Our History

History of our Soup Kitchen in Bolivia, South America

Daniel and Karen Bunn have been missionaries in Bolivia, South America for 25 years, with a non-denominational mission organization. In October of 2002 an opportunity arose to open a soup kitchen for the poor school children in a small town in the heart of Bolivia.

October 2002 - The soup kitchen is opened for for the poor school children in the heart of Bolivia to start for the 2003 school year.

November 2002 - We formed a team with the director of the local hospital and a woman [Lydia] who was on the municipal government.

January 2003 - The municipal government gave us an old market place with two small rooms. We did the renovations (it had actually been a storage place for all their maintenance stuff and was quite a mess) and said they would pay the electric and water. We used the two small rooms for the kitchen and put the tables under an open veranda.

February 2003 - The doors opened to 60 poor school children! These kids were fed daily and taught God's word for a year. We had a vision to build a new building for the kids as welll as a boarding home where they could stay and have Christian people to take care of them. The municipal government promised us a piece of land on which we could build this vision.

May 2004 - Dan and Karen moved to Richmond, VA but continued to send funds from donations here in the US to help things move ahead in Bolivia. Through the generous donations of God's people in the USA it began by feeding 60 children and has been increased to 100 children. They get fed every day one good, hot meal (they get breakfast at school). It costs about $600 a month to feed 100 kids and pay the cooks.

November 2004 - It seemed when Dan & Karen left Bolivia that this whole project of building was put on hold. Now God brought it to their minds again until they felt it was time to see it through and try to build the original vision.

May 2005 - It became the vision to feed more children than currently are being fed. These children have been brought by their parents to town to attend school and left on their own to fend for themselves so they have been basically abandoned and are walking the streets a lot. The vision is to have good Christian families to care for them and teach them God's ways.

April 2006 - A committee formed and Hands Of Love is officially named. Hands of Love is formed as a ministry under Living Water Fellowship of Moon Township, Pennsylvania. The plans for the first phase of the project are set in stone.

July 2006 - The paper work for the land given to us by the municipal government have been completed when suddenly the town's people are up in arms because we are occupying part of a piece of land that is their soccer field. There are many meetings to resolve this and no agreement could be reached so we pulled out of there. The government agreed to give us another piece of land which ended up being a better place, nicer location and just as big. We rejoice that this is now settled.

August 2006 - Board meeting solidifies travel plans and a team of 25 people going to build a new kitchen. The fencing is being put in place around the property even as we write. God's people continue to be generous and we have received around $40,000 to date.

October 2006 - The first phase of the project is set to start on October 12 with a group of 25 people to start the building of the soup kitchen/dining room. Lord willing, phase two will take place in July of 2007 and phase three in January of 2008.

March 2007 - The new kitchen/dining room is done and being used. Money has been donated for a new stove and refrigerator. Pray that we will be able to hook up to the town waterline.

August 2007 - A team of 25 people go to build the first dorm building which will house up to 20-25 kids and 2 adults.  The shell is completed and the rest of the work is up to hired Bolivian construction workers. 

Jan 2008 - Karen takes a visit to see how things are going and do a strategic plan with the team on that end for the whole school year.  Much gets accomplished and plans are in place for a good school year.

July 2008 - The first dorm building is completed and waiting for furnishings.  God is good! Plans for a team to go and do repairs, build a basketball court and playground and dig drainage ditches has been postponed because of lack of funds.

July-Aug, 2009 -  A team of 1 5 people return to Bolivia to help things move ahead.  The first dorm building has been furnished, a  basketball court was built, a water tank was raised, gutters were put on the buildings and more sidewalks were put in.  We are seeking a Christian Bolivian couple to live in the home and take care of orphaned children.

December, 2009 - God has done it again!  He has provided a wonderful Christian couple to move in and take care of orphaned children.  January 3rd is their move in date.   

 

 Future Plans

We plan in July 2010 to take one team to build a dormitory for 20 boys to live in and be cared for by an adult family.

What is happening now?

What is happening right now in the soup kitchen is only because of the grace of God and the generous donations from people like you!

The new kitchen/dining room is done, the children are eating well and helping to keep it clean. The old building fell down from all the rains just before we moved into the new building. Praise God for his perfect timing!

 

The first home building is done and beautiful.  We currently have someone to come in by the first week of January 2010 and care for these children who desperately need love.