Misión Bolivia La Paz

• Mission address and phone number
• Mission map
• Missionary blogs
• Facebook groups
• LDS Mission t-shirts and gifts
• List of past mission presidents
• Cultural articles written by returned missionaries
• Survey with RMs

*Other Mission Pages: Bolivia LDS Missions.

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Bolivia La Paz Mission Address

Here’s a recent address for the La Paz Mission. We try our best to keep this information up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the mission address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.

Bolivia La Paz Mission Map

Here’s a link to the mission map for the La Paz Mission (LDS). To access an official, up-to-date LDS.org map for the La Paz Mission, simply

1. Log into your LDS account here.
2. Click here.

Bolivia La Paz Missionary Blogs

Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the La Paz Mission. This blog list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their mission blog was updated.

*Send your missionary a gift (mission-specific shirts, ties, Christmas stockings/ornaments, pillowcases, etc.)

Elder & Sister Lyon	elderandsisterlyon.blogspot.com	2016
Elder & Sister Dibbs	dibbsenlasmontanas.blogspot.com	2013
Flickr Group	flickr.com/groups/lapazmission	2008

Bolivia La Paz Mission Groups

Here are Bolivia La Paz Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the La Paz Mission.

1. Mision Bolivia La Paz Facebook Group (1,672 members)
2. Mision Bolivia La Paz Facebook Group (316 members)
3. Excamaradas de la Mision La Paz Group (230 members)
4. Mision Bolivia La Paz… Facebook Group (129 members)
5. Mision Bolivia La Paz Facebook Group (126 members)
6. La Paz Mission Reunion with the Birnbaumers Group (61 members)
7. La Paz Bolivia Mission Facebook Group (41 members)
8. La Paz Mission Moms and Friends (LDS) Group (2 members)

Bolivia La Paz Mission T-Shirts

Here are T-shirts for the Bolivia La Paz Mission!

Shirt designs include Bolivia La Paz Mission logo/emblem shirts and Called to Serve shirts. The shirts make great gifts for pre-missionaries, returned missionaries and missionaries currently serving. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL.  The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you.

*Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: Bolivia La Paz missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.

*Click here to browse La Paz Mission gifts

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Bolivia La Paz Mission Presidents

Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the La Paz LDS Mission.

1. 2016-2019, Fabian I. Vallejo
2. 2013-2016, Julian Alonso Palacio

Bolivia LDS Statistics (2015)

• Church Membership: 192,339
• Missions: 4
• Temples: 1
• Congregations: 253
• Family History Centers: 34

Helpful Articles about Bolivia

Coming soon..

Bolivia La Paz Missionary Survey

Here are survey responses from La Paz RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.

*Click here to take a survey to help pre-missionaries going to your mission.

When did you serve?

• 2001-2003 (Clayton)
• 2000-2002 (Rex)
• 1997-1999 (Jana)
• 1997-1999 (Dave)
• 1995-1997 (Jeff)
• 1995-1997 (Jacob)
• 1994-1996 (Brent)
• 1987-1989 (Kirby)
• 1979  [18 months] (Collette)
• 1970-1972 (Ned)

What cities/areas did you serve in?

• La Paz (Sion) – El Alto (Huayna Potosi) – Oruro (Terminal) – El Alto (Satelite) – La Paz (Calacoto). (Clayton)
• La Paz and Cobija. (Rex)
• Orruro, Cobija, mira flores, 2 others in La paz. (Jana)
• La paz, Cobija, Guayaramarin, Satélite, Mira flores, IV Centenary & Constitution. (Dave)
• La Paz(Calacoto, Sopocachi, Pampahasi, Miraflores, Alto San Pedro), San Borja, Trinidad. (Jeff)
• 1.Viacha 2.El Alto (12 de Octubre Ward) 3.Yacuiba 4.San Borja 5.Trinidad(District Leader) 6.La Paz (Sopocachi ward – Zone Leader). (Jacob)
• La Paz, Tupiza, Tarija. (Kirby)
• La Paz rama 10, Oruro rama 3, Santa Cruz rama 2 and La Paz rama 4. (Ned)

What were some favorite foods?

