Dear Friends and Family,
Even though you are receiving this in August, I am writing this just a little over a week after coming back from Bolivia and Peru.
Thank you so much for praying for me and for supporting these travels. Unfortunately, Jose Garcia was not able to travel with me. He has not yet received the visa that would have allowed an overseas trip. We continue to hope and pray that his visa comes. When it does, we would like to see him travel with Word Made Flesh to Bolivia, Peru, and/or Argentina.
As I mentioned in an earlier letter, I find myself mentally disconnecting from the ministry of Word Made Flesh when I have not traveled for awhile. I start just to think about spreadsheets and/or making the numbers balance. Seeing the relationships our staff are nurturing with children living on the streets and ladies caught in prostitution helps refocus my understanding and rekindle the fire for supporting them in administration. I serve in administration in Word Made Flesh because I believe this is sowing into God's kingdom. I can see something worthwhile in serving Jesus in these far-away countries.
During my trip, I was able to visit the center in Bolivia where the ladies can come several days a week for lunch. One Friday I visited, there were a number of activities for the ladies: a union meeting, a seminar on abuse in the home, medical care provided by a physician and a team of residents from the States, and lunch together. It was a joy to jump in and help clean, count meal tickets, and talk over lunch.
In Peru, I was able to visit a number of young men that our staff are serving…young men living on the streets but not yet hardened to the worst the streets have to offer. Our staff visit these young men Wednesday mornings and have worship, a Bible lesson, and then hand out juice and sandwiches. These young men use drugs and steal occasionally but make most of their money by playing instruments on buses and street corners in the city. When we had worship with them Wednesday morning, it was like a picture of heaven.
Thank you again for your love for me and for partnering together.
Love,
Brent