Kubadilishwa Na Yesu.
Swahili for “Transformed by Jesus.”
In Kenya, my team spent a month in Makuru Slums, one of the poorest areas of Nairobi. It wasn’t where we were originally supposed to be, but after a mix up with our contact, we ended up joining another team on our squad and stayed with them for the entire month.
There, we learned about the hardships of many of the girls who grew up and lived in Makuru. We were actually living in a rescue home for girls who had been taken out of their own homes due to sexual abuse and violence. After hearing story after story after story about some of the girls that one of the social workers counseled, we decided to put on a Women’s Conference for the girls and young women who lived in Makuru.
And after much deliberation, we decided on the title of the conference: “Kubadilishwa Na Yesu.” Transformed by Jesus. As one of the conference’s keynote speakers, I got the opportunity to share my story with the women who showed up that day and talk about how Jesus has transformed my own life and restored me back to a place of emotional and spiritual health. It was one of my favorite days on the Race and it has become one of favorite ways for God to use me. For Him to take the painful parts of my life and use them to minister to other young girls and women who desperately need to know the love of Christ and believe in the hope of redemption.
It was while I was preparing to speak at this conference that I discovered Beauty From Ashes Ministries. Beauty From Ashes (BFA) is a grass roots ministry that is dedicated to reaching and assisting women and children who are involved and/or associated with the sex industry; commercialized sexual exploitation, human trafficking and adult entertainment.
The founder, Mrs. Julie Shematz, is a licensed minister who also has a Master’s degree in Mental Health, specializing in Equine and Art Therapy. And this September, I will be joining BFA Ministries as a Hadassah Intern. I am so incredibly excited for this next season of my life and the journey that the Lord has me on. I can’t even begin to tell you all that the Lord is doing these days, but I can assure you that it is incredible. Please stick around as I share more about BFA and where my heart is in all of it and how the Lord has led me to such a place as this for such a time as this. Love you guys!! Thank you for all of the support!!
Pictures from the Women's Conference