• Saltenas, Plato Pacena, and Charquekan. (Clayton)
• It’s been a while, I can’t remember the names of all the dishes. Most of the home cooked food isn’t that great. A lot of boiled potatoes, (El Alto is like Idaho). I thought chunyo was disgusting but other missionaries got used to it. They had pensionistas when I served. If you’re lucky she’ll make what you want. If not she’ll make what she wants and pocket some of the stipend. The street food was good, salchi papas, tucumanas, etc. There were some American restaurants in downtown La Paz and the wealthy East part of town. In the jungle area a cup of cold grape soda was amazing on hot days. (Rex)
• Spicy chicken. Carrot tea. (Jana)
• Salteñas, Salchipapas, Malraquetas & Cuñapes. (Dave)
• Sajta, lomo montado, chicharron de chancho, salteñas, mangoes, llajua. (Jeff)
• Papas a la huancaina, pica lo macho, ají de lengua, ajar de pansa, Chico con huevo frito. (Jacob)
• Pollo al carbón, Salteñas, Tucumanas, Kalapurka – Potosí, Yerba mate, Api (Brent)
• Chunno. (Kirby)
• Liquid yogurt in a soft plastic pouch, Hot Chicha, I think it is called thick purple or cream drink. (Collette)
• Chicken (Ned)

What was a funny experience?

• The people are all kind of funny. They love to smile. They’re very simple. They love jokes and they love to make jokes. They love to laugh. It’s funny, they have a holiday that celebrates when they’ll take back their ocean from Peru. The Peruvian missionaries have to be careful that day. The story of how they lost it is also funny and a sign they’re probably Lamanite descendants. (Rex)
• Washed laundry when in Orruro, lined dried. Next morning, they were frozen in the position they hung in. (Jana)
• Eating the first Salteña. (Dave)
• First day there, asked a very humble family if I could use their bathroom, was escorted by one of their children to an empty lot behind a mud brick wall. (Jeff)
• The time we were chased by an apparently rabid dog. Terrifying at the time but I laughed hysterically afterwards. (Brent)
• Hiring a taxi for our PDay to travel around exploring, we were 4 sisters. Paid very little. One of the sisters kept trying to take control of the steering wheel from the driver as she was afraid the car would go over the cliff. Funny but scary. (Collette)

 

What was a crazy experience?

• Every night walking the streets of El Alto and avoiding rabid dogs. (Clayton)
• If you see a pack of wild dogs just reach down for a rock and usually they’ll leave you alone. You might also see a few crazy drunks and domestic abuse. It’s hard to know what the right way to intervene is. Even if you win the battle you could make the war worse for the victim. Those are situations I wish I was more prepared for. (Rex)
• A drunk pulling a knife on us. (Dave)
• The miners were rioting in La Paz and fighting with police, throwing large rocks and dynamite. The police were using tear gas and the whole city was hazy from it; our eyes, noses, and groats burned from it anytime we went outside. There were other even crazier experiences, but I won’t share those here in case your mom is reading. 😉 (Jeff)
• Riding a Micro with one foot in the bus and the other dangling because it was so full. (Jacob)
• Carnavales involves a lot of intoxicated individuals. Our mission president had us stay inside as districts/zones that week to keep us off the streets. Travel in Bolivia involves some very treacherous, heart stopping roads through the mountains. (Brent)
• Going through a civil war. We were stuck out of our area after having been down to the mission office and could not return back to the Altiplano in Alto Lima. An up roar by uni students blocking the road with big rock boulders. The miners came in from the mines and threw some dynamite and planning on throwing more. We were not allowed home till the president said it was all clear which was a week later. We had not change of clothes or food and ate little that the other sisters had but we were prepared for evacuating La Paz if needed to. But when the elders came to visit during the curfew to get photos of all what was going on, a tank pointed its gun at the window while we were at the window getting photos. The leader of the military group knocked at the front door and 4 military men pushed their way in with their rifles then went to each one of us demanding our films to be given to him and to destroy them. We were ever so scared. (Collette)
• Riding a colective on the Las yungas sud road on a paseo. (Ned)

What was a spiritual experience?

