Bolivian Children´s Mission

View from our front door the week school was cancelled for the cold

2010-07-26T11:35:00.003-04:00

A volunteers thoughts (part)

2010-07-11T16:50:00.003-04:00

One chapter ends, another begins

G´day folks! I´m writing this on another beautiful, crisp morning at the mission. The birds are chirping, the eagles are soaring, the mountains are looming and the darn dogs are barking (a 24 hour occurrence). What a lovely place this is, and how lucky I am to have experienced it. Truly, I think the only negatives here in my opinion are the Bolivian drivers (exemplified by the man I saw yesterday riding his motorbike while talking on his mobile phone), the Bolivian anti-service mentality (queuing for hours is considered normal, even when there are heaps of staff that could help you if they wanted) and the dreaded Bolivian belly, a weekly reminder for me that I´m in a third world country.

This is weekend is my last weekend here at Bolivian Children´s Mission. Sort of. I´m heading off to Peru on Monday morning because my legal maximum stay of 90 days at a time expires on Tuesday. But as keen followers of this blog will know, I´ll be back here in a few weeks when Mum arrives from Australia, and then again in September when my friend Russell comes for our motorbike safari around Bolivia. So it´s certainly not the time for teary goodbyes, but I feel like it´s a good time to reflect on what´s been a true life-changing experience for me.

So what have I learnt? Lot´s of things! I´ve learnt that not everyone is out there to make money, buy a house, build a stellar career, make shrewd investments, start a family and go on exciting holidays. Not to say that these things are not important or worthwhile pursuing, but I definitely felt dissatisfaction with my direction in life before coming here, as some of you probably know. Here, I discovered a family that has spent 14 years serving and loving others. It´s not a love where you expect to receive something in return, but a love focused on people who truly need help. Without Peter and Delia, and the numerous other people running children´s homes here in Cochabamba, I shudder to think what these kids´ lives would be like. Seeing their example and the incredible effects it´s had on the lives of these kids, has encouraged me to look for ways to emulate them, even if it´s only on a small scale.

What else? I´ve learnt that work can be fun! Now this is something that the wiser heads among you probably already knew, but as a relative newbie in the field of work, I really only knew what I had experienced up until now. Which, I´m sad to say, was a place where work was at times stressful, competitive, confrontational, personally challenging (sometimes overly so), associated with long days and early starts, seemingly interminable repetition punctuated by events to look forward to (like conferences or holidays). Here on the other hand, my work has been marked by joy. What´s more, service can be fun too. I don´t know why, but whenever I read the numerous instructions in the bible that to love others, to serve others, to be the least (not the greatest) is the ultimate goal of the Christian, I always felt a little queasy. Here, while I certainly haven´t been working 24/7, I definitely have done my bit helping out, and rather than being a drag I have enjoyed almost every minute of it.

Finally, I feel that I am not so worried about my future and direction after spending this wonderful time here. Before, I was always planning ahead and if I didn´t know what was in store for me, I tended to worry or get depressed! Now, thanks to the example of Peter and Delia, who rely on donations to survive here but never seem to worry one ounce, I feel less concerned about what´s ahead of me, particularly once this year is up. I´m pretty confident that God will work everything out for me. It´s quite a liberating feeling.

And what have I experienced? This is what I actually was anticipating and expecting to get out of this stay. And I certainly wasn´t disappointed. I´ve already listed some of the amazing things I´ve been able to do here on previous posts.

2010-04-08T09:01:00.000-04:00

Electoral Courts Ask That Morales Substantiate Claims of Fraud
The Departmental Electoral Courts (CDE) of the regions accused by President Evo Morales of commiting fraud in Sunday´s elections today asked the president to present evidence supporting his claims. The request came on the behalf of the court presidents of the departments of Beni, Santa Cruz, and Tarija, departments in which the president´s political party, MAS, lost both mayoral and gubernatorial elections. In those elections MAS obtained less support than was expected in comparison to the national elections of December, 2009 in which President Morales was reelected.
On Wednesday in Huatjata near Lake Titikaka, President Morales said that his party was preparing legal actions to “respect the vote” of Bolivians in the regions where his followers had filed complaints. In the judgment of Morales “the behavior of the electoral courts in Beni, Santa Cruz, and Tarija is criminal.” The CDE president in Beni, Victor Edgar Moreno, responded that his actions have been placed in the framework of the law and that he has completed all of the necessary procedures. “If there is some accusation or complaint of a supposed fraud, they would have to present evidence and prove it,” continued Mr. Moreno.
In one example of alleged misconduct, MAS candidate for governor in Beni, Jessica Jordan, complained that when she voted all of the votes, including hers, were registered in favor of the opposition. Were Ms. Jordan´s claim proved true it would be an obvious case of voting fraud. Miguel Ángel Guzmán, CDE president in Tarija, also reported that supporters of MAS in Tarija had protested with threats while the results favoring the opposition were announced.
The speakers of the National Electoral Court, including president Antonio Costas, have traveled to the Pando region where both candidates have been accused of fraud. Almost all of the Pando votes have been counted by national representatives of the electoral court and they plan to broadcast the results, believing that the result is correct.

