist
office, eye exam room and pediatrics room.  They also sorted donated eye glasses, sorted vitamins
from bulk dispenser to smaller packages of a 90 day supply for patients.  They also sorted general
drugs and set up the pharmacy.
            The construction crew built a set of shelves for the kitchen; put braces on the dentist table
to make it stable, rebuilt a chair, and rebuilt the small bridge crossing the drainage ditch between
the guesthouse and medical building.  The water system was acting up and had to be worked on to
show Isaac, the local manager what the problem was.
            From 5:30 until supper the team wandered around looking at the scenery or talking with each
other. Supper of turkey, homegrown beans and potatoes, cheese or butter toast, homemade cookies
and cake, and crystal light lemonade.
            Still having problems with the water supply to guest and training facility where we are
sleeping.  Cutting water off to the bathroom to keep water to kitchen available.
            To offset the physical problems, all you have to do is walk outside and, without any lights the
stars are like white Christmas lights all over the sky.  The Milky Way is very clear across the sky.
            8:30 – 10:30 p.m.  The team went to a drama play at the church, put on by the
teachers of the school on the story of the opportunity of going to the Century School.
            Bill Brawner, did a devotional on helping the least of us as a lesson for the mission team. 
Referenced Matthew 14:13-, and 25:32.  In addition William Barclay has a wonderful lesson on the
subject and we were urged to read it.

Jorge Hersel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, July 24, 2006

Ate breakfast between 6:30 and 7:30.  Blake and Cecil made another great breakfast of scrambled
eggs, ham, cereal, oatmeal, coffee and fruit.
            Today began the first full day of work in Quesimpuco.  The construction crew split their crew
into one crew trying to open drains and clean out the water in the men’s bathroom.  Very frustrating
because they spent 31/2 hours working on opening drains that had been mortared shut and running
a steel tape as far as possible to find the clog.
  Then Isaac brought the plumber that put the pipes in and showed us where the main drain was, and
had the water line unclogged in 30 minutes.  The other construction crew worked on constructing a
large radiator of wood frame, tin backing, and steel pipes to put on the hill to heat water through
solar energy accumulation.  The radiator frame was put on the hill above the guest house and the
piping 1/3 finished, the 450 liter tank repositioned and the 4 posts for holding the radiator facing north. 
To be completed tomorrow. The medical team spent a busy day seeing between 25 and 40 people by
each physician.  The dentist’s estimated they made 150 extractions between the 3 of them. 
The high point of the day was when the team heard of a woman with a severe foot condition.  She was
transported from the village to the medical facility after examination by a doctor.  Her foot had a severe
infection and may have gangrene.  She will have to be taken to a hospital for further examination
and treatment.  The doctors are concerned that she will not have enough money for the treatments
and they will request money from the team to help defray the medical expenses. One of the exciting
moments was when Alice Ann had a baby urinate all over her pants and had to change clothes and
wash thoroughly.
            The team developed a video to send back to AUMC. The village held an “open house”
ceremony, celebrating the “completion” of the guest and training facility.  There were several
speeches, and dancing by representatives from several communities.  Members of the team were
“persuaded” to participate in the dancing.  Numerous humorous photos were taken.  The ceremony
was completed with gifts of wreathes and food to take to the guest house to hang around the building. 
(Note:  The team members received gifts of hats.  The women received wide brimmed hats and
blankets, and the men received helmets made from cowhide, and shaped like conquistador
helmets.)  The team returned to the guesthouse between 6:30 and 7:00.  Still having water problems. 
No water to the guesthouse this evening. Dinner was a great concoction of 4 bean soup, cornbread,
unsweet tea, coffee, and water.  Simple, but tasty and filling. Jeff Etheridge entertained the team
with the photos he took and the video
downloaded from Tom’s video camera.
            Ernie Todd did a devotional on how the Lord works in mysterious ways, through a story
on how a stranger stopped and helped him when he was roofing his house.  After that he was asked
to help on mission trips and felt the Lord wanted him to help others through the sign of the
stranger helping him.
            Jack Burkhalter recovery from the Bolivian two-step.

