This is part 2 on our experience at the local orphanage…
When we returned, we walked in with the authority of Jesus all over us. We began praying over buildings and singing praises. We prayed specifically for kids. We prayed for life, hope, joy, healing, and deliverance.
We were armed with machetes, brooms, and bleach. Our cleaning was a prophetic and visible expression of what was happening in the spiritually. The place does look much cleaner. The playground is useable, the grass is cut, and bags upon bags of trash were carried out.
But something more happened. We are seeing joy in these kids. Real joy! They are excited to see us come now. Our latest attack on this darkness was by holding a carnival for them. It was complete with face paint, drawing/painting, mini golf, fishing, playground games, baseball, and balloons. We saw kids laugh that we had never seen laugh before. Kids were expressive through art. They fully embraced us by soaking up every minute they could get with us instead of running to the dorms to hide.
Elsa is a girl who would run from us when we first arrived.
We prayed for her.
She was filled with such joy from the Holy Spirit.
No one has a bigger smile than this girl!
Gladis has a deformed hand that we’re waiting to see healed.
We’re convinced we’ll see it before we leave.
She has the sweetest personality of anyone I’ve ever met.
She’s also a great artist.
Julio is the boy tied to the wheelchair that is tied to the window.
He was constantly anxious and had an angry demeanor.
We prayed deliverance over him.
Our next visit he spent an entire afternoon laughing and smiling with us.
Incredible!
God is doing something AMAZING there! The place feels lighter. There is joy and life where there was none before.
Connecting them to the deep love of Christ is our goal before leaving. We don’t want to be another group that visits, gets attached, and eventually leaves. We want them to know the love of the ultimate dad and have a love that will never leave them. There is always somewhere to turn for hope and life.
We’re leaving our father’s mark.
***Update: Yesterday a court ruled to close the orphanage. By December it will be closed, and the kids will be moved to other orphanages. We’re praying that they go to better places and don’t end up on the streets.***
