How's your life today?

To all of you who commented on my last post, thank you for kind words and support. In an earlier post, I wrote about the animal-themed flashlights I brought for children on my adventure. Yesterday I pulled a few toucans and exotic frogs out of my pocket and shared them with these children. I also pulled out my sketch book and have been doing quick portrait sketches. They have to be short, because the children don't sit still very long.

Some of you have written and asked about donations.

I bought some diapers yesterday for the little kids, a pack of 44 Large Huggies cost 90 Bolivianos or about $12.75. The U.S. director of my program posted the following address in case anyone wants to make a contribution in which 100% will go to the orphanage.

http://amizade.org/store/donations.html and clicking "Bolivia's Millennium Cradle House."

I suppose one of the overiding thoughts I have had on the trip is how much fortune my family has had growing up in America. I have been a vociferous critic of many of our policies, an activity which is one of the blessings our citizenry enjoys. Yet, there is so much more support in America for social welfare compared to the underdeveloped world. I know we could do more when comparing us to other developed countries. Nonetheless, as a well-traveled friend and blog follower recently wrote to express perhaps how far we have come and that, once in a while, we should count our blessings."If you're feeling abused, just look around".