Newsletter August 2026
Summer is already winding down where you are, but here it’s the exact opposite! I am glad I can tell you that the situation in Bolivia has calmed down somewhat since the president declared a state of emergency in June. Many products are back on the shelves in shops and at the market, though prices remain far too high for certain things — this is especially true for the poor. A friend told me yesterday that she cooks only soup one day, and a (meager) hot one-pot meal the next. We’ve exchanged some recipes that include more vegetables.
Life in the rehabilitation centers is back to normal again — which is great for the young people, especially those who are not from La Paz, as their families can visit again! Thank you so much for your prayers and support; it means a lot to know we aren't facing this alone.
At the moment, 14 teenage boys are living in Adulam and also 14 teenage girls in Talita Cumi with two little ones. Some are newcomers who aren't entirely sure yet if they want to commit to rehabilitation. This makes the work quite challenging for the teams, and as if that wasn't enough, two team members underwent gallbladder surgery last month, so we had to rely on substitute staff.
Last month, we held our midyear evaluation with members of the board present. It was wonderful to hear about the positive things that happened, and it also highlighted areas where we can improve during the second half of the year.
A beautiful moment during the evaluation was being able to dedicate the two little ones living with their mothers in Talita Cumi to the Lord. In my previous letter, I wrote about the pregnant teenager in our care; her baby was born healthy, and Maria Jose is now learning how to be a mother.
That same week, the traditional 'Jesed Shop' opened. Twice a year, the children receiving support at Jesed can 'buy' items there, using the Jesed currency they have earned by achieving their goals. It is always a festive occasion because the children get to make their own choices. Dona’s behavior particularly caught our attention. She is a 13-year-old girl from Talita Cumi, yet she has the mental age of a six-year-old. She participates in many activities in Jesed to try and help her enter the school system. Sadly, before coming to us, she had already been forced into prostitution, and this was evident in the clothing choices she made in our 'shop'. As Felina put it: in some respects she is a child, but in some others, she is a woman.
Pictures: first at top: children in Jesed learn to make pizza. Below: top left: the dedication to the Lord of Alva and Nicolas. Top right: the girls received a lovely meal and a goodie-bag from a little church in our area. Bottom left: a very satisfied shopper in the "Jesed store", paid with currency she received for reaching goals. Bottom right: boys in Adulam doing a Bible quiz, the questions are in the balloons.
At the end of July, we were finally able to visit the high-security prison again. It was wonderful to see everyone and hear their stories. A serious armed incident had occurred earlier, prompting a massive search of the entire prison for other illegal items. During this process, the inmates were treated roughly—to put it mildly—and their personal belongings were treated with no respect. We were able to listen and pray, asking the Lord to help them entrust the situation to their faithful heavenly Father. Afterward, I traveled to Paraguay for a visit to a Dutch inmate. That was quite an ordeal, too; hundreds of men had been transferred to another prison—also a high-security facility. It was a miracle that, with the help of friends, I managed to locate the person I was visiting. It was very encouraging for him to see that the Lord sees him and has not forgotten him.
This month marks Mision Adulam’s 34th anniversary, reason for a small celebration with officials and friends. I am currently revising Mision Adulam’s new therapeutic model. Our original model is now over 20 years old, and much has changed—not the least in the world of the teenagers who come to us for rehabilitation. We hope to publish this in the near future and trust that the material will be a blessing.
Bye for now, thank you for your faithful prayers for us and for your support, we are blessed to be part of the body of Christ.
In Him, Fineke and teams.
