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Keep up to date with what is happening in NCV on our blog. You can also catch up on previous newsletters here. Enjoy!
If you are in the US, you can either send a check made out to "Ninos con Valor" to the address below, or use our Groundspring online donation page.
Niños con Valor
c/o Karen Mitchell
PO Box 223
New Hampton NH 03256
For instructions on donating outside of the US, please visit our donations page.
We know that God loves kids too, so please keep us in your prayers, using these updates as a bit of a guide on what is happening, or by writing us here. We send out weekly prayer requests to those who join our prayermail list. We really appreciate the support!
If you have any questions regarding our work, or would like to make some suggestions, please send us an email.
Greetings from Cochabamba, Bolivia!
I just returned from a trip up through the US and Canada and can't help but mention one of the major contrasts I noticed upon my return.
No, I am not going to jump on a box to talk about economic imbalance, pace of life, or family values. What I want to draw attention to can best be explained with the following photo:
This building is located a short walk from Pedacito de Cielo, and, as you can see, it is a work in progress. You will also notice that the materials and methods being employed in its construction slightly vary from what you might see in your area.
This is where, for me, the contrast ends. On the surface, differences between Bolivia and the North abound, but underneath, things are essentially the same. In the case of construction, materials we use may vary but if they are of good quality and the plans are well laid out, the result is the same - a solid and beautiful edifice.
Even more relevant to our work here in Bolivia - with children, the games they play may change from place to place, but their universal desire to have fun and be loved is obvious.
So, when I was in the US folks asked me about culture shock, and returning I am asked the same. As I reflect, I guess what sets us apart, and is the cause of said "shock" are the clothes we wear, the food we eat, the roofs over our heads, how God has chosen to paint us. There is no shock, no difference whatsoever, if we can pass through the skin to the heart of each person and culture we encounter.
On that note, let's get to the updates! I know I am really excited to read about what had been happening this past month here in Bolivia, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I!
Peace and Love,
Tyson
Tyson, our volunteer Executive Director for Niños con Valor Bolivia, and Kelley, our new US Board President for our 501c(3) in the US, completed a whirlwind tour of the US and Canada that spanned 8 states and one province, all in only 3 1/2 weeks! This was a trip of connecting with old friends and making new ones, sharing about the exciting work of NCV, and seeking out creative new funding opportunities; most of all, it was about expanding our community.
Perhaps one of the most fun aspects of this trip, was engaging with the kids - go figure, we like hanging with kids! It is always amazing how much children connect, once again, an example of how similar we all are beneath the surface. Check out a video of an aguayo race we did with some of the kids we connected with in Oregon.
We want to thank everyone who hosted Tyson and Kelley, who helped arrange some seriously awesome events and presentations, and really reminded us what a big and loving family all of us are a part of.
If you would like to have Kelley come and present in your area, or have an idea for a fundraising event, please write kelley@ninosconvalor.org.
The PDC family continues to grow in numbers! This month we received two new daycare children at Pedacito de Cielo, brothers Chale (4) and Acacio (2). Their family recently moved to Cochabamba from La Paz and their parents expressed their thankfulness for a place like ours that has been very welcoming and supportive to their sons. Upon intake, we found out that Chale's first day was also his birthday, so he had a very big first day with us. Chale has been very outgoing from the beginning; Acacio took a little longer to become accustomed to PDC, but he's now a smiley and well-behaved little boy.
Left - Chale's birthday.
Right - Acacio enjoying Chale's cake.
We also celebrated Zaquiel's 2nd birthday. Both his mum and dad were able to come and spend the day with him, and he was a very happy little guy. Everyone had a great time celebrating, eating cake and gelatin, and getting their piñata toys.
Left - Zaquiel looking very excited about his cake.
Right - Some of the kids getting ready to break open the piñata.
All the children living with us got to have a day out and lots of individualized attention as the staff each took a child to spend the day with them as we celebrated the Aymara New Year. While we strive to provide individualized attention within the home, there's nothing quite like having a caregiver all to oneself for the day. Everyone came back to the home happy and tired- always a good combination!
