The Volunteer Blog

Volunteer Night

2012-01-20T08:17:00.008-06:00

Last week we all took some time away from our work and had an evening out together.

Since there are several new volunteers, it was a good time to get to know each other better!

L-R: Johanna (NB, Canada), Chelsey (Alberta, Canada), Alexis (Florida), Elena (Florida), Jennifer (Texas)

And with two more arriving this week, there will be more evenings like this soon!

Dinner at everyone's favorite restaurant

...and a sweet ending!

Organization is key...

2011-07-13T11:53:00.005-05:00

Especially when you have 14 kids in a small house!

This past week a group of volunteers began moving around furniture and mountains of donated clothes at Casa de Amor II to make way for two new kids and our new volunteer Katrina...

Volunteer Hannah from Texas moving clothes one stack at a time

Volunteer Kaley sorting and looking...confused? guilty? Who knows ;)

Volunteer Kati giving some encouragement!

Stay tuned for Part 2...where organization actually comes into play ;)

Another Goodbye...

2011-07-11T08:31:00.005-05:00

The past few weeks we have sadly said goodbye to a whole group of marvelous young ladies who have given of their time and talent to our homes. The most recent to go was Kristin, from Tennessee, here since March.

I know that I'll remember her for her special love for our special wild child B.... :)

...and for mothering baby G after he lost his mother...

And most definitely for her love of soccer!!

(She is in this picture somewhere, really!)

We thank her for passing on her love of sports to some pretty blessed kids at Casa de Amor II (read more here).

Thank you for sharing your life with us, Kristin! You will be missed.

Happy 4th of July!!!!

2011-07-06T13:01:00.005-05:00

This year a group of Americans celebrated Independence Day a little differently...

Eating Mexican food, singing the national anthem over a flag cake, and no fireworks...but we had fun!

Gooooooo USA!

It was also one of our last times to hang out with the amazing, lovely Kristin Garman! She will be leaving us on Friday and we will miss her energy and fun personality!!!

Welcome Katrina!

2011-07-03T09:00:00.002-05:00

July 1st we welcomed long term volunteer Katrina Rebsch!

Pictured here with her new roomie Kaley!

Although it was a gloomy day, God sent a beautiful rainbow to welcome her!

We're so glad she's here and can't wait to get to know her more!

Check out her blog: livingforjesus85.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Elena Alvarez

Volunteer Coordinator

volunteer@casadeamor.org

Project Scabies Riddance 2011

2011-07-01T09:52:00.010-05:00

Casa de Amor volunteers help with oh so much more than just hold babies. This year, the hard work of volunteers Savannah and Kristin saved us from dreaded SCABIES!!!

In spite of multiple assurances from doctors in April that this baby did NOT have anything contagious......guess what! She did!!! And it spread slowly but surely through the ranks of babies, staff, and even staff family members. By June we were at our wit's end. The Bolivian prescribed treatment was not working, so our nurse Savannah stepped in with a new prescription:

Pricey, has to be applied twice from head to toe, andddd and make your skin feel on fire, but it WORKS!

And the cleaning part... Intense!! Boiling water on the stove to soak and wash clothing and bedding of 15+ babies plus staff and volunteers, letting everything air out in the sun... Everyone worked super hard.

Looked like we were moving....

Seems rather inadequate, but thanks, girls, for going the extra mile!!

For more stories from Project Scabies Riddance and cute pictures of "scabies babies", see Savannah's blog post here!

S.O.S Volunteers!

2011-06-03T09:00:00.001-05:00

We have been so blessed this summer with MANY volunteers from all over the world and as much as we want to keep them forever, most eventually return home.

After August 5th we will only have one long term volunteer serving in an organization that has grown to 4 houses with over 30 kids!

If you have ever thought you would like to serve at Casa de Amor, this is the time that we need you more than ever! We are looking for people willing to serve for at least 6 months starting in July/August and extending into 2012.

For more information please send an email of interest to Elena Alvarez at

volunteer@casadeamor.org

We look forward to hearing from you!

Let's Get Together!

2011-06-01T13:03:00.002-05:00

Recently all of the volunteers got together to celebrate Heather's birthday! And it was also an opportunity to talk, laugh, and be our crazy selves!

From left to right: TJ and Tammy Mitchell our gracious hosts! Sadie, Tia Ana, Heather, Elena, Jennifer, Rachel, Kaley, Kristin, and Savannah!

Photography by Elena's husband Victor

If you think this group looks fun, we have 4 more volunteers coming today and tomorrow! We are looking forward to seeing return volunteer Hannah Armstrong and meeting Kati, Lane, and Lindsay!

Thank you!

2011-05-20T10:39:00.003-05:00

We want to take a moment to thank Pauline te Linde for her months of service at Casa de Amor! She was a great friend to us fellow volunteers and an amazing servant in the homes!

Pauline you will be missed, don't forget about us! We hope you come back and visit soon!

Much Love!

Elena, Kaley, Kristin, and Savannah

and ALL the kids!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T13:29:00.004-06:00

I kind of feel that Casa de Amor can celebrate Valentine's Day every day, we are a "House of Love" after all! But for all of you past, present, and future volunteers that are celebrating it today I want you to know that I appreciate you and the love you have, are, and will invest into the precious kids at CDA!!!

Elena, the volunteer coordinator!

Kaley from San Diego!

So, from the mommies at House 2, we hope your day is full of love and chocolate!

Elena ~*~

Volunteer Update!

2011-02-11T06:24:00.004-06:00

Today I was looking at our calendar for this summer and I got really excited! We are blessed to welcome some really amazing volunteers, short and long term! If you have ever thought about being a Casa de Amor volunteer, we are looking for people willing to start in August of 2011 and make at least a 6 month commitment!

You can send an intial interest email to volunteer@casadeamor.org telling a little bit about yourself and why you would like to volunteer, and we will get back to you as soon as possible with an application and Volunteer FAQ sheet!

In the meantime, check out the blogs of our full time volunteers here in Cochabamba right now!

Savannah's Blog

Elena's Blog

Kaley's Blog

Pauline's Blog (mostly written in Dutch, Google translate!)

The Mitchell's Blog

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Elena Boisvert
Volunteer Coordinator
Casa de Amor Children's Homes

volunteer@casadeamor.org

First Day of School...for the Volunteers???

2011-02-04T07:08:00.003-06:00

Its been an exciting year so far with almost ALL of our kids at House 2 heading off to school...but we also enrolled Kaley and Savannah in 3rd grade so they could watch over the kids while they're in school!

Here they are in the "BUS"

Needless to say they were SYKED!!!!

All joking aside, we are so blessed to have volunteers that wanted to be a part of the kids first day of school when they could have been sleeping in :)

For more pictures of the kids' first day of school check out my blog: cochagringa.blogspot.com

Much Love!

Elena Catherine

Volunteer Coordinator

Casa de Amor Children's Homes

volunter@casadeamor.org

Volunteer Nancy

2011-01-19T15:02:00.003-06:00

Thank you, Nancy, for your service at Casa de Amor during your vacation time!

We look forward to having you later on this year. :)

Volunteer Haley's Experience

2010-12-13T09:46:00.005-06:00

My sister Amber and I spent the month of October at Casa de Amor. When we arrived, I was more than a little apprehensive. This was my first “extended short term” (ie, longer than a week!) mission trip experience. And it was an experience! Everything from wandering the rows of La Cancha to loving on babies to “marrying” a clown at a birthday party—somehow even ordinary things seemed exciting. I expected to fall in love with the kids, but I don’t think I realized just how completely I would lose my heart in 4 short weeks to 33 precious, darling, all-but-forgotten children and one little girl in particular.

We had only been at the orphanage for a few hours and I was still learning everybody’s name (something that took me a couple of days!) when lunch time arrived. As we helped round up kids and put them in highchairs, one of the tias handed me a bowl of vegetable spaghetti and told me to feed “baby” J. For those who may not know, “baby” J is actually 2 years old, but because she is blind she doesn’t walk, talk, or feed herself yet—so she is a “baby” in so many ways. She had only been at CDA for a month when we arrived, and eating was still something of a struggle with her. So it was that my first new Spanish phrase became “abre la boca” (open [your] mouth) as I spent nearly an hour trying to feed this precious little girl a decent amount of food. By the time lunch was over, I was head over heels in love—and I think she kinda liked me, too, if her shower of kisses as I lifted her out of her chair and carried her to bed for a nap was any indication!

