No sooner had Jennifer Thompson returned home to McKinney from a mission trip to Bolivia than she was off again. On March 3, she left for Australia to attend a six-week training course for those who want to work with orphans and street children.

You may recall that Ms. Thompson, 21, is launching an orphanage in Bolivia for abandoned babies. It's called Casa de Amor, which means House of Love in Spanish.

Inspired by the bleak children's home in Russia from which her 5-year-old sister was adopted, Ms. Thompson began providing assistance globally. She collected and carried toys, clothes and other needed supplies to orphanages in Russia, China, Mongolia and Mexico. After volunteering at a Hospitals of Hope clinic in South America in November 2002, she was asked to start an orphanage next to the new Hospital of Hope being built near Cochabamba, Bolivia. Ms. Thompson jumped at the chance. She spearheaded a fund-raising drive in North Texas for the orphanage and announced plans to move to Bolivia temporarily to get it off the ground. So far, about $61,825 has come in. About $20,000 more is needed to open the facility after construction is completed in late August, she wrote in an e-mail update Thursday.

"Even though she is young, the Lord has called her for that ministry and continues to provide financial support for her to fulfill the dream of building that orphanage," said Dr. Elisio Roza of First Baptist Church of McKinney. He was one of about five people who joined Ms. Thompson in Bolivia in late February to check on the construction and see how their organizations can help.

Ms. Thompson, who teaches piano, isn't the only mission-minded person or accomplished musician in her family. Her sister, Heather, 18, is with her in Australia. Heather is eager to go to Russia to teach orphans how to play violin.

Back to Newsletters Home