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When a friend is
A Friend |
Good Morning NCV family!
Henri David Thoreau wrote that we should 'let our intercourse be wholly above ourselves, and draw us up to it. The language of Friendship is not words, but meanings. It is an intelligence above language.'
Over 170 years later, "friending" someone has taken on a new meaning, yet true friendship remains something that transcends language. It is found in the time we spend together, the silences, the laughter, the constant support through the joys and challenges. In this month's newsletter we share about how in July, we have experienced this deep friendship in a beautiful way.
Peace and Blessings, |
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Hoosier
Friend? |
In July, NCV hosted two groups from the US. The first team was made up of families representing University High in Carmel, IN, and we had a blast!
As with all of our teams, this group's time was divided into activities with the kids and work projects, as well as our "reality tour" where we introduce folks to the different challenges facing children growing up in Bolivia's residential care system. As an added blessing, this team included three doctors, who joined NCV volunteer Caitlin to provide free screening to children outside of the city. For the project, we provided some much needed fixits to the medical and dental clinic at Qanchay, a large state home just outside of the city.
As this was the first time to Bolivia for most team members, it was hard for them to imagine that in just 6 days much could be accomplished, let alone relationships formed with the boys and girls of NCV. By the end of the trip, however, everyone was talking about when they could return!
On the final day of their time here, as we spent the morning with the younger kids at a park and the afternoon at a nearby ecolodge with our teens, we witnessed how in just a week the language of kindness, solidarity and love allowed for communication on a level that, sometimes, words fail to reach.
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Mike introducing the kids to wiffle ball.
Playing on the swings.
Decorating 4th of July cookies with Emily!
Alejo getting some help from Lillian.
Margaret seems to be doing most of the work for Claudia.
Lexie and Samuel smiling for the camera.
Jill and Claudia being silly.
Nick and Jeff making Diego fly.
Garrett and Elise getting in some swing time.
Abigail working on a door for the clinic at Qanchay.
Evelyn and Abigail hard at work.
Replacing windows panes in the clinic at Qanchay.
Look at our teens all hard working :)
Starting in on the paint job.
Out at one of the potential land sites for our future project.
The teens were pretty happy to get to use the machetes.
The group standing outside the disco bus - fun times!
Wes and Emily joining in a game with the boys and girls.
Face painting!
Elise and Claudia.
Sharing some laughs and the biggest pizza the team had ever seen.
The Duncans providing our kids with checkups.
Abby listening to Bemabe's heart.
And learning how to carry a child in traditional Bolivian fashion.
Natalia getting ready to ride the zip line at El Poncho ecocenter.
Braving the cold water.
And enjoying the hot sauna.
Jill brought some crazy sour candies for the kids to try.
A final photo before the team continued on their travels to Machu Picchu.
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Friends Old
and New |
What do you get when you combine a 16 person youth and young adult team, an 8 person family team, and 34 NCV kids on vacation? A pretty sweet time!
Our relationship with BelPres church (Bellevue, WA) has been growing since their first group came and visited back in 2008, and it was exciting to have them accompany us as our journey continues. Again, there were lots of activities and projects to keep us busy, and thanks to an extended winter vacation, the group was able to spend more time with the kids than we expected. The youth team stayed on a bit longer than the families, and traveled with our older teens to Mizque to do some work in some impoverished rural boarding schools.
One thing that stood out with the group is that, despite coming from very different contexts, their teens and our teens shared in common that which at the core makes us who we are: faith, values, dreams for the future. After nearly two weeks, our evening goodbyes were a mix of sadness for having to leave, and gratefulness for having made relationships that we hope will last long into the future. |
The team arrived and the girls were excited to put on a show.
We played a lot of card games, some the kids seemed to invent on the way.
Music, the universal language for all teens.
The group continued on with the clean up of the land site.
Paola, along with Natalia and Cynthia, pulling out a small tree.
Dave and Ross installing mesh around the balcony at Pedacito de Cielo.
Lucy and Lizzie securing the mesh.
Great times, great friends!
Ross teaching Manolo how to weed wack.
Frank and Matt playing with Fabian.
Drew giving a really big push.
