our first week in Bolivia, we have been visiting the homes of Nacer
Ministries. We have been staying in the girl’s home, “Critso
Viene”, and visiting the other two boys homes during the day. It
has been such a joy and blessing to interact with each of the homes
in different ways and see what the Lord is doing in their lives. At
the girl’s home, we helped them with their chores, which consisted
of digging up grass from across the street and replanting it on their
land. I guess that’s just how its done here in Bolivia.
Later
that day we took the boys from the Nacer Home (which is specifically
a home for street kids), to a watch the home’s semi-pro soccer team
play. One of the boys I became close with in those few days was a
young boy named Fabio (top right in the picture). Because Fabio had
such a difficult upbringing, he now has severe struggles with his
sexual identity. He lived with his mother who often left him home
alone with several of her friends. They would watch porn movies and
imitate whatever they saw on Fabio. The youngest boy at the home,
Juan de Dios (top left), is five years old and has already struggled
with alcoholism. However, from the first evening when I sat at their
dinner table, I instantly fell in love with these boys. It was such a joy to
spend time with them, whether we were playing soccer, watching
soccer, or even working on their chores together.
Another
home that I really enjoyed was the boy’s home, Cristo Viene. We
only got to spend one evening with them, but by the end of the night
I was definitely not ready to leave. We took a tour of the home and
spent some time getting to know the kids while we enjoyed the company
of puppies, a parrot, and the sweetest baby ever! (surprised that I’m
holding the baby instead of the puppy?…me too.) Then we spent the
rest of the evening playing soccer as the sun set behind the
mountains. It was a beautiful evening I will never forget.
This
past week we finally arrived in the city of Postrervalle where we are
living and working at El Hogar Esperanza Viva (the home of living
hope). There are currently 29 kids at the home, and two women (my age) that
take care of all of them. So far, our ministry has
consisted of putting gravel on the sidewalks (that we shoveled out of
a river), collecting firewood and pumpkins for the homes, leading
morning devotionals, and simply loving on the kids. Sometimes we help
with the meals, homework, or their daily chores.
Sometimes
we even have to put a little extra effort into the cooking…just kidding, but
seriously, welcome to Postrervalle: the land that will make me a
vegetarian.
Surprisingly
one of my biggest struggles so far this month has been patience. As
you may know, I have such a great passion for working with the
orphaned and brokenhearted, but it has given me a completely
different perspective to live among them. Sometimes I think the kids
pull out my arm hair and wipe their boogies on me just to see how I
will react. However, as much as I often long for personal space and
quiet time, I can’t help but want to love on these kids and have
compassion on them with all of my heart. I know that once we leave, I
will miss hearing their little voices shout, “Tia, tia!” and
begging me just to spend time with them. I haven’t quite perfected
it yet, but I am constantly reminding myself of how Christ responded
to his children, always giving them His attention and love, even when
He sought after alone time and rest.
“Then,
because so many people were coming and going that they did not even
have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves
to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by
themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them
leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got
there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had
compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
So He began teaching them many things.” Mark 6:31-34
God’s
timing truly is perfect, and I am thankful that we have come to this
home specifically this month. Not only is it a blessing to serve the
home, but day by day it is becoming more evident that we have come at just the right time to
fight for the spiritual warfare here as well. Although I can’t
elaborate on the situation, I simply ask that you join us in prayer
for this home, for their protection and guidance in these times of
difficulty. Thank you for your faithfulness and willingness to serve
with me this year!
