We have the opportunity to work in the girl’s house of Mission Adulam every Monday through Friday that we are here in Bolivia. Every morning we arrive to the house with a project of sorting through clothes that were donated to the houses. I feel like this might be a part of my calling, sorting through clothes. All those years of thrifting have been put to good use.
While there I kept finding old pieces to a Nintendo set. First I found Mario Bros. and the Gold Zelda game. My eyes would light up with every treasure. A couple days later I found the mother load, the actual Nintendo and about 5 other games, controllers and the gun for duck hunt.
That’s when it got real. I took this old beat up Nintendo set that had been left with no hope and forgotten home to our house where we stay. On our team we have somewhat of an electronical, interweb genius named Dillon (not to mention an amazing chief!). I knew that if I got this old beat up once upon a time entertainment system to him there might be a chance that this forgotten iconic gaming system could be functional again.
We brought this treasure home and opened the bag of goodies and our team’s eyes lit up like they were kids again on Christmas. This item that had almost seemed dismissed brought so much joy to our team. Then came the moment of truth, would this gaming system work again? Dillon went to work, using all the old school methods, including but not limited too, blowing into the old dusty machine and games. Finally the screen on the TV flickered. Mario Bros. 2 worked. We all exchanged stories about playing this game long ago as children and shared ways to make it to the next level that were imbedded into our brains.
Finding a Nintendo set and fixing it is not the moral of this story. Nay, it is only the beginning of a thought that is only illustrated by the object lesson of the long forgotten Nintendo set. As we found this treasure and saw it restored to it’s original glory, I couldn’t help but think of the girls that we are working with at Mission Adulam. They each have stories that left them desolate and forgotten, but with the help of Mission Adulam they have become treasures again. Someone took the time to take them from the place they were at, share with them the ultimate joy of Jesus and their lives are being restored.
As I watch the team at Mission Adulam selflessly give to girls who have walked out of the horrors of life, I am mesmerized by the love they express. Most of these girls have come from some type of addiction. I see them daily looking into the eyes of treasures who haven’t realized it yet.
We get to be a part of the process, even though it’s only for one month, we have the opportunity to love on these precious treasures while we are here. We can’t communicate a lot with English but we love them with hugs, smiles, participating with them and trying to use what little Spanish we can conjure up.
I don’t know their stories yet, but I have been watching them while we interact. Seeing how they interact with each other. Here is what I observed and hope that it helps you come to love these treasures as much as I do.
Davina: 27 years old with a little girl who is like 6. Her “Husband” is 40. He works at an Italian food place in La Paz. Davina speaks Italian and we think she lived in Italy for a while.
Monica: Comes from a traditional family. She is determined. Has a soft heart. Loves the unlovely. Competitive. Has the heart of a servant. Uses a lot of salt at lunchtime.
Leidy: Center of attention. Loud. Funny. Always dressed “TRENDY.” Knows the most English out of all the girls. Likes to laugh and make others laugh.
Jenny: Driven. Older girl in the house. Has a 5 year old son. Not into the drama of the house.
Rosa: Very shy. Doesn’t like to be in the limelight. Always smiles when you make eye contact.
Fidella: Bosy. Crafty. Runs her mouth. Likes to tell stories. Leader.
Laurana: Best friends with Leidy. Hard worker. Doesn’t give up. Tattoo on hand that we suspect has to do with her past life.
Camilla: Really good at sports. Smart. She has multiple cuts on her wrist, while doing our Bolivian project she drew a broken heart over.
Bella: wants to be accepted. Follows leidy/Laurana click. Loves to snuggle with the house cat or pick on it, dependent of her mood.
Benatrice: Seems to be the youngest physically and mentally. She loves her dolls. Every time we come she lights up and wants hugs. She gives thumbs up to everything. We suspect she went through some major trauma as a child.
Just like the Old School Nintendo that was once lost in a pile of clothes with no hope of being restored to it’s old glory gaming days, these girls have been found. They have been given hope. As we come every weekday and pour love into them. As we have the chance to do exercise class or worship evenings, we have the opportunities to pour into these treasures. Although we don’t know their complete stories yet, we know that God has greater plans for their lives then we could ever imagine or dream.
What treasure in your life needs the hope of Jesus? How can TEAM SOZO be praying for those you know that need Jesus to be restored?
Maybe you feel like you are a lost trinket in need of restoration? You are more valuable then you could ever imagine. Not only do we love you (even if we don’t know you or your story) but Jesus loves you and see’s you as a precious treasure (greater then a Old school Nintendo set on Christmas.)
As I leave you today to think of treasures, lost and found, would you pray for our girls at Mission Adulam. Would you call them out each by name and ask God to move in their lives far more then we could imagine, ask or dream!?
Sending love from Bolivia!
<3
Ash
#Teamash
#yearoftheninja
#theworldrace
PS. If you would like to know about Mission Adulam you can go to:
www.misionadulam.com