• The Lord will guide you if you let him and if you don’t get prideful. Be diligent in your studies, ponder, pray, be good to your companion, and every day will be a spiritual experience. Watching general conference will be better for you than a football fan watching the super bowl. You will receive real time revelation that will help you and the people you serve. (Rex)
• I didn’t have the opportunity to proselytize much. But, one time in the middle of nowhere outside Cobija in La selva, we spoke with an extremely intelligent lady who I know will one day join the church. The Spirit was strong, the language rolled off our tongues fluently. The love in the room was profound. (Jana)
• Every day. (Dave)
• The best parts of my mission were just teaching with the Spirit. Better and more fulfilling than a million fun stories, and I was able to experience this almost every day. The Book of Mormon is particularly meaningful to these people, and it was always amazing to see them realize its significance. (Jeff)
• Every time I got to teach about Joseph Smith’s first vision. Visiting Tiahuanacu knowing it was the city of Nephi (2 Nephi 5) as revealed by President Kimball. (Jacob)
• Too many to list here. I loved so much of my mission and so many of the people I met. My testimony increased in leaps and bounds while there. I loved visiting Tiahuanacu when Elder Holland came to visit our mission. (Brent)
• Being a Welfare sister and not able to have baptisms, I was able to line up some baptisms of Deaf people by interpreting the proselyting discussions in sign language to the investigator and I was given the gift of hands to interpret 🙂 (Collette)
• In Santa Cruz Rama 2. Hna. Justiniano, a grandmother, had a dream of eating corn, as I recall, that was delicious, the night before her baptism. (Ned)

What are some interesting facts about the La Paz Mission?

• Highest mission in the world. (Clayton)
• I haven’t kept up on the political history since I left, but from what I hear it’s interesting. I’m almost not sure this survey will help because for a while at least they weren’t even taking white missionaries there anymore. (Rex)
• We spent more time trying to find all the inactive members then anything else. (Jana)
• One of the highest in the world. (Dave)
• Very few American missionaries, at least when I was there. The mission is split between very high altitude with a cold and dry climate in the western half, and a very hot and humid climate in the Amazon jungle in the eastern half. In the altiplano, around La Paz and to the south toward Oruro and Potosí, over 300 varieties of potatoes are cultivated. You’ll see them all laid out in the markets.  (Jeff)
• There were 2 missions when I was there, La Paz and Cochabamba. La Paz mission consisted of the western departments and Cochabamba the eastern. In 1996 when President Rolando Oyola joined us, the boundaries changed dividing the country north and south. I was under the feeling that it was in anticipation of a new mission. (Jacob)
• Tiahuanacu has pre-Incan ruins. Many people outside of the city speak Quechua and Aymara. The altitude in La Paz is very high, making it the highest country capital in the world. (Brent)
• Approx 720 people were baptized in one month after a commitment was made by the missionaries to the Mission President. Taking an hour to make the descent to the mission home for a shower on P Days as it was in the middle of the huge bowl and we were in Alto Lima. Hundreds of children with white crosses in the cemetery. Many died from parents giving them chemist bought medicine for diahrrea but it killed off the white blood cells and them also. They sold this medicine believing it must be good as it was from overseas, not knowing the person needed to be monitored in hospital whilst taking it. (Collette)

What was the weather like?

