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Passing the Baton!  |  Looking Back  |  Looking Ahead
Top Ten Reasons to Give  |  Archives

Passing the Baton!
We (Jonathan and Karin) arrived in Seattle in early May and are here to stay. We will now be based in Seattle and are transitioning to working for Viva Bolivia solely as volunteers. Juan and Roxana will continue to run the VB office in Bolivia. In addition, our Treasurer, Kristi, who has been serving completely on a volunteer basis, will now be receiving a small salary as she takes on more of the daily duties that Jonathan was handling from Bolivia.

So, just in case you are wondering what lies ahead for VB, the future is brighter than ever! And your financial support is critical to our continued success. These are going to be challenging days for the VB Bolivia staff as they assume the full responsibility of identifying grant recipients, distributing grant funds and monitoring and reporting on the grants. They are also running Viva Bolivia Productos y Servicios SRL (VBPS). It is through VBPS that we are continuing to provide reduced-fee consulting services (accounting, legal and export assistance) to churches, missions, children’s homes and other ministries and small businesses operating in Bolivia.

While Karin and Jonathan will not be taking a salary as of the end of June, funds are still needed to help with grants and with the costs of operating an office in Bolivia. We are in need of a third person for the VB office and have more requests for grants than we have funds – so now more than ever, your support is critical.

From the beginning we dreamed about developing Bolivian leaders who could take over the work we were doing. Our goal has always been to “teach people to fish” rather than just “hand out fish.” Today, with Juan and Roxana running the VB office in Bolivia, that dream is a reality!

However, without the support of our families, churches and friends we would not have achieved this dream. So, let’s take a look back to see where we have been and a look ahead to see what the future holds!

Looking Back
Have you ever been between jobs? If so, you know that nothing provides hope for the future like having meaningful work! Over the past six years VB has helped provide more than 17,000 hours of skill-based, fair-wage work to some of the neediest people in Bolivia. While work in and of itself has value, this work has also come with pastoral care, counseling, Bible studies and love. These are things that can be difficult for a government program to offer – and we believe these components make all the difference.

We have also provided more than 1600 hours of professional consulting services to more than 20 key organizations, small businesses, churches and missions working to serve the Bolivian people. From helping children’s homes to setting the foundation for the Cochabamba International Church (a ministry center in its own right), we have made a powerful difference. We have protected the future of these organizations and helped to make them sustainable. Viva Bolivia has also impacted numerous lives on an individual basis. Families have been built up, relationships preserved and the good news of the gospel has been shared in a tangible, God-honoring way.

Looking Ahead
Viva Bolivia and VBPS are well positioned to continue this work and to build on the good foundation we have built together. Through income produced by Café Yungas Bolivia and the consulting services, VBPS is now covering more than 50% of the costs of running the VB Bolivia office (such as rent, utilities, staff salaries and office supplies)! Because of that, when you give, we are able to pass on more of your gift directly to grant recipients and the organizations serving Bolivia!

Every organization world wide has a certain level of overhead (office space, administration, etc.)However, by working together with VBPS, Viva Bolivia is able to be increase its efficiency. In addition, through VBPS we are able to offer services and provide much-needed solutions, at a reasonable cost, for organizations serving in Bolivia who need in-country help with accounting, legal and export issues.

Top Ten Reasons to Give!
Even though Karin and Jonathan are now based in Seattle, the work of Viva Bolivia continues! And this ministry still needs your support. Now for the top 10 reasons why you should continue (or start!) giving to Viva Bolivia:

10. Bolivia remains the poorest nation in South America and desperately needs outside financial assistance.

9. Viva Bolivia is now 100% locally operated by Bolivian leadership—Bolivians who know how valuable outside assistance can be from personal experience!

8. Jonathan and Karin are continuing with Viva Bolivia but will be based in the US (on a 100% volunteer basis as of July 1, 2008).

7. Your gifts to Viva Bolivia continue to be tax-deductible.

6. 100% of our US Board members not only volunteer their time, but also support Viva Bolivia financially. We put our money where our heart is.

5. We report our activities to the IRS (990 Form), the Washington Secretary of State and to GuideStar. Your funds are being well-managed. (You can request any of these reports, at no charge to you, by simply sending us a request via email.)

4. Viva Bolivia is made more efficient by its partnership with VBPS. We have come this far—let’s not drop the ball at this critical moment!

3. The Cochabamba International Church, Casa de Amor Children’s Home, FreeHands Prison Ministry, Valle Hermoso Children’s Home and all the other organizations who depend on Viva Bolivia continue their work in Bolivia.

2. Changed lives—Juan, Alexandra, Jennifer, Giovana, Suzanne, Victor, Fatima, Graham, Roxana, Rosa, Ivan, Miriam, Daniely, Maria Jose and the many others who we assist and support in Bolivia!

1. James 1:27

With your help we can continue to develop leaders for today and bring hope for tomorrow to many people in Bolivia! Please join us in generously supporting this ministry. Send checks to: Viva Bolivia, PO Box 1505, Edmonds, WA  98020. You can also give online by clicking the "donate" button at the top of this page.

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Newsletter Archive
So, are you just dying to know the answer to Bolivia Trivia? Maybe you are just learning about Viva Bolivia and wonder what we've been up to? Did your dog eat our most recent newsletter? You have come to the right place! Simply click on the image below to view and print any of our past newsletters.

If you would like to receive our newsletter by email every other month, click on the airplane at the bottom of this page and let us know you would like to be added to our email list.

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September/October 2008
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July/August 2008
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May/June 2008
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January/February 2008
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November/December 2007
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September/October 2007
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July/August 2007
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September/October 2004
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July/August 2004
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May/June 2004
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January/February 2004
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November/December 2003
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September/October 2003
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May/June 2003
English - Español