In February of 2003, Gary and Jerri Zimmerman were directing LIAIM from their home in Colorado Springs.  At that time, they were continuing their work of building churches   in Bolivia which had begun in 1999; working together with New Tribes missionaries and the National Evangelical Work.

On the evening of February 21st, they were driving to Strasburg, Colorado to visit with their daughter Annette and family, when they received a phone call from their son-in-law Robert in California.  The news they received that evening shattered what they had considered to be their, “it doesn't get much better than this life”, when they learned that their daughter Andrea had been diagnosed with cancer.  Just days later they were on their way to California—a trip which became one that would be repeated many times over the next year and a half as they stood beside their daughter through her battle.  Immediately upon receiving this tragic news, Gary and Jerri began to solicit prayers for Andrea's healing—prayers that reached around the world and back.  

For several years prior to their daughter's diagnosis, the Zimmermans had been considering focusing their missionary calling on a project specifically for children.  When the doctors told them that they believed Andrea would have only months left to live, they decided their project specifically for children would be to build an orphanage in memory of their daughter—if indeed—God's answer to the prayers for healing would be, “No”.

Neither Andrea nor her family gave up the battle until God's answer was, “No”, and on June 25, 2004; just 11 days after her 30th birthday, Andrea Zimmerman Mischel “finished well” and went “Home” to be with Jesus, her Saviour.  She left behind her husband and two young sons, ages three and six.

Pastor Saul and the members of his church in Guayaramerin, Bolivia were part of the group of friends that had been praying for the Zimmerman's daughter.  When they learned that Andrea had passed away and that Love in Action International Ministries wanted to build an orphanage, they asked them to come to Guayaramerin to build an orphanage there.  Not only did they ask them to come but they offered a two and a half acre plot of ground free and clear.  The Bolivian church had purchased this prime piece of property years earlier and had been praying; asking God what they should use it for.  When the church knew of the Zimmerman's desire, they understood why they had been waiting and that this was the answer God had in mind—they believed God had saved the property for the very purpose of building an orphanage.  Just two years after the groundbreaking in May of 2006, Andrea's Home of Hope and Joy, opened on June 14, 2008.