• The weather was either sunny and hot; sunny with freezing winds or rainy and cold. (Clayton)
• Cold to the bone winters. Hardly any snow. During the rainy season the hillside areas have flash rivers. Otherwise it’s hot. We were allowed to were hats and sunglasses for protection. Sometimes the hats made me think of Indiana Jones. (Rex)
• In the Alti-Plano, you would wake up and it be freezing. Around lunch time, all the layers you were wearing, are now tied around your waste. Late afternoon, it would down pour, be windy and gray. The evenings, the temperature would drop again, and drop so cold it froze pipes and anything left outside. It was like having 3 or 4 seasons in one day. My skin was so dark. Had such tan lines from the sun mid-day. (Jana)
• La Paz – sun burns and dry. Jungle – humid. (Dave)
• High, dry, and cold to the west, low, hot, and humid to the east. (Jeff)
• Cold. In El Alto, there was pretty much no shelter from the wind if you were outside. (Jacob)
• Mostly chilly to cold and dry. There is a rainy season but it is short. (Brent)
• Cold at times. (Kirby)
• It was cold most times in 1979 as there were not a lot of houses on the Altiplano. Us missionaries did not have bikes or cars, we walked everywhere except when going to La Paz central when we caught the local bus. (Collette)
• Cold at nights in La Paz and Oruro, and very humid and sweety in Santa Cruz, especially during the days. Lots of rain during the rainy seaaon everywhere. (Ned)

Any things you really like about the area/people?

• You will not find a more humble people than in the Altiplano of Bolivia. All were willing to give the little they had in their homes to visitors. (Clayton)
• A lot of them have so little yet their faith is so strong. They’re simple and humble. I had a lot to learn from them. (Rex)
• Kindness. Big hearts. Good and bad people existed. (Jana)
• The humility of the people. (Dave)
• Very loving, open people. (Jeff)
• The people were very friendly and loving. (Jacob)
• Very humble people who were usually very accepting of us. They are amazing people to get to know. Loved the country and geographic diversity there. (Brent)
• They were very humble and accepted the gospel easily. Many however were converted to the missionaries but things did begin to change slightly before I finished the mission. They had very little and loved making new friends. The areas I served varied in cleanliness but were interesting to visit and work there. (Collette)
• Santa Cruz was really beautiful. The people were very humble and friendly. I felt very blessed to serve among the some of the purest Lamanites. (Ned)

Any packing/clothing advice?

• Scarves; sweaters and thick soled shoes. (Clayton)
• Don’t get shirts that are tight around the neck. Get good dress shoes that are comfortable and durable enough for hiking. Your suit coat will wear out, it’s OK to buy a new one. Remember who you’re representing. You don’t have to pack a two year supply of toothpaste and deodorant. They actually sell that stuff there (that comes from an Internet rumor that was floating around when I left). It was nice that I didn’t have to buy much, but it made transfers unnecessarily heavy. (Rex)
• Hard to say, in the Andes, sweaters, leggings, long sleeves, warm shoes, adjusted skirts. I had to cut mine to my knees. When you walked around, it was so steep, you’d step on the front of your skirt. In the jungle, lots of thin shirts. I only owned 2 summer dresses. Still wore skirts from the cold. Didn’t matter, you’d shower 2x a day. Unless, it flooded. Then it didn’t matter what you were wearing anywhere. (Jana)
• Good shoes! (Dave)
• Bring sweaters to wear over your white shirt and under your suit coat. And long garments and warm socks for sleeping. (Jeff)
• Plenty of sweaters. Also shoes like Doc Martens, you will not want slick soles, especially when it rains. (Jacob)
• A warm sweater, water resistant overcoat, hat, gloves, and warm socks. (Brent)
• Do not pack shoes from home. Purchase them in Bolivia their shoes are very comfy and cheap as are clothes from the markets. Bring a heavy woolen coat from home as it gets cold. You could purchase a poncho or jumper in Bolivia made from Alpaca wool, that is warm also. (Collette)
• Make sure you have halazone pills to help purify water. Rain jacket if you can get it in your suitcase. (Ned)

What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?

• Healthy lungs. (Clayton)
• Countless. It’s one of the best learning experiences you’ll ever have, next to marriage and children. (Rex)
• An understanding that sometimes God does leave you in the darkness of times to see what your reactions will be. An understanding that God does know what He is doing and what is happening anywhere in the world, despite the confusion, horror, fear, misunderstanding, etc. you may feel. (Jana)
• Tuberculosis. (Dave)
• In one word: Experience. (Jeff)
• A strong testimony and gratitude for the comforts we usually take for granted here in the United States. (Jacob)
• The experience in Bolivia was amazing. Meeting people of a different culture. Seeing people change their lives. My testimony was strengthened. (Brent)
• Being an asthmatic and not able to run in my life, was able to run kilometers with no problem, such a blessing. (Collette)
• Growing up. Being more optimistic and less critical. Appreciation of the USA. Strengthening my testimony. Meeting so many good people. I am in contact with 2 Bolivian families now, one in Bolivia and one in New Hampshire, USA. (Ned)

What are some skills you gained?

