In this blog I’m combining both my words and Jennifer Mitchell’s blog. Her words are in italics.
What does it feel like to have all
of your debts completely paid for? What thoughts would go through your
mind if you never felt the burden of finances again? This week I got a
little taste of heaven as I watched God free a precious girl from her
burdens…
After dinner one night, we were introduced to a young girl named Salome and this her story…
Salome is sixteen years old and is in high school. She is a
sweet, quiet girl who aspires to be a lawyer some day. She is a born again
Christian, she loves Jesus and she attends church. Her life has been anything but
easy.
sweet, quiet girl who aspires to be a lawyer some day. She is a born again
Christian, she loves Jesus and she attends church. Her life has been anything but
easy.
She is an orphan. Her father died before she was born and her mother died when she was just six months old. From that time until she was eight years old
she went from house to house as different people watched her at different
times. When she was eight years old she came to live with her aunt and uncle.
She started to go to school, but it came a time where her aunt told her not to
go anymore so she could watch and take care of her aunt’s child. Salome did not
agree and continued to go to school. Her aunt became angry with her and told
her she would never succeed. She also stopped paying for her school fees.
Salome, determined to stay in school, would fetch firewood and water for people
to earn enough money so she could continue to stay in school. Often times she
came up short and her teachers would try to help her out with some of her
costs. Her uncle practices witch craft and put a spell on her. She explained it
as something would be crawling through her belly all the way up to her chest
and as it sat in her chest she would not be able to breathe. She suffered from
this spell for two years. As she was telling us her story, emotions of her
situation and her past caused her to break down recalling it all.
she went from house to house as different people watched her at different
times. When she was eight years old she came to live with her aunt and uncle.
She started to go to school, but it came a time where her aunt told her not to
go anymore so she could watch and take care of her aunt’s child. Salome did not
agree and continued to go to school. Her aunt became angry with her and told
her she would never succeed. She also stopped paying for her school fees.
Salome, determined to stay in school, would fetch firewood and water for people
to earn enough money so she could continue to stay in school. Often times she
came up short and her teachers would try to help her out with some of her
costs. Her uncle practices witch craft and put a spell on her. She explained it
as something would be crawling through her belly all the way up to her chest
and as it sat in her chest she would not be able to breathe. She suffered from
this spell for two years. As she was telling us her story, emotions of her
situation and her past caused her to break down recalling it all.
She talked of a time when she was sleeping at home. All the
sudden she was woken up and felt something tell her to get out of the house as
quickly as possible. As soon as she did, the wall came crashing down where she
had been sleeping, and would have killed her had she stayed. From that moment
on she gave her life to Jesus. Having no parents, no family, an aunt and uncle
who have treated her poorly and beat her, put spells on her, is on her own and
finding extreme difficulty finding money to go to school. She is going through
terribly hard times, and quiet frankly has been going through terribly hard
times all of her life. Members from her church have been trying to help her out
with school but are no longer able to do so. I recently learned that she was in
school but was kicked out of class because she was behind on her school fees
and owing too much. Having no place to go she was hiding out in the girls’
bathroom. She is a bright, beautiful girl with a PURPOSE, a hope, and a DREAM.
She is humble, diligent, very hard working, and committed to the things of God.
sudden she was woken up and felt something tell her to get out of the house as
quickly as possible. As soon as she did, the wall came crashing down where she
had been sleeping, and would have killed her had she stayed. From that moment
on she gave her life to Jesus. Having no parents, no family, an aunt and uncle
who have treated her poorly and beat her, put spells on her, is on her own and
finding extreme difficulty finding money to go to school. She is going through
terribly hard times, and quiet frankly has been going through terribly hard
times all of her life. Members from her church have been trying to help her out
with school but are no longer able to do so. I recently learned that she was in
school but was kicked out of class because she was behind on her school fees
and owing too much. Having no place to go she was hiding out in the girls’
bathroom. She is a bright, beautiful girl with a PURPOSE, a hope, and a DREAM.
She is humble, diligent, very hard working, and committed to the things of God.
We found out her school fees are only $135 for the entire year, and that is the only thing preventing her from fulfilling
her dream.
her dream.
The
next day, our team prayed and pooled our resources and decided that we
would pay for Simone’s school this year. So Martha and I hopped on
motorcycles to the girls’ school about 30 minutes away. I then watched
a quiet, small girl blossom right in front of me. It was like a huge
rock had been lifted off of her. I watched as Simone jumped up and
down and smiled bigger than her face could hold. She was elated.
Words cannot express the joy that was in the room at that moment.
next day, our team prayed and pooled our resources and decided that we
would pay for Simone’s school this year. So Martha and I hopped on
motorcycles to the girls’ school about 30 minutes away. I then watched
a quiet, small girl blossom right in front of me. It was like a huge
rock had been lifted off of her. I watched as Simone jumped up and
down and smiled bigger than her face could hold. She was elated.
Words cannot express the joy that was in the room at that moment.
It was then that I began thinking about the situation from an
eternal perspective. It was almost like I could see God doing the same
thing for us. As sinners, we deserve nothing at all. Our sins compile
debts that we could never repay. We were suffering and dying under the
weight of it all. Then Jesus came and completely paid our debts in
full. Now we get to live in freedom, free from that bondage and
burden. Praise God that our debts are paid in full!
And the best
part is, that God removed our debts, not because of any
merit of our own, but because he loves us that much. My team was
overwhelmed with love for Simone after meeting her just once. We knew
we had to do something to help her. How much more so does God love us
and want to give good gifts to his children!! Best of all, he paid a
debt that he did not owe, so we could be free – We are paid in full.
part is, that God removed our debts, not because of any
merit of our own, but because he loves us that much. My team was
overwhelmed with love for Simone after meeting her just once. We knew
we had to do something to help her. How much more so does God love us
and want to give good gifts to his children!! Best of all, he paid a
debt that he did not owe, so we could be free – We are paid in full.
—————–
God please continue to bring provision
into her life, so she may continue to stay in high school and eventually become
a lawyer, as her heart desires! I believe you will provide for her because you
love her fiercely, passionately, unconditionally, and recklessly.
into her life, so she may continue to stay in high school and eventually become
a lawyer, as her heart desires! I believe you will provide for her because you
love her fiercely, passionately, unconditionally, and recklessly.
And this is a very common situation here. She is just an example
of the young people here and what they go through.
Please keep Salome in your prayers!