This is our locations on google

2010-04-02T19:10:00.003-04:00

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March newsletter 2010

2010-04-02T16:06:00.004-04:00

Bolivia
Why did the president choose Easter Sunday to hold elections? No vehicles allowed on the road Group meetings are banned. One of the great dates on the Christian calendar is sabotaged. Nobody is really surprised. Evo, the president, in his second term of office, had the Bible removed from the houses of parliament and his disagreement s with the Catholic church are public record. His dislike of private schools, all features of capitalism (no one should own more than one house) and so on are also public record. Many feel unsure about the future of all orphanages, centers of help for the needy, and the like. but especially the church -based organizations feel under threat.. Cochabamba alone has 139 such places.
Our home , for 33 orphaned, abandoned or abused children, is one

License
We had asked for your intercession over our license. We applied for a renewal in 2007 and after much bureaucratic procrastination now are basically doing it all again even before the other was granted. The government agency has less than !0% of all homes actually legal and after closing down nearly one dozen homes last year for various sexual abuse cases have decided to apply stricter regulations and so our new/ re-application goes before the government in April. April however is also when the officers will take their new positions after the a-fore-mentioned elections so anything could happen. With new staff, director in the government agencies it could be that everything is turned over again. Over 1000 pages. We will see.

School
Our situation is stable. Carmen broke a leg and is currently in plaster. Health wise most are fine. The usual scrapes, flu and even the day the bees got bothered and a bunch of us got stung but generally we are fine. We have watched our new admissions bulk up and flourish in an atmosphere that tries to be a family as possible. Indeed our biggest concern at this time is our daughter Nicole who has a heart sound. In process of investigation at this time.
Children are only in three different schools. I couldn’t find one school that had room for them all. After school started five staff left and it’s been very low key .One left for health reasons and the others did not want to, or could not, change their other jobs to fit in with our school day which changed and is now totally mornings. We have hired one lady to help with school work and then there is now another family on site.

Edgar and Olga
After false starts they have finally arrived. Edgar and Olga are a Bolivian couple who have finished three years of study in England It’s been nearly one month and these two are taking a big share of the daily workload. Not totally, as both are trying to also finish their university courses, but still helpful. Olga should be full time after June, July and Edgar by years end. Our plan is to have a sabbatical at the end of 2010 and leave them in charge so it’s been a daily showing of the ropes so to speak. Delia in fact complained that yesterday she was bored. Imagine, in this place! In some aspects the work load has actually increased as they brought three cows with them. Once they start giving milk it should help with milk, cheese, cream, and other dairy products. Of course one of the first
things the cows did was to decimate the veggie garden so its win some lose some. Our own vegetables for the rainy season has been great and its now our wish to now build a green house and prepare for the next growing season. Suddenly we have an abundance of manure Why is it always on the driveway, basket ball court and not where it might be useful?

Volunteers
Also helping are the volunteers who come. Have had two German girls since October last year, A lady from the Channel.Islands who has just left and an Aussie is due the first week of April. Always appreciated. One dream is to still separate the older and young children and so we look for a volunteer couple who have call to make that a reality.

Finally.
After nearly 15 years we are trying to sort out our priorities. Our own children and ourselves versus the children of Bolivia. Hadn’t personally ever felt so run down before and volition less as we were at the beginning of this year. . Already Edgar and Olga have made changes in this respect. A for instance: Delia is taking a course of 9 dental treatments over three weeks Feeling better, even confident, an abscess has been dealt with and other treatments are in the schedule. We have taken a few family weekend breaks this year. Fabulous. If we left Bolivia our first priority would be looking to catching up with people who have supported us and kept this project going. Hoping our son will get married this year. Jared? But we are also wishing to see our older ones from the home move on and into the work force. Sulma, for instance, although only in first year high is 18 this year. Our hearts are divided. Please share with us in resolving this burden.
No pictures this run as we seriously seek to be faithful to the work we feel we were called to start. Even as I write this I hear the younger children running through the house playing chase, whilst waiting for the older ones to return from a neighbors birthday celebration and we know we have made a difference. Some are alive because of homes like us. Thank you. Remember the elections over Easter and new staff in all the government offices throughout April. Remember too our children. Remember Olga and Edgar as they take a bigger responsibility and remember us. Delia and Peter. God bless.

These are from a Visitor

2010-02-12T14:35:00.002-04:00

These are from a visitor to this country. Sometimes their perspectives are different as we take so many things for granted or normal after so many years. Like one of our children has school on the soccer court because there are no schoolrooms free. Others are in a building off campus without toilet facilities.

