Shirley is Seven!

I can still see the lanky white bundle laying in the crib. Six years doesn’t dull that kind of shock. We had just begun to accept children in the orphanage. We still hadn’t formulated our opinion on photographing the children who came to The House of Dreams. Part of me is glad I can’t find any pictures of Shirley’s first day, or even her first weeks.

She came with a name, but not much more. Released too early from the hospital where she had been receiving treatments for extreme malnutrition, her bones showed through her skin and she labored to breathe. This baby, less than a year old, should have been chubby and kicking, but she just laid there, her dark eyes not focusing on anything, her stomach round and protruding. We took her back and forth from the hospital those first weeks, demanding they tend to her and help us.

I was shocked at how quickly she turned from starving to thriving. By the time she turned one she could sit up on her own. The doctors were astonished. Here is a picture from around that time. Look at the joy in that face!

Shirley was one of our first babies. Since inception, 53 children have found refuge in the House of Dreams. Currently we have 15 kids ages 6 to 11. Shirley is still with us. She just turned seven! To her recollection this is the only home she has ever known.

My husband and our five kids live down the road from the House of Dreams, just a five minute drive away. In the morning I started baking the cupcakes in anticipation of Shirley’s birthday party.  Then we set to preparing the gifts and party stuff sent to us by a very generous family  from the United States. As we were sorting the candies, bags, pencils, erasers, toys, crafts, stickers, and other goodies my kids and I chatted. (Preparing gifts for the House of Dreams is one of my kids’ favorite things to do to help out.) My oldest saw the stack of brand new Shirley sized outfits, that matched a tinier stack of outfits tailor made for the doll in the gift bag. She asked me, “Is Shirley a stylish kid?” My middle daughter was quick to reply, “Oh yeah. That Shirley can be a sassy girl!” With a smirk on her face as she stuffed a page of stickers in a bag the older sister replied, “Like you?” Ha!

We loaded the bounty up into a taxi and headed down the road. I called ahead to tell the Tias to come out and help grab the stuff. This meant, of course, 30 little eyes peeled as they watched my entourage enter with the party.  The table was quickly set. I showed around photographs of the family who had sent all the wonderment. We lit the smiley face candles, sang, and she blew them out. Shirley helped hand out the lemony cupcakes to all the Dreamers. After they were all sugared up we moved over to the couch area and she handed out the prize bags. It was great fun to watch the children restrain themselves and wait patiently until all the bags had been dispersed. Then the signal and they tore into the fun! As they were happily pushing cars around, turning their tongues colors with the candies, and sticking stickers all over themselves I scooted Shirley into the office and gave her the gifts just for her. Her eyes lit up as she carefully turned each item over and asked how to use them all. She was so grateful.

She chose one toy to take out with her and changed her clothes into one of her new outfits. The rest of the things were tucked away in the special spot in the office to be pulled out when they would be used. This is how we help to quell jealousy and avoid sticky fingers.

I am so glad that today Shirley could feel special and loved. I am so thankful that the people who financially support the House of Dreams make it possible for us to give such individual attention to the kids.

If you would like to sponsor a child please let me know. You can go to our Kid Pics page and see all the kids who call House of Dreams home. Or maybe you would just like to help make birthdays just a bit brighter. We also have a list of birthdays. Let me know if you want to send gifts down here to Cochabamba, Bolivia and I will tell you how you can do that.

- Angie

And now, some birthday photos:

English Fair at School

The Dreamers displayed their skills in English at school on Friday. Each class prepared posters, snacks, costumes, maps, and other interesting things about their English speaking city or country. It was fun to see them exploring the diversity of other cultures.

Benancio showing the British flag, Anne by the map of England, some of the classmates by their booth

(top) a friend with Emelin, (left) Jhamil with a friend, (right) a friend with Jose Luis

Estefani dressed as Mary Poppins by the model she made of the famed Hollywood sign

Shirley and Jose in very itchy, but very cute Tinkerbell and Peter Pan costumes

The kids work hard on their English with the help of many dedicated volunteers. We believe that dominating two languages will give them a competitive edge as they grow. We are blessed to be able to give them this advantage due to the generous donations of many individuals.

