Renovations!

As many of you know, the last few months have been very busy for Casa de Amor. We have moved all of the children into two homes closer to each other, and it has been a time of transition for everyone. The kids and tias are adjusting very well, but there have been many logisitical repairs and changes that needed to be made.
Thank you so much to all of you that have prayed during this time of transition, and also to those of you have given SO generously. I am especially thankful for Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, and The Village Church Denton for your consistency in prayer, encouragement, and generosity.
We have been able to paint a few rooms in the volunteer home, replace the cement floor in the baby room, and make other general repairs to the homes. Thank you again for your love for the children at Casa de Amor! Here are a few pictures:

Sorting hundreds of shoes after the move!

Painting the volunteer house!

Friends from church came to help!

A newly planted garden!

Goodbye cement floor!

Orphan Day!

One of my favorite places in Bolivia is called Globo’s (Balloons). While I am not a huge fan of the food, the ice cream is delicious! (And half price every Tuesday!) Every year, the restaurant invites all of the orphanages of the city for a special day of free food and fun.

The line started to form early this morning, about 7:30. The kids from orphanages around the city lined up to be greeted by Polar Bears, and other unidentifiable creatures in costumes. The animals made the line bearable for the kids, and soon we were at the front of the line. For breakfast we were served cake and ice cream – this is why I love Bolivia. The kids also thought it was a good idea.

After “breakfast”, we were served Coca-Cola, and released to play on the playground. Students from Carachipampa, the school I taught at last year, came to paint faces, and were a huge hit! The kids were also allowed to play in the arcade, and volunteers walked around inserting money into the machines. More than 500 children ran around the restaurant for several hours, and I kept telling myself it would be over soon, and we would somehow find all of our children before it was over. :)

For lunch, we were generously given French fries and hamburgers, some of the best I have had in Bolivia! Most of the kids were still full from “breakfast”, but they were excited nonetheless.
By the end of the day, the decorations in the restaurant had fallen down, and the balloons were given to the children. The kids at Casa de Amor ended up with more balloons than they could fit into the car to take home!

It was a crazy day (and my purse was stolen :( ), but it was a great day for the kids to escape from the routine of everyday life. We are currently in the process of moving the babies into the girls home, so there has been a lot of transition in everyone’s lives. I am thankful for the generosity of Globo’s, and thankful for you all and your continual care, support, and prayer of the children.

Latest News at Casa de Amor

He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah17:8

In June, a wonderful team of volunteers from Orphan World Relief came to Bolivia and painted the dining room of our Boy’s Home. The bright yellow color has given life to the dining room, and makes the room feel like a home. Several of our current volunteers are very artistic, and worked together to paint a tree with hundreds of leaves. The children watched as the volunteers painted, and begged to join in painting.

As the leaves were painted, we spent time praying, and thinking about all of the people that have been involved in the children’s lives. Between mission teams, previous volunteers, child sponsors, and the many people that have prayed for the children – hundreds of people play a role in the children’s lives. An analogy began to form about the leaves on the trees, and the people the Lord has put in the life of Casa de Amor.

Over the last few months, due to surgeries, hospitalization, government mandated pay increases/ bonuses, Casa de Amor has experienced a time of trusting the Lord in our finances like never before. He has always been faithful to provide, and He has used many of YOU to do that.
We would like this mural to be a tree of remembering the Lord’s faithfulness in a tangible way. During the month of September, we  would like to memorialize the Lord’s provision by “selling” the leaves, branches, and trunk of the tree. We are so thankful for your generosity to Casa de Amor, and we would love for the children to tangibly see how many people love them.

By “buying” a leaf, branch, or trunk, you will be providing for the operating costs of Casa de Amor such as rent for the children’s homes, staff salaries, and daily necessities.  Leaves will be sold for $100, branches will be sold for $500, and the tree trunk will be sold for $5,000. Donations can be made on PayPal or by check, and we will then paint the name of the donor in the leaf, branch, or trunk. If you would like to make a donation on behalf of someone else, or as a church group, that is also a possibility. Mail a check to GOAL PO Box 357 Collierville, TN 38027.  Or click here for the link to PayPal https://casadeamor.publishpath.com/supporting.

Our goal is to raise $20,000 in the next 20 days. We know that the Lord is faithful to provide, and are excited to see how He will work. Each day for the next 20 days, we will post a photo and update on one of our children with a link to donate. Please feel free to share these updates with friends and family, and check back here often for the latest updates! We will also be using the hashtag #20k20days !

We serve a great, powerful, and loving God, and are so thankful for everyone of you – your generosity, prayer, and love for the children of Casa de Amor. Please join us in praying and sharing about how God is at work in Bolivia!

Summer.... AKA Winter

When school ended the beginning of June, I had high hopes for how often I was going to blog. However, with friends visiting, teams coming to serve in the orphanage, new volunteers arriving, moving across town, Vacation Bible School at church, and babies in the hospital, there hasn't been nearly as much time as I planned. 
I would love to update you on the past two months, but instead I will post pictures from the last two months with a summary of what has been going on! :)

Courtney and Elizabeth Visit

Two good friends Elizabeth and Courtney came to visit for the month of June. This picture was taken on a rickety bridge, and these smiles are hiding real fear of the bridge falling down. Thank you Courtney and Elizabeth for coming to visit! I miss you! 

