Repair a Safe Haven for Abandoned Children

On the outskirts of a colonial town in rural Bolivia sits a home for abandoned children - Hogar Tata Juan de Dios. In a land where there are many orphanages, this one stands out: some of the babies have not simply been left at the door or found on the street. They have survived infanticide attempts, human trafficking, and even late term abortions.

The heroic Dominican sisters who run the orphanage negotiated an agreement years ago with the local government hospital: when abortions are performed post-viability, instead of leaving the child to die, the hospital gives the sisters custody of the baby so they can care for him or her. Many of these children are born so early that if they survive, they deal with significant physical or mental disabilities. Nonetheless, the sisters surround them with love and have acquired an excellent reputation for doing everything they can to find good homes for these little ones.

These sisters do not engage in politics - they simply, heroically dedicate their lives to loving those who need it most. After hearing their story, I was honored to visit their home and meet some of the children they have saved:

A chubby-cheeked little girl with pigtails who was found in a trash can when she was only hours old.

A little one who was aborted at 11:00 and in the sisters' custody at the hospital by 11:30.

And one sweet baby whose father fed him toilet bowl cleaner to try to kill him.

These little ones' stories are heartbreaking. For many, the sisters' love is the only home they have ever known.

As we walk around the house, Sister Rosa points out the cracks in the floor, the lack of ceiling over the laundry area that means all clothes hung out to dry are soaked during the rainy season...and the roof over the babies' playroom, which is in shambles. Right now, the little ones are playing in a dormitory because their play space is unusable. To fix these issues before the rainy season, she needs $10,000 - and she doesn't know where to find it.

This sweet sister, who is bringing God's light to children who have suffered unimaginable darkness, needs our help.

Many of us wish we could give a home to these babies. However, if that isn't possible right now, we can at least help put a roof over their heads.