A visit to Bolivia is the best way to experience Amistad! For over 30 years, we have welcomed children and adults of all ages to share this life-changing ministry together.
St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Houston
In July 2023, St. Martin's visited Casa San Martín, the house they have sponsored since 1993. They loved going on an outing in the city and felt accomplished hiking up 1,400 steps to the Christ statue on the day they arrived! Mamá Isabel and the children felt celebrated by their St. Martin's friends!
St. Mary's on-the-Highlands Episcopal Church, Birmingham
In July 2023, St. Mary's on-the-Highlands Episcopal Church sent 12 pilgrims to visit the children of Casa Copacabana, their sponsored house. It was bittersweet to celebrate Mamá Teodora's 20 years of service to Amistad, as she now enters retirement. The group loved carrying on a tradition with the 16th Villa Olympic Games, sharing a Bible study with the mamás and tías, attending a Wilstermann soccer match, and, above all, building relationships with the children of Casa Copacabana.
Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Dallas
In June 2023, the Saint Michael and All Angels Youth returned to visit their friends in Casa Esperanza. Rev. Chris Girata, Rev. Hobin Hinkle, and Kelly Reddell led 10 youth on this pilgrimage to Bolivia to bond with the children through shared activities, including: tie dye shirts, playground games, crafts, dinners, cheeseburger and s'more cookout, and a visit to the Christ statue.
In June 2023, St. John the Divine returned to visit their friends in Casa Amanecer. This family trip forged new friendships through soccer games, card games, spiritual reflections, birthday parties, art, outings to parks, and dinners in the city!
In June 2023, the Christ Church Cathedral Youth visited their Casa Kantuta friends. They also got to see the stunning street mosaics in Cochabamba on Corpus Christi. Christ Church has been sending youth groups to Bolivia since 1999!
In May 2023, Cathedral Church of the Advent sent four families to Bolivia, three of whom went for the first time. The children cherish family visits and the lasting connections they bring. Amistad Board President Kelly Hulsey led this trip, the eighth time she has gone down with her family.
In April 2023, at age 85, Father William returned to Bolivia returned to Bolivia to commemorate 40 years since he started a life-saving mission to serve the Quechua people of Aramasí and over 30 years since he began Villa Amistad. Father William celebrated the life of his co-founder, Rev. B.J. Weber, in a worship service in Villa Amistad with Padre Gianluca of Ciudad de Los Niños. The group visited Aramasí with Doctor Abdon Barrera, who along with fellow pediatrician, Doctora Antonieta Berrara, first cared for the severely malnourished children in Aramasí.
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Father William and his son, Will, with La Villa's Tinkus dancers
In April 2023, Christ Episcopal Church (Ponte Vedra) returned to visit their friends in Casa San Francisco. Crafts, sports, park outings, and meals with staff were among the many highlights of this special trip!
In April 2023, a men's group from Christ Church Cathedral returned to Amistad. This same group visited together in 2019, and Mamá Mary and the Casa Kantuta children were ecstatic to reconnect with their CCC friends. The group was warmly received by the community during their overnight stay in Aramasí, the place where Amistad's ministry began.
In October 2022, Christ Church parishioners returned to visit their friends in Casa San Francisco, the house their church built in 2000 and has faithfully sponsored since.