Dave tattooing Marcos.
Eneas and several of the boys wanted tattoos all over the bodies.
Like sardines...
Painting at Puntiti, where three of our boys attend school.
We only see one person actually painting in this picture :)
Dana and Shelley sharing a bit of downtime with the girls
A bright place for the kids of Puntiti.
Out for dinner and live music.
Our teens relaxing at the top of Pairumani.
Walking to the river along the edge of a mountain.
Colin with Bemabe and Victoria.
Lucy and Zuleika at church on Sunday.
Heading to work in Mizque.
Syndey and Shelley building a home for guinea pigs.
Angela and Bri setting up for interviews with the kids.
Lizzie and Eneas all smiles.
Angela sharing a fun moment with one of the boys.
The teams' time ended with a time of singing.
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| Stepping into the Future: Location, location, location |
As we advance in the development of our future Comunidad Niños con Valor project, one of the major components we are analyzing is location. There are so many questions to think about, and we have been visiting a lot of possible land sites to gain a better understanding of what options are out there. Here are key aspects we are considering in our search:
- Distance. The further we are from the city, the more time required for our technical staff to attend court, and pursue casework in SEDEGES (family and children services) and Child Defense. Distance will also impact the travel of our staff.
- Transportation. For both the staff and kids, we are looking for something that has access to public transportation, and with roads decent enough to get into town where most of our children's extra curricular activities and medical checkups take place.
- Services. Access to electricity, water and sewage are essential, and a natural gas connection ideal. Even with a city water connection, we will need to plan for the drilling of a well to meet the needs of a larger family.
- Schooling. Key to the care we provide is ensuring that our children receive good academic support, so having a couple good options for schooling is key. Children requiring special education support will continue to attend schools in the city.
- Space. We need land with enough space to build all of the infrastructure that will make up the community, with enough green space remaining to ensure a healthy atmosphere.
Below is a photo of one of the plots of land we are considering. |
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| Next month, we will share a bit about the importance of integration and empowerment, and how this program will help promote these values on a larger scale. |
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| It's a Girl! |
We are excited to share with you that, on July 30th, Paulina gave birth to a healthy baby girl - Cristina. In our April newsletter, we introduced you to Paulina, who discovered she was pregnant as a result of a very traumatic home situation. It has been an emotional 9 months, throughout which Paulina has shown an incredible strength and bravery. Despite her age, she has approached motherhood with maturity, and a beautiful bond is forming between her and little Cristina.
One of the most encouraging things to observe these past weeks has been how the family of Corazón del Pastor has rallied around Paulina, supporting her in every way possible. While at times it can be difficult to truly provide a "family" to children in situations like our boys and girls, it is a blessing knowing that they are surrounded by true friends. |
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| Sponsorship Spotlight |
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| Tomás |
Tomás moved to Pedacito de Cielo at the request of the large state home where he had been living. As is the case for many children living with special needs, the additional attention and investment required makes caring for these children difficult, and they often fail to thrive.
Since arriving at Pedacito de Cielo, Tomás has overcome many of his fears, loves to run and jump, and has become a very social little boy.
If you would like to sponsor one of our children, please visit our sponsorship page to learn how you can do so!
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| Bryssa |
Bryssa arrived when she was only 6-years-old, and her life prior to coming to live in Corazón del Pastor was comprised mainly of abuse and neglect. Since joining us, she has been able to gain confidence, and become a great role model for her 4 younger siblings, also in our care.
Bryssa loves to dance and swim, and when she grows up would like to study psychology, and have a house big enough for her to live with her brothers and sisters.
If you would like to sponsor one of our children, please visit our sponsorship page to learn how you can do so! |
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| All of our programs seek to provide holistic care, as well as integrate children and families living with various physical and mental health issues, including HIV/AIDS. |
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| Our home that provides care for up to 24 girls who have been orphaned, abandoned or removed from high-risk situations. |
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| Our home that provides care for up to 14 boys who have been orphaned, abandoned or removed from high-risk situations. |
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| We also host volunteers, who fulfill important roles within our programs. Click here to learn more. |
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| Our transitional program, helping prepare teens for independent living once they leave our residential homes. |
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