Photo of the Week 6/5-6/12

it's been harder on me since we have returned from the States.  it's almost like i forgot for a short time just what life is like for the majority of the people living here.  everywhere i look i see hungry kids, hurting families and satan's strongholds.  like my eyes have been opened...again.

even though i know God doesn't want me to stay in this place, it's still a good place to be.  to be reminded that we are on a battlefield.  we are waging war against the most deceptive army known to man.  we are fighting for little souls that don't even know yet why we are fighting.

little souls like hers.

as i watched her in her teenage mom's arms i tried hard not to feel hopeless for her.  wondering what on earth i could possibly do to change her circumstances, to keep her from following the broken path ninety-nine percent of her friends will.  God reminded me that i am armed with the strongest weapon available to anyone.  a weapon that our enemies will never possess.  a weapon that heals the wounded, saves the lost and brings justice to God's people.

i can pray for her.  i can battle satan in a spiritual realm that so many people forget they are able to tap into.  will you join me?  will you pray for this little one to stand apart from the crowd?  will you pray that she will have supernatural abilities to fend of temptation and live a life radically for Christ?

God is calling us to to stand in the gap for His people, especially the ones who are unable to defend themselves.  could you imagine this little one fighting satan on her own?  she needs me.  she needs us.  she needs the body of Christ.

Photo of the Week - 5.29-6.5

hello there, you little dominican beauty...

i know God has a plan for you.  plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  to give you hope and a future.  my prayer for you is that you find your identity in Christ; not in boys, clothes, or the things of this world.

remember this time, your youth, and the things that make you smile.  remember the freedom and the little things that make this time in your life so carefree.

keep putting flowers in your hair, just for the fun of it.  keep dancing with your friends in the street, just because you can.  keep walking through that church door, reminding yourself of a big God who cares so deeply for you.

i don't know your circumstances but i know that you are a child of Him who wants to do immeasurably more than you could dream or imagine.  let Him.  let Him use you for His kingdom.  let Him mold you and shape you.  let Him take control and show you His way...because, after all, it is the best way you can take.

you are the future generation of a culture that is going to radically change this island.  you are God's solution.  He has chosen you to be a part of a revolution.

you are a warrior even at your young age.

Photo of the Week-2/12-2/19

meet linda (pronounced leen-dah; means cute, adorable, beautiful). hey there, pretty girl. she lives in the hole and she's been my photo of the week before. except before, i didn't know her. before, she cried at the sight of me. before, i hadn't stepped into her world.

it's been a strange transition working so closely to the ministry happening in the hole. i figured i would become more emotionally numb to it since i see it at such close proximity. but, quite frankly, the opposite has happened.

i remember when i was explaining life in the hole to a short-term missions team for the first time after i began working there. i said my usual stuff, expressed the need there, shared how tough life can be. and i cried. like, to the point that i just wanted to jump out of the van, find a corner and curl up in it. it no longer was just a story i told. it was her story. linda's story. i know kids now whose parents leave in the morning to go to work, lock their kids out of the house and make them fend for themselves until they get home. i know girls who are basically child prostitutes with no self-esteem or feeling of worth. i know parents who hardly have enough food to feed themselves, let alone their eight children. and it breaks my heart even more knowing their real life stories.

but for me, what keeps me coming back, what keeps me taking the long staircase down into this dump are the smiles i get when i turn the alley to the church. linda, who was so petrified of me two years ago, is now one of my most enthusiastic welcomers. she will stop whatever she is doing, run barefoot and jump over trash and dirty water just to rest comfortably in my arms. talk about redeeming people. god's already working on her little heart, changing it from fear and uncertainty to trust and love.

To see what He sees...

I've read over and re-wrote this post several times. Nothing I wrote ever seemed right. I've searched and prayed and contemplated why this could be and have come up empty handed. The fact is, explaining what you see does this place no justice. All of the most eloquent words in the world could not accurately describe the feelings you feel as you walk through Phaeton. I've felt pain, hopelessness, adoration, gratefulness, confusion, hope...and the list goes on.

