News // August 2021

Greetings from Bolivia, where we’re grateful that the third-wave of COVID, which peaked mid-June, has now receded and good progress with the vaccination programme – 50% of the adult population have now had their first dose, 35% both doses.

In the southern hemisphere, it’s ‘business as usual’ in July and August. In fact, it’s been a busy, positive period for Novo. Here are the highlights:

• At the start of July we celebrated the graduations of Jose Luis and Huascar, streaming the event via Facebook live so that family members unable to be present in-person could attend. This worked well and we’re planning to broadcast our next graduation too. It’s this Friday (3rd September) at 19.30 local (Eastern) time. Join us if you can! All the details will be available on our Facebook page.
• We began August with a visit from Robin Shackell, the Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in La Paz. This visit came about as a result of a chance meeting watching England’s Euro 2021 game vs Denmark a pub in La Paz! We were so encouraged by Robin’s insight, interest, and desire to connect with the team to explore ways of strengthening the work.
• The residents at the Quinta have been busy with a couple of property paintwork jobs. This side of the project has been slow throughout the pandemic, so we’re grateful for the opportunity to be at work outside the Quinta and for the additional income these projects bring.
• Oscar and Bruno, our therapeutic team, are now four weeks into a new project, training a team from a local church in how to deliver ‘Grupos Novo’. This is a brand new initiative we are piloting with Iglesia Internacional de la Familia. Grupos Novo are community-based recovery support groups, built around Novo’s groups programme and a holistic (bio-pscyho-social-spiritual) approach to addiction recovery. Our hope is that Grupos Novo will prove to be a valuable resource for local churches seeking to support people struggling with addictions of all kinds.

• Three of our team (David, Oscar and Lincoln) have been interviewed by local radio stations, giving us a great opportunity to spread the word about Novo and encourage the local community with the truth that there is hope for recovery from addiction.
• During July, we hosted a visit from friends from Roadworks Collective and Nations Media, sister organizations based in San Diego, California. James Galt from Nations is putting together a media package for us, including a promo film for Novo Adventures, filmed during a 10-day tour. Tom Keller from Roadworks stayed-on after the tour, living on-site at the Quinta, really getting to know Novo and some of our partner ministries.

On his return to the US, Tom wrote a piece for Nations, reflecting on his experience. It’s a powerful read! You can find it here Dispatch: A Tour of Bolivia’s Beauty, Hurt & Hope

Having built relationship with staff and residents, Tom also took time to capture the personalities and activities that make-up daily life at Novo through the lens of his camera. A selection of his photos make up the gallery below.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our news and for your ongoing support for Novō. Whether you support us in kind, in prayer, with finances, through friendship, or by telling others about us. In fact, it’s what makes Novo what it is!

Blessings!

Team Novō

Help residents in Novō Communities by becoming the “Padrino”, or Godfather, of a place in the program. Sponsor a full or partial placement through an ongoing donation ensuring there is always a space available for men who need it.

Visit novocommunities.org/padrino to find out more.