Left - Lily ready to Party.
Right - Gym class #1
Left - Gym class #2
Right - Gym class #3
We also had two birthdays to celebrate at Corazón del Pastor. Karina turned 6 on the 14th and Elena turned 12 on the 27th. Although the girls always enjoy celebrating their birthdays, some of the most fun times happen in the preparations for the party. This is especially true for the making of the cake. The older girls have mastered the recipe so well that they no longer need a written recipe, and they are getting really creative with their decorations.
Left - Crazy Cake!
Right - Paty, obviously full.
The girls had a good time celebrating San Juan, the traditionally coldest night of the year with the customary hot dogs. There has been a lot of campaigning against the big bonfires that people usually have because of its negative impact on the environment. The message obviously reached our girls as Valeria prayed during the blessing of the meal that God would give people "un cerebrito a conocer sus acciones contra su creación", which basically translates "to give them enough brains to realize what they're doing against your creation." So instead of the campfire, the girls divided up by bedrooms and did skits for the others (check out some videos of the evening's dances and skits by clicking on the pictures below).
This week the girls started their winter vacation, and instead of going on one big vacation, the girls will be going to courses that they got to choose according to their preferences. Some of them will be learning guitar, others singing, and lots of arts and crafts for the younger ones. Several of the older girls will be going to a sleep away arts camp for several days, while a few girls will be able to spend time with their birth families on home visits. Be looking for updates in our blog.
Above - Karina with her birthday doll - isn't she getting SO BIG!
Above - We finally caught one of Ana's beautiful smiles on camera - the magic of San Juan :o)
Rachel Kelley has arrived and the survery she is doing to investigate the street kids' knowledge of HIV/Aids and other STDs will begin soon. This is such an exciting opportunity to collect data that will help organizations, those working on the streets as well as those focused on HIV prevention, create more strategic responses to this growing problem. We hope to have some photos and more information on how things are going for our next newsletter.
Above - Miguel posing, despite his precarious position, during gym class.
Miguel one of our earliest residents at Pedacito de Cielo and has been making amazing progress ever since. We were very concerned by his speech delays, as he didn't make any noises outside of screaming, and he was very small for his age. However, we quickly learned that Miguel was a very bright child and understood everything we were saying, even if he didn't have the ability to communicate back.
Miguel is still quite small for his age, but he has very good fine and gross motor skills, and although he took his time with speaking, he now speaks very clearly and is growing his vocabulary every day.
He very much enjoys being outside and getting to play on the jungle gym, kick the soccer ball around, and gymnastics, but he can also focus for long periods of time on puzzles and legos. Miguel is learning to play well with the other children in the home and is an eager learner with the pre-school teacher and his caregivers.
Miguel does not have contact with his birth family, so he would benefit greatly from sponsors who take a big interest in him and give him love, care and support, although from afar. If you'd like to sponsor Miguel, or one of our many other children in need of sponsorship, please visit our Sponsorship Page or contact Kelley Journey at kelley@ninosconvalor.org. She can also be reached at 978-998-9171.
If you do not have internet access, or would prefer to send a check, please write to the following address:
Ninos con Valor, c/o Karen Mitchell
PO Box 223
New Hampton, NH 03256
In our sponsorship spotlight, we give you the opportunity to learn more about our kids and how you can enter into a meaningful relationship with them. This is also something you can do with our staff.
By deciding to help us out by paying a staff member's salary, you can also enter into a direct relationship with one of the people that are dedicating their lives to improving the lives of our children. If you like, you can enter into correspondence with our staff, which is a unique way to participate more directly in the work they are a part of. Staff salaries range from $200-$500 US a month, so please let us know if you think this is something you or a small group you are a part of would like to do.
* All names have been changed to protect the children's privacy.
If you are interested in supporting us financially as we continue to invest in these children, in their futures and in our own, please visit our web page to learn how.
Once again, thanks to all of you who are a part of the growing Niños con Valor family. We couldn't do it without you.
Peace and Love from the kids, staff and volunteers of Niños con Valor!