Day 1- NACER home for boys

I was invited to go with a friend to the NACER home for boys by a friend and it has completely changed my life here in Bolivia.  NACER means "to be born", and these homes give kids new life.  These homes are for kids on the street, some orphans, some not, all of them do not have a better place to go than to the NACER homes.  There is a girls home in the city of Santa Cruz, but the boys home is about a 1.5 hour bus ride outside of the town.


When I first went, I thought it was going to have to be just a one time thing, but the LORD captured my heart for these kids and has made a way for me to go back every week.  I have now been 3 Fridays in a row.


I leave on a Friday around 11 with Martha Thomas a fellow teacher.  We ride a bus straight out of town towards the mountains.  We see so much culture and scenery of the outskirts of Santa Cruz.  Sometimes when we get on these mini busses, there are not any free seats and we have to stand for a while.  At one point we stop in a small town quick to pick up people while street kids sell little bags of homemade juice or snacks through the small bus windows. This time has proven to be a great time of fellowship with Martha.

This last week was by far my favorite week with the kids to this point.  As we were getting off the bus some of the kids from NACER were walking home from school and as soon as they saw us, they starting racing towards us calling our names and nearly tackling us!  We walked down the long road to get to the home together, laughing, joking, and catching up on their week.  It is amazing how far my Spanish skills can go with these kids, it surprises me every time I open my mouth.  It must be God speaking through me.


Sometimes if we arrive on time we eat with the boys.  Lunch is there biggest meal of the day and they always have some good food.  During this time I spent remembering names and answering all of their eager questions wondering of a translation of one word or another into English.  This week I was joking around with them that there was going to be a quiz.


After lunch the kids have chores.  Sometimes we are able to help with things like dishes or washing their laundry by hand, but sometimes we are more of a distraction than help.  We use this time normally to pick fresh mandarins from trees, help with their crafts that they sell, or other random things we can find to do.


At about 4 the kids have homework time.  Two weeks ago they did a really good job of sitting down and doing it, but this last Friday Martha and I distracted them, in a good way.


We brought some children's books in Spanish from the school library with us, like Clifford and some multiplication flashcards.  We could not believe the boy's overwhelming reaction to these things.  They acted like they had never seen books before.  Boys young and old (from 5-20) were taking turns reading these 3 books out loud to each other.  It was so touching seeing them enjoy such a small thing.  They also really liked the flashcards that Martha made.  They especially liked quizzing me on them, because I had to think in Spanish for my numbers.


It is always so sad to leave, but it is something so amazing to look forward to for the next week.


I am so thankful that I am able to start this ministry alongside teaching!  I feel so blessed to be used as one of God's instruments to build relationships with these boys.


Praise: I Praise God today for my wonderful roommates and friends that I have made down here.  They are a new family for me and are such a blessing.


Prayer: Please pray for my health today as I feel like I am coming down with the flu :(


Something GOD has been showing me:  I am learning to do EVERYTHING in dependence of GOD! John 15:5- I am the vine you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.


Thank you for reading day 1 of my 7 day challenge!  I would love to hear from you as well!


On a side note:  I am currently not fully funded to stay down here!  Also adding this new ministry of working with the kids at NACER is adding an extra cost to my budget.  Every Boliviano (Bolivia's currency) I use down here is budgeted.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE prayerfully consider giving to my ministry!  Even a small gift and/or a small monthly gift could go a long way and would mean the world to me.  It is not too late to help me out!  If you have any questions please ask!  If you would like to know how to give please click on the above link that says SUPPORT LYDIA!


Thank you for all of your support!  Both financial and prayerful support is VERY appreciated.