A Day in the Life...

Just a scant 10 miles from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, is a Guarani Indian community known as Samaria. The paved road leading to Samaria ends without notice and the final mile can become a sea of mud-nearly impassable during some seasons. The roughly 200 adobe and thatch homes of Samaria, with the exception of electricity, show almost no sign of the "modern" amenities available in Santa Cruz.

The only clean water available in the whole town is at the LACC-sponsored school, Luz y Verdad (Light and Truth). The 300 students who attend the school are all (thankfully) sponsored, and all of the teachers are Guarani. However, eight out of nine teachers come from villages as much as 140 miles away, and have to room with community members during the school year.

Luz y Verdad currently provides education through the 7th grade, and by February 2001, an eighth grade class will be added. They are also planning to start a new branch of the school in another Guarani village.

The people of Samaria make their living washing clothes, working as maids, gathering or cutting wood, or as day laborers. On average the daily income is between 15 to 20 bolivianos a day. This is roughly equivalent to $2.40 to $3.20. Due to this, extensive poverty prevails with most living hand-to-mouth. Many parents cannot even buy clothes for their children.

But 15-year-old Ricardo Chamiri Canaviri is fortunate. The school has improved his life in many ways, through his Christian education, nutritious lunches, and because his mother has become the cook at Luz y Verdad.

He still thinks about the Christmas celebration they had last year. Ricardo writes, "I am very thankful to the Lord and my sponsor for the gifts that they sent me this past year. Also, my mom and brothers and sisters are happy for this beautiful gift that I received through the LACC School."

Ricardo's mom, Lucia, says, "I am thankful to the Lord, the sponsors and LACC. Our Lord is so wonderful. I am a widow and I thank the Lord for the clothes Ricardo received for Christmas and for the food provided each day to my son. I thank LACC for all of this. I will never forget all that the sponsors do for us and for their prayers.