Alien Art

The Dreamers received a special package in the mail. Each child got a bag of alien parts! They went about the task of assembling brightly colored creatures with googly eyes, funny spots, and wriggly appendages. The best part came when they drew distant planets for the extra terrestrials to live on, and grouped them together, floating around their far away homes.

Can’t you hear them garble, ”We come in peace,” with cute, squeaky, alien voices?

If you are interested in sending us a fun project for the kids to work on please contact us and we will get you the mailing information. A project you pass along might be the next collection we proudly display on our walls.

Also, if you would like to help further the Dreamers’ education and creative expression by supporting the House of Dreams on a monthly basis please let me know and I will help you get connected. You can give by: sending in a check, online donations, and even an automatic withdraw from the account of your choice. Thanks!

- Angie Washington

A sweeter House of Dreams

Benancio with one of the donated bags of sugar

Benancio’s eyes opened wide and his mouth dropped open when I asked each Dreamer to pick up a bag of sugar for a picture.  Right away, Benancio grabbed a bag and yelled quite excitedly, I get to eat a whole bag of sugar!!  Trying not to laugh, I kindly explain how that wouldn’t be healthy and that the sugar was for our baking and cooking.

The women’s group at Christ Nation Church (our Dreamer’s local church), donated about a dozen bags of sugar to the orphanage.  With our growing kids, we have bigger stomachs (and apparently with Benancio a larger sweet tooth), so we are always happy to receive surprise donations!

-Marisol

Flying Kites

A while back, a group of volunteers visiting from the states decided to bring down some things for the kids. Amongst the various things they brought down were kites. The kids were really excited about learning how to fly kites. But I think they were even more excited about each of them having their very own kite, and not having to share with someone else.

For a while, they were all asking to fly them almost every day. But we really hadn’t gotten much of a chance to take them out because, as you can imagine, we need a lot of time and space to be able to fly 15 kites at once.

A few of the kids getting the hang of it.

One day recently, the kids all finished with their homework early, and it happened to be windy. So we decided it would be a good day to take them out and find a place to fly their kites. We were able to find a big open field in a nearby park.

The kids got to play with their kites for about an hour or so. Next time, we’ll have to see if we can keep them all in the air.

Romon

The Kids from the House of Dreams Say Thank You!

We are so incredibly thankful to Steyning Grammar school in England for all the wonderful support they have given us over the years. Their fearless leader, Tim Treadwell, deserves a huge round of applause for keeping the kids, staff, and parents motivated. The energy and creativity they have put into extending such heartfelt generosity towards The House of Dreams Orphanage here in Cochabamba, Bolivia astounds me. From selling cakes, to running concession stands, to a day of sponsored silence they have truly rallied to assist us.

The efforts from the students of Year 7 helped in the following areas:

1. Covered one month of salaries for the caregivers, who are affectionately called “Tias” (Aunts)
2. Paid for one month of transportation costs… getting 15 kids to and from school and around town for their appointments and activities adds up
3. Bought one week’s worth of food for the orphanage

We really could not provide such a great home for these kids were it not for the individuals, such as the Steyning Grammar group, who help with financial donations. Thank you so much!

Enjoy this little video as a special thanks….

(The volume may be low, you might want to turn up your sound)

Please consider following the lead of these students and join us to help provide a safe and loving home for the Dreamers at The House of Dreams. Contact us for more information on how to give.

- Angie

A New Bike

The Dreamers have had four bicycles to share for quite some time. Up until now, the younger kids were too small to ride a bike, so having four bikes worked out well. But with the younger kids getting bigger and beginning to learn how to ride bikes, four wasn’t enough any longer.

One of our recent volunteers took notice and decided to donate a new bike to the House of Dreams to help meet the high demand. She decided to get a bike with pegs on the back so two kids can be occupied by one bike.

The kids were super excited to recieve the new bike and even more excited to take it for a spin. They say it rides a lot smoother than the old ones. The only challenge with the new bike is deciding who gets to ride on the pegs.

