Bolivia

Welcome
Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Strangely, it is rich in natural resources. It has vast reserves of natural gas. The city of Potosi sits near the worlds most productive silver mine. However, the clash of cultures coupled with disastrous wars with its neighbors in the past (especially the humiliating defeat to Chile when Bolivia lost its access to the Pacific Ocean) have crippled the nation tremendously. In spite of the poverty, Bolivian people are friendly, open and receptive to the Gospel. The great need in this nation makes it an ideal place for MMI to work in.

Geography
Location: Central South America, southwest of Brazil
Area: slightly less than three times the size of Montana Terrain: rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin

History
Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825. Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in the 1980s, but leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty. Current goals include attracting foreign investment, strengthening the educational system, and continuing the privatization program.

Weather
Varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid The altitude at Curahuara and Turco is around 10,000 ft. It takes many people time to adjust to this change. If you know that altitude is a problem, you may want to come a day early to give yourself a bit more time to adjust. The weather is cool at night. Bring warm sweaters or a jacket.

Goverment
Republic with its capital being La Paz.

Economy
Bolivia, one of the poorest and least developed Latin American countries, has made considerable progress toward the development of a market-oriented economy. Successes under President Sanchez de Lozada (1993-97) included the signing of a free trade agreement with Mexico and joining the Southern Cone Common Market. His successor, Hugo Banzer Suarez has tried to further improve the country's investment climate with an anticorruption campaign.
Currency: boliviano (BOB)
Industries: mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing
Agriculture: products: soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes; timber

Project Sites

Curahuara is a city of approximately 5000 inhabitants Approximately 30 minutes SW of La Paz. It is on the main road heading from La Paz to the Chilean border. The altitude is very high in this location. It will be starting out at 14,000 ft. The temperature will be very cold and you will need to bring very warm clothes. The city houses an army base with around 700 soldiers. The town has one public clinic which we will be working in. Some of the team will be housed at the clinic. Others will be in a hotel (more information to follow). Turco is a two hour drive south of Curahuara. Slightly smaller than Curahuara the community also has a health post where we will be working. The team will be housed in a building owned by the mission society of Sister Ludmilla. It is near a public bath where the team will bathe – it will be a very interesting experience.

Santa Cruz sits at an altitude of about 1200 ft.Our host is the Prince of Peace Church andFundacion Contra El Hambre. The weather will be hot and humid from October to May and chilly and colderfrom June to September. You will need protection against mosquitoes (mosquito netting and repellant). Yellow Fever vaccination and Malaria treatmentare required for this project site.

San Juan is much like Santa Cruz. The weather will be very hot and humid. You will need to be vaccinated against Malaria and Yellow Fever. We will work with the Health Center of San Juan in various villages. Our host is the municipality of San Juan and the City Council.

Cochabamba is known as the City of the Gardens. This is a very pretty city and the weather is beautiful here. There will be a charter flight from Santa Cruz to Cochabamba.

Guardiais in the Department of Santa Cruz. The weather will be similar to Santa Cruz. We will be flying into Santa Cruz for this project. We will be working in various villages around El Torno. There will be 1 location for the surgical team.

Pailon is in the Department of Santa Cruz. Across the Rio Grande is the "Gate of the Chiquitanio," one of the most beautiful areas in the country. The weather condition is the same as in Santa Cruz. Our host will be the municipality and the municipality hospital.

Montero, known as "The Sweet Town," is the capital of sugar cane in the country. Montero is located one hour north of Santa Cruz, therefore, the weather is the same. You will get vaccinated against Yellow Fever and Malaria. Our host will be the municipal hospitals- Alfonso Gumucio Reyes.

San Ignacio de Velasco is located east of Santa Cruz and is the endo f the "Chiquitania, " where the Jesuits missions established. The weather is the same as in Santa Cruz, but during the Winter, our Summer, it gets cold from time to time. Visiting the colonial dhurches in the area will be an unforgetable experience. Our host will be the municipality and the church.

SanJose de Chiquitis is the center of the"Chiquitania" and is located four hours from the airport. One of the hiddentreasures of the "Chiquitania". and the cultural capital of the region. The weather is the same asSanta Cruz. Our host will be the municipality.