We are in the election season once more in Bolivia. ‘MAS’, the Movement of Socialism party won half the seats in both lower and upper houses of Congress in the 2005 election. A native Aymara, Evo Morales is the first indigenous president since Bolivia gained independence 180 years ago. We were present when his inauguration took place in January 2006. The Constitution was changed during his term to allow a sitting President to be re-elected. In the Presidential Election in December 2009 he won a massive victory with over 62% and took Office for a second term 2010-2015. He declared a public holiday on Friday 22nd January as it was the day of his Inauguration. Presidents from around Latin America attended in what was a spectacular display of pomp and ceremony in La Paz. We watched it unfold on TV and again on 23rd when he spoke at the induction ceremony of his Ministerial team in the Presidential Palace. April 4th is the next Election Day when the people again go to the polls to elect Governors and councillors for the 9 Departments and mayors for the cities. TV debates with the candidates just as in the UK fill our screens daily.

It is now summer in Bolivia and paradoxically the rainy season. We encountered our first road blockades in the last few weeks when at a moments notice our main road beside us to Oruro and La Paz was blocked all day by protesters – one way on Tuesday in the La Paz direction and on Wednesday one way towards Cochabamba. We found out later it was a protest about the poor state of public highways made much worse when many are constantly churned up by heavy goods vehicles and the inevitable overflowing of rivers throughout the region with the heavy rainfall and I mean heavy! There are massive floods in the Chapare (jungle) and Beni areas north east of Cochabamba with deaths reported. Death here in terms of incidents is a constant phenomenon and in some streets it is almost in your face as the practice here is for funeral parlours to display their coffins in the window many next to a café with Latino music blaring out.
Just recently on the road from Oruro to La Paz 15 were killed and 21 injured when a coach and a lorry collided during the night run. Many of the dead and injured were young people travelling back to Chile. The week after 5 were killed and 47 injured when a coach crashed on the road from Cochabamba to Santa Cruz. The driver had been drinking and the police have charged him with homicide. This first week in February beyond Santa Cruz another 2 coaches collided during the night with 12 deaths and 70 injured. The press headlines are full of so many road tragedies in a matter of weeks. The Transport Minister has taken action on the road worthiness of coaches and the police are pursuing any drivers who show any sign of alcohol.
In La Paz last week the rains caused a landslide in the Bella Vista area and in the destruction that followed hundreds of houses that were built on the mountain side were catapulted into the abyss. No lives were lost as there had been an alert well beforehand but the resulting chaos has left the people poverty stricken. Television graphically covers all sorts of incidents such as this and rarely fails to show the injured or scenes of crime and violence when little is left to the imagination. For example they broadcast a robber who was made to walk round the perimeter of a field several times with a heavy rubber tyre round his neck watched by many onlookers. This is known here as community justice and is not uncommon. Falling exhausted he was promptly beaten by one of the community with a long split cane before being led away by the police. His shouts echoed in our ears, ‘I’m not going to rob anymore!

Christmas!!! 2009

2010-01-19T20:25:00.003-04:00

[In this letter I will ask for your prayers and name the children (even include some photos) but the blog or website information must be vague as authorities no longer want photos , names or specific info. of children on websites,]
It’s time to put pen to paper so to speak. Christmas is over. 2010 looms and we enter into our 14th year in this country, (tempus fugit,) Bolivia has seen great changes with the first indigenous president who starts his second term in January. Nobody knows the full ramifications of this, as this time he has a majority in the senate as well.
So too we have seen great changes. Another four little children. That is eight young ones within a few months. These are one two year old boy and three four/ five year old girls . (did you like that?) As is common in homes we receive children and give them birthdays for the day they arrive , guess their ages and make up names. Three of them are eligible for adoption and have already had medicals as the first step in a long process. So welcome to Damaris, Devorah, Rodrigo and Mari- Esperanza.