Thank you to all the volunteers, school staff, and donors who help give the children such a high quality education.

- Angie

Mom and Pop

In an attempt to invite YOU into our never-ending growth process I present three stories and a question.

Three stories…

#1: After years of helping us, a man told us he would no longer be giving financially to the orphanage. The reason? He wanted to give to a place with a greater need.

#2: A couple told us they wanted to support an orphan in The House of Dreams. They quickly backed out telling us they needed to reconsider. The reason? They had supported children through a large, well-known ministry for many years until the kids aged out of that program. Now they were reviewing their options. We stayed in their home during a trip to the States and they know us personally.

#3: A relative called told me I would be proud. He proceeded to tell me that he and his wife had decided to financially support a Bolivian child. They would be during so through a large, well-known ministry. He thanked me for inspiring him with our orphanage.

So why does the ‘large-chain-store’ ministry have more appeal  than our ‘mom-and-pop-shop’ ministry?

Not to all, just to some people. Don’t worry. We’re going to be alright. I know there is no fixed pie. I know that God is our source. I know that He is ultimately the One we trust to provide for these kids. I just wonder if we could be doing things differently. 

Suggestions? Encouragement? Perspective?

Thanks. Really. Your involvement with the House of Dreams is invaluable.

- Angie

Do you know what they call three strikes in a row?

A turkey! We hope that our beloved bowling man can get a few of these this weekend. That’s right. It’s the third and final part of the national bowling championship here in Bolivia. And just like during the first two, we are taking sponsors for strikes.

$1 a strike.

DaRonn is playing with the team in La Paz this go around. He averages 3 strikes a game. So during the 24 games he may get around 72 strikes. If you pledge a dollar a strike that means about $72 for the House of Dreams.

He will be updating us on his progress on facebook so you can follow along and cheer him on.

Let us know if you are interested in helping the House of Dreams in this fun and unique way. Thanks!

- Angie

How Your Business can Help the House of Dreams

DaRonn met with a group organized by my sister. She and her husband are part of Florence Christian Church in Omaha, Nebraska. This thriving congregation has adopted the House of Dreams orphanage and helped us in many ways. During DaRonn’s …

Strike-a-thon Strikes again

We love orphans. DaRonn also loves bowling!

Remember back in April when DaRonn competed in the first of a series of three national bowling championships? Many people participated by sponsoring the House of Dreams at $1 a strike. Over $1,000 were raised!

Now the second competition is upon us. That means you have a change to sponsor his bowling once again.

This week, June 14^th – 17^th, he will be representing the city of Cochabamba in the second of three national bowling championships. They are competing in the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia.  In all he will be playing 24 games.

Would you like to help The House of Dreams Orphanage by donating an amount for each strike he makes during the championship?

___ $1 a strike.  He averages 3 strikes a game. This means a commitment of around $72 to The House of Dreams Orphanage.

___ $20 for every game over 200.  He averages 200+ in every 1 out of 6. This means a commitment of roughly $80 to The House of Dreams Orphanage.

This will be fun!

If you would like to participate simply leave a comment below and we can sign you up.

Also, we will be posting updates on facebook so you can follow his progress.

– Angie

Strike-a-thon for The House of Dreams

We love orphans. DaRonn also loves bowling!

This week, April 27^th – 30^th, he will be representing the city of Cochabamba in the first of three national bowling championships. They are competing in the city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia.  In all he will be playing 24 games.

Would you like to help The House of Dreams Orphanage by donating an amount for each strike he makes during the championship?

___ $1 a strike.  He averages 3 strikes a game. This means a commitment of around $72 to The House of Dreams Orphanage.

___ $20 for every game over 200.  He averages 200+ in every 1 out of 6. This means a commitment of roughly $80 to The House of Dreams Orphanage.

This will be fun!

If you would like to participate simply leave a comment below and we can sign you up.

Also, we will be posting updates on facebook so you can get in on the fun.

