(We sent this letter to all the supporters and friends of N. American staff working in Bolivia. Because this is a public blog, I have omitted pictures and names. If you would like more information, just e-mail me.)
Dear friends,
Every week we visit the dank, grimy streets of El Alto’s red light district and invite the women who work there to lunch at Casa de Esperanza. Over steaming hot meals, we get to know them as friends and start to share the love our Savior has for each of them.
We want to introduce you to some of our Bolivian staff who make it possible to open the Casa de Esperanza’s doors each week. They are our five longest-serving employees, and currently their salary needs aren’t being covered. This year, would you consider helping to support their salaries, so we can continue our ministry of presence and hospitality?
E. is our oldest Bolivian staff, and probably the one you’ve heard the most about. She was trafficked from Argentina as a teenager, and worked in prostitution almost 30 years before taking a job at the Casa de Esperanza and finding true love in Christ Jesus. She is in charge of cleaning and maintenance, and miraculously keeps dozens of plants alive through sheer love in the frigid El Alto weather. Need: $185 a month for part-time salary and benefits
F. grew up in forced servitude, working as a maid for an abusive family in Bolivia. She escaped when she was 23 years old, married, and moved to Peru. When she finally moved back to Bolivia, she heard an announcement at her church for a job at the Casa de Esperanza. As our head cook, F.’s special ingredient is her infatiguable smile. Need: $185 a month for part-time salary and benefits
V.Q. grew up in the dry countryside as a pastor’s daughter, and took care of the family sheep and llamas as a child. After she married, she moved to El Alto, where she met WMF staff Andy and Andrea Baker, and began hosting Servant Team members. When the position of assistant cook opened up, V. began working at the Casa de Esperanza, where she always has a warm hug available. Need: $165 a month for part-time salary and benefits
D., her mother, and her five siblings were one of the first families to host Servant Team members. After working for several other organizations as an administrator, D. finished her degree in accounting and joined WMF Bolivia as the head of Administration and Accounting, to help us wrestle with the complicated Bolivian bureaucracy. She resonates deeply with the WMF Lifestyle Celebrations and believes she has found her calling from the Lord in WMF. Need: $440 a month for salary and benefits
Once V.M. found Christ as a teenager, she was instantly drawn into His heart for the poor. For nine years she served with boys living on the streets, and now works as the Coordinator of the Casa de Esperanza. This year she initiated workshops in candle-making, chocolate confection, and baking for women still in prostitution. V. keeps us organized and has a knack for finding the best deal in the city on absolutely everything. Need: $440 a month for salary and benefits
Whether you are able to give $5 or $55 a month, every gift will help us continue ministering to the needs of vulnerable women on the streets of El Alto. To set up automatic giving from your credit card each month, please go to https://wordmadeflesh.org/support/give/. You may send checks made out to “Word Made Flesh” with a separate note designating the funds towards one of our staff salaries (“Bolivia – D.” for example) to Word Made Flesh P.O. Box 70 Omaha, NE 68101.
Thank you so much for joining us in working towards the Kingdom of God!
Love,
Andy, Andrea, Cara, Adam, Becky and Alicia
And since you’ve read all the way to the end of this letter, there is a special announcement from the Thada clan – we’re expecting Thada #3 in August! Your prayers for everyone’s health are much appreciated. At 6 weeks, we saw our little “lentil bean” and even heard a heartbeat. We are simply amazed.