Andean Aid Advocate

Wayne Cramer arrived early for the Vida Joven Friday evening meeting at the Parque Bolivar in the summer of 2000.  Members of the staff were busily preparing for the evenings activities.  A young woman from the group approached him and said in heavily accented English, “don't just sit there – blow up balloons”.  So began our relationship with Gaby. 

Gaby Zulay Andrade Caceres was born in Delicias, Venezuela on a farm that has been in her family for generations.  Delicias is a small town that borders Colombia.  Recently Gaby shared with us that her mother had planted a new exotic crop and they had so much of the fruit that they were having trouble using all of it.  They were eating it at every meal.  They were making juice and jam. They were giving it away.    When asked what the fruit was, she replied, “ you probably don't know of it; it's known as duraznos.”  Peaches!!

Her mother had planted 450 peach trees on the farm.

When Gaby was very young her mother took her and her siblings to the evangelical church Cristo Vive (Christ Lives) in Rubio.  Though her mother has not received Christ she has a great awe for the things of God.  Gaby’s grandparents and great grandparents, who allowed foreign missionaries in their home to evangelize Delicias many years ago, instilled this respect and awe.

Gaby studied in the Universidad Catolica del Tachira (Catholic University of Tachira) where she obtained a Bachelors degree in Social Sciences.  Later she studied at the Universidad de Pamplona (University of Pamplona) where she obtained the title, Specialist in Educational Methods, equivalent to a Masters Degree.

She studied English in Trinidad and Tobago and went to Costa Rica in a preparation program to assist Young Life Venezuela.  Gaby has worked in schools as both teacher and director.  Currently she is Professor of Sociology of Education teaching the course Methods of Research in the university.  Gaby is married to Ruben Dario Garcia, who gives her much support and feels a great sensitivity for her work with children. Gaby Andrade serves as the Director of The Help and Hope Center in Rubio and has been the principal contact for Andean Aid in Venezuela

Change for Changes

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed ~ Proverbs 11:25

(What your donations are doing.)

Imagine a poor child leaving his mud home and arriving at The Help and Hope Center to communicate with the world through e-mail, the internet and video messaging.  This April the first computer will be installed at the Center.  It will have web camera conference capability.  The staff and the children will be able to send video reports to Andean Aid that we will in turn be able to share with you.  What a blessing to be able to get to know these children and the staff in a more personal and active way. 

We thank each of you whose donations have made this possible.

 Featured Friend

Omaira Calderone (far right in the photograph at left), age seventeen, has been an immense help in getting the Help and Hope Center started.  She lives in Villa Bahareque the very community we were trying to reach.  Since outsiders can be uncomfortable and seen with some skepticism by the residents, Omaira was able to fit in and register many children.  She has assisted in many other ways such as cleaning and painting and now assists the children with their homework and helps the staff in whatever way she can.  Omaira would very much like to attend college and receive a degree in education and teach at the Center, but she has many hurdles to fulfilling this dream.  Three times a week she must travel to sell garlic in the various markets in the state of Tachira.  Her parents are Colombian and can offer little in the way of financial help. 

Andean Aid has been asked to consider a scholarship for her, which would allow her to stop selling garlic and concentrate full time on studies and assisting at the center.  The total cost of such help is $50.00 per month for five years.  We would love to do this but need contributors to step forward to cover this cost.  Imagine, a total of $3,000.00 to move a young woman from poverty to a profession.  We believe that Omaira has the potential, and the heart, to someday take over leadership of the Help and Hope Center. 

Hands on Opportunities

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world ~ James 1:27

Men, join us in our “Block by Block Expedition” in the winter of 2007.  We will be practicing the pure religion of James 1:27.  Many poor women in the Rubio area are raising families alone.  Some are widowed, some divorced and some deserted.  The homes may be constructed of mud or sticks lashed together (bahareque).  Many are Colombian and have little in the way of support in their adopted country.  We will repair or rebuild homes for these women and be the face of Christ to them, their family and the community.  We need twelve Bravehearts to join us in making a difference in the Venezuelan frontier.  It will also make a difference in your life. 

Update on the “Help & Hope” Center

The Help and Hope Center (El Centro de Ayuda y Esperanza) opened its doors on January 23, 2006.  Currently one hundred children are registered at the Center.  Ninety percent of these children have one parent that is Colombian.  Half of them come from homes where both parents are Colombian.  The Center is open to provide assistance with schoolwork before school begins and after school.  An average of fifteen children show up for help in the morning and twenty-five come after school each day.  The current greatest need is sufficient volunteers to staff the Center.

Words from Wayne  (Message from the President)

HOMEWORK: It's a North American tradition; it's a South American tradition.

North American kids are experts at making excuses for not turning in their homework such as:

I don't do work at home – just ask my mom

When my dad told me to do my homework I asked him for help but he couldn't figure it out

Our furnace stopped working and we had to burn it to keep warm

In South America, specifically Rubio, Venezuela (where many Columbian refugee families settle) you might hear:

I didn’t have a nickel to purchase a copy of the lesson yesterday.

I haven’t eaten in 2 days and the growling of my stomach just wouldn’t let me concentrate on my homework.

I left it on the kitchen table and a vulture swooped down and took it.

It blew away when my home was destroyed by the wind and rain last night.

Only these are not excuses, these are real life occurrences.

Andean Aid is excited that God has led us to open the “Help & Hope” center, where these children are empowered to overcome obstacles in getting an education that can pave their way out of poverty.

As we show the love of Christ to these children, we build a relationship not only with the child but also with their entire family.  We work together with local churches to overcome barriers and to provide families with the ultimate source of hope – a relationship with Jesus Christ.

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I will travel to Rubio this April.   I invite each and every one of you to join me in this Great Adventure, by visiting our website and learning more about Andean Aid and its focus and then to join me in prayer for God’s provision and protection.

God willing I shall return with a Sponsorship Program in place which will allow each of you an opportunity to get to know these children through photos and background information.  You’ll be able to not only provide the financial means for attendance at the center, but encouragement through email communication with the child.

I have been so touched and blessed through my involvement with Andean Aid and I know you will be also. Won’t you take this opportunity to be Jesus to the World? Thank you.

Send Frontier Flyer to a Friend

Please pass this newsletter along to friends or family members who might like to read more about Andean Aid’s work in Venezuela.  If you are a friend who has received this newsletter, email us at andeanaid@sbcglobal.net to start receiving your own updates.

We value your interest and your feedback.  You may contact us electronically through andeanaid@sbcglobal.net

Or, contact us by phone at 847-489-8703.

Or by mail at Andean Aid, P.O. Box 190, Antioch, Illinois 60002

Speaking Engagements

Wayne Cramer is currently accepting speaking engagements to tell the Andean Aid story.  This presentation is particularly suitable for missions’ conferences and retiree ministries where Wayne can demonstrate that you can find a place in mission ministry at any age.

Contributions

Contributions may be mailed to Andean Aid, P.O. Box 190, Antioch, Il  60002 or www.andeanaid.org (click on the JustGive.org button.)