In Our Hearts

“For the last six years in everything we’ve done he has been in our hearts.” The mother with the name ‘Hope’, a much better name in Spanish ‘Esperanza’, shared her story of a six year long wait for their son. Every two seconds her face glanced down to the happy three year old playing at our feet. The conversation paused as we both, as adoptive mothers, absorbed the weight of the moment. Vladi looked up and reached his arms up to the beautiful Spanish woman who smiled at him. “Hold me,” he said with a cute little toddler lisp that she understood perfectly. She has been holding him in her being since before the day he came to be.

I never tire of the retelling of precious moments shared as the new families forge a bond. The father, who shares a name with one of the children here at the House of Dreams, Jose Luis, told me, “We went to the park this morning and Vladi picked a flower and gave it to his mommy.” The man’s blue eyes danced as he bubbled over with adoration for his son.

He added, “The day they told us to come in to the office to find out who our child would be we kept asking each other, ‘A boy? Or a girl? A boy? Or a girl?’ Then they told us, ‘A boy!’” He stopped with his hand on his chest. The tears in his eyes said more than any word ever could.

- Angie

 

NEWS FLASH!!! Vladi’s parents are here…

Great news! I just got word that Vladi’s parents are here! Details to come. Yeah!

- Angie

Fashion Show

Next week is the last full week of vacation before the Dreamers head back to school, and it shows as these last few days have been filled with statements like, “I’m bored!” or, “There’s nothing to do!”.

I always say that boredom bring out the creativity in a person. In one case at least, I was right. The girls were in the house with “nothing to do” when they decided to put on a fashion show. They didn’t stop at just getting dressed in different outfits they had in their closets. They decided to make their own clothes and design their own outfits out of blankets and sheets. Check them out!

Isaura showing off her colorful design.

We also managed to get a video of Shirley walking the “runway”.

Such a creative idea, they were very proud of themselves.  Hopefully this creativity will carry over into the school year.

All of the models in their outfits.

Romon

4 more!

Last week I enrolled four more Dreamers at Christ Nation’s school.  Each one of the new kindergarderners is so different.  Juan Daniel is the most quiet, but is also the neatest one, I’m sure there wont be even one pencil shaving on his desk!  Fernando loves to work, and likes to do worksheets.  Joel is the most curious one and I’m sure each day he’ll have an intriguing question for his teacher.  With Isaura, I wont be surprised if each morning she gives a hug to her teacher with her big smile!

This now makes 15 dreamers enrolled in school. Thanks to many donors we have all the pencils, color pencils, markers, scissors and back packs that we need for this year.

We still need the large graph paper notebooks and colored paper.  We also will need to purchase textbooks and uniforms. (In Bolivia, whether private or public, all students must purchase their books each year).

If you would like to help with our school needs, visit the school supplies link under the projects page (to send supplies) or visit the sponsor page (to send a donation).

Only a week and 5 days until the first day of school!

-Marisol

Three Updates on our Three Year Old Dreamers

February 2011: Three Turn Three – A plea for prayer for the adoptions of our youngest children in the House of Dreams.

November 2011: Our Three Year Old Kids – An update of the adoption process. Bridgit was adopted! Vladi was assigned… and then not. Alicia’s case was freed from a mountain of paperwork and she was assigned to a family. (The green words)

January 2012: Today. Updates in fuchsia.

1) …ready to go at any time and are just waiting for assignment to a family. Vladimir got assigned and then due to some complications the parents from overseas decided to back out. Currently a member of our church, who volunteers at the House of Dreams,  is attempting to adopt him. Please pray that she is successful. So, the big news here is that the international adoption is back on. The parents were able to get some things resolved in order to not have to redo the whole process, rather to continue on with the adoption from the place things left off last year. They are just waiting for the green light from the courts to come get their son any day now!

2) For Alicia we are facing issues of paperwork. We are submitting (for the third time) paperwork and forms that were “lost” by social services or the courts. Without going into too much drama suffice it to say that this round of papers need to stay found so that this little Dreamer can be found by a family. I am happy to say that Alicia’s paperwork went through and she has been assigned to a family from another country who could receive word to come get their child any day. We would love for you to rejoice with us on the progress made with her case and pray that the adoption happens soon without complications. To give you a time frame this could happen anytime between this week and months from now. We would prefer sooner than later. Good news here is that things are still moving forward. There have been no problems and Alicia’s parents are also just waiting for the permission to come get their girl. 

