November 2010
I’m excited to see what else God has for me, because I know he has more.
Suti Sana Graduate
Of all the celebrations in my life, the first Suti Sana graduation may be second only to my wedding in importance and excitement. Finally, after six months of classes, sewing training, and lots of therapy, we were blessed to welcome four of the five girls who began six months ago into Suti Sana as full-time staff.
No sooner had we celebrated this beautiful step when we were suddenly physically battered by all kinds of sickness. One woman came down with a terrible kidney infection. Another is pregnant, and was prescribed complete bed-rest to prevent early delivery. Our floor manager’s wife was admitted to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy and still has not fully recovered. Another of our staff broke out in ulcers. It’s as if some malignant spiritual power doesn’t like what’s happening.
And in the midst of all the oppression, God gifts me moments to sustain me. I disciple a woman who left prostitution and met Jesus over 5 years ago. The other day we were reading John 3. The basics. I was a little bored as she struggled to read Nicodemus’s fundamental question to Jesus, “How can someone be born again? Can they crawl back into their mother’s womb?”
She stopped reading. Started giggling. Then started laughing uncontrollably.
“What?” I asked.
“Born again!” she choked through her laughter. “Crawl back up into their mother’s womb!”
In all my knowledge of the Bible, I too often lose sight of the ridiculousness of Jesus’ words. How can someone be born again? The gospel is a beautiful, ridiculous, unbelievable proposition. It should be shocking and strange.
And it is sometime unbelievable, even for someone like me who believes, to see the huge changes in these women’s lives. They really are new people.
I also have a specific request. I’ve been extremely blessed to always be fully financially supported by you. However, this year as Acting Director, one of heaviest stressors has been trying to find funds to support our Bolivian staff salaries and operations. Our therapist, our cooks, and our social worker’s salaries depend on donations to the general Bolivian ministry account. The hot chocolate we take to the streets and the water bill require funds that aren’t coming in. If you are interested in helping us meet these needs, please donate to the Bolivia Ministry Account of Word Made Flesh. Forms and information can be found at www.wordmadeflesh.org under the tab “Support WMF.” If you contact me, I’d love to share more details of the needs with you personally. Thank you so much for your prayers and thoughts.
Love,
Cara Strauss Contreras (and Mache)