Candino is a nine-year-old boy who lost his mother to cancer last year. He now lives alone with his 80-year-old grandfather. His two older sisters are married and no longer at home, and his father passed away when Candino was very young. While she was alive, Candino’s mother worked in other people’s homes, barely managing to support the family. After years of poverty and hardship, she passed away without ever receiving proper medical treatment.

Today, the family has no source of income. Candino’s grandfather is too old to work, and Candino suffers from epilepsy as well as developmental delays, which make it hard for him to concentrate. While his mother was still alive, he was able to attend the village school. But this year, he had to stop going because they couldn’t afford the monthly school fee of just 30–50 Bolivianos (about $5). There are even days when he has to go without food.

We learned about their situation through a concerned neighbor.

The worn-out Bible that cheerful little Candino carries tells a deeper story: his mother and grandfather were faithful members of a small village church. We may never fully understand why God would call one of His beloved children home from such deep poverty. But one thing is clear—we feel the Lord’s call to care for the ones left behind: this elderly grandfather and young Candino.

The Story of Candino's Family