Soon J was responding joyfully to the sound of my voice, my e-mails home were filled with her, and we were pretty much inseparable. All the kids and tias took to calling her “my baby”, and the children seemed to feel the need to point her out to me every time I walked in the room—and drag me by the hand to her side if she was crying! I mostly just played with her, really, though I tried to help her overcome her aversion to playing and interacting with the other kids. She eventually got to where she would play “catch” with some kids, rolling a ball back and forth across the floor (as long as they didn’t make her wait too long!). We also worked a lot on her walking, something she loves to do but just isn’t ready to do on her own yet. However, when I left, she would walk with me just holding on to one hand, and she was even climbing the stairs by holding my hand and the railing!

One evening, when we had only been there a few days, I walked into the room where she was and started talking to some of the other kids. J was all the way across the room, just sitting on the floor folded over like she has a tendency to do if someone isn't intentionally involving her in something in some way. But when I began talking, she raised her head and then started crawling toward me. She crawled all the way across the room, pulled herself up by my arm/shoulder, and gave me a kiss—and a huuuuuge smile. Needless to say, it made my day!

My month at Casa de Amor was filled with sweet moments like that. Not all of them were with J—like I said, I fell in love with all the kids! There were difficult moments too, of course, since none of the children are perfectly behaved angels. And there were definitely moments of laughter! Living with 21 children, aged 4 and under, may be exhausting at times but it yields plenty of amusement, too. There were trips to the park, taking kids to church and out to eat—during such outings, part of the amusement was watching the bewilderment of the passers-by, as they would try to figure out how these “blond” gringas came to have so many cute Bolivian children! Each day was a different adventure, with its own share of smiles and tears and giggles and cloth diapers to change. And as each day brought us closer to goodbye, it also made that goodbye a little harder.

All too soon, it was our last night in Cochabamba. We would be leaving CDA at 5 am the next morning, so we told the kids goodbye as we tucked them into bed. Saying such a final-feeling “ciao” to those sweet little faces was the hardest thing I have ever done. I was strongly tempted to either tear up my plane ticket and stay forever, or smuggle them all home with me somehow! Of course, both options were rather impractical, so I had to settle for extra hugs and kisses with all the kids, and some extra snuggle time with “my” J as I gave her a cup of milk and got her changed for bed. It was certainly a bittersweet moment when I kissed her goodnight and laid her in her crib for the last time. This sweet little girl not only captured my heart, she completely changed my world; the way she faces the world with sightless eyes and a heart that sees everything is a precious testimony to the grace and beauty of our great God. Really, the lives of all these kids carry that testimony and it is something I will never forget.

And now—I just want to go back! :-)

En route...

2010-09-23T16:26:00.005-05:00

We are awaiting the arrivals of FOUR young ladies on track to arrive soon! (See updated sidebar for details.)

Please pray for all their preparations: emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially, language study, and...paperwork! Pray that visa paperwork goes along smoothly so that they can focus on what they are coming to do: serve the people of Bolivia!

We could REALLY use some extra hands in the Baby Home right now with the influx of babies so the timing is great!!

The Mitchell family from Texas is also well into the process of moving to Bolivia to open a foster home with Casa de Amor! We are excited that God has provided another family to work similar to the Alseths of Casa de Amor III.

She's baaaaack!!!

2010-09-05T22:28:00.006-05:00

On Saturday we had the joy of welcoming back awesome-super-mom-nurse-best-friend SAVANNAH!!!!!!

And when I say "we", I do mean "we"...

Waiting for our VIP to arrive

Now my kids are no stranger to the airport, but we were there with THIRTY small children. And everything went off without a hitch. Can anyone say Super Moms?! =)

Of course then it was like Savannah, don't know where we're going to put you and your luggage because we've so filled up the cars already, hehe...

Hugs all around!

The happy group!

Another Perspective

2010-07-14T14:14:00.006-05:00

As I've mentioned, we had a terrific time with the Orphan World Relief team that visited us last month. Here's an insightful, well written summary from one of the team members, Rick Neighbarger.

Enjoy...and more pictures to follow!

We had a great trip to Bolivia--it was both productive and enjoyable for our whole team. For those who are wondering what I'm talking about--Nancy and I joined two good friends from Orphan World Relief (Doug Riggle and Jason Hanger) for a visit to the Casa de Amor (CDA) Orphanages that OWR supports in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

The folks at CDA surpassed our expectations. The 33 kids in their care are well-fed, cared for, loved and hugged. The buildings are in great shape. Both the staff and volunteers are happy and heavily engaged with the kids and each other. Our two weeks went by quickly.

Some highlights of the trip (there's no way I could list all of the cool things here):

~getting to know the kids' personalities as we spent time with them: teasing with Erick about who gets to eat first, letting Ana pull us upstairs and push us into the bedrooms, getting Gabriel to smile, soothing Pedro's inevitable bumps from falling on his head, talking with Leydi as she analyzed the world around her, and watching tiny Esmeralda *shovel* food into her mouth with a big spoon and beam from ear to ear as Nancy pushed her around on a bicycle.

~taking some of the kids on a gondola ride up to the huge Cristo de la Concordia statue overlooking the city. They were so excited they could barely contain themselves.

~watching the CDA Director, Jennifer, in action as she interacted with the street kids. They all know her and she's a friend to all of them. Piling a bunch of them in the hatchback of her car along with their window washing equipment was a treat (wish I had gotten a picture). She rushed to the aid of one of them who got stabbed one night, regularly took him his medicine as he was recuperating, and fended off a police blitz (the police there think nothing of beating up the street kids, as they see them more as a problem to be disposed of than as children to be helped).

~visiting La Cancha market with Elena (Jennifer's assistant and the head of the CDA 2 orphanage)--finding really cool stuff for a steal, and tasting all sorts of local foods. We had charque (llama), saltenos (Bolivian pot pies), api (a corn/milk drink), pasteles (think New Orleans beignets with cheese inside), bunuelos (like elephant ears), cool tropical ice cream--I *almost* felt guilty eating so much (I got over it quickly and took one for the team...).

~hitting the steak house with Hannah, one of the volunteers. Trying to communicate with a waiter whose Spanish none of us could understand (marbles under his tongue? the waitress was easy to talk with!).Trying to figure out the difference between the different kinds of steaks, then realizing that the 5 of us had 3 times too much food, even though we had only gotten 3 orders of steak. And then finding out that 3 times too much steak still only cost us $5 apiece. The street kids got a treat that night.

~building a house for a family of 5 (well, we got almost chest-high on the walls in 2 days' time). Watching the family water the pig periodically with a big coke bottle, like a baby. Watching the pig almost come out of his pen when he smelled our sandwiches (ham, of all things ;-). Working with David (the CDA "accountant" who is also a repairman, builder, and delivery man) and the husband of one of the CDA cooks, who is a mason, to get the walls straight. Nancy picked up some decent wall-building skills. I picked up...a respiratory infection....

~checking another item off of my life-list: summiting a peak in the Andes. Our guide for the day, Rick, used to run the CDA 3 orphanage but he and his wife are adopting three children so had to transfer their special needs kids back to the other 2 orphanages to focus on their new family additions. He took us up to the top of Cerro Tunari, a 17,000' peak in the Andean Cordillera Oriental that overlooks Cochabamba. Even though we thought our lungs would give out, it was beautiful. You could see Ilimani 240 miles away--the 21,000' peak that overlooks the capital of La Paz. And the excitement spiked when Rick's teenage son passed out and had convulsions on a scree field over a lake just above 15,000 feet. He got better quickly--he had only eaten a candy bar and was dehydrated, so it was easily remedied.

~getting medication (did I mention I picked up a respiratory infection?). You don't need a doctor in Bolivia--you go into any pharmacy (or send a friend), explain your symptoms, and they hand you the medication. And then you pay next to nothing for it. And the herbal expectorant they gave me worked better than the pills I use here in the states.
Overall, an excellent trip!

For more info, check out these links or contact Doug, Jason, Nancy or me.

Orphan World Relief
http://www.orphanworldrelief.org/

Casa de Amor Orphanage
http://www.casadeamor.org/

---
Rick Neighbarger

Welcome, Hannah!

2010-06-21T12:40:00.000-05:00

People always ask how I find our volunteers. Generally speaking, they find me! I rarely know any of them until they contact us about volunteering. But last month I had the pleasure of welcoming Hannah, a friend from Lighthouse Christian Fellowship in Texas!

We've known each other since we were little girls and Hannah is now a lovely young lady studying Spanish in college. For that reason she decided to stay with a host family while serving here in Bolivia. She already has wonderful Spanish, but between her practice there and with Casa de Amor staff and children, she should be quite fluent by the end of her summer stay!

Hannah has already babysat at the other houses, helped translate, been a big help with the triplets, and this week will help with a construction project.