Jorge Hersel

 

 

 

 




 

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Breakfast by chef Blake and Cecil started at 7:00a.m.  Breakfast was of scrambled eggs, bacon,
oatmeal, dry cereal, powdered milk, coffee, and hot chocolate.
            Work started at 8:00a.m. approximately.
            The construction crew completed the solar heat exchanger for heating water.  Consisting
of painting the pipes black, placing tin below the pipes to reflect sunlight and fixing a thick plastic
sheet over the frame to hold the heat in.  All pipes and connections were completed from the waster
line to the exchanger, to the 450 liter tank, and to the black PVC pipe down the hill to the guesthouse.
            A piece of bad news.  There was no separate plumbing to the showers.  They were connected
to the cold water.  We will have to put in separate plumbing through the walls to the showers for the
hot water system. 
            The construction crew also fixed one leak in the water line to the guesthouse, and found
another in the main line to the medical facilities…to be repaired tomorrow.  Also did some small
plumbing repair in the guesthouse.
            Lunch was at 1:00 p.m. Consisting of a thick chicken, vegetable, noodle soup, many
different fruits like apples, oranges papayas and a special dessert of chocolate brownies.  Blake
treated us to his green Gatorade, known throughout the community.
            Throughout the day we were followed by children and adults curious to see what we were
doing.  Many jumped in to help.
            Dinner was at 6:30 p.m. with green beans an potatoes and chicken, coffee, tea, brownies, and
a special dessert of stewed apples.
            Many interesting conversations have been struck up as people stood around. 
Several, I was asked not to journal or record in any way.
            The medical team saw more people than yesterday.  They were helped by the arrival of the
Bolivian doctor that came today, named Patricia, and will stay here for a year and a half.  She went
with two team members to take the woman with the severe foot infection to a hospital in Aurura.  The
doctors are seeing a general trend of improved health of the people coming to see them and feel
they are making a difference to the population as well as showing how Christians reach out to help
fellow Christians.
            Another infected foot is under observation.  Alice Ann had several teenage boys play tricks
with their paperwork by pretending to lose their paperwork and having her help them fill out new forms
at the medical center.
            The devotional was led by Ron Rooks on prayer.  Prayers don’t have to be eloquent.  The
simplest prayer is “Help!”  Ron read a section from “The Upper Room.”  Read II Timothy 1:3-5,
quoted James 5:16, recognized all the efforts Cheri Hart in sending prayers.  Eight team members
and the 3 Wesley students went to a church service in Quesimpuco.

Jorge Hersel

 

 

 

 



Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Wow the week is flying by.  It is so hard to believe it is almost over.  Today began with a wonderful breakfast
of eggs, ham, grits, oatmeal, and all the other fixings that Blake and Cecil provide for us each day.  We appreciate
them so much.  Each area of the team set to work around 8AM.  I will share what each area accomplished.
Construction:  Ernie, Keith, Jack, Jorge, Matt As always they were very busy.  They began the morning with
building a side board serving table.  They built a pot shelf for the kitchen – pots can now be hanged or stored. 
This thrills the chefs Blake and Cecil.  Next the construction team built a short working bench to raise the gas
burner so the chefs do not have to get on their knees.
Jack lost his tape measure today and was most unhappy.  We are still trying to calm him down!  However, Jorge
left with one and returned with two, so it seems we still have enough tape measures! Last but not least the guys
connected the solar hot water heater for the ladies shower.  This is the first hot shower in QP!!! Jack said he
also mopped all the bathroom floors and adjusted some squeaky doors.  A very productive day!
Medical Clinic
Sharon, Cecil, Dr. Roberto, Dr. Smalley, Dr. Patricia,  two nurses from the QP clinic, and John in the pharmacy
The nursing began with a notification that a lady who had a tooth pulled yesterday was bleeding very heavy
during the night.  Jason, Brooke, Dr. Smalley, Juan, Tom, Matt hiked for an hour to a nearby village called
Chiqmo.  They actually found that she had begun to clot when they arrived.  All was well and they returned
to QP. A second patient came into the clinic yesterday with an infection in her foot.  Today, It did not seem
to be responding to antibiotics.  Dr. Smalley and Dr. Patricia from QP clinic made an incision over her ankle
and drained the pus and cleaned it.  Hopefully she will feel better tomorrow. The flow of patients have been less
this year because there is a doctor and two nurses here.  This is what the AUMC team has been striving for.
  There is an obvious evidence that they are doing routine check-ups and immunizations.  There are posters all
over the clinic with educational information.  We are very proud.  Most patients now come to the dental and eye
clinic, since these are not available to them. Dental Clinic:  Dr. Jimmy, Dr. Jason, Brooks, and Ron
Dr. Jason and Brooks headed off to Chiqmo to check on the patient who was bleeding from a tooth they pulled
yesterday. Dr. Jimmy pulled seven teeth from one patient and will pull the rest of her teeth later in the week.
  Older people only have pieces of teeth and fear infection that they cannot get treated for.Eye Clinic:  Dr. Bill
and Regina We had another very busy day.  We saw 51 patients, 80 was our oldest and 8 was our youngest.  They
all complain of their eyes watering in the sun.  Unfortunately we ran out of sunglasses today.  Bill and I decided
we need to provide lots of education to the students here of the damage sun can cause.  We see many patients
with cataracts and a tumor called pterigium.  This tumor can grow to cover the eye and cause the patient not to
see.  It can be removed by surgery.  Unfortunately, these people cannot afford surgery and the nearest
Ophthalmologist is 14 hours away in LaPaz .  We hurt for them all.  We saw two young people (15 and 25) who
have cataracts and we hope to get help for them. Today we had a gentleman with a reading of 5.75 in both eyes
(very high.)  Thank the good Lord we had just his prescription.  If you could have seen the smile on his face! 
Praise God – it only takes one to know your purpose here has been worth all that it takes to get here.  Many
patients who can read for the first time in years just light up the room.  Could you imagine if you could not read
and did not have access to the local Wal-Mart – then you know how they feel.  Even though we only came with
100 reading glasses – God has multiplied them like the fishes.  We still have plenty even after seeing 150 patients!!!
This day I dedicate to my wonderful husband who worked so hard for months preparing the food, tasting
everything and wanting everyone to be happy with the meals..  Blake I love you!!  We were married here 4 years
ago and it is a special place for us.

Regina Bentley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Our day began with our usual group breakfast.  Walking out the door of our guest house, I’m amazed
again at the indescribable mountains.  Their beauty is so incredible.  The row of yellow flowers growing
just outside our residence make a perfect border for the mountains and the “robin egg” blue sky.  There
is such an interesting paradox here between the poverty and the beauty, the danger of the trail and the
wonderful love of the people here in the northern Potosi region.  As I walk to the clinic, many people
greet me with humble but beautiful smiles and the Quechua hand shake ( shake hands, pat shoulder,
shake hands again).  When I remember my busy, harried life back home in Auburn, I know I am truly
blessed to be called to come to this place so peaceful and natural.
            This week, we have been used by God to help save lives through medical knowledge.  We are
very aware that our skill and ability comes from God.  He alone heals and saves, and restores.  But we
are so blessed to be His instruments.  Our little 13 year old girl with the infected foot is improving but
the wound needed to be opened and drained twice today to facilitate healing.  She is reading eh New
Testament I gave her but is wanting to be up more since she feels better.  This afternoon she asked,
“When can I go home?”  She would have continued to have more and more infection and worse had she
not come to the clinic early for treatment.  The encouraging thing I have observed, having come to
Quesimpuco several times, is that NOW there is a doctor, nurses, and established on going health care. 
Glory to God – This is a dream come true and an answer to many prayers.
            This afternoon we suddenly were reminded of the continual protection of God for each of us when
a near tragic accident was avoided.  In an attempt to use a gas powered heated shower for baths, carbon
monoxide fumes overcame a team member.  But through God’s wonderful divine protection, another
person close by offered help.
            In the evening; after dinner, we all participated in a very special Communion Service.  Everyone
surely felt the presence of the Holy Spirit.
            At home, we may have our differences as we get caught up in our hectic lives.  But here, as we
have all truly focused on doing God’s will for the people here, we have truly come together.  There is a
" Sweet, Sweet Spirit In This Place.”


