Day 1
My travels started out on Saturday with a sudden thunderstorm at LaGuardia Airport. Because of the weather ALL flights were suddenly canceled leading to lots of airport chaos among passengers and baggage. I gathered my belongings and headed back to Sharon's apartment for the night.

My enthusiastic and patient friends met me and the M60 bus back in front of Teachers College with welcome signs--complete with cheering and hugs. I then learned how to make an international call to Bolivia as I needed to call Dan-the-volunteer-coordinator and let him know of my delay. FYI: To dial up Cochabamba Bolivia, you need to dial 011 + 591+ 4+ the seven digit number.

After some delicious brownies, a good movie and another round of hide-the-duck (Sharon stop trying to pretend that you don't like that game) I fell asleep for one more night in the city.

Day 2
This doesn't look like Bolivia! I woke up in NYC and spent my extra day here walking around Central Park...thank you, Beth (the stroll was lovely). I repacked my bags and per the recommendation of a friend tried to lighten the load in my checked bag. I managed to get rid of one book and a box of markers, lowering the weight by .5 pounds--(I tried to lessen it I just really couldn't!)

The family mass across the street at Corpus Christi was sparsely attended (summer months) but the message at the end of the Gospel was robust!-- Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. (Mt: 9:36) I am keeping this in the back of my mind as I prepare for my trip South.

My airport woes of yesterday seemed to be just the tip of the iceberg. Tonight's flight into Miami was first delayed an hour, then two hours, then 3 hrs. 15 min.! (Mechanical troubles) Needless to say, I missed my connection in Miami to La Paz meaning that I will again not wake up in Bolivia. (Gee!)

A very patient and kind American Airlines agent (Ruby was her name) helped me out by getting a new flight out of Miami to La Paz for tomorrow night as well as vouchers galore--hotel & food for my long layover in Miami. As I watched Ruby interact with angry passengers I noticed her stopping every few minutes to turn around and exclaim under her breath: "Oh Lord, help me Jesus." These were some UPSET customers and Ruby managed to smile and do what she could to help without dishing back the anger and nasty tone of voice that was being thrown at her. When she could do no more for someone's situation Ruby said: "I'll pray for you." And I think she meant it, I think that was Ruby's way of giving away what she has received in her life--just a hunch.

I got into Miami around 1 am and found my way to the Comfort Inn via Pedro's airport shuttle. Since my flight does not leave until 11pm tomorrow it seems as though I might have a bit of time on my hands to explore Miami. We'll see what comes to mind in the morning. As of right now (3am), some final thoughts...

It sounds scary to think of giving at all costs no matter what the cost--giving of money, resources, (hotel vouchers?), love, prayer, time--as we give this stuff away how can we not help but think "what am I going to get back from all of this?" But that seems to be just it....the cyclicality (yes I made that word up) of the phrase: receive & give, receive & give, etc. I think of how many blessings I have received in my life: starting with my family, my good health, my education at Boston College and now Teachers College, my many friends who are constantly challenge me and stretch me, and then there's the life changing experiences I encountered at Red Cloud. With so much on the receiving end I feel like I really need to work hard to "give it back!" Learning the Spanish language and accompanying the people of Cochabamba for a summer will allow me to share the blessings of my life with a new culture, a new group of people--yet all under the same faith. (Rose, reminds me of our song: "We are many parts....we are all one body....and the gifts we have....we are given to share....may the spirit of love....make us ONE indeed..." That's just the thing as we give and receive we all work toward the same ONE goal...PEACE with each other, PEACE for each other and PEACE to our God.

I don't think everyone felt at PEACE with Ruby's response to their travel dilemmas, but people aren't always going to understand or approve with how we see it best to "give back." (For the record, I graciously accept Ruby's gift of food and lodging, and most importantly, the prayer.)