To accommodate these four we re-inserted four and one half children with family at the end of the school year. We say one half because her family reneged at the last moment. Refused to sign necessary papers with the courts ,to take the responsibility of Sulma from us as legal custodians, and so she remains in limbo. But Samuel, Moises , Nilda and Elsa(one family unit) are returned to extended family (dad lives in jungle region without facilities or recourses) and Sulma is an uncertain part of the future at this time. Pray with us on this one. After seven years with us, Nilda was only four when she came, it was not that easy saying goodbye. Jheyson who has now had one year in Canada has received the blessing of the courts and can remain in Canada indefinitely. A real answer to prayer.
2010 we pray will send us a couple to work with children whilst under the umbrella of Bolivian Children’s Mission but in a different location. We now have 11 pre-schoolers and they could benefit from being in a place separate from teenagers with their different agenda. We also have a group of adolescent boys, and if littlies aren’t your cup of tea we can also find a place to accommodate you and them. Despite being over our supposed limit we still get asked to receive children so fear not we will fill you up rapidly. Write separately if you want more information about this.: peter@bcmission.com
Another prayer item relates to a furlough for us. 1999 was the last break for me whilst Delia has taken a boy to England for medical treatment and delivered Jheyson to Canada but she definitely finds the going heavy and my desire is to manage some family time together. It would be good to see so many who have kept us here for these years and to express our thanks personally. Pray with us on this. One aspect of this desire is the returning of Olga and Edgar from England. They are a Bolivian couple who wish to commit themselves to BCM for the next five years. We feel confident in letting them run things so one of the hurdles has been overcome. They arrived early December, have this month with family and begin January to learn the ropes and to support us. It gets to be fairly tiring 24/7 after a few years.. Thirty plus wonderful children but not without its moments. Pray for Edgar and Olga.
Our license renewal (approx 600 pages) as a home was submitted in 2007. At the end of 2008 we were informed it was fine. In 2010 we still don’t have it in our hand. Not a panic (80% of institutions are unlicensed) but it would be nice to see it finalized. Pray with us on this one.
Just before last photos and a wrap up. Today we ate lunch with our pumpkin, onions, spinach, tomatoes and some of the flavourings from our garden. Wonderful way to enjoy fresh, cut costs and see children with rosy red cheeks. The new ones came in various stages of malnutrition and with sores, infections , infestations and the like which are now gone.
Keith and his wife Ann, who keep the whole BCM organization going, came towards the end of 2009 and it was great to show our progress, account for our spending and present the children to them. Then Adrian from Tassie made sure the childen got a better Christmas than we alone could do and so our thanks to both them, and him, for seeing out the old year in good shape. Going in to 2010 only one failed the school year (Claudia) and so we look to the vacation, a new school year, new helpers and anticipate a great year of consolidation. Thanks for your thoughts, emails, and may God bless you.

Estefanie

2009-11-05T15:30:00.004-04:00

looking back I see Estefanie looked terrible when she arrived. So much better now. Weightier, bright and a real smartie. I will publish a new photo of her too. This week.

New ones for us.

2009-11-05T15:19:00.004-04:00

We have four new children. All abandoned and three are four years old. Demaris, Anna Marie and Rodrigo.

He has a sister 6 years old Devora. All names are allocated and made up. Only one has a birth certificate. The others its guess work. Photo soon. Resolving medical problems first. Neglect, all underweight body sores, chest infections,hair infestations and head infections to name some. Then Devora has speech impediment. But looking forward to end of school year which is about a week away.

July 2009 Newsletter

2009-07-16T17:19:00.005-04:00

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

Volunteers' report. One of about half a dozen

2009-06-04T14:43:00.001-04:00

The South American Adventure Continued...
Buenos Noches from Bolivia!

Well it´s been a while since the last post. A multitude of different hiccups in plans led to this. We apologize in not keeping up with the every other day post. Tonight is ending day 9. Only a week left in Bolivia...sad day. We have alot to catch up on so lets get this thing started. It is 10:15 pm here and I am in the office posting this as Dave (who did help with all the information for the post as usual) is sitting watching a movie in the tv room.

Tuesday was the day of the last post and it wrapped up Day 5. For this post updates are coming for Wed, Thurs, Fri, and of course today (Sat). Days 6-9...okay it will be long, but lets get it krunk.

Some opening comments...1) God is ridiculously awesome. Over the past few days, Dave (Not to get confused with David...it is the same person) and I have found ourselves shaking our heads and laughing at the things He continues to do each day. 2) The Moorhouses (directors of mission) have an unbelievable story of faith and trust in the Lord...more to come on this.

Day 6: This day began with more pan (bread) for breakfast. The pan in homemade and is very good in the mornings. Then, the Moorhouses invited Dave and me out for a family outing. I say family outing because it basically was minus two of their children. You see, the Moorhouses legally adopted three girls but two of them attend school and one is homeschooled. Kathrine, the homeschooled beautiful 12 year old, went with the four of us. On the way to run errands, Peter stopped and bought Dave and me ¨Saltenas¨ for a treat. Salentas are a essentially a chicken pot pie in a cresent roll. Well, we both enjoyed it emensely, but let´s just say it got the best of me. Dave is fine. However, ¨Bolivian Belly¨hit me worse than ever before.

