“Mustard Seed Dining Room” nourishes bodies, uplifts spirits in Bolivia

MISSIONER NEWSLETTER – Spring 2025

Joe Loney & Filo Siles, Bolivia

Filo Siles serves older adults in the Semilla de Mostaza Comedor (“Mustard Seed Dining Room”) at Santa Monica Parish in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

COCHABAMBA, BOLIVIA—At an early stage of our faith development, we learn, “God hears the cry of the poor.” Examples in our life affirm that teaching. Filo’s new ministry teaches us that we too must learn to hear the cry of the poor and to respond.

Last year Filo was drawn to a ministry that focused on the nutritional needs of older adults. Almost seven months ago, the Santa Monica Parish in Cochabamba, Bolivia initiated the Semilla de Mostaza Comedor (“Mustard Seed Dining Room”) in a building located in a very hilly section of the parish. Twelve older adults were invited to enjoy the free meals. Shortly after beginning the program, Filo became a volunteer. She sensed that while she was not a trained chef, that she could use her non-cooking skills in ways that the Holy Spirit would illuminate.

Don Bonifacio receives a meal at his home. Some older adults are unable to walk to get their meals, so Filo delivers them—and checks up on their well-being in the process.

After a period of time, Filo began to hear the cry of the older adults beyond their call for nutritional help. She noticed, for example, that while healthy meals were served, the dining hall was very serious and that little conversation occurred. No one was at fault—the cook was simply too busy to engage the older adults. Filo began to enliven the meals by asking each person how they were doing, telling stories and making jokes. Whenever possible, she incorporates small arts-and-crafts activities to the meals. Laughter and conversation are now commonplace.

Filo heard another need. While the dining facility is deliberately located within walking distance of the residences of the 12 men and women, the days of rainy weather or the days of hot, intense sunshine make it especially difficult for the many adults who are in their 70s to early 80s to walk back to their residences, which are located up steep hills away from the dining facility. Filo now uses her car to drive the older adults to their homes on the inclement weather days. Additionally, Filo saw that at times the older adults get sick and are unable to walk downhill to get their meals, so Filo delivers the meals and checks up on their well-being.

The Holy Spirit also opened Filo’s eyes to their health needs. Don Eduardo needed, for example, to renew his government-issued health insurance card, yet he did not understand the bureaucratic steps.    Filo accompanied Don Eduardo one day so that he could triumph over the bureaucratic hurdles, and he now has access to free health services.

Similarly, Filo observed that Don Cecilio was guided every day by his wife as he could not see. Through conversations she discovered that the free health services did not provide for the eye surgery that was necessary to recover his vision. Filo scheduled his appointment with an eye specialist at a non-governmental health clinic and because of the examination—and your donations—he now awaits surgery to recover his eyesight.

We thank those who have responded to the cry of the poor in Bolivia. We recognize that many of you also hear the cry of the poor and respond in your communities; yet we ask you to continue to hear the cry of the poor of the older adults in Cochabamba. Your prayers and generous donations will help to guarantee that the older adults enjoy dignity, justice, and compassion.

Please consider supporting our mission work with older adults with a donation through the link below.

We also invite you to walk with us as our “COMPANIONS IN MISSION.” Companions in Mission are friends and generous donors who give financial gifts on a regular (usually monthly) basis. For more information, visit Become a Companion in Mission. Thank you so much for your generosity!