• The language of course; but also learned how to love people for who they were…no matter what. (Clayton)
• Spanish. I began understanding people better, but even still working on that. Also spiritual skills. (Rex)
• How to farm in the jungle and make rice from scratch. Almost learned how to catch fish with my hands. … but not quite. Lol How to make a building on stilts, complete with mud stove. Make a house out of dirt bricks in the Andes. (Jana)
• Spanish and working with people. (Dave)
• Interpersonal, teaching, language, stress management, work ethic, leadership. (Jeff)
• Getting in front of a crowd, public speaking, bilingual. (Jacob)
• Learned Spanish. Leadership and teaching skills. (Brent)
• Another language, to sacrifice more of myself and be patient. (Collette)

What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?

• Learn phrases in Aymara. This will help you get a foot in the door. (Clayton)
• The quicker you get the language the better. Read the Book of Mormon in Spanish. (Rex)
• Going to S. America may be land of plentiful baptisms. But, it doesn’t matter how many if they fall away. … and then become future missionaries jobs to go find them all. In a ward of 200, we had a bishop, the elders and us, and about 5 congressional members. (Jana)
• Spanish. (Dave)
• Savor every day; it goes by too fast and you will never have a time like that again in your life. (Jeff)
• Memorized the discussions sooner. (Jacob)
• I wish I knew the Spanish language better before arriving in Bolivia. If going to La Paz, prepare yourself with aerobic conditioning. The high altitude is beyond punishing your first weeks there. The better your aerobic conditioning, the faster you will acclimate. (Brent)
• Don’t know. (Collette)

Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to La Paz?

• Get in shape! You will be climbing hills at nearly 13 K ft. (Clayton)
• Follow the rules. Be worthy of and seek the guidance of the Spirit in everything you do. (Rex)
• It’s nothing like growing up with the gospel in the states. Very eye opening. Local members do what they can to survive with the help of the church. Have faith. (Jana)
• I was ignorant of just how much companionship/gossip/political(leadership) issues seem to affect many missionaries. Ignore all that stuff; none of it is important. You are there to teach and bear testimony. Be a good friend to your companion, and do everything you can to avoid contention of any kind, and you will have a wonderful mission and make lasting friendships. (Jeff)
• Love the people, especially the youth and children, the parents will open up more. (Jacob)
• A mission can be an amazing experience that you will forever cherish and can be a defining period of your life. You must give 100% of yourself to the Lord’s work. (Brent)
• The Lord knows where he wants you to serve, just give it all your’ve got when you are there. You will be lifted to a higher level of spirituality whilst serving and whilst dedicating your time to doing the Lord’s work you will see blessings in yours and others lives that you serve. (Collette)
• Strengthen your testimony as much as possible. Love and serve people as much as you can. (Ned)

What was a funny language mistake?

• A companion once began a blessing with “pongo mis monos (monkeys) sobre tu cabeza”; rather than manos (hands). (Clayton)
• I prayed and I have Jesus a female pronoun. (Jana)
• Embarazado doesn’t mean your embarrassed. (Dave)
• Too many to count. You will insert your foot firmly into your mouth on many occasions. It is important to be able to laugh at yourself and not worry about it. (Jeff)
• I don’t remember if there was one, but I do remember that the locals would use sips instead of si pues and clarops instead of claro pues. When I tried using that with other spanish speaking people outside of Bolivia they had no idea what I was saying so I quickly learnt to not use it anymore. (Collette)
• Know the difference between pecho and pechuga, and embarisada and embarisoso. (Ned)