Welcome Hannah, we're glad you're here!

We Love Savannah!!!

2010-06-18T16:24:00.011-05:00

Savannah launched herself to the top of the "amazing volunteer" list about, hm...a few minutes after getting here! Straight off the plane on a Saturday, Savannah pitched in to serve children at a big birthday bash, right down to clean up afterwards.

Savannah has several claims to fame here.

Her baking talent...

Her daily attire....

Being SUPER MOM every Sunday, taking a whole tribe of children to church!

...Oh, and making sure that our kids are the best dressed in town!

And otherwise just pitching in anywhere at any time and being a best friend to both the staff, their families, AND our children who all adore her.

Yesterday Savannah left us to visit family for the next 2 1/2 months. Her absence will be sorely felt, and we look forward to September 1!!

(Get some hard earned rest after all those triplet night shifts!!)

Well done, Katrina!

2010-06-17T13:41:00.001-05:00

In late 2008, Katrina stepped up to the plate and saved my sanity in the area of health at Casa de Amor. At that point it seemed like every baby and child in the homes had a special medical need (or two...or three) and it was taking all of us to stay on top of the many appointments and exams.

Apart from all the medical errands, it didn't take long for Katrina to start helping in many other areas. And 2009 was a very rough year - there were challenging situations, my family moved back to the states, and two babies died in the Baby Home. Even through overwhelming circumstances, Katrina stuck it out and we are grateful.

Last month Katrina left Bolivia to go back to Canada, as she prepares to enter college in the fall and then study medicine.

Que te vaya bien y que Dios te bendiga MUCHO Tia Katrina!!!!!

Celebrating Katrina's 18th birthday shortly before her trip

Feliz Cumpleanos a Jennifer!!!

2010-05-24T00:24:00.000-05:00

Today is a very important day!!!

Today is Casa de Amor's Founder/Director's birthday!!!!!

"Feliz Cumpleanos a Jennifer!" Happy Birthday to Jennifer!

Here she is with her almost birthday buddies - Twin boys that just turned two a few days ago!!!

missionary candidates

2010-04-29T11:47:00.008-05:00

Over the weekend, we had some visitors at Casa de Amor I, II, and III.

The Mitchell family from McKinney, Texas!

On their day at the Baby Home, they quickly jumped into helping with a triplet feeding!

(Yep, appears that my camera is dying!)

We also prepared a newsletter for mailing one evening at Casa de Amor II.

I was so grateful that they could take them back for us!

The Mitchells came with a very specific purpose: see the work firsthand and make the big (that's probably an understatement!) decision of relocating here to join Casa de Amor Bolivia in our ministry to children.

Please join us all in prayer as they seek God's will and timing. :)

Update on Baby Triplet Victoria

2010-03-29T16:36:00.001-05:00

"Got to spend some time with Victoria in the NICU tonight - she is thankfully doing MUCH better than she was yesterday - bacterial infection is our best guess at this point, as we're still awaiting test results. The nurses told me that they are talking about possibly taking her off of the ventilator tomorrow as she seems to be breathing well on her own. One doctor suggested that she may be hospitalized for another week. It's not any fun to see our baby in the NICU, but we are very glad to report better news today. Can't thank y'all enough for prayers."

--Savannah - CDA's volunteer nurse from TN

Huge Urgent Prayer Request...

2010-03-26T15:19:00.003-05:00

All of us at Casa De Amor are urgently begging for prayer for Triplet #2 - Victoria. She has a really high fever and is being tested for everything though it is suspected she either has a bacterial infection and/or parasites but at this point we don't know yet. She has been admitted to the closest NICU which happens to only be about 10 minutes from CDA and is an excellent hospital.

Please pray for all the doctors, nurses, and caregivers involved. And pray for all the workers at CDA and especially Jennifer during this time.

Thanks!
Denise
CDA
Child Sponsorship Coordinator

Calling All Baby Lovers!

2010-03-01T09:48:00.001-06:00

In a few short weeks volunteer Caris returns to the US.

A couple months after that, we will lose Katrina as she continues her studies.

That means we need another Caris and Katrina. (Just kidding, you're irreplaceable!!)

Both have been a HUGE help as they serve our staff and children day in and day out and help with office projects.

So, please pass on the need to your children loving friends!

We prefer that volunteers come for at least 6 months time to have a better chance to get to know the kids and staff (and Spanish...and Bolivia!) and be able to make an impact.

Anyone interested can write volunteer@casadeamor.org for more information and application!

Thanks in advance!

Hands, Herpes, and Humility...Hallelujah!

2010-02-20T15:01:00.003-06:00

When I read this Facebook blog post by volunteer Elena, I knew I had to ask her if I could publish it on the volunteer blog. It's not all high points in our work here in Bolivia, as Elena well describes. (Or here's a link.)

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

These past few days of ministry have been some of my favorite so far, but also some of the hardest.
On Sunday I hung out with my friends, some from previous trips, others new. My hands had two areas of what seemed to me like sunburn. But how do you get sunburnt on just one side of your hand and on the middle finger of the other? I used a cooling spray to help with the pain and forgot about it.

The next morning I got to spend time with a group from Sanidad Divina church, lifting up the Bolivia Life Center with prayer, praise, and fasting. It was an incredible time of welcoming the Holy Spirit and fellowshipping with the body of Christ. With all the clapping though, my hands were really hurting and the redness had developed into a blistering rash that started oozing towards the end of the day. Yeah, gross...I get a little queasy every time I look down too.

Tuesday morning I woke up and washed the crustiness away to reveal no improvement, rather more blisters. I figured, oh its Carnaval today so I won't be going out anyway. No one else will have to be grossed out as well. But, Jennifer called me and asked if I wanted to go with her, a church group, and some of our street friends to visit a drug rehab center. Without pause I said yes...whenever Jen calls me with plans I always try to say yes, its sure to be an adventure, eye-opener, life changer! After I hung up the phone I looked down at my red blistery hands and ran for the band-aids. I felt better once the worst areas were covered, but my efforts were futile...my street friend D immediately noticed and asked me what was wrong...I shrugged off her concern. "It's nothing, just a little boo boo."

But later when four more people from the church squeezed in to our car that already held 5 adults and 2 kids, a new friend Sarah noticed my hands as well. She said, "You shouldn't cover them...the humidity will make the infection worse." I shrugged off her advice as I had D's concern..."It's not that bad." Still, I knew she was right, I had to abandon vanity and take off the band-aids.

We arrived at the rehab facility, met the people healing there and spent several hours in games, worship, and testimonies. When I say worship, there is no well practiced praise team that can compare to the sincerity and volume of these precious men as they thanked the Lord for what he is doing in their lives. We fellowshipped afterwards with food and volleyball...yeah, that game you play with just your HANDS. I was determined to play, so I ignored the pain. I succeeded in having a lot of fun and making the blisters on my hands worse. Jen noticed that it was worse than in the morning and we stopped to talk to a doctor that happened to be there.
After examining my hands and throwing out several possibilities she confidently declared, "It's herpes."
My mouth dropped open and I looked at Jen. I'm sure my reaction was similar to that of Cuzco in "The Emporor's New Groove" when he found out he was a llama..."LLAMA FACE!" Had I misunderstood? Nope, herpes is herpes in Spanish too...there's no running away from that word.
I was on the verge of tears, herpes in my mind is a venereal disease...there is no way I could have that...and why would it be on my hands? Jen quickly explained that herpes is the virus that causes chicken pox, shingles, and cold sores...Since I've had chicken pox, the virus is in my body and has manifested itself in this way.
After several emotionally and spiritually draining days, I just wanted to go home and cry about my herpes hands. But we had another commitment to a volunteer fellowship that night. I tried to lighten my own spirits by cheerfully announcing that I had hand herpes to all my fellow volunteers and laughing it off. By the time I got home, talked to an amazing friend on Skype, and then sank into my bed I was ready to burst into tears.
As I was falling asleep, I realized what happened.
I asked God to break my heart for what breaks his.
Oops.
Ask and you shall receive!
I did, I was on my knees in my room a couple days ago and I asked him to break my heart.
My friends who live on the street, the men I met who are healing from that situation, the kids I love on every day...they have all experienced being untouchable, lepers of the society.
When in my life have I ever experienced that? When have people ever stared right through me, or even abused me for being without a home, for having an addiction, for being abandoned by my parents?
Today I feel untouchable. Today I feel ugly. Today I am humbled. Even though the sores on my hands can't be given to someone else through touch, who wants to shake hands with ooz- blister-herpes-hands girl?
Today I also feel relieved.
Relieved that God once has a purpose for every little thing that I go through.
That I don't have herpes hands for nothing.
That GLORY Hallelujah he answered my prayer!!!!
That he lives, exists, responds!
Amen!

