Lily's kids

Lily's kids

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

9 months...

So 9 months have flown by!

I started out by working in the Guarderia where I was in charge of a preschool program for all the little kids every morning. We worked on the alphabet, numbers, days of the week, singing songs and playing. It was lots of fun and I loved working with all the little guys. Soooo cute!
Group from the Guarderia

Then when summer vacation started I got put in charge of the summer program. This was definitely a LOT of work. Finding a fun activity to do EVERY day for 50+ kids of all ages was tough. But we had fun and made it through the summer. Pizza, basketball and football competitions, movie nights, walks to waterfalls, craft and game days, swimming in the pool, walks through the mountains, biking, home made slip-and-slide... the list went on. Lost patience sometimes and ended up losing my voice more than once but God was gracious. Was also super blessed by a couple from Holland who helped me out and gave me lots of fun ideas! 
Walking with Jacob to the waterfalls

Pool time!

Also during summer vacation we had a Bible Study. My group (much to my surprise) was a bunch of 13 and 14 year old boys. Needless to say it was interesting but we had some very cool conversations. God is at work in these boys hearts. 
Devotional group with my boys

In December, I ended up moving full time into house #4 to learn how to be Tia. I learned a TON!!! Lots of fun and lots of work. I was there for a month and spent Christmas there. Our house won the decorating competition and we got 2 chickens and 2 coca-colas and the kids were so excited. 
Hanging with Roy in 4

Early January, I ended up moving to house #3 to be the ONLY Tia there. 8 little kids ages 1-15. Craziness. But I was super excited to be little  Peniel's tia. As Tia, I am in charge of waking everyone up, getting breakfast made, chores done, house cleaned and getting the kiddos off to school on time in their uniform. Mornings are pretty crazy. Afternoons are spent doing homework and keeping the house clean. I spent 3 months in house #3 and fell in love with the kids. Another Tia ended up moving in with me which was a huge blessing and we worked super well together. 
Some of my little guys in 3
Miguel Angel, Peniel and Juanes

Peniel rockin' her shades

With my sweet, precious angel Peniel

After 3 months in house #3 I got moved to house #5 when the Tia there ended up leaving. So once again I was working alone with 8 kids but this time ages 5-15. Really fun group of kids and lots of late night talks with the older kids. Loved the view from my house and being with little Jacob and David. Lots of laughs! 
With Jazmin, David and Jacob in 5

My groupies in 5
Isaac, Raquel, Juan Gabriel, Jazmin, Josue, David, Jacob and Sara

David, Josue and Jacob

During my last month, there ended up being one more switch. The directors decided to move all the little kids into one house. So I ended up being in the little kid house along side another tia. 8 little kiddos all under the age of 5 and also the Tia's 2 year old daughter. Lots of craziness but so adorable. Really loved being with all the little guys. So many hugs and kisses and hearing "I love you Tia Lily" every day just melted my heart. 
David, Lizbet, Elisabet and Ismael

With Tia Elsa, Diana, Febe, David, Juanes, Elisabet, Javier, Peniel, Ismael and Andres

Breakfast with the little guys before church

I had so many incredible moments in Bolivia. Learned so much. God is so good and has completely blessed me with a second Bolivian family and so many bolivian kiddos who are so dear to my heart. I have made so many friends and been blessed to get to know the Tias who work at Casa de Esperanza. A few highlights...

*Being a Tia and working, actually working, each and every moment with these kids
*Having one of the Tias name her daughter after me. Sweet baby Lily
Baby Lily
* amazingly beautiful Bolivian night skies
*Riding down to town in the back of a truck with all the kids
*Amazingly delicious bolivian food
*Death road!!! So crazy beautiful
*Hugs and kisses, tiny hands in mine and hearing "Tia Lily"
* All my names (post coming soon)

God is so good to me. 

I have spent over a year of my life in Bolivia. Left my heart there. Heading back in August to spend another year with my beautiful Bolivian children. So excited to see God continue to work in and through me there. Lots more information coming soon but am amazed at how God continues to open up doors. Home for a few months to recharge and rest and will be able to share lots of stories and pictures!!! Lots of love!!!

