Its more than a month ago, that I was serving with the Cinco Che sisters in our music ministry. And there is one visit that has been chiseled into my memory that I want to share with you all about.
It was called Casa Esperanza, House of Hope. This ministry was run by a single woman, April Havlin, and her heart was for the women and children in prostitution in Managua. We had no idea what to expect, which means it was just another day on the World Race. But I woke up that morning with the Kingdom on my mind, and just prayed, “Jesus have us bring the Kingdom to earth today.” We set out with our two guitars, took a bus, took a taxi, took another bus, and arrived at this beautiful plot of land. It stood on a hill, surrounded by trees. There was this incredible sense of peace and I could immediately sense the presence of the Holy Spirit. We tuned the guitars, introduced ourselves to the 80 or so women, and began worshipping.
Some women sat in their chairs, entertaining their babies, others sang along. The women ranged in age from their teens to their 40’s. But, all of the women came with one thing in mind…cards. April’s ministry is also a micro-enterprise. Women come once a week to make handmade cards and are able to make some income to support themselves and their families. The women came for cards, but God had something else in mind that day. As the time or worship came to a close, I asked the audience for volunteers. Earlier that week, the Lord put it on my heart to have them speak His promises to them over each other. The women were shy at first, few wanted to read in front of others. Slowly, but surely women came up and began to declare the truth, the Lord’s very word to them that day to each other. It was beautiful. Then Brown (aka Jenny) shared a message, followed up by Gabe. Brady shared a song that the Lord had given her that she had written and composed earlier that week.
Women came up to recieve prayer, and several of the women were yelling and manifesting. Jumping, screaming, laughing. Their lives were radically being changed as they realize that they are daughters of the living God, the King. They were in such bondage and captivity, and have been brought out of the darkness into His marvelous light. So, it makes sense that it is being manifested in such intense ways.
Its just beauty for ashes. Ashes are worthless to anyone else, they are worthless, burned, charred, marred, sooty, and dirty. And God out of His radical love, gives us beauty.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10