Be careful what you ask for...but if you do ask for something, don't make my mistake and forget to look for the response with faith and expectation!

Love,
Elena Catherine ~*~

cross examinations and cows in cars

2010-02-14T13:20:00.001-06:00

Today as we celebrate

the Lord's day

Carnival

Valentine's Day

two birthdays

and a farewell

...here's a great blog post by volunteer Caris!

Miscellaneous...

Group Picture Time!

2010-01-14T15:07:00.009-06:00

I am not saying this just to say this.

We seriously have an excellent team of volunteers right now!

L-R: Katrina Faith, Savannah, Katrina Joy, Elena, Caris

The "singles" plus Nic and the Alseth family

(not pictured: oldest two Alseth children, one busy working on college applications and the other, well, he didn't want to be caught in a group picture with us... : )

new arrivals!

2010-01-04T20:26:00.011-06:00

Katrina arrived from New Zealand {via 5 weeks in Guatemala} on December 23. It's her 3rd time in Bolivia/Casa de Amor!

Elena arrived from Miami on December 29. She's also a travel veteran - it's her 4th time here!

Both gals jumped right in and are already blessing our kids and staff by their can-do attitudes and creative ideas.

Along with Caris and Savannah, we have a really stellar team of volunteers right now. And I think they truly like one another, which is fun to see as the "mama".

~As an aside, I think this is a first for having ALL kitchen proficient volunteers. What I mean by that is not a one is afraid to get in there and whip up a meal for a small army, or at the least turn out a couple of prize winning desserts. It's been fun! (And I consider myself lucky that I'm still losing weight after my US trip, rather than the other way around.) Last night we had a rather yummy potluck dinner, if I do say so myself! Of course we didn't have time for it till late, but we enjoyed it all the same. Can you believe that three of the five of us are vegans/vegetarians, and that's not even counting Kathy Alseth at CDA III, ha!~

Today there was a pool "party" for 6 of the kids, another day it was an ice cream outing, soon a trip to the hair salon for a set of shaggy twins, and on and on.

Thanks for all that you do for us and the kids!!!

I can't believe that I don't have a good picture of Elena yet! Guess I was too preoccupied on Sunday morning when we had 9 8 (don't ask!) children/babies at church and then lunch. And then during our most memorable moments together so far we were under a bridge surrounded by new street friends. Although I wanted a picture then, it was not exactly advisable, ha!

Reject Apathy

2009-12-14T20:36:00.004-06:00

For a few years now I have been reading Relevant Magazine both online and in the print version. Recently they have started a new aspect to their magazine called "Reject Apathy" and they asked people to submit the ways they "Reject Apathy." So I felt compelled to write in and tell readers/Relevant about what I use my summer breaks as a high school teacher to do - volunteer at a Baby Home called Casa de Amor. And they printed my submission! You can read the little bit I wrote and what other people submitted on pages 6 and 7 of the following link. But I encourage you to browse through the whole "Reject Apathy" magazine and also throughout the Relevant Magazine website. There are some truly amazing articles on there!

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/reject-apathy/rejectapathy-magazine

You might also check out this other article from Relevant Magazine. It's about Cochabamba, Bolivia. (Where the Casa de Amor Children's Homes are located.) While there are a couple of minor factual errors in the article it is very relevant to what is happening in Cochabamba.

http://www.mygazines.com/issue/353/51

And as always, please pray for Casa de Amor as we continue to help the fatherless.

Denise
2 time Casa de Amor volunteer
and
Child Sponsorship Coordinator
denise@casadeamor.org

Navidad en Bolivia 2009

2009-12-13T21:05:00.006-06:00

Huge shout out to Erin & Chris Sidmore!

Erin voluntered with us in 2006/07 and we're so glad to have her and her sweet family with us in Bolivia for a time to come! I wish I had a picture of them...will have to remedy that soon. But anyway, thanks to the Sidmores Casa de Amor was included in the "Navidad en Bolivia" website. This project is on it's second year now of presenting a "list of very real ways to impact the lives of underprivileged children in Bolivia this Christmas." Yeah!

The donation arrived a few days ago right at the time of crucial need so it was even MORE appreciated. Here's a note from Erin after delivering the money to the Baby Home:

And oh my goodness I must say the kids are so cute and precious! Not to make you miss them more than you probably already do but baby Fabina is the happiest little baby I have ever seen! She was all smiles today :)

Oh how I MISS them all!!! Just 7 1/2 more days.

If you need a unique gift for someone special, consider our Casa de Amor gift cards!

a first!

2009-11-24T10:55:00.014-06:00

I do believe this is the first time I've been with a volunteer's parents while she is still in Bolivia!

Meeting Savannah's charming parents in their lovely home near Nashville...

Eating dinner with them (read three course meal with all the trimmings!)...

Meeting the {four} family dogs...

Sitting on Savannah's bed in her room (yeah, a little weird!)...

Passing on a cookie cake from my family's store...

(Isn't this cruel?! I really owe you some baking when I'm back, Sav!)

Oh, and then talking to Savannah from her house...while she's in my house down there. =)

Yep, that would all have to be a first!

We look forward to the Sielbeck's Bolivia visit early next year!!

La Cancha

2009-11-19T19:29:00.004-06:00

Hi everyone! Normally I would not just post a link to someone else's blog - but Denise Holman did such a nice job of talking about the largest open air market in South America - La Cancha - that I feel I MUST post the link on here!

La Cancha is HUGE, smells TERRIBLE, and is packed with people and is challenging to navegate - but it also sells just about anything you can think of...

So check out Denise's very cool post complete with pictures:

http://theholmansinbolivia.blogspot.com/2009/11/la-cancha.html

first days...

2009-11-16T10:09:00.003-06:00

Hi, I’m Caris! Or, as they call me down here, “ka-REES!”

I’ve been in Bolivia for 3 weeks, and despite constant sickness, I’ve been able to spend some time at each of the Homes. The most enjoyable part of working with the kids is giving LOTS of hugs! As a snuggle-bug myself, it’s so rewarding to love on the kids who are so eager for affection. It’s amazing how quickly they open up their hearts to another “Tia.” The very first day I arrived, a 3-year-old kept asking me to sit down, just to crawl up onto my lap!

Another striking thing about the Baby Homes here is how, even with so many kids, there is a definite structure to each day and they all know the program! As I watched a 6-year-old take almost 10 minutes to make her bed PERFECTLY, I was astounded at how kids are capable of so much, and how easily they rise to the occasion when something is expected of them.

Those are my first impressions of the Homes of Love. In the meantime, I’m meeting lots of great people, learning my way around town, marveling at the gorgeous mountains and “backwards” moon (looks different in the southern hemisphere), and soaking up lots of Summer sunshine… in November!

Welcome, Caris!

2009-10-31T12:46:00.001-05:00

CDA's new volunteer Caris arrived to Cochabamba just over a week ago. She will be with us for five months.

Unfortunately she's been sick most of her first week (all too common in Bolivia), but when she's doing better hopefully she can introduce herself here!

this is the way we go to town, go to town

2009-10-08T21:01:00.009-05:00

Casa de Amor III and the Alseth family, ready to roll!

That would be 15 people...

2 adults + taxi driver + 12 kids (ages 1-16)

And smiles on their faces, too!

(well, most of their faces)

the deep dark hole

2009-09-28T10:24:00.004-05:00

Our storage room at the Baby Home easily becomes um, well...a disaster!

Then in step the volunteers to spend ~~every waking moment~~ a LOT of their free time going through the perpetual bags and boxes of donations of everything from clothes to underwear to medicines to toys.

More than one volunteer has told me I could easily use it to punish people, as in "you are banished forever to organizing clothes in the deep dark black hole, muaaa-ha-ha!"

But since I'm not that mean, I really appreciate that eventually someone will always step forward to help of her own free will (including my mother and Kathy Alseth of CDA III on more than one occasion).

Molly in July at the beginning....

And Christy in September, project done!

If I'm leaving out someone else's name (Denise? Melissa?) forgive me and we thank you, too! (If I don't have a picture, I forget.)

Thanks girls! We plan to keep it this way as long as possible this time around. =)

visitors

2009-09-24T15:21:00.007-05:00

...from Texas of course, where else?!

(Just joking!!)

I met the Samsel family last year in July and since then they've been working on raising support to move their family here and serve with Casa de Amor Bolivia long term. While it's been slower going than any of us would like, at least they're taking steps forward and are currently here for a week and a half to see the ministry and city firsthand.