Visiting Orphans Team

In Mid- June, Casa de Amor hosted an amazingly generous team from the United States. They lovingly served the children and staff, and were an encouragement to all of us. This picture was taken on a trip to Pairumani National Park with the team and some of the older children from the orphanage.

Tourists

While Elizabeth and Courtney were visiting, they were kept busy entertaining the kids, painting rooms, and various other jobs. One day we became "tourists" to visit the statue of Christ. It is actually larger than the statue in Brazil, but no one knows it. :)

Gina and Michelle

Gina and Michelle are two of our wonderful short-term volunteers. They are both living at the boys home, and have been welcomed with open arms. Their joy and love for the Lord has been an encouragement to me personally, and also to the children and staff. Please pray for health and energy for them as they serve!  

Isabelle

Another good friend and roommate, Isabelle, arrived last Saturday, just as Courtney was leaving. The young people group threw a going away party for Courtney, that doubled as a Welcome Party for Isabelle. I am so thankful to have visitors this summer and to see how God is working in Bolivia through new eyes.

Vacation Bible School

The last two weeks have been "winter vacation" in Cochabamba. My church hosted a VBS for about 200 children, and I was able to help teach the 7-9 year old class. The theme was Genesis, so we talked about creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and Noah's ark, Please continue to pray for all of the children that came, that the Lord would work in their hearts.

 Hospital Duty

In the last two weeks, two of the babies at Casa de Amor have been admitted to the hospital. When this happens, the orphanage is responsible for having someone stay with the baby. Thanks to a wonderful team of volunteers, we have been able to rotate this responsibility, but it has made for a few interesting days and long nights. Please pray for baby M and baby B as they recover.

As always, I am so thankful for your prayers and encouragement. If you would like to read more about what has been going on in Bolivia, several other volunteers also have blogs! 

Sarah: http://sallen507.blogspot.com/2015/07/day-2-in-hospital.html

Amber and Kirsten: https://belovedofbolivia.wordpress.com/

The Booher Family: http://boohersinbolivia.blogspot.com/

You can also stay updated by liking the facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/casadeamorbolivia?fref=ts

GOOD NEWS!!!!!

It has been too long since I have blogged! Since starting to teach 1st grade again, I keep thinking – "Oh, that would make a good blog...." and then never writing the blog.

I had to write this one though, because it is such good news!!!!!

Some of you may have read a blog from March about a little girl named “B”. If not you can read that blog here. From the day I arrived in Cochabamba July 5, 2012 – B has been one of the more difficult children for me. She can be one of the sweetest and most fun girls, but when she is angry or feeling rebellious she feels those things very strongly. There have been more than a few situations this year where physical harm to others or myself was a real concern. There have been days I’ve walked home from the orphanage in tears because I just didn’t know what else to do.

In my prayer journal on October 16, I wrote, asking the Lord to draw B to himself, and to give all those around her wisdom. This has been my prayer since then. I have been at a loss often, and definitely at the end of my patience many times, but the Lord has been faithful.

April 12th is Children’s Day in Bolivia, and the Horita Feliz (Bible Club) that the kids from Casa de Amor go to had a special event. A missionary from the Netherlands came to talk, and shared about obedience, and the good news that Jesus took the place of our sins on the cross. I was teaching the youngest class – so I didn’t get to hear the message.

Playground of the Horita Feliz

The next day, I went to the girls house to pick up two girls for church. I didn’t’ have specific girls in mind, so I just asked who wanted to come. As it turned out, B wanted to come! We got out of the house and started walking down the street and she says, “Tia, I wanted to accept Jesus’ forgiveness yesterday, but it was too late.” Surprised, I looked at her and asked what she meant. She explained that after hearing the message, she knew she needed Jesus’ love and forgiveness, and wanted to follow him. After talking with her for a little while, I assured her that it was not too late, and that we could pray right then if she wanted to. She agreed, and so we stopped to pray. It was not a huge ordeal, but it was genuine.

I am so excited for the way God has worked, and humbled by the ability to see firsthand how the Lord is working in her life. Later in the week, as I was heading out from the orphanage, B came running after me and says, “Tia, I have to tell you something.” I was ready to hear something ridiculous about her cat, Blanco, but instead she says,” Tia, today at school I could feel God in my heart. It was like something was moving in my heart!” I could hardly contain my excitement! Not only has God begun a good work in her life – he is faithful and will see it through!

B and her sister S at Christmas time!

Please join me in praising the Lord for the work He has done in B’s heart. Thank you for joining in praying for her! Our God is faithful! :)

Father's Day! Feliz dia del padre!!

Father’s Day!

This post is about two weeks late – I had it all typed up and ready to go, but my computer charger died, and this blog was tucked away until I had time to go buy a charger.