The ladies and men split up and ran errands at various shops. Of course, the men went to the hardware store. Peter bought more supplies for our projects at the casa. We met up with the ladies at a kindergarten/daycare called ¨Rise and Shine.¨The director was very nice to Dave and me, and she even spoke perfect English! (which is vary rare for a Bolivian native)

When we returned home, I put another dent in the weed wacking of the tall grass near the animal pens. As I worked, Dave ran another errand to buy a new light bulb for the frustrating light I mentioned in the previous post. I ran out of line weed eating...again. The Bolivian grass is like a monster and ate the line in no time. In the afternoon, I took a two hour nap as the extreme case of ¨Bolivian Belly.¨If you don´t know exactly what ¨Bolivian Belly is well it basically...oh I will spare you. Go ¨google¨ it. ¨When I woke up, we attempted to solve the light fixture problem. Dave did the brunt of the work fixing the light fixture. Turns out, David is very knowledgeable on every day tasks and projects. There should be a light bulb turning on, ladies. Don´t let him go for too long. But seriously, we fixed the light fixture in the garage...finally. It needed to be totally replaced, and it works great now!

To wrap up the day, we ate dinner, played with the kids, and hung out together as if we don´t do enough of that already.

Day 7: The day began with Corn Flakes. Yes indeed, American cereal can be found in the mission. As we walked to the back to begin work for the day, Peter summoned Dave to do more driving. He took two adults and the two new children to the hospital for checkups! I don´t know if I mentioned the new arrivals before now, but over the past few days, a 1 year old baby girl named Hagar and a 2 year old boy named Moises were brought to the mission. The agency called the Moorhouses and asked if they could take them. The Moorhouses didn´t have room, but Peter suddenly remembred a friend had asked Peter to hold two baby beds for her till she had space at her house for them. So, Peter told the agency he could take the two kids! One cannot tell him, me, or anyone else involved that the Lord was not in on those circumstances. The Lord had the cribs here waiting on the young children before anyone realized it. These type of things happen everyday at the mission!

Back to the day. Dave waited at the hospital for a hour and a half as the new babies received their checkups. He noticed that the hospital will also see cats, dogs, and other animals during the day just as they would humans. So basically, the hospital and vet are the same thing in Bolivia...interesting. I weed wacked as David waited. I ran out of line again...and began to feel bad again while playing soccer with the kids. I headed straight to bed to take a nap which turned into a 4 hour nap. I slept from 11-3. Dave drove more and picked the kids up from morning school. It turned out to be an easy afternoon. I read the Batallion (A&M school newspaper), and Peter really enjoyed looking at it and learning about the good ol Aggies. Whoop! Dave and I changed the oil on the big bus without a jack and ended up getting oil all over us. We cleaned up and ate a lite bite because we had to go with Peter to pick up a group of 10 Canadians from the downtown bus stop.

Dave and I didn´t have to search long to find 10 gringos in the Cochabamba bus stop. The group includes members from a social justice society at a university outside of Toronto, and they range in ages from 18-23. They left Canada and arrive in La Paz where they worked with various organizations then worked in the Amazon region for ten days and now they are working during the day with Peter and the mission. It was fun to meet new people and actually speak english with people our own age. 8 girls and 2 guys. Good ratio?? Yes, I do believe so. Peter took the group and us to eat before the group settled for the night at a nearby hostel. Interesting that Peter offered to let them eat at a restaurant because that hasn´t happened for us since Dave and I have been here. Not that we are bitter or anything. We ate pizza. Yes, I said we. I did eat for the first time since breakfast, and I felt great. Bolivian Belly= Gone! We dropped them off at the hostel and headed to bed.

Day 8: The Canadians arrive around 9 am and we began working together on a few different big projects for Peter. It was great to have a big group and really knock out some big tasks! One group began diggin a trench for a ¨septic field.¨ Before I came to Bolivia, I wasn´t too sure what a septic field accomplished. Basically, it is drainage piping into the yard from the gray water in the septic tank. This helps with the maintaining the levels in the tank, as well as fertilizing the yard. So one group dug while another group formed a stone path from the futbol/basketball court to the garden and animal pens. Dave and I dug ditches for the piping. It was rough work, but we worked together and knocked out a chunk of it as a group before lunch. In a span of three hours, I developed 8 blisters on my hands from using a pick-ax and shovel for the piping. They feel grrrrreat! No really, Dave did´t get one and I got 8. I´m still trying to figure out why.

We enjoyed lunch and then headed out to try moving MASSIVE stumps that we left in the backyard after the MASSIVE trees were cut down. Peter wanted the stumps moved, so that he would be able to extend his garden another 20 yards. We put our other projects on hold and began trying to move the stumps. These aren´t any ol stumps. We are talking stumps as big a small cars, people! Coupled with all the Canadians and Dave´s super strength, we moved all but one of the stumps throughout the rest of the afternoon. I will have pictures of these stumps if you are interested.

In the middle of moving stumps, the mission´s pet turtle ¨Rocky¨ decided to grace us with his presence. This turtle was the biggest turtle I have ever seen outside of the zoo, of course. The zoo always had those ridicously huge turtles that were 367 years old or something. But, this turtel was BIG! And he decided to poop all over the basketball court. What a great appearance he made.