~Lily





Friday, May 24, 2013

Home

Made it home on Wednesday! So great to be back at home with my family.
Eating some delicious food... CHIPOTLE and ice cream and cookies. :)
Excited for some down time to relax and recharge.
Have lots of fun stories coming!!! and loooots of pics!


Lots of love...
~Lily

Friday, May 17, 2013

Last week!

Last week here in Bolivia!!! So sorry for the lack of posts... been a crazy month.

Changes in the houses meant that all the youngest kids ended up coming to live in my house. So now I am working alongside another Tia with 9 little kids ages 2-5. Really sweet. Lots of work but also lots of love and kisses and hugs every day!

Heading home next week! It has been an incredible 9 months that has flown by. God has been so good and gracious and FAITHFUL this whole trip. My heart explodes with love for these beautiful children. Can't wait to come back here to love on them!!! Excited to see my family and friends back at home in the States and to eat some yummy food!!! Bittersweet though. Just glad that it's not goodbye but see you soon to my kiddos here.  Leaving my heart in Bolivia!

Will post lots more once I get home!!! And lots of pics coming! :) Hooray for better internet! 

Love to you all!!!! Be praying for safe travels please!!!! God bless and blessings and hugs from Bolivia!!!

~Lily

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Lovely Tias

Love the ladies who work here as Tias. Who serve here every day loving and raising the kids here as well as their own. Been so encouraged as my friendship with these tias has grown. They have taught me so much and every day encourage me! Please be praying for these Tias. That God would continue to work in their hearts and bless them for this sometimes very difficult work they are doing here at Casa de Esperanza.

They are the "mommies" to all the kids here. From raising 8+ kids, cooking, cleaning, helping with homework, making sure they are all behaving, sewing, playing, listening, talking... the list goes on and on and on. These ladies are amazing! 

~Lily

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Finally internet :)


On my last 3 weeks here in Bolivia. Lack of posts due to lack of internet... thank for your patience. :) The last 2 weeks have been exhausting but good. Learned lots and God is gracious in teaching me patience. I need lots of it when raising 8 kiddos on my own. Especially teenagers. Wow! It’s hard. But been really encouraged to have some great LATE night conversations with the older two teens in my house. Blessed to see God opening doors.

Here’s some of the stuff that’s I’ve been busy with...
-homework with all the kiddos
-cleaning and keeping a clean house
-Cutting up and processing meat with the other tias
-cooking yummy dinners on mondays
-raising 8 kids :) ooftah it’s exhausting sometimes
-picnic at the river on my free day with some dear friends


I am writing this on my birthday (April 30th) and not sure when I will actually post this. Been a super low key birthday. The tias surprised me with a cake and coca-cola and gave me encouragement and pointed out evidences of grace. So encouraged by these lovely ladies who work so hard each and every day for these kids. It is a nonstop job. 6 in the morning till sometimes 11 at night. Every day. Every second. God is at work in these ladies lives. So grateful for these last 20 years of my life and am excited to see where God leads in this next year. I know I can leave my life and plans in His hands because He has a perfect plan for me. And He will open and close doors with His perfect timing. So blessed to be in HIM! 

Bittersweet as my last 3 weeks fly by. So excited to see my family and all my friends in the States but so sad to be leaving these kids for 2 months. Lord willing I’ll be back here in Bolivia by the end of the summer and spend another year serving and loving these beautiful children. God is good. I wish I could explain better my love for these kids but I can’t. They have been through so much. Have so much pain in their hearts and sometimes don’t know how to express it and it comes out as hatred and mean words that hurt. But deep down their looking for love. What they NEED is God’s love. That washes and repairs and heals and SAVES. And I can show them a glimpse of that love because of God’s love for me that spills over into their tiny hearts. 

Super huge thank you to all of you who read this blog, who are praying and supporting me, and all who are praying for these kids. This has been a crazy journey and God has been so faithful. 9 months are coming to a close and another year is coming up. I am so blessed and amazed at God’s goodness. Lots of love from Bolivia.

~Tia Lily :)