Zoe's second task at the Baby Home (after bathing the new baby with her mother): keeping 6 one year olds happy between lunch and naptime!

Thanks for coming, Serenity & Zoe, and thanks for the donations you worked so hard to gather!

(Happy 12th Birthday, Zoe!)

Savannah

2009-09-12T23:41:00.009-05:00

Savannah, Casa de Amor's newest volunteer, arrived to Cochabamba just in time for baby Gabriel's first birthday party - the biggest, most exciting birthday party that Casa de Amor has ever experienced.

To read about and see the party through Savannah's eyes check out her blog - she has some great pictures of the kids!

http://savannahdownsouth.blogspot.com/

Also, pray for Savannah as she adjusts to life in Cochabamba. Between the climate change, altitude change, language barrier, and all the new names to learn, it can be quite exhausting and I know she will appreciate your prayers.

hidden talents

2009-09-01T22:18:00.005-05:00

As current volunteer Christy nears the end of her time here, she told me that's she's studying reflexology, needs people to practice on, and would I be willing? Are you kidding?! I had just been hearing more about it and since I've been walking a ton, both for exercise and just downtown running errands, a foot massage sounded awesome!

Today I was in the office from 8:30am to almost 9pm with just a few quick breaks to check in on the kids and staff or grab food. However, I spent a very nice hour in the new volunteer room with Christy having my first reflexology session! It was relaxing even though we spent the majority of our time talking about losses of loved ones in our lives (Christy: her husband, me: two babies). Odd for two young people perhaps, but those losses are part of who we are now and there's no changing that.

The only bad part was that afterwards, I was more prepped for a nap than returning to my desk. I also had a slight headache, which she had warned me of as it stimulates a detoxifying process in the body.

Before she did me, she worked on the four caregivers during the kids' naptime. Their job here at the Baby Home is very physical, and Christy said it was the first time someone just layed down for her, ready for the massage. They were very grateful!

Of course then she worked on me and my feet appeared huge after the small Bolivians! Okay, because they ARE huge! (Size 11, anyone?)

I loved how even though she's new to this, while doing a certain toe she picked up on my left shoulder soreness.

Okay I was just googling reflexology, and a 45 minute session in the UK costs 35 pounds!! What a perk to have this for free today. Thanks, Christy!

I'm home! Or am I?

2009-08-12T22:16:00.007-05:00

I just read this good article at Urbana that covers the bases of "re-entry" into your home culture and the whole transition after having experienced life in another context. Some say it's more challenging than culture shock. As a veteran of over 15 international trips before I moved to Bolivia, and now watching my family walk through their re-entry - I agree!

Soon several CDA volunteers will be winging their way home...although "home" will be different than they remember or expect. Here are a few key points from the article, also covered in our debriefings here but it's worth stating twice!

There are some dangers in this whole matter that you need to be aware of:

• That you will begin to romanticize about your experience in the other country the longer you are back home. You will tend to forget the difficulties and exaggerate the wonderful relationships, the food, the style of life, etc.

If you are able to return one day, you will have to face disappointment; things will just not be as wonderful as they developed in your mind.

• The danger of having a continual negative reaction to American patterns of “wealth and money.” Don’t lose your appreciation of how consumerism has taken over American life, but think through your criticism, make some decisions as to how you will live, knowing that as time goes by you will find yourself slipping back into the same patterns you had before.

Be aware that your family and friends who have not gone through the experience you had overseas will not be able to understand fully what you are feeling and expressing.

• The temptation to focus in on yourself: “Why don’t they understand me?” “Why are people so selfish with their ‘wealth’?” Why aren’t they as sensitive to world need as I am?”

Rather than continuing to just focus on the needs of the people where you were, investigate opportunities of service here in this country. See a broader picture. Use the sensitivity you gained to good advantage here.

I'm already looking into some volunteer options (primarily CASA and Meals on Wheels, a special favorite for me and my youngest sister) during my time back in the US at the end of the year. Even though it's short term, I don't want to get out of the habit of serving -- and remembering that no matter where I am, there are vulnerable people but also organizations and churches giving their all to make a positive impact.

Other articles from urbana.org: Towards Growthful Re-entry and Reverse Culture Shock (including helpful graph).

A Day in the Life of a Volunteer

2009-08-08T20:23:00.002-05:00

Another Summer 2007 newsletter contribution by 3 time volunteer (and our first volunteer coordinator) Amber Miller

What happens on a normal day at Casa de Amor? Well, for one thing there is no such thing as "normal" when you have a dozen or more children running around. The most you can hope for is "not too crazy". But there are some things that are a part of each day and can help give people an idea of what we do.....

In one home, the older children typically go to school in the mornings. That means that the younger ones get to receive a little more attention for a few hours. They learn how to draw or cut paper (and sometimes they apply that last skill to their hair as well) and usually have several hard lessons each day in how to share with others. It's a great time for volunteers to just love on the kids that are there and make them feel important by letting them help with
projects like making cookies or sweeping, or even cleaning their room. (Hint: Don't ever let the kids think they're working or you've lost them!)

In the other house the children are too young to attend school, but while the babies sleep the "big" kids have a school of their own. They learn to color and count, run and jump in response to the tia's whistle, and they love it when they're rewarded with smiles and words of affirmation. Here the volunteers have the incredible blessing of loving on some of the sweetest babies in the world. I'm not sure who has the most fun, the kids or the volunteers. There's just something about holding a little warm body that worships you......it can make a horrible day turn into something wonderful.

Of course, along with the fun part comes other not-so-fun jobs: mountains of cloth diapers to scrub, hundreds of runny noses to wipe (not really, but in the winter it seems that way!) , messes to clean up, and disagreements to settle. But generally the good outweighs the bad and you just remember the smiles of the kids.

Afternoons include naptimes for nearly everyone, and chores for some of the older children. It's sort of humbling to watch a seven-year-old wash all her dirty clothes by hand knowing that you complain sometimes about having to wash yours...with a washing machine. I actually had to go get my laundry one time and wash it all out by hand with the kids, just to prove that I could.

Also, sometimes in the afternoons we get to take one of the kids out all by themselves. This usually makes them think that they have died and gone to heaven. Having undivided attention from an adult causes each child to feel so special and they just eat it up. We volunteers kind of enjoy being heroes for a little while too. ;-)

So, a typical day for a volunteer contains moments of frustration that are usually more than made up for by smiles and hugs. Plus we get the blessing of knowing that as we care for "the least of these" we are ministering to the Lord Jesus Himself. When you think about it that way, this is the best job in the world!

Twin Photo Shoot

2009-07-30T08:23:00.010-05:00

WARNING

It's an awful lot of cuteness to handle at once.

But if you think you're up to it

Check out the adorable twin x 2 pictures in the slideshow/album to the right ---->

Volunteers Denise and Molly set it all up!

They took 190 pictures.

Don't worry, the online album is trimmed to a mere 85. =)

and a good time was had by all!

2009-07-22T20:42:00.028-05:00

From Tyler, Texas, to Parque Pairumani, Bolivia!

The B family boys:

Grant (14), 3rd visit to Casa de Amor, Bolivia & still in love with the babies
Blake (12), a thoughtful processor of all he saw and heard
Reed (9), can tell you who has the best chicken fingers in Cochabamba

Painting...

and painting som'ore!

How 'bout tile? They do that, too!

All together, in fact

Family tile business! =)

They also fed babies....

...lots of babies, very patiently...

....helped move the physical therapist back into her room

sewed curtains

and babysat 21 babies so that the childcare staff could have a special evening out (this is the late dinner after all small children were in bed)

Do you want to see how we got around?

Really?

Yes, I'm guilty of cramming a vascular surgeon and his family in my ~~huge honkin' SUV~~ mini-mini-van

2 in the back, 4 in the middle, 1 up front, plus 1 to 3 babies/toddlers

Oh, and one night my guitar.

My poor car. It was going through gas like water!

We also visited a mission hangar (since he's a pilot and I love learning this kind of stuff!)

and a mission hospital for a little tour

There was a special farewell

and sad goodbyes...

Thanks for all your hard work, Bengtson Family!! Hope to have you next year!

sticking, stuffing, stacking

2009-07-14T21:40:00.008-05:00

So Denise had the great idea of putting this picture on the volunteer blog..... ;-)

We...

Todd B.

Stacy B.

Grant B. (age 14)

Blake B. (12)

Reed B. (9)

Molly

Denise

...just had a great hour + preparing the newsletters for mailing from the Bengtson's hotel.
(Their family will take them back in their suitcases.)

