El Alto is one of the poorest cities of Bolivia, where, God willing, I will traveling to on August 11th, along with about 20 others.

I love Lisa Wiltse’s photos:

http://lisawiltse.photoshelter.com/gallery/Bolivia-El-Alto/G0000OYQPexlTtIg

The purpose of the trip is to support a small, local church in the area. They do great work and we want to increase awareness of their presence in such a needy place. The group I’ll be traveling with will do street outreach as well as service projects in the building and with the staff.

There is a ministry to prostitutes, which helps women to get on their feet and provide for themselves when they leave prostitution. My friend, Tammy, has been consistently traveling to El Alto to train these women and support them in their transition. What a powerful ministry! I’m looking forward to being a small part of it.

I know this trip will be very hard, both physically and emotionally. For one, El Alto sits at over 13,000 feet! This will be very hard to adjust to. I am also aware that being in the midst of such misery and need will be taxing and painful.

But the heart of Jesus is with the destitute, therefore we must go when He calls us to.

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (II Cor 8:9)