Secretly, I have always wanted to work in a restaurant. I have actually always wanted to be a waitress. Though I think it would be a stressful job (that doesn’t pay too much) and I would always have to be cheerful and awesome in order to receive good tips, I have always wanted to do this.
Learning about our ministry in Cochabamba, we knew we would be working with orphanages, doing construction and helping out in Café Ole. At first we had no idea what Café Ole would be. A coffee shop?? A quaint restaurant?? All I knew was that I was super excited for this month of ministry.
We get to Bolivia and are acquainted with where we will be staying and the moment we have all been waiting for…. The restaurant ministry. Café Ole is near the airport actually created for the airport workers, and then eventually opened to the public. It is a cafeteria style restaurant. People come in and order. They can choose to get soup and dessert or simply segundos (the main part of the meal). They get their tray and silverware and we pour and hand them their soup and then make up their plate of segundos. They then take their trays to the tables and eat and when they are finished they bring the trays up to the counter so we can wash the dishes.
So my dream of being a waitress has still not come true. I am more of a chef and a dishwasher than anything. But that’s okay because working in the restaurant is still rewarding and for the most part fun.
Café Ole began 6 months ago, totally by God opening doors, in order to financially support an orphanage. A graduate from culinary school in New York is the main chef and she came to Bolivia to start the restaurant. She is raising support just like World Racers to be here. She makes no profit off of the restaurant. There is currently one helper who is paid for her time; but other than that, money from Café Ole goes to buy food, of course, and most importantly to support an orphanage.
It is still in the beginning stages. Not too many customers. 29 on Monday. 34 on Tuesday. But slowly and surely the popularity of Café Ole is growing and I know soon, one day, it will be busy for the entire 2 hours of lunch and the profit will be pouring in and those orphans will be living a great life. Haha that is my hope for the restaurant. My hope for our time here is to help by both volunteering our time (free of charge) and eating/buying lunch which will help the profit grow.
Please keep Café Ole in your prayers. That word would get out. Help would come. Customers would come. That the ministry would thrive.
