Andy & Andrea Baker
Andy and Andrea arrived to Bolivia in 2001, committed to serving Jesus and living life among the poor. They came with innocent, but passionate dreams to change the world and honor the Lord in the process. Little did they know how Bolivia would teach and shape them, their family and their calling.
After researching the needs of the city, they identified a need in the red-light district of El Alto and began an outreach to prostituted women and their families.
La Palabra Hecha Vida is now a locally registered foundation that includes direct services to victims, a social enterprise providing alternative employment (www.sutisana.com), an after-school program and specific workshops to equip women and their children in their personal and professional growth process. LPHV values both depth and quality, as we accompany and equip prostituted women and their children in seeking abundant life.
We Bakers are an active family with 4 boys who enjoy
adventure, value justice and love family.
Thank you for joining us!
P.S. The video below shows a foundational element of our ministry -- and features both Andy & Andrea in the thick of it! It is password protected, just as a reminder that we ask you not to share the video on social media. Video password is Abundant Life. Check it out!
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Updated Giving Page
almost 4 years ago
Hi all,
We wanted to make sure you know we have updated our giving platform to cut some admin costs (no longer here on PureCharity).
Please visit our new site to donate or renew any recurring charges for monthly giving.
Thank you for your continued love, support & prayers. We love you guys!
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Updates
over 5 years ago
Hi all!
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Just in case you missed it:
Here's some news from our Sabbatical.
A short video from from our community to yours (you gotta see the cute kids)!
And our 1st ever WMFB holiday gift catalog for those last minute, but meaningful gifts.
Thank you for your prayers and partnership! Merry Christmas to you! -
HEROES
over 6 years ago
Our church in Bolivia recently hosted a Mission Expo, honoring missionaries and calling others to the same. They walked us down the red carpet and applauded. “You’re our heroes! We want to be more like you!” says Pastor Mauri. All week long we and others were showered with gifts, accolades and prayers. It was all quite overwhelming and humbling. Never have we experienced such a great outpouring of love and support, even more so from a Bolivian church.
I crashed on the couch Sunday afternoon exhausted from the week's activities and ready to binge-watch Netflix in my pj´s for the remainder of the day. Interesting enough, the Grey's Anatomy episode was about heroes, and Merideth´s closing thoughts caught my attention:
"Our heroes aren't special.
They're just people.
They're like us.
They're just trying to survive.
They're trying to be happy.
Trying to do better, be better, feel better.
Heroes aren't more special,
more courageous than the rest of us.
After all, they're only human.
They hurt, they break, they bleed….
A hero is only human, but that's the point.
If they can do it, so can you."
The small group meeting had just ended and everyone filtered away to their homes. The matron of the family gathers us together around the table and begins, "We saw your call for help for Wanda,* and we want to help.” All the family nods in agreement.“We have a stove that was a wedding present from my father. I’ve kept it all these years and it still works great!” She beams, "I began my catering business with this oven!”
We can see the tension in her. This piece holds great sentiment. A family heirloom of sorts.
But she gathers herself and says, “And the Lord said that we couldn’t just give away the stove, but that we needed to provide the propane tank and fill it too. So that’s what we did!”
And so we loaded up our little car and rattled all the way home on the bumpy streets.
Wanda was in great need. She came knocking on the doors of our drop-in center, clutching the invitation she received in our Christmas outreach 6 months earlier. Subsisting in the middle of urbanity, no one knew how she and her 3 children were suffering: a single mother prostituting, pregnant from gang rape, cooking on an open fire, and all 4 sleeping on one small mattress on the floor.
Little Jorge*, starving from hunger, complained to his teacher one day, “I danced for them, and they didn’t pay me like they said they would.”
The kids gobbled up the food we served them, gnawing even the chicken bones. Wanda explained they had gone a full year without eating meat.
The Church came together, providing clothes and toys, a bed, food staples and more. And Wanda and her children took advantage of all the resources the ministry could offer. Delaying her C-section to complete our intensive 6-week training, Wanda will soon begin working as one of our newest SutiSana seamstresses!
"I didn’t realize there were so many good people in the world,” she reflects with deep gratitude.
The sacrifice of missionaries is just one piece to the puzzle of restoration. Obedience in any form - like small gifts given with great love - brings so much Glory to the Lord. And people like Wanda and her children are blessed and cared for.
How might the Lord be calling you to sacrifice and be a hero?
*Names changed for respect.
Highlights and News
Andy and Andrea recently enjoyed a 2-week trip to London sponsored by Rope. We shared in various venues and snuck in a bit of 20th wedding anniversary celebrating too!
It´s a busy time of year for us! And with less staff and a full workload, our community is busy. We'd appreciate your prayers and support.
We have 4 new artisans joining the SutiSana team! That means 4 more women are FREE from sexual exploitation! Check out their latest products and video below. Video password is: Abundant Life.
The kids are obsessed with soccer these days and recently got to see some of their favorite players in a world-cup qualifier game in La Paz. Mom and dad are glad for healthy outlets that bring joy to the whole family.
As Luke and Elias step into middle-school and high-school respectively, we're beginning to navigate the world of college-prep. It's scary and emotional, but the boys are stepping up the challenge!
Check out SutiSana's latest collection! We're really proud of it! http://sutisana.com/
Read more here: https://us5.admin.mailchimp.com/campaigns/show?id=1359173
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Contact Info please?
over 6 years ago
Hi there! We'd love to better keep in touch with you, but our records are sorely outdated. Every now and then we send out a little something through snail mail. We have a new photo card for your fridge! If you'd like to better stay in touch, please help us by filling out the link below.
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https://goo.gl/forms/9PgrJ6UUwD7afYEn1
Thank you!
Blessings,
Andrea -
Life Together: Reflections on our life in community
over 6 years ago
I awoke this morning with an anxious prayer, “Lord please help me get through this day.” I know it will not be easy.The long bus ride to work is a gift for me. In part it keeps me close to our neighbors and the reality of life around me. It’s also a quiet time between home and office to reflect and collect my thoughts for the day. Today I’m remembering how God provided in response to Abraham’s obedience (Gen 22: 13-14). I am holding to that promise for myself. God tests and God provides.The bus driver is unusually kind. He greets each person with respect. "Good morning brother. Hello grandfather. Take care dear friend.” For all those he passes, he signals peace or a gentle hello. We crest the top of the hill and the glorious snowcaps come into view behind the conglomerated power lines. A sign of hope for me. Majestic beauty lies just beyond the mess of today. Mercedes Soza resonates deeply on the radio, “I only ask God, that the injustice wouldn't make me indifferent….” How I fight to not let my heart grow hard and protective.The day was trying, as expected and many tears were shed. But even in the midst of our mourning, there was comfort in our shared suffering. I am grateful for these people, with whom I’m learning to love more fully and selflessly let go.After difficult days, it’s my great joy to come home again to earnest hugs and big smiles. A home cooked dinner awaits and we share fellowship together around the table. Communion once again. Tonight my little one’s eyes sparkle as he crinkles his freckled nose and gloats in his game winnings. Just a bit earlier he had stormed away in anger when asked to wash the dishes. Some nights we leave our mess to crust on the table, and simply enjoy each other’s company, cuddling on the couch and recounting the days’ events.Jean Vanier says community is the place that reveals all the darkness and anger, jealousies and rivalry hidden in our hearts….a place of pain, because it is a place of loss, a place of conflict, and a place of death. But it is also a place of resurrection.I hold this gift - life together - carefully, gratefully, recognizing the Lord’s presence in it all and giving thanks.Read More
