A Make Shift Department Store

About two weeks ago, the Word Made Flesh ministry set up a mini-store in the ministry center in order to serve some of the girls that attend the weekly Bible study. These young women, who once lived on the streets, are now committed to sustaining a life apart from the streets. They all have young children and many of them are single mom's, or their partners work long hours. Their daily struggles to maintain a healthy lifestyle (physically, mentally, and spiritually) are played out in some of the most poverty stricken areas in Lima.

On this "Ripley" day (Ripley is the name of a very large department store in Lima) the girls paid a minimal amount (about 75 cents) for two large bags. They filled their bags with clothing and accessories that had been donated to the ministry for them and their kids.

Geoff served the young women by being "in charge" of their kids so that they could shop, eat, and fellowship without their children at their feet (he knows the blessing of shopping without kids). The first thing he said when he came home from work that day was, "Lily, I needed you today, to help me hold some babies." He explained how he spent the day caring for the little tots, often holding more than one chunky, adorable, baby at a time...It's a hard job, but somebody has to do it.

The "Ripley" event is just one way that Word Made Flesh is serving and reaching out to our friends.

Several of the girls waiting to enter the "store"

One of our volunteers helping a girl pick out clothes