Sharon Rooks, RN

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

Friday July 28, 2006

With plans to leave early in the a.m. no clinic is scheduled for today.  Construction projects are completed
for this year.  With celebrations scheduled for midmorning there is no need to wake up early.  Never the
less, the new guest house is stirring before daylight with the sounds of Blake and Big Cecil preparing
water for coffee.  Soon representatives from each of the rooms are milling around in the dining area
watching the new day dawn over the mountains.
            Breakfast is the standard grits and oatmeal with cheese toast.   We have eaten well this week and
are ready for the day.  About 9a.m. four jeeps head down to QP with several from the group walking down
to enjoy the view one more time.  The Chyanta Valley has been especially beautiful this year.  Yellow
flowering bushes outside the clinic, black and white Ave Maria birds, green Eucalyptus trees swaying
in the wind, warm golden sunshine, the sounds of chickens, pigs, burros, sheep, and goats.
            In QP, the elementary school and Internado are lined up behind the band from the Collegio de
John Wesley.  The marching tune begins and class-by-class they pass in front of the Bolivian flag and
salute.  There is so much hope for the future in these bright young faces.  A lot has happened in 10 years,
so after the group joins the march in front of the Bolivian flag we are given a tour of all the schools.  The
first four classrooms provided by the government are in the same condition as 10 years ago.  The roof
may not be leaking but it is still fallen in.  The windows are still covered with tin or corrugated plastic. 
Three new government classrooms are in much nicer condition and the headmaster completes our tour
of the government facilities. 
            Ben Ho and Isaac then give us a tour of the Internado and community center with Tom Corson
translating.  The first trip the community center/church had no roof and a dirt floor.  Now there is a roof,
concrete floor, a stage, and a mural that was painted by students from the Wesley Foundation.  This
building is now a community center and overflow classroom.  Next we see the internado kitchen where
Hermana Celia is the cook.  The room is dark and smoky.  Tom reminds us that smoke is the number
four killer of people living in underdeveloped regions.  Next-door is a “convenience” store for the
students that helps to raise a little money to go back into the school.   The next room is a carpentry shop
for the students to study in.  Buildings from years past include new high school classrooms, greenhouses
| times tow, boys dorm, girls dorm, professor’s dorm, library, and director’s quarters.  The new kitchen site
is visited and the view is breathtaking- looking across the valley to the mountains.  We were not able to
work on this building due to the late rainy season and inability to get the supplies in.  Passing the boys
from the school outside the dorm we hear where each one is from.  Many from villages seen around the
mountainsides but several from hours away.  One walked 12 hours to come to school. Talk about want
to learn!!  One upper classman explained he is a 6 hour hike away and pointed to the spur on a
mountainside that hid his village from our view.  He crosses a river about two and a half feet deep in the
dry season.  In the rainy season he cannot cross it and must walk an additional six hours to cross a bridge. 
Another young man is washing his clothes in an outdoor sink.  It is explained to us many others would
come but it is too dangerous crossing the mountains and river.Moving back up the hill music fills the air. 
The girls and women professors are singing a birthday song for Trish Madden from Wesley Foundation.
 