Within my first hour in Phaeton, I had this uneasy feeling. Praying, I asked, "God, how can I accurately depict what you are doing here? I don't even know what I am feeling, how can I explain that to others?" I usually hear some type of response in my head, be it the holy spirit or my own ponderings but after a while of silence I simply said, "Ok, then, can you just help me see this place how you see it? Can you help my camera capture how your heart feels for this place?" Without Him even having to respond, the uneasy feeling I had before simply disappeared and I had a zest for capturing my surroundings like I hadn't had in months. Sometimes God speaks so audibly, giving me clear direction and instruction. That day in Phaeton, He didn't need to say anything...He just gave me a little nod as He allowed me to see a place He loves through His eyes.

To read my Haiti experience last year, click here.

Polishing Character

Girls Group 2 -Week 4

I'm not gonna lie. Week four is my favorite week. And not just because we get to paint our nails.

If there is one thing that I have learned since becoming a missionary (and I use that term loosely because I truly believe God calls us to be missionaries whether we live outside of our native country or not) is serving. I am going to be completely honest with you. Before I moved here, I had one genuine opportunity where I served and that was on a missions trip to Africa. Other than that it was either forced because I had to do community service for National Honor Society or because I needed "humanitarian" hours for a class. I was NOT a servant. Nor did I have a servant's heart. And even now, living on the mission field, with a special title like "missionary" that rings of servanthood and sacrifice...it's still a struggle sometimes.

There are things that Jesus did and aspects of His character that are absolutely mind-blowing to me. Because these things He did for the people, the way He treated them, how He cared for them; it was natural. He didn't have to try and care about them; He just did. He didn't have to trudge through another healing; He just did it. He didn't roll His eyes every time God asked Him to speak to the crowds or dine with prostitutes or hold a leper; He just did it. Serving was interwoven into the very core of His being.

I know its in me too. Unfortunately, years of selfishness and pride have made it a bit rusty. But every time I see these girls, every time they hug me, every time they flash a shy smile at me when I tell them how much I love them...I see how serving them can become natural.

When we read the story of Jesus washing His disciples feet it hit me all over again just what kind of God I serve. I want these girls to know it too. I want them to know just how big He really is. That He's bigger than crappy parents, abandonment and sexual abuse. He's bigger than all of it. And I'd like to believe that if Jesus were walking among us today, He'd love nothing more than to paint these little girls' toenails too.

a dear friend donated several funky nail polish colors and supplies for this class...and the girls went crazy over them!

Girls Group 2 - Week 3

This post is going to prove just how behind I am on blogging. Sheesh.

Week 3 was also Christmas week. Which for me, means party. Really, I look for any reason to party. But I wanted to make sure they knew why we celebrate Christmas. And honestly, here, getting presents and going crazy decorating and getting all wrapped up in the hustle and bustle aren't distractions. So what better time to make sure they understood the Reason for Christmas.

I had Yolibeth (from the first girls group) read the Birth of Jesus to the younger girls. Surprisingly, they were pretty attentive and not too distracted or antsy. Yoli is such a light to me. She is sweet, tender-hearted, reserved, laid back, caring, thoughtful and the list goes on. I really hope these younger girls find a way to cling to her and look up to her. She is an incredible example of a teenager doing her best to take the right paths.

There's Estefany. My little artist.

My mom sent a Christmas package down to us which included SUPER cute cupcake papers. The girls went CRAZY over them. They thought they were so adorable. It took them almost a half an hour to start digging in because they didn't want to throw the paper away. Thanks, Mama!!!

The older girls and I listened to music and cut out snowflakes. I thought it would be something fun for us to do considering none of them have EVER seen snow. They were a little unsure at first but by the end of the morning we had a pile of about 50 of them.

They also stayed after their class to help Yudy make new window treatments for the holidays. Our snowflakes fit perfectly with her theme and the girls did an awesome job. Yudy was so excited because she said it was the first time she didn't have to do it alone. She loved seeing the girls take some ownership of the church, even if it was just to make some decorations.

My teenage decorators, oh yeah, and Yudy!

It was bitter sweet saying goodbye because I knew I was going to take the next week off to spend some time with our little family. But it was a great way to close out 2011 and look forward to the New Year!