Father Peter Chmielecki SCJ writes to Adoptive Parents from the missionary volunteering at the House of Hope in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Santa Cruz, June 25, 2025
Dear Padrinos,
Saturday was my first day at the House of Hope in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. My first meeting with the children was in the sewing workshop. Sister Bonaventura encouraged me to visit the girls, who were busy sewing the Christmas tree ornaments that the Padrinos will receive for Christmas 2025. In great concentration, several girls, about 10-12 years old, were busy stitching the individual pieces that make up the felt bauble. "Are the children sewing this themselves?" - I asked. "Of course! Who else is supposed to take care of it?" - sister replied, somewhat surprised by my question. "I thought the children only help with some minor work on gifts for the Adoptive Parents, and most of the work is done by the educators or sisters," - I tried to explain. "No, most of the work is done by the children, and on top of that I sensitize them a lot that they have to do each ornament with maximum care. We have to produce several hundred of them, but they will, after all, be sent out by your mission office one at a time. So we have to care very much about the quality of workmanship of each ornament, so that it will please the recipient, so that it will be hung on the Christmas tree," Sister Bona concluded our talks.
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The Hogar de la Esperanza orphanage currently houses 55 children, ranging from 1.5-year-old Isabel to four teenagers who started college last year. It's safe to say that life at the orphanage is going on quietly - that is, it's very well organized. People who have read - in my opinion passionate - book by Sister Bonaventura Barcik entitled. "Hope is not just a place" probably remember what dramatic circumstances the Sisters encountered in the operation of the House of Hope when they flew from Poland to Bolivia 11 years ago. I would even describe the current educational situation, the state of infrastructure or the level of specialized work with children as close to ideal.
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Practically every day I accompany Sister Bonaventura on various "errands around town": we shop at the market, go to the bank to withdraw money and make payments, or pick up donations from the food bank. On the streets, very long lines at gas stations are conspicuous. One has to stand for several hours for fuel, and diesel even for several days... At a time when oil is getting cheaper on world markets, among other reasons, because its supply is high, such sights can be surprising! In all likelihood, Bolivia does not have foreign currency reserves to purchase fuel abroad. This is what I conclude from the situation that affected Hogar de la Esperanza in terms of transferred aid from Poland. For several years we have been sending aid from our Padrinos to the dollar account of the orphanage without any problems. Sister Director was also able to take foreign currency from the bank without complications and exchange it in the most advantageous way. However, for several months now, it has not been possible to draw dollars from the bank. Money can only be withdrawn or transferred in the local currency - Boliviano. The problem, however, is the exchange rate between the dollar and Solivianos, which the bank sets "from outer space." In practice, it only settles around 50% of the value that can be obtained on the street when exchanging paper US dollars.
Another snapshot of daily life in Bolivia: within a few months, the staple food product here - rice - has become dramatically more expensive. As recently as the end of 2024, a 50-kilogram bag of rice cost 190 Bolivianos (about 25$), and today the cheapest rice of that weight already costs 430 bolivianos (about 65$). What is going on in this country and economy? The president says it's "the fault of the opposition, which is blocking everything." On the other hand, I heard from an uncle who was visiting his relatives in an orphanage that "under the previous president, the country stood on cocaine exports, and the current government is trying to fight it, and that's why things are as they are." Both opinions don't seem very likely to me, but the fact is that Bolivia's economic situation is just bad.
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Let's end with some good news. I mentioned above the youngest Isabel. The educators suspect a disability in this little critter: she is very inactive, sort of lethargic, and on top of that she doesn't walk. One day, during the youngest children's walk around the playground, Sister Bonaventura encouraged our little one to leave the safe grip of the educator and walk a few meters to her. And Isabel moved with wobbly steps and walked a few meters on her own. The joy was immense! For the caregivers, it was probably the kind of joy that helps you forget all that is difficult about raising children in an orphanage and gives you the energy to give even more love to those toddlers who are deprived of parental care and love.
With warm greetings from Bolivia
Fr. Peter Chmielecki SCJ
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