On the basketball/soccer/parade plaza an open air market (feria locale) is set up with wooden
utensils, pottery, blankets, slingshots, hand tools, snacks, traditional clothes, and bracelets.  El groupo is
the primary if not only customers.  Keith Foster and Hunter Ramos serve as the exchange officers and
we managed to bring greater than a thousand B’s into the local economy.  We tried to buy from different
persons so that all benefited.  As the group finished shopping we returned to the top of the
mountain and
the clinic where compared our purchases and prepared to eat.  





         
The food was superior as usual – we are spoiled.  During our lunch Ben Ho shared his testimony.  Even
with having heard it before it was very moving.  When his mother died he was taken off to relatives home
and shared of his looking for answers to the problems of poverty and suffering in his country.  As he
shared from his heart how he came to hate Americans, he also told of how Ken and Sarah Corson came
as missionaries to Bolivia and worked with him to solve health and poverty problems in Sepedio.  The
actions spoke louder than words and Ben Ho came to kneel in the middle of a fish project area at night
and told God he had hated in his heart and would He remove it and forgive him.  Looking into his eyes now
you could only see the love of God.  What a remarkable change.  Ben Ho then presented each of us with a
bracelet made by the students at the Internado.  El groupo then presented him with a picture from the first
trip.  We also presented him a statue carved by his father that had been bought in the market – which he
accepted then explained he had many things of his father’s and would like for it to go to the States. After
lunch the loading of the tubs began as we prepared for our departure in the darkness of the morning. 
Now I sit here writing too much and Blake is fixing supper.  Jason states presentation is one third of it and
Blake does it well in his own metro way.  Dessert will be a plate of fudge rounds, Oreos, and chips ahoy! 
We are spoiled.  After supper we have our daily devotional.  Matt Taylor read tons from Revelation the
verse about overcoming the deceiver by the blood of the Lamb and our testimony.  He then proceeded to
share his testimony of how he came to experience God’s grace and forgiveness.  Praise God for all that
He has done and continues to do!
            Finishing up our time together in QP Dr. Jenkins shared the financial situation and need for the
mission to continue.  As we sat around the table and in the mirror – these are the people that must tell
the story.

Dear God.
            As we finish our time here in QP, please cause a fire to kindle and burn within our hearts.  A fire to
share the Gospel and to remember our brother and sisters here in QP, and to many others who are yet to accept
you as their Lord and Savior.  Amen.

Cecil Hart 28 July 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




Saturday July 29 2006

Our group awoke around 2:30 or 2:45 a.m. this morning to the loud sounds of a honking truck outside
our rooms. Any other morning, most of us would have been irritated to be disturbed so early in the
morning, but all was well at the top of the hill because we were planning on getting up at 3:00 a.m. to
pack our sleeping bags and load up the jeeps to head back to LaPaz.  We ate a quick breakfast:
granola bars, grits, oatmeal, and coffee around 3:20.  We said our good byes to those who got up
early to bid us farewell.  Dr. Patricia was very emotional when saying good bye to our group.  She
grew very close to us and loved having us in QP.  She is the doctor who works in the clinic there in QP,
which is part of her rotations that are required for doctors to complete in Bolivia.  Everyone loaded up
in the jeeps and we pulled out of QP around 3:50 a.m. …. 10 minutes earlier than planned due to our
early rise.  There were 7 in our jeep: Dr. Roberto, Brooks, Ben Ho, Ruth Naomi, the 2 Wesley boys –
John and Nathan, and myself.  Our jeep was the leader of the pack.  We made very good time on the first
leg of the trip, which was the bumpy, dirt road part.  It only took us three hours to get past the rough part,
then it was smooth sailing on the paved roads….or so we thought.  It wasn’t long until a couple of the jeeps
behind us radioed us on the walkie talkies to tell us that they were pretty low on gas and some of their
“low fuel” lights had come on.  Ben Ho insisted we keep going until the next big town with a gas station. 
About 30 minutes later, we realized none of the other jeeps were behind us. The vehicle known as “the
Metro” had given out.  This was Blake, Regina, and Dr. Jimmy J’s jeep.  Once our jeep arrived at a gas
station, Dr. Smalley’s jeep (known as the “humble luxury mobile”) informed us that “the metro” had given
out and another jeep was attempting to tow them.  Brooks and Ben Ho filled up a gas can and headed to
rescue “the metro.”  They successfully rescued “the metro” and the rest of the pack met up with us. 
We were then given the name “the runaway mobile” and Smalley’s jeep was now “Runaway 2.”  We
decided not to stop in Auruo for lunch and to press on to LaPaz because we seemed to be making pretty
good time.  There was lots of radio discussion during the last leg of our journey….most being quite
humorous.  Some were not so easily entertained and went on what we call “radio silence.”  The jokes
between Blake, Jimmy, and Smalley kept everyone laughing and helped pass the time to LaPaz. Once
we finally entered LaPaz, we realized it was going to be a challenge getting to our hotel.  A festival of
folk music and dancing was taking place throughout the city which caused most of the downtown streets
to be blocked off.  After finding an alternate route around all the festivities, we finally made it to our
hotel.,“El Presidente.”  Everyone was thankful to be at our nice hotel and excited about a hot shower,
good food, and a comfortable bed.  Everyone did their own thing for dinner and most everyone went to
bed pretty early.  Everyone was exhausted from the long day of traveling.  It was good to be safely in
LaPaz.  We are very thankful for a safe day of travel and a week full of blessings in QP.  We have so
much to be thankful for!