It was still quite the project to get nearly 500 newsletters ready! There are two inserts, a self-addressed envelope, mailing labels, and two stickers to seal it all.

Thanks, guys, for your willingness to help and great attitudes!

so......

2009-07-09T14:51:00.007-05:00

Denise and Molly...

...anything you'd like to share about your time caring for your new roommates? ;-)

Tia Katrina...

2009-06-26T08:13:00.006-05:00

Our medical assistant Katrina and her sister arrive back in Canada today for their first visit in two years. They'll be there 2 1/2 months.

We will miss Katrina's help!!! I would like to think that all will stay calm while she's gone, but it's winter in Bolivia (freezing nights/very hot days) and July is always a difficult month. Although we can always pray for miracles, right?!

Stay in touch Katrina, and hope you have a great time! We'll manage somehow. ;-)

She's back!

2009-06-11T22:35:00.007-05:00

This afternoon Denise arrived! Thanks to Nic's suggestion and Molly and Melissa's help, we took 2 toddlers and twins to greet her at the airport.

It's been so much fun to "live with her" the experience of seeing the kids again (she was here this time last year). Four year old S. was thoroughly entertaining this afternoon as Denise reconnected with the babies she already knew and met the new ones.

Welcome back! It's going to be a very BUSY couple of months!

I Am Resting

2009-06-04T10:01:00.009-05:00

In January, I chose a word for this year. I was thinking about it the other day and wondering how that word, rest, could apply to the continual trials of 2009. A really unusually high number of them.

I guess these lines I pondered are key:

Rest in believing that God knows what is best for me this year.

Rest in the fact that He has it all under control. Without my help.

Now I was looking at CDA-friend-and-future-volunteer Katie's blog, and she posted this song...I love all the songs you've been mentioning, guys!...and it is really lovely. The music is especially soothing too, something I'm drawn to these days.

Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.

And speaking of resting, today I write from a missionary family's home. They are on vacation and I'm at their home today and tonight, then over the weekend. Today I'm using the quiet time to catch up on the emails before they eat me alive, and to jump start the next newsletter (beginnings are hardest for me!). But this weekend, oohhh, this weekend.... I am going to REST!!!! Well do things I like, too: read, bake, catch up on blogs, sleep, watch a movie on a TV screen (vs. laptop)?? I've been full time in the Baby Home since my family left in March and although that was the norm my first few years here, let's just say I really appreciate this opportunity to "withdraw from the crowds".

Thank you Lord, for providing the perfect haven of rest after such a stressful, difficult month....

~Jennifer

more music...

2009-06-02T15:48:00.010-05:00

Jennifer just posted many songs that relate to grieving/mourning the loss of little Joel on the Casa de Amor blog. I just wanted to share one more. This one is called "Homesick" and is by MercyMe. I hope it helps at least one person...

Welcome, M & M!

2009-05-26T22:25:00.002-05:00

Melissa with baby J & Molly with baby F

Happy Birthday to Jennifer!

2009-05-24T15:11:00.002-05:00

In case you all didn't know, today is Jennifer's Birthday! So I'd just like to take a second to publicly thank her for everything she does and to say "Happy Birthday!"

More from Melanie!

2009-05-19T22:19:00.008-05:00

First Bolivian Update…by Melanie Holeman

Saturday, October 25, 2008 (posted with permission)

"Wow… I can't believe I've been here for almost three weeks now...the time really has flown by, but at the same time it's like I've already fit in two months of activity! Thus far, this has been a challenging, amazing, exhausting, hard, adventurous and wonderful experience! I don't even know where to begin…

Cochabamba is really beautiful… It is in the mountains and everywhere you turn there is a view that takes your breath away. I don't think I could ever get tired of it! No day here really ends up being "typical" or goes as planned, but such is Bolivian life! My basic schedule is MWF work a nine hour shift at the Baby Home (Casa de Amor 1 with babies newborn to 3 years old), and T/TH I work a 4 hour shift at the Baby Home and either run errands around town, go to Spanish lessons, hang out with the kids where I live at Casa 2 (kids ages 4+), go for a jog, or read. The founder/director's parents who normally live here and help out a lot are back in the States for awhile, so I've taken over some of their responsibilities as well. So mostly off time on T/TH ends up being dedicated to that. Anyway, I could already write pages just describing the events of a single day, so for now I'm just going to share some things that I have learned from my time so far in Bolivia...

I have learned...

-Everyone here speaks Spanish...shocking, I know.

-This is definitely a relational culture (Let me define this for you. My first proof of this was waiting at the Miami airport for the Bolivian airline to open for ticket/bag check. They were supposed to open at 6:30. In the States (get it done and fast culture) this means it will open at 6:15 or 6:20. Well, a small line had formed a little after 6, and by 6:30 it was a pretty big group of people waiting. But did the airline open at 6:30? No! All the employees were definitely there, in plain sight just hanging out and having a good time. I saw someone bring out a snack tray and some drinks and they were just chilling in no rush to meet their 6:30 deadline for all these eager passengers with piles of luggage.

-How to ride in a trufi (In case you don't know, this is a public transport, 15 passenger van, capable of holding far more than 15 people...again, relational culture…you make friends fast)

-More on relationships...in relationships you typically consider the feelings of others...this is true here for the "rules" of the road. It's more like drive how you feel. If you don't feel like stopping at a red light, well that's okay. If you feel that there should be 4 lanes instead of 3, well you just go ahead and create that lane, we won't judge you.

-If you are having a party and you want it to start at noon, write on your invitations that it starts at 9:00 a.m....this will assure everyone is there when you want them there.

-If you are lost in a foreign country, and you look up the road and think "oh, that random neighborhood street looks familiar...I should walk up there and then I'll know where I am"...don't believe that voice, it is lying to you…

-Do not touch the shower head of an electrically heated shower head while it is running***(see below for picture/explanation)

-I have developed strong feelings of animosity towards roosters who crow well before sunrise

-I will definitely not be using cloth diapers on my children...sorry environment, I can't be completely green

-I am in love with these kids...they are so precious

-Words without Love really are meaningless

-These verses are so completely true...and I have been given the privilege to see it in action: "He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous. 9 The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow," Psalm 146: 7-9

(this next part is from Denise...because everyone needs to understand the shower heads in Latin America!)

These electric shower heads are commonly called "Widow Makers." This is because it is VERY easy to get shocked while you are taking a shower! Especially if you get a razor too close to the shower head! Basically the water is heated by 220 volts of electricity as it runs through the shower head. Therefore the lower the water pressure the warmer the water will get. The only way to adjust the water temperature is by adjusting the water pressure. It is a very different experience :) Also, notice that the water goes straight down. They aren't angled like our shower heads in the states... Just one of the many new and exciting adventures in Latin America!

Fundraiser & Memorial

2009-05-12T13:49:00.010-05:00

Many times even after leaving, volunteers continue to bless Casa de Amor Children's Homes by spreading the word, sending encouraging words, or in creative ways such as this one.

Melanie served with us two months at the end of 2008. She's from Texas, the friend of relatives actually, and even though she went back to start nursing school, has still kept in touch.

Almost more than anyone, I dreaded her finding out the news of baby Gabriela's passing in January, because the "baby twins" as we called them were easily her favorites. (Yes, we're human and although we love and care for them all, favorites "happen", especially with the weaker or sicker babies) But Melanie helped turn tragedy into a blessing through a creative fundraiser. Here is part of her letter, sent last week:

To all my friends at Casa,

.....When I heard about precious Gabriella's tragic passing in January, my heart was broken. I couldn’t imagine how hard it was for everyone who was there and what a trial of grief and recovery was to come.

At the time I was training for a half marathon, which I ran in the middle of February. While training, I was close to giving up for various reasons and forgetting about completing the race. However, after learning about Gabriella's death, I wanted badly to do something to help. So I persevered and committed to the race, this time with the goal of wanting my running to mean something. I asked people to sponsor my run by pledging a certain mount to Casa per each mile I would run.

In some small way God was teaching me perseverance through my training program and although in no way is running equal to the trials Casa was facing, I wanted my run to somehow mean something and to encourage y’all to persevere in the face of those trials. So I hope and pray that these gifts can be an encouragement and a reminder that God is able to sustain us in hard times.

I’d like this gift to go to something in Gabriella's honor, that we would be able to remember what a precious creation of the Lord that she was and the joy we can have knowing she’s healed in heaven with Jesus! I send you all my love!!

Melanie Holeman

And then there are checks for a total of $619. Melanie, if it's alright with you, here's my idea...

