Newsletter October 2025

 

Dear friends,

Sunday we had the second round of presidential elections, now we are waiting to see what the new cabinet will look like. We hope and pray that a good team can be formed to start working on the road to restoration Bolivia so desperately needs.

 

Please pray for this, the problems are huge. Among other things, because of the lack of US dollars fuel importation is very slow. And as there is very little diesel available, the agricultural sector isn’t able to harvest and plant as they should. We hear that they expect only about 60 to 80% of the normal production. Prices of all foodstuff are already very high, and what this is going to look like for next year we do not know. We are concerned but are grateful at the same time that it is our heavenly Father who looks out for us.

 

On the day of the presidential elections the girls in Talita Cumi held a mock election, complete with an overseer. These are good exercises for later on in their lives. Talita Cumi went through a bit of a tumultuous time these last few months. A new staff member came, but after a short while she left because of her personal circumstances. We thought to have found another one, but she declined, now there is yet another one starting to learn the ropes. These kind of situations are difficult for the girls and of course also for the team. 

 

The boys from Adulam visited Hans, a friend who lives in the rural area. That was quite an experience, cutting wood for the campfire and just be completely away from the daily routine. The atmosphere was good and even when back in the house it was evident that relationships had improved.

 

The children from Jesed were given a special chance to get their eyes tested, 23 of them participated in this, one of them being William. This 11 year old boy is one of the group of 5 children between 9 and 11 in Jesed, of whom it was noticed they had started drinking alcohol at home. These are children of a few families that live around the same patio. The team has started working with them, teaching them life skills so that when there are problems they will not, like their parents, resort to drinking. We also looked at the families. In one case we had to let the authorities know that there is very little care and supervision, one brother isn’t even going to school anymore. Unfortunately we see that many of our children and teenagers lack a healthy family model, which is particularly poignant in the case of children with learning- and developmental disorders. 

 

Photos: The boys of Adulam have their devotional at the camp (top left); There had to be a campfire (top right); The girls in Talita Cumi cast their vote: practicing for when they can really do this (bottom left); William and another child from Jesed wait their turn at the eye doctor's (bottom right)

 

This week I will be spending time visiting a few different prisons. I will bring some syringes for the doctor as he has vials of medication but no means to administer them. I was also given medical samples from a medical sales representative, these are only a few pills of some medicines but every little bit helps! 

 

Since it is very difficult to find normal cooking oil, I have been trying for a few weeks now to regularly purchase a few bottles. We would really love to give these to the teams as part of their Christmas hamper to help a little bit. The last three times I went searching all I found was "light" oil for sale, 30% dearer than the normal one, so not that one thank you. Thankfully there are a few places within walking distance I can search, that way I also keep my step-count up!

 

Bye, thank you so much for your commitment to us, we know we are being upheld!

With warm greetings in the love of the Lord Jesus, Fineke 

 

 

Sunday we had the second round of presidential elections, now we are waiting to see what the new cabinet will look like. We hope and pray that a good team can be formed to start working on the road to restoration Bolivia so desperately needs.

 

Please pray for this, the problems are huge. Among other things, because of the lack of US dollars fuel importation is very slow. And as there is very little diesel available, the agricultural sector isn’t able to harvest and plant as they should. We hear that they expect only about 60 to 80% of the normal production. Prices of all foodstuff are already very high, and what this is going to look like for next year we do not know. We are concerned but are grateful at the same time that it is our heavenly Father who looks out for us.

 

On the day of the presidential elections the girls in Talita Cumi held a mock election, complete with an overseer. These are good exercises for later on in their lives. Talita Cumi went through a bit of a tumultuous time these last few months. A new staff member came, but after a short while she left because of her personal circumstances. We thought to have found another one, but she declined, now there is yet another one starting to learn the ropes. These kind of situations are difficult for the girls and of course also for the team. 

 

The boys from Adulam visited Hans, a friend who lives in the rural area. That was quite an experience, cutting wood for the campfire and just be completely away from the daily routine. The atmosphere was good and even when back in the house it was evident that relationships had improved.

 

The children from Jesed were given a special chance to get their eyes tested, 23 of them participated in this, one of them being William. This 11 year old boy is one of the group of 5 children between 9 and 11 in Jesed, of whom it was noticed they had started drinking alcohol at home. These are children of a few families that live around the same patio. The team has started working with them, teaching them life skills so that when there are problems they will not, like their parents, resort to drinking. We also looked at the families. In one case we had to let the authorities know that there is very little care and supervision, one brother isn’t even going to school anymore. Unfortunately we see that many of our children and teenagers lack a healthy family model, which is particularly poignant in the case of children with learning- and developmental disorders. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos: The boys of Adulam have their devotional at the camp (top left); There had to be a campfire (top right); The girls in Talita Cumi cast their vote: practicing for when they can really do this (bottom left); William and another child from Jesed wait their turn at the eye doctor's (bottom right)

 

This week I will be spending time visiting a few different prisons. I will bring some syringes for the doctor as he has vials of medication but no means to administer them. I was also given medical samples from a medical sales representative, these are only a few pills of some medicines but every little bit helps! 

 

Since it is very difficult to find normal cooking oil, I have been trying for a few weeks now to regularly purchase a few bottles. We would really love to give these to the teams as part of their Christmas hamper to help a little bit. The last three times I went searching all I found was "light" oil for sale, 30% dearer than the normal one, so not that one thank you. Thankfully there are a few places within walking distance I can search, that way I also keep my step-count up!