July 2009 Newsletter

MOORHOUSE MOMENTS July 2009. Cochabamba. Bolivia.
MOMENTS

In twelve years we have never had so rapid a change. The dynamics within the home in just the past three months has altered so radically. From a bunch of children some of whom have now been eight years with us to a group of littlies. So its high chairs ,nappies (diapers), bottles, and potties OH JOY!

I can hear some of you now. Oh, I love babies.

So you think you might like to do what we do? Look after a bunch of needy children. Wait just one moment. Renee can’t read or write. In grade two! We need a special school. Claudia is found in the classroom with three boys while her classmates are outside. Not a great moment. We need to change her school. Gonzalo has become so aggressive and foul mouthed, after just a few weeks in his school, that we feel his companions in his new technical course are an extremely bad influence. Elizabeth is so often outside the classroom, wandering the sports field, that her teacher doesn’t even know her. They too need a special school. Milenka has such a speech impediment she is at times almost indecipherable. Nor is she coping with schoolwork or routines. So April is spent finding a new school for these guys. Jesus Maestro is the new place with a special education unit but its also another eight kilometers added to the daily routine It’s now five different places each day for all our various children. From specialized classes through to technical training courses. Margoth meanwhile is pulled out of her technical course because she is unable to even comply with the rudiments of the course and Sulma from hers because she abuses the rules of this home. We definitely have moments.

MORE

Afternoons weren’t too bad because nearly all the children were at school. But now it’s ongoing. A part of the reason for that lies with new additions.

Let me introduce you to Agar, (Hagar in English) Moises, Nicole and Estefanie.

Nicole

Estefanie

Still the ‘phone rings asking if we could take this or that needy child.We are so far over our supposed capacity a few more doesn’t seem to matter. And anyway our license renewal which is due for approval each two years still hasn’t been finalized from 2007! Saves us paperwork doesn’t it? A license renewal is some 600 pages of paperwork.

Speaking of renewals Peter got his Australian passport, which expired in 2007, from Chile finally renewed in June. Praise The Lord. Katherine whose Aussie passport was applied for at the same time is still in process. It’s not just Bolivia. Pray for that and our twins citizenship papers.* Talking of papers Jheyson is still in Canada. Here they want him back and in Canada we are trying to get his papers organized so he can stay there. The second is the preferable option. Pray for a solution that works for all. Back to the newie’s.
Agar is 1, Estefanie 2, Moises almost 3 and Nicole 3. The first three all problems related to parental alcohol abuses and the last a single mother who simply cannot cope.









Agar







Moises
Estefanie, who only came two days ago, (2nd week July) is the sister to Liliana and Jessica. It has been hospital first and then paperwork since to finally get her back with her siblings. That’s November till July. Just to read the report on these children is horrific. Emotional and physical abuses. The hospital was for serious problems related to her neglect and then we since learned that these three, Elizabeth plus Agar and Moises, have brothers in other institutions. Still this time we just don’t have room. Sisters are already sleeping together and each room now has a crib besides the beds.

MALADIES

Bolivia has a real fear over swine flu. School recommencement has just been delayed another week for health reasons. You may not enter a public building without masks and even open air concerts have been cancelled. We certainly have our share of colds and sore throats but otherwise children are well. Indeed last weekend the older ones attended youth group camp and this week it’s the turn of the younger ones, thanks to a volunteer who helped with the fees.

MOTORS

The vehicles have had their turn.. Broken gear cable and new batteries on the bus. Of course we had to be going to collect a gift of some chickens and were many miles out of the city. Push to start it then drive back in first gear. Five visits to the workshop to solve overheating problems on the van. Finally, we pray, resolved just yesterday. Then no sooner do we resolve this than the washing machine needs repairs. At least we have the van to convey it to the workshop. But in all the difficulties one thing remains sure.


Intercession

We meet the needs of children and more importantly Bolivian Children’s Mission continues with its goal. Giving children a hope. You and we make a difference.
We had hoped for a break around July but the couple returning from England think they won’t come till December. Pray for our health and wisdom. Babies are more time consuming but oh boy do adolescents have their moments! Pray for all the children. Pray for our staff who carry the daily burden and do all the paperwork with the various authorities. God bless*No internet for several days so before this was sent Katherine’s passport came. PTL