Plans to add on a room at the Baby Home came about literally just a few days after Gabi's death, as we were looking at ways to better care for the babies by having more volunteers living here with me to help monitor all the health needs, night and day. The amount we've spent so far is about exactly this amount, and it should cost about that much again to finish the room. When I read your request, I imagined a plaque for that room, maybe with her picture, as another way to remember her short but special life.

The room will actually be multi-purpose: for the physical therapist to work out of weekdays (now her room will be used as a volunteer room again), for families adopting to be alone with their new child, for family members visiting to be with their child(ren), and there will even be a bed for a 3rd volunteer or a family member spending the night while visiting from far away. I will also put the TV/DVD my family left in that room so that the toddlers have a special place to go and watch short videos.

But ANYWAY, the point of this is to share what Melanie did for us and to thank her for her creativity and thoughtfulness! Thanks!!!!!!!

Melanie with twins Gabriel and Gabriela shortly after her arrival, when they were about 1 month old. She wasn't really used to holding two babies at a time (yet!) and I just tossed them into her arms and said "smile!"

During missions conference at Cochabamba International Church, November 2008
(remember how we were melting in the heat, holding our hot little babies?!)

Te queremos, Melanie! :-)

Faces: Each one tells a story...

2009-05-06T20:26:00.003-05:00

By Amber Miller

Originally published in the Winter 07/08 newsletter

Ever since I was little I've loved faces. Dark faces, light faces, happy faces, sad faces, old faces, young faces, scarred faces, clear faces,

thoughtful faces; every face is different. It's quite amusing sometimes while people-watching to just look at faces. I notice little details about how their mouths move, or how they raise

their eyebrows while talking, or wiggle their noses when they're joking. I've been known to be completely distracted in a conversation with someone because I'm watching the way their ears move in conjunction with their mouth. But besides being an amusing pastime, you can learn a lot about people by watching their faces.

When I came to Bolivia, at first all the faces looked the same to me. They were all the same color, had the same dark eyes, broad nose and wide smile. However, as I started looking past the physical features I realized that each face tells a story. There are incredibly sad faces that speak of great sorrow. There are faces that openly display anger at the suffering they've been through. Some faces are worn, wrinkled and tired due to a life of working harder, longer hours than one could think possible. But it was the faces of the children that really captured my attention.

Working at Casa de Amor I had the opportunity to study the faces of many little ones. It was hard to believe that faces so young could have such old stories. Even little babies would come to us with faces full of sorrow, anger, suffering and hardship. There were times I wanted to cry just seeing pictures or watching the kids while they slept. But a funny thing happened as I watched the faces of these children over time. Being exposed to the love and care of the amazing staff at Casa de Amor was changing them. I remember watching smiles take the place of frowns, seeing peacefulness erase angry furrows, and being amazed as laughter lightened the shadows caused by suffering. It didn't happen immediately, and sometimes it was so slow it was nearly imperceptible, but then suddenly a child's face would light up with a smile I'd never seen before and the change was visible.

I was deeply touched by this aspect of my work with Casa de Amor. There were days when changing diapers got old, I smelled like baby spit-up, and if I had to read that book about shapes one more time I was going to completely lose it. But watching the changes that came to each child's face put it all into perspective. The Lord was definitely at work here, touching lives as only He can. If I was a part of that by changing diapers, being spit on and pushing a child in a swing for hours on end, then it was more than worth it.

A smile is a window on your face to show your heart is at home.

we've got a floor!!

2009-05-05T22:02:00.013-05:00

TODAY was the big ~~let's try again to~~ lay the floor day. We had a great turnout of helpers.

Between 8am and 7pm, 5 to 8 volunteers were helping:
4 CDA volunteers (Dan, Joel, Sarah, Katrina) and 4 MKs (Jake, Caleb, & Ben Holman, Nic Johnson).

Interestingly, ALL of us are/were homeschooled, several of us the whole way. Just a bit of trivia there....

And although the room will be two inches off of being square, that's the fault of the building we're adding on to and will be nothing new for Bolivia!

Consulting with a missionary friend about the next steps

Filling the second pillar

Taking time out to check out a "gusanito" (caterpillar) with A, who so desperately wants to be a part of everything the guys are doing! We heard the shout clear up to the third floor when A decided to check out the wet concrete up close!! He dashed off when discovered, leaving only light footprints behind. Anyway, all these volunteers have large families. Joel and I are in the minority with "small" families: all the rest have 5 to 14 siblings!

Thanks, everyone!!!

Up next: brick laying...

Hike

2009-05-03T21:05:00.013-05:00

Volunteers Dan, Sarah, Katrina, Joel

One of my favorite places here is Parque Pairumani. From hiking it with my Dad and others my first full day in Bolivia, to having a couple friends proposed to there (including a volunteer...... before our current regulations, mind you =) ), hiking it on Thanksgiving one year, having my purse stolen (with valuables in it, very sadly), going up and down in a pouring rain, there are lots of good memories of going with teams and my family and the kids and lots of our volunteers from all over the world.

Rare rainbow around the sun (from my angle on the narrow ledge of the mountain wall, couldn't fit it all in--maybe someone else did?)

The city valley below us (quite a smoggy/dusty day)

Heading towards the first waterfall

Rock hopping across the river

At the second waterfall

It was a gorgeous day with a nice picnic lunch as high up as we went.

We all finished sunburnt and tired...just in time for the afternoon activities: a 5th birthday party CDA III with 21 of our kids, and the construction project (which has had its setbacks...hopefully there's good news soon!).

550 bricks

2009-04-30T21:31:00.010-05:00

Construction of our new room is really moving along this week!

Thanks to some new help (Joel, just arrived)...

...and young help (3 year old A)

We had special assistance of the little guy...who thought he was OH so big toting around heavy bricks with the "big tios", getting his picture made by multiple cameras.

As the oldest boy at the Baby Home the job fell to him, with definite envy from his admirers. ~grin~

After taking these pictures, Katrina and I jumped into the truck and touched every brick, moving them to the end of the truck.

Katrina continued working hard and getting just as dirty as the guys, while I had a desk job to get back to....

Joel, David, Katrina, and Dan (and C!) reviewing the work of the day

A Day in the Life of Casa de Amor III

2009-04-28T10:12:00.003-05:00

A typical Monday at CDA III,

by Kathy Alseth

(originally published in the Alseth family's April newsletter)

(Note from Jennifer: Mind you, this is not a normal volunteer schedule by any means, and certainly not to carry out every single day of the week with just one weekend off each month, but this is the role the Alseths have very joyfully and willingly taken on as they care for eight busy babies, toddlers, and young children in their own home, our "CDA III".

I've added ages in brackets.)

6:30 Wake-up with Victoria [10 months], make coffee for me and bottle for her, cook breakfast. Usually eggs, or pancakes, or French toast, or granola. Rick makes a breakfast shake w/fruit and yogurt everyday and I usually make the breakfast food items.

7:00 Kids up, Luis [6], Mayra [4], Noemi [almost 5] and Marcus [5 1/2] put on their clothes by themselves and make their beds. Change the other 4 in diapers and get all the kids up to the table, pray, and eat.

8:00 Wash faces, finish changing everyone’s clothes, brushing teeth, and brushing hair. Fill up and distribute water cups for the day. Clean off the tables and high chairs. Administer medicines as needed and give everyone a vitamin C.

8:10 Our 4 oldest gringo kids leave for school [ages 11 1/2 to 16].

8:30 Victoria eats breakfast, usually fruit, and I eat breakfast while I’m feeding her and while the other kids have time to play with toys.

9:00 Victoria goes down for her 1st nap and I start carrying, sorting, and washing loads of laundry. The kids pick up all the toys so they can play outside.

9:30 The teacher arrives to help us work with the kids for a few hours. One day she does Bible, one day exercises, another school skills, another music, and another is peeling peas and lima beans for the cook. She also will help them with homework. The Cook/Maid arrives. I take a shower and get ready.

10:00 First snack, usually a fruit item, help them wash up before and afterward.

10:30 Victoria wakes up from her nap I change her diaper and make her lunch.

11:00 Victoria eats lunch, usually veggies and then has time to play with toys while I hang clothes up on the line or if it is a rainy day I use our gas dryer, then I start another load.

11:30 Change Juan Gabriel [2], Alijandra [1 1/2], and Ana’s [2] diapers. Work on organizing the house after the weekend and putting things in their place.

12:00 Prepare all the plates for the kids’ lunches, help wash hands and put away activities they were doing with the teacher, pray, and eat. (Rick and I have made a 4 week menu with all vegetarian lunches for me and all meat dinners for him. At the end of the month we start at the beginning of the menu again.)