Father’s day in Bolivia is always the 19^th of March. This year that happened to fall on a Thursday. On Wednesday afternoon. I was at the girls house ironing uniforms, and one of the girls, S, asked me if I could come to a special program at her school as her dad. All of the kids go to the same school this year, so all of the volunteers and staff were invited to go as “honorary dads”.

It worked out that I had a three hour break in-between teaching classes at Carachipampa, so in between substituting for 2^nd grade and teaching PE I got on a trufi (bus), and went to the school. All of the littlest kids were dressed up in their father’s oversized clothes, and did a little dance performance. Two of our youngest kids were in this class, and had rented men’s clothes from a costume shop down the street.

K is one of the youngest boys in the black suit jacket.

Waiting for a snack after their performance!

After the dances, all of the volunteers and staff split up to have lunch with the kids. Each class had prepared something different! S’ class had made delicious chicken, salad, fried banana, and of course… potatoes. Each child also made a card for their father – so I received my first father’s day card!!

The potatoes are hidden, but I promise they're there! 

S with her cute card!

Translation: Mom, you are so pretty. (This might not have originally been intended for me since she has NEVER seen me in a dress or heels. hahahah(

It was a fun, but also emotional afternoon. As honored as I was to be able to attend, I am not a father. Although Casa de Amor took the time to find “honorary fathers” for the children, there were other children that were left to eat lunch alone. In S’ class there was one little girl that had brought two plates from home, but no one ever came to eat the extra plate of food. On the way home from the event, one of the girls told me that she still had her Father’s Day card, because she didn’t know who to give it to.

We started to talk about how God has promised to be our Father, and how He is always with us. I am so thankful for God’s promises to us, and the fact that He has shown us what it means to be a good father. Please continue to pray for the children of Casa de Amor – that they would not only know the love of their Father God, but they would also be able to see and experience the love of a father here on earth.

Thank you guys! Happy late Father’s Day! Feliz dia del padre! J

Pijamada! (Sleepover!)

Last Saturday, I was invited to a Quinceanera (The birthday party girls have when they turn 15) by one of the women who works at the orphanage.  Tia Anita has worked with Casa de Amor for over 5 years, and has become like a mother to the girls that she works with (and often to me!). The oldest girls got to spend Friday night with Tia Anita to help prepare for the party a day in advance and they were thrilled!
On Saturday morning I went to the girls house and found “B” dutifully washing her clothes. At seven years old she falls right in between the older girls and the little girls. Although she is very smart and capable for her age, her desire for attention often leads her to behave in a way that puts her in the “little girl” group.
As soon as she heard me talking with the other Tia on duty about the Quineanera, she lit up and asked if she could come with me. Usually the girls earn outings with good behavior, and sadly, “B” normally doesn’t earn an outing. I told B that I would have to ask the administrator for permission because she has been perpetually punished for the last few weeks. I called to ask for permission, and was surprised when I was told to talk with the tia in charge, but that it was fine with her!
B was ecstatic when we told her she could come and started running back and forth from her room to the kitchen to tell us what she was going to wear. That night as I was getting ready to pick her up, I got a phone call from the orphanage “just making sure” that I hadn’t forgotten about B.  I assured her I would be there in 30 minutes.
When another volunteer, Hannah, and I got to the house, B was dressed in her nicest dress, and arctic coat, and beaming. I really don’t think I have ever seen her so excited since I met her almost three years ago. She did very well at the Quinceanera, and even got to be one of the damitas ( kind of like a bridesmaid).

All of the damitas! B is the second in line.

B, Tia Benita, Tia Sarin, and I

B is in the purple arctic coat - it might not seem that big, but it was 70 degrees.

Because the party ended very late, B got to spend the night at my house after. As we walked into the house at 11:30, she asked if she could watch TV before bed. That was an easy answer – because I don’t have a TV. I got her bed ready for her, turned around to get her pajamas, and she was already asleep.
The next morning was Sunday so we got up early and went to church. The young people group at my church was having a special lunch, and so I had told B I could take her home, or if she wanted to come with me she would need to help and be on her best behavior.  She of course wanted to come. She was thrilled to get to “help” with the tasks we found for her and helped assemble tables (backwards), place table decorations on the tables (upside down), and rinse dishes (maybe 3 of them). It reminded me of the way God has invited us to join in what He is doing, even though we often make things harder than they have to be.
One of my favorite things about the time with B was seeing the way she thrived with attention. People from my church really took time to ask her questions. To entertain her, to look at the pictures from the Quinceanera on my phone over and over again and to give her the attention she seeks so desperately in all the wrong ways. I am thankful for the community at the church that the Lord has provided – not only for me – but also for the children that I have the privilege of working with.
Please pray for B ( I can send you her real name if you want, I just can’t post it online!). Please pray for the Lord to soften her heart. For B to come to know the Lord, and to know the love of her Father. Please also pray for the staff and volunteers at the orphanage, that we would have wisdom in working with her, and the rest of the children. Lastly, please praise God for the work that He has done.  He has promised in John 14:18, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”  Praise Him, for He who promised is faithful!