Alice Anne Yarbrough  7/29/06

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday July 30, 2006

8:00 a.m. Everyone enjoyed the showers at the “El Presidente.”  Some ran out of hot water. 
I think everyone took longer showers today.


8:30 a.m. Breakfast was great.  We ate at the hotel.  After breakfast the team went shopping in LaPaz
for native hand crafts. The San Francisco Church was close to the hotel.  It was something to
see, Murillos Museum has a great coffee shop at the museum.
            Some of the team went back to the hotel for lunch.  Some ate in the market.  Lama was the
special of the day.
1:30 p. m. Went on a bus ride to “Tiwanaku,” only about 10 went.  It was market
day so we had a lot of traffic in the city.  The bus broke down; only took about 30 minutes and we were
back on the road.  We walked around Tiwanaku for 2 hours, and went back to the hotel El Presidente
for dinner.  Then we went to bed for an early flight.

 

 

Monday July 31, 2006

A late dinner (10:00 p.m.) and an early rise at 2:00 a. m. equal a long day.  The whistle blew around
1:45 a. m. Monday morning and we started making our way to the “C” level restaurant for another
great El Presidente breakfast.  No country ham but still great once you mastered the recipe for the
waffle.  As we finished breakfast and started meandering down to the lobby, always efficient Blake
and Keith had the bus loaded so we started for the LaPaz International.  Of course we were so efficient
we arrived at the airport before the gate was unlocked and the driver had to lay on the horn to get the
guards attention.  Once on the airport grounds we proceeded to the terminal with the stated objective
of “Beating the bikers and hikers,” which we did.  Eventually some American Airline employees showed
up and started to check our baggage, which went very smooth and were able to go to the departure
terminal for our last shopping exposure at the duty free shop.  Baily Brooks got called out over the
P. A. System for some illicit baggage item, which turned out to be a ghost image of his conquistador
helmet rather than an antiquity.  Too bad Brooksie, you almost made the headliner.  I promise we
would have visited you next year.  Dawn breaks and we board the plane for the short flight to Santa Cruz.
  After taking on more fuel, we are soon back in the air for an uneventful, but long, flight to Miami.  After
clearing customs, gathering the boxes and bags it was on to Atlanta where Glen Glover and Rod Welbaum
waited (actually we waited on them) to drive us back to Auburn.  We arrived at AUMC around midnight
to a large welcoming group of family and friends, bringing to a successful end QP20.  A full and fulfilling
10 days.

Cecil M. Yarbrough 7/31/2006          

 

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