Moments

I have spent so many moments here in Bolivia.

Some moments, I am filled with joy and want to dance and sing
and I can't stop smiling. The kids here make fun of me because
I smile and when I start smiling I can't stop. There is now the
"Lily smile" here where the kids smile as BIG as they can. :)
There are so many moments where I get jumped on and a little
one gives me a bear hug. I can't tell you how many times I laugh
so hard I want to cry. These children are HILARIOUS. What they
say and think literally makes me laugh so hard my stomach hurts.
A joyful heart is good medicine.

Some moments are hard. When I have 9 little ones running around,
one crying, two arguing, another asking for water please, and five
trying to tell me five different stories all at the same time. There are
times where the little ones have a hard time obeying and they have
melt downs and are stubborn. There are times where I run out of
energy and fall short. There are times where I feel discouraged.
But God is bigger than my shortcomings.

There are moments where I am filled with peace. When I kiss fuzzy
little heads goodnight and they whisper "Tia Lily, I love you" and
won't sleep until they give me a goodnight kiss my heart swells.
When one of the older kids comes to talk and confides in me and my
heart breaks for what they have been through. When Peniel wraps her
little hands around my neck and when July reaches up and tightens my
grip around her little hand. I love these children so much. They very
quickly wiggled their way into my heart.

It will be 2 years in February since I first came to Bolivia. Two years
with children whom God has placed on my heart ever since I was little.
It is amazing to see how He works and leads and prepares us to do His
will.

Please continue praying for these children and also for the staff. It is a lot
of work raising 67 children plus all the children of the staff. Lots of
people in our family. God is so good and I am so amazed as He works
here each new day.

Blessings and love from Bolivia,

~Lily

Precious in His sight

Picture post of 2 of my 9. 

Amazing how much these kids wiggle into my heart. Love them!

Juanes

Elisabet

Be praying for Elisabet. She comes from a very abusive background and is struggling as she learns how to obey and respect others and love. Beautiful girl with a beautiful little heart. May God touch and heal the scars. We are precious in His sight!

~Lily

Filled with joy

How has over a month passed since I returned to Bolivia???

It's been filled with...

Caring for 9 little ones and loving 67 more!

My Bolivian family :)

-early mornings and sleepy faces
-cutting 90 tiny finger and toe nails
-Lots of hugs and kisses each day
-learning how to be patient and laugh
-hearing "Tia Lily" thousands of times each day
-keeping a clean house :) Not easy with little ones
-washing many clothes by hand
-bathing little ones each day
-night time devotions and singing "Jesus loves me" in English
-playing soccer with the older kids
-piojos ;)
-spanish praise music and dancing at night with the kiddos
-the goodnight routine which involves kisses from all my little men
-laughter and me not being able to stop smiling

It has been an amazing month. God is at work here at Casa de Esperanza and I have been blown away at the multiple opportunities to share with the older kids.

God continues to teach me to REST in Him because He has accomplished all things. To rest in His love and joy and to trust His PERFECT plan. Amazed by His goodness to me!

Also welcome to another new little one. Lolina is 4 years old and was living with an elderly grandfather. She cannot walk or talk and we are praying that God would heal her little body. Beautiful smile and beautiful eyes. And the best giggle.

Thank you for your prayers and love! Blessings from Bolivia!

~Lily

Beautiful pain

Two weeks ago I met little July. The newest little one in my house. Two years old with big beautiful eyes. Two days ago, I met her elderly grandfather who stopped by to hug and kiss on July. He asked me over and over again to take good care of her because she is the only thing he has left.

Her story breaks my heart. Her mother was raped and gave birth to little July at the age of 12. Two years later, her mother killed herself. And the grandfather brought little July to Casa de Esperanza knowing that he could not care for her the way she needs to be cared for. His love for his granddaughter amazes me. 

Beautiful July is slowly starting to open up. She smiles and laughs more and comes over every few minutes for a hug or a kiss. I love it when she starts singing in her little voice. 

When I look at her my heart breaks. It breaks for the young mother that had no hope. It breaks for the grandfather who gave up who was most precious to him so that she could grow and be safe and cared for. My heart breaks for little July who has gone through so much at such a young age.

But I am reminded of God's love for us in all of the pain and hurt. There is much sin in this world but God is with us in it. We only need to cry out to Him. There is HOPE in Jesus. And life.

Just as July's grandfather gave her up, God also gave up His son. He did it for OUR good. So that we could have life and be safe and be cared for. And that no matter what we go through, we are never alone.

It's painful. It's beautiful.

This life isn't easy. There are things that we cannot understand. But we can trust God with them.

Many blessings from Bolivia. 

~Lily Fluharty

I'm back!

Andres

Here I am, once again writing from Bolivia!!! I have been here for almost 2 weeks and it has been absolutely amazing.

I flew in and jumped right into a taxi where I arrived at church just in time to hear the kids singing and to get tons of hugs and kisses. Peniel just leaned against me and murmured "Tia Lily" over and over.

I moved into the Quinta where I am in charge of 9 kiddos...

My newest little one- July

Febe- Just turned 6
David-5
Andres-5
Elisabet-5
Ismael-4
Juanes-4
Javier-4
Peniel-2
July-2

It can be a big chaotic but it's amazing to be back. The kids and I are slowly starting to get back into the routine. There were several Tias who came and went when I was in the states so were working towards consistency. With 9 little ones, consistency means God giving lots of grace and patience. But He is soooo good! I don't deserve it.

The boys being all gangster ;)
Samuel, Antonio, Miguel and Carlos

I am in La Paz for a couple of days for my visa. Please keep praying that everything will go well! much love and hugs from Bolivia!

~Lily

Here I go!

And here it is... the last blog post in the states...

Casa de Esperanza here I come!

Extremely excited to get back to the kids, a little nervous to travel, sad to leave my family, happy to hear "Tia Lily" so very soon and at rest because I know God is with me through each second.

Excited to see these little faces on Sunday! Plus 62 more!

Juanes

Peniel

Lily

Please continue to pray as I head out in the morning, travel all day and arrive Sunday morning before jumping on death road and arriving in Caranavi Sunday afternoon. 

Blessings and love to you all! God is so very good and it is amazing how He leads and open doors. It is all grace!

Much love in Christ,

Lily Fluharty

In my suitcase...

Heading back to Casa de Esperanza in Caranavi, Bolivia in 2 days.

My room is a mess right now with things to take, things to leave and things I am not sure about yet.

It's usually pretty crazy the packing process.
I'm scared of having my bags overweight.
I'm scared of forgetting something I will NEED in this next year.

But here's a few things that are for SURE going into my suitcase...

1. Pop rocks

Bringing these down for the kids. They have probably never had something like this.

2. Lucy pants

I love these super comfortable pants that last!

3. Lice comb

Some people get grossed out by this but it's part of living with 65 kids... and it's really not as bad as people say... :) 

4. Books in Spanish

So excited to bring down some spanish books for the kids. Thanks to everyone who donated! Such a huge blessing!

Today is packing day and tomorrow is my last full day in the States. Saturday morning I fly out bright and early to arrive in La Paz, Bolivia early Sunday morning. Then it is a 5-6 hour drive on death road to Caranavi. A long day of traveling but well worth it when I get greeted by hugs and hearing "Tia Lily" on Sunday afternoon. Cannot wait.

Love and blessings to you all! Please be praying for all travels to go safely and smoothly and quickly ;)

~Lily Fluharty