Centellas Fishing Contest

EVeryone up for a Centellas fishing contest? Last year we all had a great time fishing and catching not only some bluegills, but also some pretty good sized bass and some good pictures and videos. Let's have three categories: first fish caught, largest fish, and best fishing snapshot or video. All in?
Can't wait to see everyone this June.
Check out Miguel's site to see some new pics of Javi and his christening. He looks so much like Miguel at the same age.
Congratulations to Andres and Saloumeh who will both be getting their Masters on the 31st. Andres was nominated for the business student of the year.
Looking forward also to a car race from Midland again this year. The 15th? Sam is looking for some courageous passengers. We must all be there with plenty of sun block!
This may be my last blog on this site. The members are quickly and quietly fading away, stale coffee or just plain busy life styles. So I need to talk to Sam about doing something else....
Seeing most of you soon! Comment if you read this and let me know what you think abou the contest. Everyone get your poles ready! Grandpa may have to get a couple of poles for some young ladies we know who are eager to get a line in the water.

Centellas Fishing Contest

Just had a 'great?' idea. I'm getting really excited about getting up to Gladwin and seeing the family. I think we can hold the first annual Centellas fishing contest. Let's see, we need some categories: first fish caught, largest fish, and best fishing picture. So get your cameras and poles ready. I think Novali and Raquel would have won two of the categories for sure last year. Novali had a great fishing video and Raquel, I think, got the largest fish. Can't remember who got the first one. Maybe I did?????
This may be my last blog on this site. Got to talk to Sam about updating or redoing. Most of the sites here are all but retired. Andy's coffee is getting stale, Raquel hasn't the time and Miguel has moved. And I bet people are wondering about Oscar??? So time to re-do or move out, I'm thinking.
Daniel just finished up a tennis tourament. 4th place....lost his first game (to an 18 year old) so that moved him down in his ranking....
Everyone check out MIguel's site; some great pictures of Javi's Christening. Leave a comment so I know you read this and tell me what you think about a fishing contest.

Counting the Days

It is now less than 30 days before our trip to the States. So we are starting to think about what we need to get done before we go and thinking about what we'll need to take.
I have had to get a new passport; mine is tied up in Bolivian immigration. That item had to get checked off first. Still don't have the passport but it should come in a week or so.
Next on the list is my teeth. The dental chair is a torture chamber and I reluctantly climbed in today and got sentence - that I already suspected. So that will take some time until I suffer enough at the hands of Dr. Drill.
Just before we leave, our church is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Daniel and I are both busy with that. Daniel, of course, working hard to see that the renovations are completed on time. We are still waiting for a few tiles to be laid.
In the meantime I am helping with the children's activities and women. The floor tiles came in nice size boxes. Do any of you remember the diarama you made in school? The 3-d stories made in shoe boxes? Using the empty tile boxes we have challenged the children to make a Bible story scene. WE are awarding 3 prizes according to age groups and the boxes will be on display for the anniversay celebration. (Of course, I had to make one as a sample, and that took all of one day - a great excuse not to clean house!) Today Daniel and I went out to look for prizes. EAch child will also get a small token prize just for entering. I really enjoy doing fun things with the children! I usually teach Sunday school about one or two Sundays a month when any of the teachers has to work or cannot be there.
With the ladies group we have made little momentos for the anniversary. I was able to find miniature clay pots that we have decorated with silver ribbon and an anniversary announcement.At our last meeting we made 100 of these little favors to be given at the celebration which is June 1.
This Sunday with the ladies we will be going out into the homes of the neighborhood with a tract and an invitation to attend church. The church, by the way, is looking really nice, we a new floor and entrance - very inviting.
Daniel is busy with his stamp collection, working on it most nights while we watch TV. I have been busy putting together three books for my grandchildren. Two are finished. Yet, I think I'll want Miguel's help to make them more published looking if we have time this vacation. (Thanks, Miguel)
Swimming has been postponed for a week due to cold weather. It has been in the 60's for quite a few days and the water is too cold. I have worked up to 30 laps!
Thanks for reading this long blog.

Referendum Vote, May 4

Sorry on that last blog couldn't get the photos in. Seems our computer needed some work and we'll try again. But for now, just want to add some notes on the referendum note for anyone who is following Bolivia's political situation.

Yesterday, Sunday was the vote. Elections are usually held on Sundays since it is a non-work day for most. Everyone was to stay home, bars and licore stores closed 48 hours before, it was illegal to port arms or weapons and everyone was to stay in their neighborhoods and walk to the polls. Daniel walked about a mile to our polling site, waited in line to sign in, be given his papaer balots, be fingerprinted as a sign of presenting himself to vote and then place his ballot in the cardboard box. It is interesting here that voting is not just considered a prililege, but a very solemn duty. Some banks and public institutions do not want to wait on people the day following the vote if your finger is not ink-tainted as a sign that the person had voted.
Well, the refererdum passed. There was very little violence and what did ocur was in a couple of places that had been anticipated as there was a strong leadership of MAS (Socialists Movement Party which is the ruling party in La Paz.) During the voting the President played soccer, having declared this election illegal. Actually it is NOT illegal, but that, of course, depends on your interpretation of the Constitution. However, I must add that the international press has pretty much sided with the La Paz or Evo's version of the events. MUch of the information is distorted and even in many cases just plainly NOT TRUE.
So now we'll have to see how the Central governemnt deals with this. NOw they MUST negociate.
For those of you who are unsure of what the voting was about. Santa Cruz WAS NOT voting to be independent of, or succeed from the Nation. It was voting to have some of what we in the US would call 'States Rights" which they do NOt currently have.
Not only is Santa Cruz calling for this, but four other states - here we call them 'departamentos' have already scheduled their vote for this same autonomy. This vote in Santa Cruz was the first and probably the most important since Santa Cruz is such a large and economically powerful departamento. It produces 40% of all the nations per capita income and goods.
If you want more information, read Miguel's blog mcentellas.com. For me, it was an interesting day. I'm thankful there was so little violence.
I proudly wore my 'autonomia' T shirt that evening as we went out to church.