12:30 Help wash faces, brush teeth, clean off the tables and high chairs, then prepare bottles for Victoria and Alijandra.

1:00 Victoria and Ali drink their bottles. Prepare Luis’s and Noemi’s backpacks for school with snacks, water bottles, and homework, then change them into their uniforms.

1:15 The teacher leaves and when she leaves she takes Luis and Noemi to school for us.

1:20 Everyone gets a drink, goes to the bathroom, diapers checked/changed, and then off to bed for nap.

1:45 Everyone is officially asleep and I hang up more clothes and start another load.

2:00 Water plants, check e-mails, do Bible study homework, or work on photos and the newsletters.

3:15 Micaela and Christian arrive home from school, eat a snack, and start on home-work and chores.

3:45 Wake-up the kids from their naps. Help with socks and shoes, check/change diapers, smooth hair do's, make and give Victoria a bottle.

4:00 Give the 2nd snack usually Jell-O, or crackers, or carrot juice, or fruit salad. Wash them up before and afterward.

4:10 I leave to go pick-up Noemi from Kindergarten, a 20 minute walk one way that I do for exercise and we catch a taxi/bus part of the way back.

4:45 Supervise kids while they play outside and I take all the clothes down from the line and pile them in a huge laundry mountain on the floor of the TV room for folding tomorrow night.

5:20 Rick leaves in the car with 2 kids on a rotating basis to go get Luis from 1st grade.

5:30 Victoria’s dinner, usually cereal, and I eat dinner while I’m feeding her, usually cereal too. Judah and Shekkinah arrive home after Basketball and Cheerleading practice, eat a snack, and start on
homework and chores.

6:00 Prepare all the plates for the kids’ dinners, get everyone washed, up to the table, pray, and eat. Everyone gets a multi-vitamin after dinner.

6:45 Wash up the kids, clean off the tables and high chairs, help brush teeth, check/ change diapers, put on pjs, clean up the toys. Make bottles for Victoria and Alijandra.

7:15 Start a DVD for those kids who had good behavior during the day. The other ones play with toys. Give bottles to Victoria and Alijandra.

7:55 Administer medicines as necessary, all the kids drink water, use the bathroom, and have prayer time in their beds. Victoria and Ali are put into their cribs.

8:00 Micaela, Judah, Shekkinah, and Christian finish chores and get homework help if needed and then they have free time till 9:30

If you're not tired after THAT....

Prayer Request for Returning Volunteer

2009-04-27T12:08:00.003-05:00

Denise served with us a couple months last summer, and is well on her way for a return trip this year. It's quite obvious to anyone who knows Denise that if she'd had her way, she never would've left in the first place. However, she has to earn a living (teaching Spanish to 100s of high schoolers) and now counts down till her return on June 10!

Now she's had some unexpected health issues come up, and although all is not clear yet, she is bound and determined to follow through on her much awaited Bolivia trip - no matter what! Pray for God's peace for her and of course HEALTH and energy in abundance! It's not an easy task to care for 20 babies, much less when you're down.

Thank you!
Jennifer

This is Denise's beautiful prayer card--as far as I'm aware, the first CDA volunteer to create one

Top 10 Reasons to be a Casa de Amor Volunteer

2009-04-26T12:15:00.007-05:00

Originally published in our Summer 2007 newsletter, by repeat volunteer Amber Miller

(See Amber, you CAN contribute, even from afar!)

10. It's pure and undefiled religion (James 1:27)
9. All people should have to change at least one diaper in their life
8. Baby smiles are out of this world!
7. Being the mediator between two 8 year olds is great practice if you plan on being a politician
6. Silvia and Zulema can cook up the best food you've ever eaten
5. You get the chance to minister to Jesus (Matthew 18:5)
4. All those runny noses will give you an immune system that can't be beaten
3. Being a hero to a little girl or boy is something special.....and humbling
2. You get to act like a little kid...and no one thinks you're weird ;-)

And #1: Because watching a child's face as years of fear and hurt melt away in the presence of unconditional love is PRICELESS!

Do any of you other volunteers have a "top ten" list of why serving in Bolivia is not crazy??

Kathy Alseth's birthday!

2009-04-25T10:21:00.009-05:00

There's almost always a birthday in a week at Casa de Amor Children's Homes.

Last night we celebrated Kathy Alseth's, the "mother in residence" at CDA III!

She and her family (husband, four kids) have lived here since August 2007, pouring their lives into MANY children.

It was a fun surprise for her (aqua shirt), thanks to the help of her husband and a special thanks for the last minute help of Rehanna (who first came to Bolivia to work with CDA). CDA III's caregiver was hospitalized and so couldn't babysit their 8 youngest kiddos as previously planned.

We were 11 from CDA (minus 1 who couldn't come) and 2 fellow missionary friends. Fun group!

And actually, the same day one year before they took in their first baby for us, making April 24 also the 1st anniversary of Casa de Amor III! We tried to decide if it seems like a long time ago or not. It seems a while back to me, although life really whips by at incredible speed here!

A Series of Unfortunate Events

2009-04-24T10:05:00.005-05:00

Originally posted on Sarah's Blog, Which is Hopefully Better Than Her Day on April 22, 2009.

Today has seriously been one disaster after another. (Exaggeration, yes, but still.) I woke up early this morning to take a shower and head to my Spanish class. I could not take a shower because the water was out here. It came back on 5 minutes before I had to leave. I left dirty and took two buses to get to where my Spanish class is. When I got there the building was dark and empty and after waiting for 30 minutes for anyone to show up I left, Spanish-lessonless.

On the way home, I experienced my first Bolivian blockade- a political demonstration which is conducted by a group of people blocking a major road while holding signs. A police officer redirects the traffic from a block away, ensuring that no one can get close enough to actually read the signs. The bus I was on was forced to take an hour long unmarked detour which included a scenic tour of some of the poorer streets in my neighborhood here on cobblestone and dirt roads. We even got to drive backwards on a bridge with no railings.

So...When I finally got home, I discovered that while I was gone, my room had flooded somehow with stinky water from an unknown source. Well, as it turns out, the water was coming out of a pipe that has always been in my room, but I never knew what it did. (Now I know what it does- it fills my room with stinky water.) Well, some of the ladies that work here helped me figure out where the pipe led to (a sink outside) but none of us could figure out why it happened to leak, or pour rather, into my room on this particular day. (It has never happened before.) I had to move all the furniture in my room, mop up the floor and wash the rugs. I'm not sure if the room still stinks or not- I have a pretty bad cold right now and can't smell a thing.

Anyways, so just when I figure this day can't get any more troublesome, I get online and find out there is a virus on the house 2 computer. Some of you have been fortunate enough to receive infected emails from me today. (Truly Sorry.)

In conclusion, I've decided to lock myself in my room for the rest of the day. Not sure if I should risk trying to cook dinner or not.

Nope, I think not.

The pesky pipe in question which seemed harmless enough at first.

Introducing: Our International Team!

2009-04-23T10:25:00.002-05:00

Casa de Amor Children's Homes and GOAL (our US non-profit) depend on a dedicated team of servant hearted people to carry out this work. All have a passion for blessing children-in-risk and making sure that Casa de Amor is successful in every way, providing excellent care and a hope and a future for the ones God brings us.

In Texas, a few friends share their valuable time to check the mail, sort and deposit checks, mail out newsletters and thank you letters, process volunteer inquiries and child sponsorships, and many more things I'm probably not even aware of. They're good like that: working quietly behind the scenes and not bothering me about much.

In Scotland, a British friend coordinates our support from that part of the world.

I'm particularly grateful for these because, although all have visited Bolivia (or lived here), they work without seeing the immediate reward. The sticky kiss of a toddler or a cuddle with a baby does wonders for motivation!

In Bolivia, highly-screened volunteers take their place alongside the hard-working national staff. They help with everything from doctor's appointments to birthday parties to washing dishes to all the daily care children need (diapers, bottles, mealtimes, baths, hugs, prayer before bed, and on and on). Their (our) lives are affected daily by the social and political turmoil of Bolivia, the stomach illnesses common to life here, and getting around and communicating on foreign soil.

Personally, I am continually blessed by the encouraging words of this team. And then for the volunteers who move on (although a good number have either stayed or returned), their comments on the main blog, emails, and phone calls long after they leave Bolivia are a great support.

So with no further ado, I inaugurate this blog as a place for them to share what's on their hearts as we work alongside together in this most challenging of jobs: forming a family for these children who have none.

Serving Together,
Jennifer Thompson
Founder/Director
Casa de Amor Children's Homes,
Cochabamba, Bolivia