Carnaval

This weekend Bolivia celebrates its version of carnaval.   Lets just say its a once in a lifetime experience that I embraced and have checked off my life list.  Oruro is where the main celebration takes place and everyone since the day I have arrived in Bolivia has told me that I had to go. Of course none of them wanted to accompany me to the great celebration, so I booked a day tour to insure a safer journey.

For historical details on Oruro's Carnaval see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnaval_de_Oruro . Basically its a endless parade of dancers that make there way to a church where they enter kneeling and pray to the virgin.  The costumes are elaborate and colorful, the dancing left more to be desired, but I guess if I were asked to dance for 5k I would also come up with simple steps.  The first few hours were great, but after 10 well, I was done. Plus half of the "fun" was an ongoing water fight between the bleacher sections. Lucky me to be sitting on the edge, so I was pelted with half full (aka hard) water balloons for ten hours.  I almost picked a fight with the supremely annoying Irish guy behind me,  but I kept peace.  There is nothing that gets under my skin more than foreigners who play the "foreigner card" and ignore local social norms, as in don't throw balloons while dancers pass, wait for the break.  I mean sure, I play that card, but usually it doesn't offend the majority (sneaking into five star hotels to use their pool) and it most defiantly has never caused someone to get hit by a water balloon.  

The trip came to an eye opening end. When we were dropped off in downtown La Paz, three blocks from my house, I witnessed two women being beaten by their spouses/boyfriends/men.  I have almost grown accustomed to seeing violence here, since almost daily I see someone loose their temper and hit something or yell at someone.  But this made me feel so helpless since there wasn't anything I could do but say a silent prayer and run up to my house.  To get involved would mean that I would likely get beaten, by the man or even the woman- since its "none of my business" and  calling the police would be equally as pointless.  The saying here "if he loves me he hits me" is a norm for the majority.  Seven out of ten women in Bolivia suffer from abuse.  Next month domestic violence is the topic we will be discussing in the churches we are working with, hoping to break the silence on this epidemic.  Hoping that churches would be a voice against violence and become safe havens for victims as well as help to abusers.  My heart breaks to think about the two women I saw a few nights ago, thinking how many nights they are beaten, yelled at or raped. 

My heart breaks at the problems I have seen and feel that there are so few answers.  Seeing so much evil- pure evil,  while a times debilitating, it has also renewed my hope and belief in The Good that exists. Complete Good that will ultimately overtake evil and daily restores the broken.  The idea of working for peace has been in my meditations lately. Peace is hard work and not just a simple wish. Work that can be heart breaking and devastating, but ultimately what else is there to stand up for if not for peace? Is not peace a product of love? If we simply just wish, we throw away the chances of true change, we throw away what True Love calls us to do- to act and work for peace, even with a silent prayer.