Ada's* Family

I have had the privilege to partner with Project Suma on multiple occasions, and they are very much doing God’s work in Bolivia! My first time volunteering with them was in early 2020

Porn: The New Sex Ed?

In the city of El Alto, legally there's recognition that pornographic content fuels violence, gender discrimination and reinforces harmful stereotypes against women. However, putting this law into action seems like an insurmountable challenge.

Transformative Journey

I have had the privilege to partner with Project Suma on multiple occasions, and they are very much doing God’s work in Bolivia! My first time volunteering with them was in early 2020

"You Are Not Alone" - Beyond a Charitable Cliché

Did you know? Bolivia ranks second to last in a global study of 142 countries rating systems of criminal justice. “Someone who sexually assaults a child in Bolivia is more likely to die slipping in the shower or bathtub than to sentenced to jail for their crime.” - Gary Haugen, Founder IJM

Mariel's Story

At 14 year's old, Mariel found herself pregnant, without support from her parents and no place to live.

When Someone Believes in You

When I was nine years old, he said, "I believe in you. I know that one day you will lead something significant…

Luchemos contra la Trata: El verdadero Sonido de la Libertad

Si no tenemos cuidado, una narración sensacionalista disfrazada de verdad no solo puede ser engañosa, sino también aumentar el miedo y el daño injustificado.

Reflections on Community

Seeing this community grow into itself over the past months has taught me so much about what it means to be a Christian. Christian community had never been modeled with such integrity before in my life.

Volunteering at Project Suma

We were thrilled to be able to spend time with the team and learn about the fantastic and life changing work Project Suma does for victims of trafficking.

Bonnie's Story

“The only value I knew was my body.” - Bonnie, FCF

Beauty and Strength

The women of the highlands of Bolivia are the strongest women I have ever met. The women of El Alto, Bolivia walk long distances carrying their babies on their backs and goods to sell in their hands…

“Human trafficking,” she said, “that’s my thing,”

“Human trafficking,” she said, “that’s my thing,” as if it were a dessert affinity or a favorite dog breed, the selected piggy bank for her charitable thoughts or pennies – this was her proclaimed issue of choice, her thing.

La Noche Más Oscura del Año

Al son de “Noche de paz” cantamos: “Noche de amor, noche de paz.” Se siente casi irónico. ¿Cómo puedo cantar al amor y la paz en este lugar donde se profanan las más bellas expresiones de amor…

My Special Place

I didn’t know that a place as special as the “House of Hope” existed. I’m not exaggerating when I say that this place is magnificent. This place not only managed to change the way I think but also my way of acting. I really don’t know how to express myself well, I can’t get the right words out in order to say that the “House of Hope” is a special place for me.…

On Christmas: Darkest Night of the Year

Darkest Night of the Year. It’s the title of Over the Rhine’s Christmas album, but the words themselves seem to be the mantra to which I walk as I pass in and out of brothel doors. Every time I enter these places, I have let my eyes adjust to the dim red glow of the interior; I have tried to block out the mixed smell of alcohol, sex and urine; I have swallowed the never-dulling shock and disgust of passing an exiting client as I make my way toward one of my friends. Tonight somehow feels different, darker in a way that didn’t seem possible before…

Freedom Climber Fiona

As a young orphan, Fiona* and her siblings were left to fend for themselves. She and her little sister fled to the streets after being sexually abused as teens. Desperate to survive and to provide for her baby as a young, single mother, Fiona unwittingly entered commercial sexual exploitation and found herself trapped there…

Free Indeed!

I have lived in El Alto, Bolivia almost all my life. My parents worked in the copper mines, and 30 years ago moved to the city where they raised my four sisters, my brother and me. I have watched the city limits explode, reaching out further and further. I’ve seen up close how difficult it is for migrants to learn a whole new way of life, to navigate intense poverty, limited options and racism…

Abundant Life: A life free of family violence

As the pandemic turned all of our lives upside down, we suddenly found ourselves at home every day, using our 220 sq. ft., two-bedroom apartment for two jobs, virtual preschool, and everything else already related to home. Though difficult some days, we were able to adjust as a family and in general enjoy some extra time together. For other families though, the strict lockdown experienced in Bolivia meant that they had to deal with an increased threat of violence, not from anything outside, but from inside their very homes…

Humility when Tensions are High

From our home, we have a panoramic view of the capital city of La Paz and her sister-city El Alto, a combined population of over 2 million people. I stood paralyzed at the edge of our overlook and watched the outbreak from afar. I could hear dynamite boom and pops of firecrackers on all sides. I saw huge smoke stacks rising in the distance from ongoing fighting and vandalism. And the nervous words of loved ones bombarded my thoughts:

The Long Haul

Our program begins with intervention: meeting women in brothels and health centers, building relationships and trust. We believe that if Jesus came upon someone in the road who needed healing, he would heal them. Perhaps he would never see them again, but that one interaction still had an impact, still glorified God, and was still a work of the Spirit. We believe that even if we never have the opportunity to follow up with a woman, the interactions we have in the intervention stage still make an impact…

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