The Bolivia “Fleshies” Volunteers: Alicia Quispe & AmandaWebb; The 2008 Spring Servant Team: Bryan & Laura Straniero, Clark Rubino, Kelly Eckert & Autumn Bonecutter; WMFB Staff: Andy & Andrea Baker, Wes & Heather Goertzen, Cara Strauss, Julie Bellingham, Nilda Flores, Victoria Quispe, Feliza Mamani, Rosaisela Torrez, Eliana Carrillo & Justa Copa
New Staff: Julie, Justa & Rosaisela
The News in Bo-land
This year the ministry is taking some exciting steps! It feels as if there has been much simmering beneath the surface and soon we are just gonna burst open!
We’re thrilled to have hired 3 new staff this year. Not only have they helped relieve our workload, but they also bring more structure, professionalism and discipline to our team.
Now with a good group of people in place, we’re moving into our newest phase of ministry. Our earliest years consisted of just the Baker’s building relationships with the women and their families. We then opened The House of Hope as a center and refuge for our friends. And now we’re ready to focus directly on a small group of women, offering them the opportunity to work through our very own micro-enterprise.
We are developing a holistic program where select women can come to work with us instead of on the streets!
At La Casa de Esperanza they will receive a fair and dignified wage, counseling, medical benefits, childcare, training, on-going support and discipleship. So be on the look-out for more news on our ladies and their snazzy new products!
Outside of ministry, the family is doing really well. The boys (all three of them!) are active and happy. Eli is a budding biker and Luke is just a little too fearless. Andrea has been enjoying singing in the worship team at church. And Andy still enjoys exploring the Andes in our backyard. Overall it seems we’ve finally reached a healthy balance for us all. Thank you again for walkin’ along with us.
Praises
- We love our very servant-minded Servant Team
- We’ve hired 3 new, wonderfully capable staff members
- Less women are working the streets in El Alto due to social pressures
- Brian & Tiffany Baker visit in March
- Elias is in Kindergarten, Luke is nearly 2, and both are healthy and perfect
Prayer Needs
- For the development of our micro-enterprise project
- For our staff’s spiritual growth and discipleship
- For blessing and prosperity over our Children’s Program
- For the growth of our local Board of Directors
- For us as we fumble around in our newest tasks of project development and team management
We Need Your Help!
Since we first began raising support in 2001, we have rarely ever needed to appeal for personal funding. Many of you have been extremely faithful month after month and year after year. However, in recent years, our expenses have increased, the dollar value has dropped, while our support level has remained the same. (Our account has actually been negative for many months).
We need new and consistent donors and churches to help sustain our work here. If you, or others you know, are interested in walking with us as we serve women in prostitution, please contact:
Word Made Flesh
P.O. Box 70
Omaha, NE 68101
1-800-CRY4KIDS
We Love Our Community!
After the disappointing breakdown of our community last Fall, we are picking up the pieces and moving ahead.
We celebrate this group the Lord has brought together. With our differences in culture, education, experiences and economic backgrounds we see a beautiful reflection of the diversity within the Kingdom of God.
Introducing our Newest Staff
Julie Bellingham
Economic Development Coordinator
Our most-faithful Kiwi who’s bringing to life a long-awaited dream: an economic option for our friends working on the streets.
Justa Copa
Children’s Program Coordinator
She’s a psychologist and accomplished musician who desires to serve our at-risk children.
Rosaisela Torrez
WMFB Accountant & Administrator
She’s the answer to the desperate prayers of her very non-administrative co-workers.
Snip-its of El Alto Life
- At an altitude of 13,300 ft., we see very few trees, plants or insects.
- We have two seasons a year: Rainy (Nov.-April) or Dry (May-Oct).
- Our average yearly temperature is around 500 F.
- In our home, we have no hot water heater, central heating or air-conditioning.
- We drink milk and yogurt out of plastic bags rather than cartons.
- We enjoy wonderful fresh fruits throughout the year: mango, passion fruit, papaya, custard apple, the most delicious bananas and more; however, fresh mushrooms, asparagus and berries are prized items.
- Our garbage pick-up consists of listening for a certain bell to ring – at any given time of the day – and then immediately running out to the trash truck with our bags. An exciting neighborhood event!
- Our most common form of public transportation are white 15-passenger vans (which we’ve seen hold up to 26 people and their all their goods!).