An Update...Kind Of

Looks like we won't be flying back with John. Received an email outlining the issues that the guy from the Embassy has to take into account before he gives his recommendation to the State Dept. regarding the evacuation status. The recommendation is due next week, with the status order due on the 12th.

Issues our Embassy has to consider ~

1. President Morales has called for a massive protest on October 13 in La Paz, with the purpose of circling the Congress on October 15 to force the Congress to pass a law calling for a referendum on the government's draft constitution. Observers predict a situation such as occurred before, with possible clashes between opposition congress members attempting to enter the Congress and pro-government groups preventing entrance. Can you imagine that happening in the U.S. or Canada? The president or prime minister asking people to physically hold Congress or Parliament hostage to get his/her way? Wow.

2. October 17 marks the anniversary of ex-President Lozada's resignation and could prompt protests aimed at the Embassy as happened last year. Lozada is presently in the States.

3. There is a possibility that backlash from President Bush’s decision to suspend trade benefits for Bolivia could prompt anti-U.S. protests sometime in the next couple of months. The decision was announced in Bolivia on September 25 but it hasn't been finalized. If factories in El Alto begin to close, the Embassy could be a target for frustrated Bolivians.

I cut and pasted some of the info above, adding a few of my own comments so it's somewhat plagiarized but somewhat not. If it sounds intelligent, that's not me! Ha! Bottom line, we're not likely to be cleared to return until the end of October at best. Prayers please!

Lisette flew off to DC today for Bethany's birthday. Nicole was home sick this afternoon with a nasty sore, red throat. I stopped at a bookstore on my way home from the airport but then spent my evening watching the debate. My opinion - they both did very well. No surprises, I actually paid attention to most of it, got a tiny bit bored at a few parts but overall it was pretty much what you expect to hear from them and they both held their own.