Romon

Taking a part in the Dreamers’ Education

The Start of school in Bolivia is quite different in the States.  All textbooks are in the form of large workbooks and have to be purchasesed at the beginning of each school year – a math, language, science and social studies text.

Multiply that by fifteen Dreamers and that makes 60 textbooks!   We have yet, to purchase all our textbooks for our Dreamers.  If you would like to help our Dreamers with this need, visit our Sponsor link to find out how to give on-line; or send us an email for other ways to give.

Thank you,

Marisol

 

only 12 days left!

For about the past two and half months, our Dreamers have been on summer vacation.  As of today, there are only 12 days left of vacation!!

Jhamil and Emelin

With school just around the corner, there is alot to get ready…uniforms, shoes, school supplies, backpacks, and textbooks.  If you would like to help out to the preparations, visit the school supplies link under the projects page, or go to the Sponsor link to find out how to give on-line.

-Marisol

 

Giving

Every year, right before Christmas, it is becoming a tradition for every Dreamer to select one toy to give away. We usually collect the toys then figure out a place to where we can give the toys away. The rule is, the toy that they choose to give away can not be broken. It has to be in working condition.

This year, we sat down with the Dreamers and explained to them that it was that time of year, where they have to go through their toys to each give one toy away. They all pretty much knew the drill, so they dispersed to their rooms to look through their toys to find the one that they would part ways with. After all the toys were collected, Estefani asked, “Are we only allowed to give one toy? Or can we give more?” A few other kids chimed in right after saying that they, too, wanted to give another toy away. I told them that they could give away whatever they want, but that they didn’t have to give any more than one if they didn’t want to.

Some of the toys to give away.

They all disappeared to their rooms. All fifteen of them. Returning with more toys, then more toys, then more. By the time we were finished, we had around fifty toys in the pile! I reestablished that they didn’t have to give away more than one toy to make sure that they weren’t confused and thought it was a requirement. They all reassured me that they fully understood what I had said. I then asked why they gave so many toys.

Jose Luis explained, stating “There are a lot of kids who are poor, and they don’t have any toys, and we have a lot of toys. So I want to give them some of my toys so they can play.”

Then Estefani added to the notion by saying, “It really doesn’t matter if we get more toys for Christmas or not, we just want to be able to help kids who don’t have anything. It’s makes me so sad that some little girls don’t even have a doll to play with.”
There was not much I could say or do after their little speeches, so I commended them and continued to help them pile the toys up.

I was so proud to be a part of the lives of such wonderful children. Despite their situation and youth, these kids get it.

Romon

Annual Wrapping Party 2012

The big Christmas celebration at the House of Dreams takes place on Christmas Eve… today! Yesterday afternoon I hosted our Annual Wrapping Party at our home. Paper and tape fly. We munch on cookies. Drink coffee, tea, and kool-aid. At first it’s a mess of sorting and labeling. Then everyone falls into the groove of getting the gifts wrapped for the Dreamers. Such fun!

My kids look forward to our orphanage Christmas traditions with great anticipation every year. It fills my heart to know that they will look back on their childhood and remember giving of their time and talents to the kids at the House of Dreams.

Merry Christmas to all!

- Angie

A new set of glasses

Anne with her two younger brothers

About a week ago, Anne went with me to the market to help with the grocery shopping.  While we were standing at a distance from a lunch menu, Anne started reading it, but with some difficulty.  Knowing that Anne is a good reader, I became a little concerned. Sure enough after a visit to the opthomoligist, we found out Anne is slightly far-sighted.

Now, each one of the three sibling group at the House of Dreams are wearing glasses.  The brothers are happy that Anne has glasses too and Emelin is happy to no longer be the only girl in the home with glasses.

With Anne, we now have 9 dreamers with glasses.  If you would like to help with the cost of lenses and eye doctor visits check out the Glasses link on the Projects page. 

-Marisol