| Country / Region: | Bolivia / El Alto |
|---|---|
| Project Summary: | Expansion of a children's ministry that reaches over 150 local children |
Partner Overview
Bethesda Church is a 100 person church located in El Alto, one of the poorest and most dangerous cities in Bolivia. Twelve years ago they began a children’s ministry to reach out to the children of this impoverished community. Last year, they began dreaming of ways to expand the successful children’s program which ministers to over 150 kids that attend on Saturday mornings.
They came up with a wonderful idea: create a job training program that will teach the parents a skill, plus provide income to expand the children’s program. Bright Hope is investing in a chocolatery, a bakery, a sewing workshop and a micro loan program.
December 2011 Update
God has given each of us unique gifts and isn't it exciting to discover them? That's why, last week, Mark Lennox, our Partnership Developer to Latin America conducted a spiritual gifts seminar with our partner Bethesda. The trainings went really well and we had about 135 attendants in El Alto and a little over a 100 in Oruro.
In fact, the training went so well they want to do another training next year! They'd want it to be even longer and invite more people. The pastors are asking for a follow up in the next six months. Pastor Gabriel is going to ask his denomination if they can use their retreat center in Cochabamba and he will invite everyone from El Alto, Oruro and Cochabamba. They are hoping for 300 to 500 people! There's nothing like discovering who God created us to be. We're excited to be brining that process to our churches in Bolivia.
Oct 2011 Update
Bethesda has become one of the most important partners for Bright Hope in Bolivia. Their effort and service have gained them the confidence of many of our partners in the U.S. Located on the outskirts of the city of El Alto, this church is run by Pastor Gabriel Cruz who has 12 years of experience helping the community. The church serves over 100 kids and provides training and resources to 60 parents.
Children receive food three days a week (Monday through Wednesday) as well as help with their homework. At the same time, the church involves the through micro-enterprise opportunities. Being a part of micro-enterprises means that the parents can take part in one of the activities to generate income and become self-sustainable. Such activities include chocolate production, baking or sewing.
June 2011 Update
The chocolate production has become the strong arm of Bethesda in the last year, generating earning around $455 USD. These profits went directly to improve the facilities, being the workspace, equipment and access to water.
While this happens, Nadid, leader of the program, learned a lot about chocolate production from a visiting group from the states. Nadid was challenged to research two criteria which will improve the quality of their chocolate. First, the temperature of production, and the expiration date.
The results of this exercise indicates that the best temperature to produce the chocolate is 65°C (149°F) and the max time that one chocolate can be eat without losing their flavor is two weeks.
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