3) …My hope is that this year all three of them are adopted. Would you join me in praying for them? Let’s keep praying that Vladi’s and Alicia’s adoptions go through soon. It was mid February of 2011 when I asked you all to pray that these three get adopted within the year. With the glimmer of hope of this actually might become a reality I ask you to not give up praying with us that in these next few weeks some beautiful families are united. Thank you for being a part of these dreams-coming-true stories.

You can print this out and peg it somewhere as a reminder to pray if you like. Thanks so much!

- Angie

Birthday Boy

Yesterday was a very special day at the House of Dreams. It was Juan Daniel’s 6th birthday! This marked his first birthday celebrated here with us at the House of Dreams. He was so excited and seemed to be loving all of the attention.

An excited Juan Daniel playing with Joel on his special day.

As you may have read on last Friday’s blog, Juan Daniel is our newest Dreamer. He will be entering into kindergarten this year and is the younger brother of Benancio.

Happy Birthday Juan Daniel!

Romon

A New Home for the House of Dreams Orphanage – January 19, 2012

Good news everyone. We found a place for The House of Dreams Orphanage. I have been sharing with many of you that this month is moving month for Christ Nation Ministries Cochabamba. We are pretty much moving everything this month: the church, our home, the ministry office, and also the orphanage.

Finding a house that has the necessary space for 17 children and also an owner who is willing to rent it to an orphanage is always challenging. After looking at several places that would not work for us we did the most logical thing in our situation; we asked around on facebook. The same day a missionary in the city told us of some places and within a few days we found the new home of The House of Dreams.

We sign the paperwork and move in on the 1st of Feb. It is a four bedroom, two story house with a yard. The rooms are large and have two bathrooms upstairs where the boys and the girls can be separate. There are three parks close and it is close to the new church facility. It will work perfect for us.

Thank you so much to everyone for praying and giving to help with this project. We are excited because we have found a place that is great for us and will work for us until we start building.

Thank you again,

DaRonn Washington

Christ Nation Ministries

From the city to the country

Thanks to a grant from a local organization, our dreamers have had 6 months of horseback riding lessons.  But the experience they have had included much more than just the lessons since the owner is  just outside of the city and has more than just horses.  The got to see, and play with ducks for the first time, experience the” fresh” smell of cows, see new born kittens…but the most memorable experience for the dreamers and for me was seeing a one day old colt.

Estefani and Isaura with the colt, now several weeks old

The younger dreamers loved to play among the trees before their lessons.  Isaura stopped running just long enough to take one picture with me.

Our three oldest dreamers are now able to trot their horse  with confidence.

Anne and Jhoselyn

These past 6 months have been quite an experience for our city kids.

-Marisol

 

Symbiosis

symbiosis: 1.: the living together in more or less intimate association or close union of two dissimilar organisms 2.: a cooperative relationship (as between two persons or groups)

The Orphanage and the Christian School

We started the Christian school in response to the educational needs of the children in our orphanage. Our school aged Dreamers comprise a percentage of the student body receiving bilingual education founded upon biblical principals. Thirteen kids from the House of Dreams will be amongst the expected 200 students this year.

The Orphanage and Christ Nation Church

Last year a postulation came from the government about the idea of closing any church which did not have in operation a social aid program. Good thing our church members volunteer at the orphanage and help with monthly donations of goods and finances.

Every Sunday the Dreamers get all dressed and attend Sunday School with many other kids. They sing, do crafts, pray, and learn from the bible.

One of the Sunday School classes at Christ Nation Church - if you look close you will see some of the Dreamers and some of the Washington kids in this mix of kiddos.

The Orphanage and You

Just as the orphanage intertwines with the church and the Christian school you can have a symbiotic relationship with The House of Dreams. Consider the great feeling you will have knowing that you are making a life long difference in the lives of these precious children.

Give. Pray. Serve.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.

- Angie

A Long Way

Almost a year ago, Juan Daniel arrived at the House of Dreams. Understandably terrified, he barely said a word for weeks.  He played alone and mostly stayed in his room. At times, at bedtime he would cry for an hour or so. Needless to say, it was a pretty tough transition for this little guy.

As the staff at the HOD patiently waited, he slowly became acclimated. After a couple of weeks he began participating in small conversations. A little later, he would flash a smile here and there.

Juan Daniel going to bed with a smile on his face.

Today, Juan Daniel can be seen playing with the other Dreamers, and laughing and joking with the HOD staff. We are so grateful to have the opportunity to be able to help Juan Daniel have a better life and to be able to put a smile on his face.  It has been amazing to see this transformation take place, he has truly come a long way.

Please pray for a smooth transition for Juan Daniel as he starts kindergarten this year.

Romon