From Bolivia to the States

July 23, 2012 -- Everyone at Kaya Children was extremely excited for Ximena, our Field and Programs Director in Bolivia, and Daniel, one of the first Kaya kids, to come visit the United States! It was a very special time for all of us because it was Daniel’s first time visiting Boston and Nebraska to share his story in person and meet some of the people who have supported the work that Kaya does in Bolivia. Both Ximena and Daniel spoke at a fundraising dinner in Boston and at Bethany Lutheran Church in Nebraska. All those who heard their testimonies were moved by their open and heartfelt stories; Ximena and Daniel were also encouraged by the outpouring of love and support from the people they met. If you haven’t yet heard Daniel’s story, you can listen to it here. You can also hear the full sermon by Pastor John Eggen and Ximena’s testimony here.

Daniel and Ximena also had time to have some fun exploring Boston and Omaha during their visit. While in Boston, Daniel toured the city, visiting the major sites of the city, including Boston Commons, Quincy Market, and the North End, where he tried Italian gelato and cannolis from the infamous Mike’s Pastry. He was excited to the see the hip hop street performers’ show and was amazed by the history and the cleanliness of the city. We then hopped on the subway and made our way to Harvard Square, where Daniel received a very brief tour of the campus (he even visited the John Harvard statue) and experienced American college student life at a senior class barbeque. The next day, Dr. Chi Huang and his family took Ximena and Daniel on a whale-watching excursion; they were lucky and saw many whales that day!

While in Nebraska, Ximena and Daniel had a lot of fun visiting the Henry Doorly Zoo, where they saw so many animals they never saw before outside of books and television. They also had a blast shopping at all the big sotres like Walmart, Old Navy, and Best Buy. They were impressed by the size of the stores and the vast selection of products on the shelves. Ximena and Daniel also indulged in authentic Nebraskan cuisine, from home barbeques with some Nebraska supporters to Valentino’s, an “Italian” buffet that serves a whole range of ethnic foods. For more on Ximena and Daniel’s Nebraska visit, check out our blog here.