Tea

Last night’s tea went very well. Thank you all for your prayers! This is the first effort and the ladies are motivated to organize the next event. That is an answer to prayer right there.

Stats for the bottom-line people:

• 14 ladies came
• $347 U.S. were raised

Not bad for a country considered to be “poor”. I absolutely love the idea of Bolivians helping Bolivians!

In all the excitement of: sipping, and munching, and giving my little speech three times for the different levels of punctuality represented, and chatting, and greeting, and farewelling… I forgot to take pictures. Oops. When only part of my team was left I remembered. So I quick took one shot of an unfinished plate of a yummy tea. Maybe I will remember pictures when we get together as a team to celebrate. For all the people who gave $20 or more we promised to make them a little “recuerdo”. It is a typical Bolivian gesture of a handmade item commemorating involvement in a significant event. So, when we get together to glue and cut and whatnot I will try to get a few shots of the team.

You can continue to pray for good ideas, strong follow through and favor for all the ladies who want to help meet the needs of our little Dreamers by finding creative ways to involve donors.

- Angie

Open Hearts

Connection is a wonderful thing. We are so grateful to be connected to individuals and churches who believe in what we are doing. This international collaboration makes me so happy.

Recently we have been increasing the awareness of the House of Dreams through a few different methods. We have been seeing some good response. More connections means more happy.

Even within Bolivia the excitement is spreading. What began as a simple plan to help pay some bills has turned into the start of a motivated group of ladies willing to work with me to do awareness raising events throughout the whole year. It has been great to see other people excited about finding creative ways to provide for the needs of the Dreamers. They are taking the initiative and what’s more they are taking action. I am thanking God for these gals. First of all, I know it is of God because I am not forcing it to happen; it is happening calmly yet with great forward motion. Secondly, I know God is behind it because I didn’t think of the idea of Bolivians helping Bolivians but it is happening any way; I am just running with what is taking place before my eyes. Right now I am providing clear vision, clear information, and clear instruction on some technical issues and they are doing all the leg work. It is an answer to prayer.

Speaking of prayer… you can pray for our first event taking place Thursday (tomorrow) evening. We are holding an awareness raising event here in Cochabamba, Bolivia. It is a simple Tea, which is very cultural here. As they are all sipping and munching away I will present the ladies with an opportunity to be partners with the House of Dreams, just as the woman who invited them is already doing. I think that is the key to the success of this event. It is taking place through lovely ladies who are already connected to the House of Dreams. It is not a stranger making a plea, it is a friend inviting another friend to join in the fun.

• Pray that they come with open hearts.
• Pray that I have the God sent words to fill those hearts.
• Pray that they come with open hands.
• Pray that God would create lasting connections between the ladies and the Dreamers.
• Pray that the team of Bolivian Dream Makers continues strong in their plans for other events like this one.

I’ll let you know how it goes!

- Angie