Oosterbeek, December 2019
Dear family, friends, and acquaintances,
It is almost Christmas – at the time of writing this – and that brings me to write something for you all.
To many, Christmas means happiness and often leads to eating and drinking a lot, even more gifts, and some extra time off, etc.
It could also be a time of sadness if you have no money to celebrate Christmas. If you cannot buy anything, if someone is sick, or whatever else.
It has been unstable in Bolivia as of late: there were presidential elections that were won again by the very same candidate who has been in power for a very long time. The people did not accept it. Roads were blocked off, stores looted, many fights broke out and in the end the president left for Mexico in quiet – and later ended up Argentina. Some stability has returned for now, but we have no idea how it will all end. There will be new elections, but when? There was a lot of suffering in those weeks of unrest and the especially the poorest suffer the most, as is always the case – they already do not have anything.
I am staying in touch on those things that happen in the country. I read newspapers online and I get personal messages from the people I know there.
Despite the tumultuous times in the country, there are still other things that, in one way or another, left even more of an impact. Dagner, for one, a young man who lived with us for years and is now living on his own. He had an accident and has burns over 80% of his body! They had to amputate one of his arm and a leg. Of course, we were asked for help, financial aid. We tried, in any case, to at least do something, but the costs are exorbitant and what will it do in the end? Still, we have to do what we can! I am, luckily, being informed well by one of our workers.
On the other side of the spectrum is the birth of Juan Carlos and Cecilia’s third child, Andre. I have seen a whole lot of messages, photos, and videos from Juan Carlos and Cecilia, the proud parents. They have, by the way, decided that three kids is enough. But, there is new life, a birth in their family and I could pick out a name with them. New life, joy to them! Also responsibility, of course, but especially that happiness!
I am kept in the loop of the goings-on, good and bad, of the people in Bolivia who continue the work there. I am lucky that I have so many good workers who contact me almost on a daily basis. Joy and sadness are everywhere, also in the daily lives of our people in Bolivia.
I am glad for all the help that we received from all of you in the past months so that we could persist in our efforts.
I have been out of it due to sickness for a while now. That will still be the case for some time, seeing as I am soon going get a treatment for my prostate, regretfully. But we keep moving forward to do our very best to help the people there and to not abandon them.
I hope that you will also continue to help us in doing so in 2020!! Without you, we would not be able to do any of this! Many, many thanks for all you do, and I hope that, in 2020, we can continue to count on you!! Thank you once again for everything, the very best wishes and many greetings!!
A merry Christmas to you all and a very happy New Year!!
Theo Raaijmakers