The Highlands Bolivian Mission has been helping residents of the lowlands of Bolivia since 1998. The mission was started by Dr. John Baumrucker as a medical mission, but soon developed into new avenues including home building and feeding the masses.
“We saw so many needs that it was hard to focus on only one area,” said Baumrucker. “We built 17 basic houses over five years with help from many Highlands residents and then groups from the Honors College at the University of Mississippi and UNV-Asheville. Over the years we donated over one million dollars-worth of medical equipment. The teaching hospital where I worked didn’t even have an EKG machine, defibrillator, or basic laboratory equipment. We changed all that. Now, fortunately, the local government is doing a good job equipping the facilities. In 2003 we opened our foster home. We noticed that the abandoned girls were sent to orphanages, but the boys were left to fend for themselves on the streets. We now have 28 boys in the home, and several have “graduated” and attended college. Three boys have come to the US for senior year of high school and all these boys are in university.”
To help support the mission, the mission is having an auction at Wildcat Cliffs Country Club on Wednesday, Sept. 15 beginning at 5:30 p.m. There is an admission charge of $100 donation to the mission per person and this includes drinks, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and the silent and live auctions.
Many of the auction items are Bolivian in origin, and there will be several events available to the patrons including a fly-fishing trip in Florida, near Naples and a dinner at a resident’s home for as many as 40 people.
The view and ambiance of this event will be spectacular. Jewelry pieces will be available featuring examples of the imagination of T. A. Anderson Goldsmith and Jannie Bean Designs with gems brought back from Bolivia. These pieces are currently being crafted and photos will be available soon.
Reservations or more information can be made by calling Baumrucker at 828.200.0902 or by mailing a check to:
Highlands Bolivian Mission
P.O. Box 1358
Highlands, NC 28741
Donations of articles for the auction can be accepted. Call the above number for details. The mission is a 501 C3 tax exempt organization.
Baumrucker also noted that the mission always welcomes volunteers and there is an eight -room guest house on the grounds of the foster home for volunteers who wish to come and help. The guest house is run by the older boys at the home to give them experience and confidence in running a business.
Learn more about the Highlands Bolivian Mission HERE.
Pictured at the top of the article are some of the boys take care of the residents by cleaning rooms and making their stay comfortable.