Bolivia - Eben-Ezer

Our Mission:

Our mission at Eben-Ezer is to provide a place of safety, support and mentorship for underprivileged youth.  Eben-Ezer exists to serve as a refuge, a rock of help and support for all of our students.

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”.”

1 Samuel 7:12:
 

Description:

Eben-Ezer was founded in 2018 as a place where young people can come as they are and experience the healing of Christ’s love.  We strive to provide a safe home and learning environment for those escaping situations of abuse and domestic violence.  With nearly 80% of Bolivian children facing physical, psychological and/or sexual abuse in their homes, there is a serious need for such safe havens. 

We typically have 50-55 middle and high-school students each year.  We provide them with their formal education, along with many opportunities throughout the school-year to develop a love for missions and service.  Eben-Ezer is closely connected to the community of Ixiamas and we do weekly outreach and community service projects there.  We also travel to surrounding communities to do the same.  Our staff and students all get the opportunity to participate in these events.  In addition, we try to do several mission trips during the year, which also include staff and students. 

One of our goals is to help prepare our students for life after high school.  We want them to be prepared academically, spiritually, socially and practically speaking.  We are committed to walking alongside them and providing them with guidance, mentorship and support while they are here and beyond.  Several of our students have described Eben-Ezer as their “sanctuary”.  It is our prayer that they will feel loved and supported, in a family-like atmosphere, while they are at Eben-Ezer and even after they leave. 

You can learn more about us by visiting our website,  https://www.eben-ezer.org/ or our Facebook page, Unidad Educativa Eben-Ezer Bolivia.

You can also email us at EbenEzerBolivia2018@gmail.com or send a message through WhatsApp (+59173956525) if you have any questions or want more information.

More Info:

• Average Fundraising Goal: We advise that student missionaries set a fund-raising goal of $5,500 for two semesters; $3,500 for one semester.  Of course, prices may vary depending on the needs/wants of the student and the economy at any given time.  See the Student Missions Office for help developing a budget based on current prices of airline tickets etc.

• Timeline: Bolivia is located south of the equator.  This means that our seasons here are opposite of the seasons in the States.  When it’s summer there, it is winter here.  Classes start in mid-February and end in late November/ early December.  There is generally a short mid-year (winter) break in July.

• Location: Eben-Ezer is located just outside of a small jungle-town in northwest Bolivia called Ixiamas.  Ixiamas is in the department of La Paz and is about 2.5 hours northwest of Rurrenabaque (the closest town with a functioning airport and ATM’s).  The population of Ixiamas is around 14,000 people.  The town sits on the edge of the Amazon rainforest and has a tropical rainforest climate.  Basic necessities are available in town, things like toiletries and snacks.  It is common for us to hear monkeys, toucans, macaws and other tropical birds and more on a daily basis here on campus.  Check out our location on Google maps by clicking the following link.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/DHyvEm8MeBVggf9P7

• Living Accommodations: Our students all live in dorms.  We have a boy’s dorm and a girl’s dorm.  Volunteers live in a combination of houses and the dorms.  This depends on the needs of the volunteers and also availability of houses/space and the maturity and responsibilities of the volunteers.  The dorms are both large, open spaces where all of the kids, and any volunteers who are staying in them, sleep.  There is a house attached to each dorm for the Deans and their families.

• Language: The official language in Bolivia is Spanish.  It is not a requirement that volunteers speak or understand Spanish, however it is helpful.  We recommend that student missionaries coming to Eben-Ezer start studying Spanish as soon as possible before leaving.  While fluency is not required, all of the students and most of the staff members speak only Spanish.  There are a handful of volunteers who also speak English as well.

• Food: During the school-year, the cafeteria will provide 3 meals per day for all students and volunteers.  The food at Eben-Ezer is all vegetarian and consists mainly of beans, rice, pasta, bread, fruits and vegetables.

• Internet Access: We do have WiFi on campus, however there is not Wi-Fi in town.  It may be useful to get a phone chip to ensure you can communicate with friends and family when off-campus.  The phone chip will allow the user to purchase data at a low cost.

• Requirements (Visas, vaccinations…): Bolivia currently requiresthe Yellow Fever vaccine in order to enter.  Recommended, but not required include: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid and Rabies.

In addition to the vaccines, student missionaries will need to apply for a Specific Purpose Visa.

Position info:

Special note:  Below we have highlighted the various positions at Eben-Ezer.  Our need for people to fill each position varies depending on current staff.  In addition to the responsibilities listed for each position, all volunteer missionaries at Eben-Ezer have the privilege and opportunity to provide guidance, mentorship, training and teaching to each of our students.  We weave this into each role, each job and each interaction that we have with our kids.

Teachers: We offer all of the required classes (according to the Dept. of Ed in Bolivia) along with Bible, music and art classes.  Our needs vary depending on available volunteers from year to year.

Nurse/medical: Responsible for providing medical care to students and staff during the school year.  The person/people in this position will also have opportunities to join the mission trips to provide medical care to people in the communities in which we are ministering to.  We try to encourage natural approaches as much as possible, while also recognizing that traditional medical approaches are sometimes needed.

Cook/kitchen help:  Our kitchen staff are responsible for facilitating the preparation of 3 meals per day, 6 days per week.  We rotate Saturdays to give the kitchen staff a break each week.  Students are assigned bi-weekly to help in the kitchen with all food preparation.  The volunteers assigned to the kitchen will oversee the students and work alongside them.

Bakery:  Our bakery is a blessing to the school and to the community.  The students work alongside the bakery staff to make bread for meals at the school and periodically for various community outreach and appreciation events as well. 

Deans (girls/boys’ dorms):  The deans of the dorms are responsible for overseeing all operations within the dorms.  This includes all aspects of living regarding the students who live in the dorms,

Dorm monitors (Assistant Deans):  Dorm monitors assist the deans in the work of maintaining the dorms.

Outreach/ Community service coordinator/assistant coordinator:  This position plans and coordinates all outreach and community service and outreach activities in and around Ixiamas and surrounding areas.  They also coordinate several mission trips throughout the year.

Communications and social media:  This position is responsible for coordinating all social media and website activity for Eben-Ezer.  They also assist with fundraising letters and communication with donors and others who are interested in what God is doing here at Eben-Ezer. 

School secretary:  This individual will work closely with the director and the teachers to provide administrative support, record keeping and all aspects of office management.

Therapist/counselor:  Many of our students have experienced serious trauma during their lives, often from abuse and/or neglect.  A Bible-centered therapist or counselor can help them along in their journey of healing, growing and thriving in Christ.

Agriculture specialist:  This position oversees all aspects of the agriculture program at Eben-Ezer.  We have a green house, a compost program, many fruit trees and more.

Landscaping and grounds:  One of our goals at Eben-Ezer is to provide an atmosphere that is peaceful and beautiful.  We want people, both those who live here and visitors, to feel like they are truly in a sanctuary.  The person(s) working in landscaping and grounds are responsible for maintaining the gardens, lawn and the grounds in general.

Construction and maintenance:  The person(s) working in construction and maintenance are responsible for assisting with the construction and maintenance of all buildings and structures on campus.

Carpentry: The person(s) working in this area will have the opportunity to work on various projects related to carpentry, including building furniture, signs, assisting with the construction and/or remodeling of homes and other structures and more.