All of us went inside and played with the kids during afternoon tea. Around 5, we left to take all the Canadians back to the hostel. On this trip, we fit 26 people into the van. The van is supposed to hold 12... Anyways, we stopped at the supermarket on the way to the hostel. The supermarket carries all of the American products. Dave and I grabbed a snacks. Peter left to go run ¨errands¨ while all of us shopped and returned with 28 live chickens sitting in the floor of the van. Very interesting. Dave and I rode back to the mission with 28 live chickens flapping around us in the back of the van. As they flapped, you can guess what else they were doing... The chickens were a donation to the mission for food. The Moorhouses were running low on chicken. Don´t think God was involved on that one???

The kids watched an animated show on tele in Spanish, so Dave and I passed and hung out and went to bed early.

Day 9: Well, Dave and I went to bed early last night becauase we woke up at 4:30 am this morning. Right now, you are asking yourself why did they wake up at 4:30??? We woke up to prepare for a long day and begin the travel to Mt. Tunari! Mt. Tunari is an imposing 16,500 ft mountain! David, three of the Canadians (Gaygan, Dawn, and Lisa), Moses (14 year old boy in the mission), and I lef the house at 5 am. Peter drove us and we picked up our guide, Stanny, who is the husband of the mission cook. We drove 20 minutes to a taxi. So now, Dave and I are in a taxi at 6 am in the middle of Bolivia with Canadians we met just two days ago, a young boy, a guide who we just met, and a taxi driver who doesn´t know us from Adam. Let the games begin.

The taxi drives 30 minutes and drops all of us off at the base of this HUGE mountain on the side of the road. At this point, I was still wondering why are we doing this??? Two women and six guys are standing with our backpacks on at 6:30 am on the side of the road. The guide doesn´t speak english. It is freezing. I am praying.

We begin the climb. This is a trip that Peter has offered to groups who he thinks are fit enough to survive the thin air and physically demanding climb. After hearing this, I am wondering..okay so why is Moses, a 14 year old boy, coming with us?? This will soon be discover. We begin...the climbing is rough and very fast paced. The guide is not messing around. Quickly, all of us are out of breath except for two people...the guide and Moses the 14 year old boy. This remained the same throughout the entire climb. We would climb for a while then take a break for water and food. The air became very thin because of the altitude. Everyone´s legs are burning.

Through the climb, the sun begins to rise over the moutains, the breaks become longer, the heart beats harder, and the head aches more. It was absolutely, as Jim Carey would say, B-E-A-UTIFUL! God´s perfect creation was singing of His glory! Breath-taking views are seen one after another as each steep and slippery slope is conquered. We saw llamas, wild horses, sheep, and huge hawks on the way up the moutain. We finally arrived at the peak at 11:30 am. Yes, that´s right...5 hours of climbing. It was brutal. We suffered from the lack of oxygen and were relieved to say the least to reach the top. We spent a hour and a half on top of the moutain. Dave and I took multiple pictures, video taped (thanks to Lance Casey) the incredible views, and ate lunch at 16,500 feet! Amazing experience! God is so majestic and worthy of praise.

At 1 pm, we began the desecent down the mountain. It was much easier to go down than up. Much easier, but it was still a steep slope on the way down. Coupled with loose stones and thousands of cacti, the moutain made it diffcult to navigate the descent. We arrived at the road at 4:30 pm. We were exhausted, hungry, and thirsty but pleased with our accomplishment of conquering Mt. Tunari! We have lots of photos and good video footage of the climb too.

Obviously, we relaxed this evening and took it easy. It is time for bed.

To close I wanted to leave you with some scripture that was very evident in today´s climb:
¨For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bown down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.¨Psalm 95:3-6

David and I want to thank all of you who are thinking and praying for us through this time. We feel your prayers everyday as we experience new things and learn more about the Lord of our life.

Love you all and goodnight,
Carson and David

News Letter March

2009-05-10T14:42:00.000-04:00

MOORHOUSE MOMENTS March 2009 COCHABAMBA BOLIVIA.

Only three months since the last newsletter. It seems like a lifetime. We started school Monday and Tuesday it was a new director . That was the first of four in three weeks. Each change has been with its dramas .Meetings, marches, angry scenes between parents and administration and of course confusion all associated with the change. Now the last is on maternity leave for the next few months so its an interim principal till she returns. Seven weeks down the track can we feel confident this is the last? Talking of school our older ones also began technical courses. So for seven of the children its technical training in the mornings and usual school in the afternoons. Carpenters, electricians, hairdressers, tailors, and electronics experts of the future.

Samuel who spent last year doing a men’s hairdressing course has left the coop and is off to make his way in the world. Eighteen this year and also our very first to leave in this manner. He has gone to the jungle region of Cochabamba to set up a salon. We wish him well and now we see if the Christian values we instilled over the past five years hold true.