– Angie

Action Project – St. Joseph, Missouri area {~Scrumdiddlyumptious Cakery~}

Need a specialized cake for a special occasion? If you live in the St. Joseph, Missouri area of the Midwest U.S. then you can have your cake and … support the House of Dreams too!

The Hays family have been House of Dreams advocates for a long time. They are partners supporting Benancio. I had the honor of meeting Brooke, a fellow oldest sister, on one of our trips to the States. She also happens to be about the same age as my oldest daughter.

Brooke has a strong desire to come and help out here in Bolivia specifically with the Dreamers at the House of Dreams. She decided to put her talent to work to help her get here. After some cake decorating classes she was set. Check out the fun creations from her ~Scrumdiddlyumptious Cakery~ below.

What a spread – so cute and so yummy!

My favorite – it looks just like the mint!

Taco cupcakes – wow.

You can contact Brooke Hays through her facebook account or leave a comment here on this blog and we will pass along your information.

For more about supporting a Dreamer like the Hays family visit our Kid Pics Page. 

- Angie

P.S. … and Brooke, keep up the hard work. You’re gonna make it!

Generous, that’s me!

At the moment guavas litter the Washington’s back yard with their yellow skin and pink innards. The idea occurred to my two oldest daughters to climb the tree and harvest the ripe fruit before it had a chance to splat to the ground in a gooey mess for the birds. They entered the kitchen lugging the overfull shopping bags that crinkled and spun from the weight. Dozens of fragrant guavas sat on our table awaiting their final destiny.

“Can we give them to the kids at the orphanage?” Gabrielle asked, eyes dancing with triumph and pride. After I said yes she let out a cheer and asked every hour on the hour when we could take them over there.

The whole drive over to the House of Dreams Gabrielle chattered about the harvesting of the guavas. We rang the doorbell and the Dreamers swarmed to greet us. We dropped off the bulging bags and said our farewells. As they closed the door and we turned to get in the truck I saw Gabrielle’s face beamed with happiness. She took her place in the front seat and continued talking.

“Generous, that’s me!” she announced with unabashed joy. “Mama, when I give things to the orphanage it makes the kids happy. And when I see that they are happy that makes me happy too.”

This pure heart of generosity challenges me all the time. Not a week goes by that Gabrielle doesn’t give something away to somebody. Her heart carries no pretext and no conditions. She simply finds joy in generosity.

I would that everyone who reads this story of my daughter could be infected with that same joy. Give, simply because it makes people happy. That, in turn, can make you happy too. 

Click here to share your generosity with the House of Dreams: giving instructions.

May the happiness you share be the key to finding your own happiness.

- Angie

 

A Look at the Bigger Picture

Thank you for your interest in The House of Dreams orphanage here in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Did you know that the orphanage is part of Christ Nation Ministries? Yep. We’ve got a whole lot going on down here. Instead of telling you about it I thought you might like to see a little video to give you a look at the bigger picture.

We are working hard to bring the light of Jesus to this region. Dozens of Bolivians and foreigners comprise the whole of the team. Not to be excluded are those involved in support. Many people around the world pray and encourage us. Others have chosen to join their efforts with ours and give a monthly financial donation to help keep all of this running. You could be one of those people. You can be a part of making a difference.

Give online here: GIVE ONLINE

Contact me for information on how to set up automatic monthly withdraw from a debit or credit card: CONTACT

Make out a check to ‘WOLC’ (please do not write our names on the check; simply enclose a note that says ‘Washingtons – Bolivia’) and send it to: Christ Nation Ministries, P.O. Box 8644, St. Joseph, MO, 64508

If you want you can even give through PayPal (you cannot receive tax credit if you give in this fashion). Contact me for instructions: CONTACT

To those of you who are already giving I want you to know that you are making dreams come true. You can share the gift of that great feeling you get knowing you are making a difference by passing along the link to this post. Use the ‘share’ box below or the good old cut and paste method. Thank you, ahead of time, for passing along this opportunity.

To God be all the glory!

- Angie