Bolivia boasts yet another superlative, which in my opinion is not to be missed. I spent five days acclimatizing in La Paz, took a three-day trip to Lake Titicaca, returned to La Paz to meet my Global Builders team with The Fuller Center for a week, then flew from La Paz to Uyuni and back … Continue reading
Do we have the same memory from middle school? Learning that there was such a place called Ti-ti-ca-ca, a combination of words too hilarious to be uttered together? Many years later, I paid a visit to this very intriguing place with a laughable name. It feels a world away from La Paz, where I’d been … Continue reading
Once again, leading a Global Builders team with The Fuller Center for Housing, took me overseas, this time to Bolivia. I live near sea level, so landing straight away at an elevation over 13,000 feet at La Paz’s El Alto Airport was an adjustment to say the least. Bolivia is not an easy destination for … Continue reading
Having never been to Bolivia, I figured building houses alongside families in need of affordable shelter was a great reason to get me there. This would be my second time leading a team for The Fuller Center for Housing, also in South America. I had a rather large team, full of experienced builders and travelers. … Continue reading
For those of us who love to travel the world helping families in need of decent homes, OH HOW WE HAVE MISSED IT! The pandemic has been hard on us all, but perhaps no one has felt its detrimental effects more acutely than the world’s hard-working poor. Thanks to the reopening of The Fuller Center … Continue reading
Unquestionably one of the greatest experiences of my life. Definitely the greatest physical challenge of my life. I regret nothing but I would not do it again! Hiking the Inca Trail is not for everyone and I don’t know why I chose to see Machu Picchu this way. There are easier ways. Perhaps after being … Continue reading
After finishing another successful volunteer house build with The Fuller Center for Housing, I was fortunate to extend my stay in Peru. If you plan to visit Machu Picchu while in Peru, most likely your jumping off point will be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Western Hemisphere and the former capital … Continue reading
It had been 18 long months since I built houses overseas, and nearly as long since I had left the United States. WAY too long for me. I had been leading volunteer teams abroad to partner with families in need of decent shelter with Habitat for Humanity—two or three times a year! You can imagine … Continue reading
Lima is known for many things, perhaps best as the gastronomic capital city of South America. Given some advance warning, you can try to get reservations at some of the hottest foodie destinations anywhere. I flew into Lima just one day in advance of meeting my Global Builders team, 15 volunteers who would be building houses with me and The Fuller Center for Housing. Without a lot of time to get to know this enchanting seaside city, I could only check a few items off my list. Guess that means I’ll have to come again! Here are a few highlights that I highly recommend and the ones I would have done if I’d had more time. Continue reading
Chile, the longest country in the world, is incredibly diverse topographically and culturally. There is so much to enjoy. The primary reason for my visit was a Global Village build with Habitat for Humanity in Santiago, but I was fortunate to be able to also visit the Atacama and Rapa Nui (Easter Island) while I … Continue reading
Global Staci 