Being a great mother requires strength, compassion, sacrifice, and most of all love. Moms play a crucial role in building us up and offering us the tools to fulfill God’s calling on our lives.
As Mother’s Day approaches, we want to celebrate moms who exemplify courage and unconditional love for their children—moms just like Nadya!
Nadya’s Hope
Hope. It is what motivated many families from northern Potosi to take a huge risk. They left everything to move to the city so they could find work and educate their children. Their new home in Villa Mexico near Cochabamba didn’t have running water or sewage systems. But there was a school. The opportunity for education represented hope and a way out of desperate poverty.
Eager to give her children a different life than she had experienced, Nadya chose to migrate. Life in Villa Mexico remained difficult. Many women like Nadya had to make the long walk each day to the city to sell candy or other snacks. Sadly, most children were left alone at home to fend for themselves.
Knowing the plight of these women and their kids, one of our partner churches reached and invited them to the Children and Family Center. Children and Family Centers provide a safe environment where children can go after school to learn and grow with their friends, receive healthy meals and hear about God’s love.
Nayda and many of her neighbors didn’t trust the church. However, in time, their fears gave way to hope as their children received love and safety.
Children and Family Centers are a beacon of hope for families in Bolivia!
Nadya had always worried about her nine-year-old son Daniel—he was so different from other boys. He feared loud noises, felt uncomfortable around people, and pulled away when she tried to hug him.
Not long after he started attending the Center, the teachers explained to Nadya that Daniel was autistic. After they taught Nadya how to support Daniel, she felt so much peace.
In time, Daniel started making friends and reaching milestones she never thought he would. But nothing could have prepared her for what was to come.
Over the next few years, the community of Villa Mexico grew. As a result, the few rooms used as a schoolhouse were no longer enough for all the children. Finally, after asking local authorities to build a new school, construction started on a school with plenty of classrooms and a basketball court for recess.
Daniel’s Courage
The grand opening of the school was scheduled for February 2024 and the Bolivian President agreed to officiate. But even more surprising—Daniel asked if he could give the opening speech thanking the authorities for the new school! God had truly worked in Daniel’s heart and life to give him the confidence to speak in public.
On the day of the grand opening, the whole community showed up to witness the long-awaited event. Daniel, who had practiced his speech for weeks, surprised his mom when he walked onto the stage. But behind the scenes, Karina, one of Daniel’s teachers at the Children and Family Center, had been praying for him.
Tears still fill Nadya’s eyes when she remembers her son standing tall and speaking with confidence. She feels so grateful for the church and the Children and Family Center for changing Daniel’s future. Daniel no longer feels uncomfortable having so many eyes on because now his eyes are focused on Jesus.
Support Moms Like Nadya
As May comes and goes, please remember the moms like Nadya who have sacrificed so much to protect their kids. And as a result, she watched as God transformed her son before her eyes.
Right now, we’re kicking off a campaign to raise $75,000 to fund 10 Children & Family in El Alto, Bolivia. Each Children & Family Center can nurture 75 kids per year. Your yearly gift of $100 or monthly gift of $10 will offer protection and hope for one child for an entire year! And if you can give more, many families in Bolivia will be eternally grateful.
You can rescue Bolivian children by supporting our Children & Family Centers.
Thank you for prayerfully considering how you can get involved!
