February 2006 Archives

We managed to get Yoli's entire family together for a photo. This is the first time we've all been in one place in several years. Count 'em — there's 20 people!

Casa Hogar Nacer is a home in the country that helps boys who live on the streets of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Yoli has volunteered in the past at this home. I have visited it every time we've gone to Bolivia, and each time I go I find it more beautiful than before. This time I wanted to take some photos to show the beautiful landscaping and also to take photos of some of the boys who live there.

Here are some photos of the new construction at El Jordán. First a few notes: The name refers to the Jordan River in Israel, which the Israelites had to cross before entering the Promised Land. El Jordán is a support center for street kids where they get help to leave behind their old life and "cross the river" to a new life.

Several years ago, the folks at El Jordán were able to buy the property next door. They had been praying for this opportunity. They named the new property "Jericho," which was significant in several ways. First, in the Bible, it was the Israelites next major challenge after entering the land. Second, the Israelites had to tear down the walls of the city. The same would be true of this Bolivian Jericho. They cleaned it up, but at that time didn't have the money to begin demolition and construction.

So that's the background. Here are the photos:

This is "Jericho" from the front. Yoli and I had our wedding reception on this property in 2003. Late in 2005 they tore down the old house that had been there and began the construction that you see in this picture.