Whilst school occupies the children’s days with homework in the mornings and classes in the afternoon they have also had a great opportunity to learn other skills. The husbandry of the animal and birds is developing a better appreciation of what keeps them alive, healthy and reproducing. They can now administer injections, know the way to give tablets, put eye drops and so on. With the land we also have vegetables, melons, animal food and fruit trees all growing. Preparing the ground, using the animal manure, watering, weeding, propping and pruning and all the other things associated with healthy plants is another skill they are learning. Rain has been a true blessing this year extending the growing season.

Gonzalo is now adept in the kitchen, making the bread, cakes, preparing daily sweets and complains that his repertoire of postres (desserts) is limited. Wants to be a chef.

We had six new children came through 2008. All have issues. Rene repeating grade two has only recently learnt to write his name. Mind you the school he came from gave him a report that showed him doing really well. Passed grade one with flying colours. Elizabeth has major problems and is unable to attend a half day at school. She invariably leaves the classroom and wanders the sports fields and is proving to be a real challenge. Milenka would refuse to enter the classroom and would throw herself onto the ground and fight to be left alone. Milenka is better now but still requiring special attention and Elizabeth we will probably have to pull out of school. We have nine year old bed-wetters and others with obvious psychological problems. Our days are full. Oh, and anybody out there want 14 teenagers? Boys and girls ring the home ,visit under various pretexts or provide escorts on the way home from school. Keeps us on our toes. If you have teenagers you know how the hormones work, the moods, the self- esteem problems and well most of us were teenagers once.

To other matters. The home has taken shape. Improvements thanks to volunteers. A bridge, a cleanup, a gazebo, extra fly screens, painting, lights fixed, leaking taps replaced and the list goes on and on. Provision of drawers, built in units for clothing and a much needed and appreciated gift of a photocopier. No more two or three hour trips to town for Delia to get school materials done. The benefits we have enjoyed this last year are beyond our imagination. Every time someone comes we appreciate the fact that for us in the home the work we do is only possible because so many others are supporting us in so many ways.

The home still has major issues with rising damp. No homes in Bolivia have damp coursing so the paint is peeling, the septic system we think might be leaking into foundations which is a major pain solved by shutting of water to a couple of toilets and we are still sorting out the electrical supply to various areas. One part of the wall fell over requiring replacement and another section shows a definite lean but yet the year has been one of consolidation and stabilization. No roof leaks, and solar hot water to name just two big improvements. After constant shifts associated with rental homes it has been good to stop for once and know that what we do has a lasting benefit. Better as its stabilizing for the children too and over the short time our impact on the community grows as we have weekly visits from the local school ( that’s more than 20) to use our resources and in the afternoons we provide materials, teachers ( well me actually)and resources to the neighborhood children. So our 30 children leave for school and up to ten more arrive for afternoon help. Homework, research, materials and the like.
Rhinder ( said as Jinder) is our nearest neighbour . He is in grade four and cant so much as add numbers to five, like 3 plus 2 at better than 50% , never mind read or write. Grade four! Not the school our children attend thankfully but a sad indictment of Bolivian education. Probably 10or 20 years behind most first world countries. A prayer is for a dedicated teacher who wants to come and work with our children helping them overcome the problems that exist within Bolivian education. Ignorance is rife. When I spoke to the director he asked where I came from. Australia. Oh that’s the land of penguins he replied flashing his knowledge. I could only smile and congratulate him on his grasp of geography.
Not so many moments this time but here is one. Elizabeth threw all my documents into the fire. We have fires in summer because its rainy season and so cold. No reason its just her touching everything as she always does., but the ‘phone plopped out of the bin where she had put them but too late for the others. Drivers license, ID card, bank cards the lot. So no bank access for weeks while I got them replaced. A challenge indeed. But we never wanted. A gift out of the blue of forty chickens. The lady prepared to bring veggies and leave payment till I could pay for them and we again proved God faithful. One moment we enjoy each day is to go to the bottom of the property and reflect. It ‘s peaceful, half an hour before the children return and we enjoy the company of the animals as we give them their afternoon food We reflect and appreciate what your contributions have given us. Gifts of time, materials, and prayers. But it’s the gift of being able to help needy children Children of Bolivia thank you. When you come you will appreciate the birds, the ever-changing mountains and the clean air and you’ll love the children. One for every taste. Internet and telephone are still a great hassle but then it’s a part of Bolivia’s charm.
I write this at La Paz airport awaiting my sister from Perth. It will be good to see her after 10 years. God bless and thank you all.

work in progress.

2009-02-26T14:51:00.002-04:00

we have benefited from the last groups of volunteers. Units put into the dressing rooms for clothes. A entry bridge outside. A gazebo. And so the list goes on. Dwight who is a retired man added flyscreens to bedroom windows. Now we need a sparky (electrician) and a plumber for some bits that are beyond my basic skills.

this week.

