By: Sr. Victoria Lerin, FMM
Bolivia, the heart of Latin America is very rich in culture like every country. The northern part of Bolivia is called Pando where I am working with a population of 40,000 people of which ninety percent are Catholic.
Geographical Problem
One main difficulties I face is geographical. The province in which I live is isolated from the rest of Bolivia. Travel is long and hard, you can’t drive to La Paz (Bolivia’s Capital) unless conditions are ideal – which just doesn’t happen. And there’s not a foot of paved road.
More to Learn
This year is my fourth year here always here, enough to know the people’s culture and live with it ... though there’s always more to learn. Bolivian Culture is quite similar to our Filipino Culture especially popular Religion.
In the Rain Forest
Doing pastoral work in this environment is sometimes difficult. We often take three days trip in the surrounding jungle, making stops at the villages along the way to celebrate, perform Baptisms and organize communities. In the rain forest, people farm by slashing and burning. Most families consist of two or generations living together on small huts of about 150 square feet. Most of the huts are wood but some are made of tin because they’re more durable.
Politics
It contrast, Cobija, the main city in the province, is fairly well of. Cobija survives off politics. It has political clout beyond its population so it gets financial programs. It’s like a state capital. The city connection with politics makes working for the government extremely uncertain, at best. Anytime, a new political party is elected, every government employee is replaced. Families tend to split with deferent members in each political party so that no matter who wins the election, someone will have a job.
Beautiful Wakes
One example is the concern that Bolivians show toward each other at times of death. They have wakes after someone dies, everyone comes with coffee, sugar, candles and they collect money for the coffin. They pray all night over the body, which is buried the next day.
Need to Feel
Bolivians enjoy religious processions for this reason they want to experience religion on the human level and they want to feel it emotionally.
Youth Work
Besides, the pastoral work, in building communities, I’m also working with the youth forming them to be responsible and to be agents of positive change in the new society.
New Perspective
In many ways I’m learning a lot of things from a new perspective. Right Now, I’m where I want to be. Learning is a slow process, but people have been very patient with me.