BOLIVIA
True Missions Story
Christmas for Ricardo
(Picture 1)
Ricardo Chamiri Canaviri was excited. It was Christmas! And this Christmas
was better than ever before. In the past, his family could not afford Christmas
gifts. But this year, there were gifts by the Nacimiento (nah-see-mee-EN-toh;
Nativity scene), sent to them by their sponsors through Latin American ChildCare. This year, there would be Christmas for Ricardo.
(Picture 1)
Ricardo lives in a little town in Bolivia called Samaria. Ricardo and the other
people who live in Samaria are Guarani Indians.
Samaria is only ten miles from the city of Santa Cruz, but life in Samaria is
different from life in the city. Like the other children in Samaria, Ricardo and
his family were very poor. They live in adobe and thatch homes, and although
they do have electricity, they do not have any of the other modern conveniences available in Santa Cruz. There isn’t even any clean water in Samaria.
(Picture 2)
Ricardo’s father had passed away, and his mother, Lucia, could not afford to
buy clothes for her children. Working as a washwoman, she made less than $3
a day. Sometimes she could not afford to buy food.
But this year was different. Ricardo was able to attend school at Luz y Verdad
(looz ee vare-DAHD; Light and Truth), a school sponsored by Latin American
ChildCare of the Assemblies of God. Ricardo now has a sponsor who provides
him with a uniform to wear to school.
The education Ricardo is getting at Lu z y Verdad will help him find a good
job when he grows up. He is learning about Jesus at this Christian school,
too. And Ricardo is healthier than ever, because he can get clean water at Luz
y Verdad, and his sponsor pays for his meals so he can eat nutritious lunches
every day.
(Picture 3)
Ricardo is thankful for the Christmas gifts he received this year. He wrote a
letter saying, “I am very thankful to the Lord and my sponsor for the gifts that
they sent me this past year. Also, my mom and brothers and sisters are happy
for this beautiful gift that I received through the LACC school.”
(Picture 3)
Ricardo’s mother, Lucia, was given a job as a cook for the school, which has
also helped improve the family’s life. Lucia says, “I am thankful to the Lord,
the sponsors, and LACC. Our Lord is so wonderful. I thank the Lord for the
clothes Ricardo received for Christmas and for the food provided each day
for my son. I will never forget all that the sponsors do for us and for their
prayers.”
Latin America Childcare is a ministry of Assemblies of God World Missions
and represents the largest integrated network of evangelical schools in Latin
America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1963, the ministry has grown to include over 300 projects affecting more than 100,000 children in 21 countries.
It continues to touch thousands of Latin Americans with the truth of the gospel...to equip them with the basic skills for competing in, and transforming,
their society...and to give them the things dreams are made of: a future.
BGMC helps LACC by providing various supplies they need, including desks,
chairs, tables, food, etc.
Information for this story came from worldmissions.ag.org and is used with
permission from Assemblies of God World Missions.
© 2005 Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave, Springfield, Missouri. All rights reserved.
Permission to duplicate for church use only.
This year, there were gifts by the Nacimiento (Nativity scene),
sent to them by their sponsors through Latin American
ChildCare.
Bolivia 1
Working as a washwoman, Ricardo’s mother made less than
$3 a day. Sometimes she could not afford to buy food.
Bolivia 2
Ricardo’s mother, Lucia, was given a job as a cook for the school,
which has also helped improve the family’s life.
Bolivia 3