2009-02-26T14:37:00.002-04:00

A donation of twenty six chickens. Any takers for lopping and plucking and storing in freezer?
Took stitches from Milenka's forehead and Moises's leg today.

The cancha(open air market) was closed yesterday (well almost) while people partied. NEVER have I seen so much alcohol. 44 gallon drums full of bottles on ice and stacks of crates over six feet high at dozens of places. Streets running wet from water bombs, water pistols, and oblations of beer poured on the ground and the noise was indescribable. Bands at various spots and speakers from shops all trying to outdo each other. Just noise. No traffic as the people just weaved, danced, drank and then too the air was full of smoke from offerings to the gods from almost every stall, shop or business. An unforgettable experience.
Slumdog millionare is great and deserves its win. Anybody want a copy? I bought mine $1.30

school

2009-02-16T20:40:00.002-04:00

Its been two weeks back at school. Three directors in the first week. No teacher for grade eight and three days of strikes. Plus three meetings and two marches for the parents. Welcome to Bolivia school system. The girls in grade eight were allocated finally after not even having a classroom. Just sit outside and wait. Rene has passed two years of Bolivian school. Turned nine today and still can't write his name.

Still problems with gas and gasoline. Our bread is still great and we have eight children attending various technical courses.

The last five guys ( volunteers) have all climbed Mount Tumari at 1700 plus feet.(5200 meters)

Navidad En Bolivia

2008-10-31T11:02:00.005-04:00

Bolivian Children´s Mission is a part of Navidad En Bolivia, an initiative which allows you to sponsor 1 of 50 children the cost of a special gift under the Christmas tree, or to assist with a special need.

Christmas gifts will include useful items that the kids need most, like clothes, shoes, school materials or educational toys. Special needs include private tuition in 2009 for 4 children who struggle in their studies, clothes for the newest girls who arrived in our home with nothing more than what they were wearing, and a special birthday celebration for Margoth, who turns 15 on December 25.

Sponsorships range from US$10 to $100. Sponsors in Australia, Canada and the United States will receive a Christmas card to give to a loved one.

For more information, including a full list of available sponsorships, please click here.

Bolivian Children´s Mission

2008-10-09T13:41:00.013-04:00

MOORHOUSE MOMENTS FOR OCTOBER

A sneak in before cricket, elections (USA), Christmas and summer.

A great moment this week.. Glasses for six needy children finally arrived. After months of waiting it’s wonderful to see them reading and writing with good posture.

A good moment too when gas and diesel become almost readily available after a long period of no fuel or gas. We still have intermittent days with no fuel but it is certainly better. Bolivia has struggled with getting supplies in from the east where there have been blockades resulting in much damage and deaths. One of the side effects is that foodstuffs have risen in price tremendously due to shortages. Chickens, for example, previously at ten bolivianos a kilo went straight to seventeen bolivianos. Tomatoes from 40 bolivianos a box to 110 and so the list could go on.

A not so good moment has happened when the prefecture (governor) was voted out. Since then the problems with the department of social security have escalated. Caused firstly by three directors being appointed in as many weeks, secondly by many staff changes in all departments and homes with children pay the price with stolen, (lost) cheques, paper work being slowed, lost and homes having to do many correspondences again. .
We have of course been caught up in it with our renewal for licence now 18 months in processing and still to come and one of our requests for a needy item has now been repeated six times in as many weeks. We should have received some financial assistance towards buying needed shoes (this in July) and still to come. The letter is fine but every time a head of department changes we have to write a new letter addressed to the new person. But feel for their staff too who have now not received wages in three months.

A great moment was picking up two needy girls. Although we don’t know much about them we guess they’re five. Milenka was taken by security late at night as she wandered the footpaths while her mother lay in the street under the influence of the inhalants she consumed regularly. Laura was left in the market with a plastic bag containing a few items and no other information. We did find out she has three brothers in two other homes but nothing more at this time.

Laura and Milenka

Then, two sisters were taken from abusive parents. We have no other information whatsoever but may be able to get something later. We guess five and three or thereabouts. They have a brother of just one who remains in hospital due to his weakened physical state. Jessica, at five, was expected to care for her siblings and was beaten if her care wasn’t up to scratch.

Jessica and Liliana

Here is moment for which many have waited. A webblog. URL bcmission.blogspot.com or go to the website and navigate from there bcmission.com

One benefit from the rise in prices lies with the fact that we now make all our own breads. The aromas alone make it a delight and the children have learnt a new skill.

Samuel ( our eldest boy ) has spent a year doing both school and a hairdressing apprenticeship . By January we have our first professional.

Lisa , our Canadian contact ,has been here the past two weeks. She is planning to take Jheyson for educational and medical reviews in Canada. Hopefully it works out and he’ll be able to stay for the long haul. Here she is with Liliana our newest girl. Jheyson was left in the hospital as a young baby and has been with us for five years now.