Isaiah 62, NASB
Theme verse for Suti Sana
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quiet,
Until her righteousness goes forth like brightness,
And her salvation like a torch that is burning.
The nations will see your righteousness,
And all kings your glory;
And you will be called by a new name which the mouth of the LORD will bestow.
You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,
And a royal diadem in the hand of your God. It will no longer be said to you, “Forsaken,”
Nor to your land will it any longer be said, “Desolate”;
But you will be called, “My delight is in her,”
And your land, “Married”; For the LORD delights in you […]
And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So your God will rejoice over you.
Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth,
Say to the daughter of Zion, “Lo, your Savior comes; Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.” And they will call them, “The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD”;
And you will be called, “Sought out, a city not forsaken.”
The story of Word Made Flesh Bolivia is one of God’s faithfulness and grace, one where loved ones have come and gone and left their mark, one of perseverance in the face of disappointment, political turmoil, sickness, severe weather and tough living. But it is also one where hope triumphs and each small step towards transformation matters.
La Palabra Hecha Vida (WMFB) first began as a desire to continue the work of WMF in Latin America. As one of the most impoverished countries in the region, as well as its proximity to the already established WMF Peru, the community decided to expand ministry to Bolivia.
At the time, El Alto was one of the fastest growing cities in all of Latin America, a sprawling over-grown slum outside the capital city of La Paz. With its raw poverty, intense environment and notorious reputation, it seemed the perfect urban center to begin ministry among the poor.
On August 2, 2001, Andy and Andrea Baker innocently and excitedly arrived to El Alto as the first staff of WMFB. As nearly all international staff following, they began language study at the Maryknoll Language Institute in Cochabamba, Bolivia, gloating that their own professors had also tutored the beloved Henri Nouwen.
Upon return to El Alto, they established a home and began researching the needs of the city. To their own surprise, they found an unmet need among women in prostitution, and although they had no training or experience, opportunities for ministry began to open. Early in 2002, they began cautiously visiting the brothels on Carrasco Street in El Alto’s largest red-light district and slowly began building relationships among the women there.
Nearly every lady they met claimed they were working the streets to feed their children, so in May the Baker’s hosted a Mother’s Day Celebration and formally introduced the ministry of WMFB to nearly 100 women and children. Throughout that year, along with Cristina Tudose and Sam Brockinton, they continued learning the world of prostitution through relationships among the women and their families. The community also hosted its first Servant Team and began a working relationship with Missionaries of Charity, serving physically and mentally handicapped persons abandoned by their families. In November, Andy and Andrea welcomed Elias James Baker into the family. Born in El Alto, his birth stands as a powerful statement of solidarity and commitment to the people there.
Although relationships had been established, there came a growing need for a more adequate space to further those friendships. So on October 1, 2003, La Casa de Esperanza (House of Hope) opened its doors as a place of hospitality and care for women in prostitution and their children. Every Wednesday and Friday afternoon, a small group of volunteers would share a meal together with all who came to visit.
That same month El Alto made international headlines as the leader of public outrage against President Gonzalo Sanchez and the country’s sale of natural gas. For several weeks, Bolivia was plagued with riots and protests, which eventually ended in the government-led deaths of over 60 citizens. The WMF community safely escaped to a near-by jungle town and returned to a war-torn city a few weeks later.
Within a year’s time, all international staff members returned to their home countries and for many months the Bakers were once again the only “gringos” working in the ministry. Together with their local community, they determined four ministry foci and eventually began literacy classes, a children’s program, medical consults and a corresponding therapeutic program, “Paso a Paso” (Step by Step). A quiet and slightly grumpy little lady now known as Eliana participated and changed the community forever.
Andy Baker met Eliana in the brothels, searching for a way off the streets. At the House of Hope, she was offered a new job in housekeeping. And with the support of a loving community, she found the safe space she needed to meet her Savior. Her baptism is one of the most significant moments in the history of WMFB. The entire community came to support her, staff and volunteers, along with friends from the street, long-standing church members and new believers. They all crammed in a tiny, candlelit room, singing praises and watching 55 years of darkness wash away in a plastic inflatable swimming pool.
Around this time, Heather Coaster, who had been on a Servant Team the year before, had returned to Bolivia after finishing a Masters in Counseling. Heather’s vision and desire was to develop a therapeutic alternative for the women she had fallen in love with on her Servant Team. A year later, Wes Goertzen also came on staff. He was especially drawn to the WMFB ideal of service in community. Within a few months, Wes and Heather’s initially tense relationship had evolved into a shared passion and calling. They were married in the US in September 2006, and returned to El Alto to celebrate their Bolivian ceremony on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
Unfortunately, almost immediately after the Goertzen’s return from their honeymoon, the Baker’s 4-month old baby, Luke, began experiencing frightening apneic seizures. After exhausting medical options in Bolivia, the Baker family took an emergency leave of absence and flew directly to Boston Medical Center, where Luke was stabilized. However the months following were extremely tense for the community, both in Bolivia and abroad.
While the Baker’s were Stateside recovering from severe trauma, the owner of the House of Hope unexpectedly lashed out an ultimatum. Needing to pay off some debts quickly, she had found a potential buyer for the building and gave the WMFB community 30 days to evacuate. Immediately they entered into prayer and deep lament. The House of Hope was ideally located one block from the red light district. Why would God want the ministry to relocate?
Before the 30 days were up, the owner returned to the community with a proposal, because her potential buyer had fallen through. If the ministry could supply her with a sizeable down payment, they could secure the purchase for the next year while the rest of the funds were raised. Without a second thought, several generous donors immediately supplied the down payment and the community prayed fervently that God would provide the rest in God’s time.
Just as the Bakers were returning from Luke’s medical emergency, God miraculously threw them into contact – at the Miami Airport no less – with a potential donor who eventually supplied the remaining funds needed to purchase the building. La Casa de Esperanza still overlooks Carrasco Street and stands as a profound testimony of God’s power and faithfulness.
Throughout all of this, the ministry continued to grow. Elizabeth & Humberto Sirpa were instrumental during these years. Ely served in La Casa which much wisdom and care. And through Humberto’s careful diligence, La Palabra Hecha Vida (WMFB) became a locally registered foundation, along with its own functioning board of directors. Feliza Mamani and Victoria Quispe were now cooking lunches at the Center, and their addition helped create a solid and lasting ministry of hospitality. In addition, Cara Strauss returned to Bolivia after her internship. Within a few years, Cara planted roots in Bolivia when she fell in love with and subsequently married Marcelo (Mache) Contreras, a Bolivian pastor and computer engineer.
Through a number of scattered attempts to support women in their desire to leave the streets, some more successful than others, the community learned that money would not solve the problem, nor a swift faith conversion. They learned that a woman needs a supportive community around her, to learn new life skills and rhythms, to address the deep issues that led her to her reality and space to allow those wounds to heal. She needs economic security within a safe sanctuary for her to hear and respond to that still soft Voice.
So Heather and Wes Goertzen, Cara Contreras and others, began to draft a dream. A team developed from those who were beautifully and clearly called to the ministry. And in 2010, Suti Sana, a therapeutic microenterprise for women in prostitution, received their first participants. A combination of Aymara and Spanish, the prominent local languages, Suti Sana means healed name. It is based on Isaiah 62 and inspired by their co-worker and friend, Eliana. Upon her conversion, she chose a new name meaning, “My God has answered me.” Eliana embodies the hope desired for many others, holistic transformation, healed names and identities. In recounting the multitude of stories and remembering all who have passed through, there’s still much to be told. However, that which the Lord began, continues today. To God be the glory.