[DISCLAIMER: Sorry this took a while to post! I've had it finished, however every time I try to upload pictures on here it doesn't work so I've been putting it off for a really long time now :/ So I created a Flickr account where you can see more of the pictures from the month] To view the photos and a video from the month head over to http://www.flickr.com/photos/80966720@N02/sets/72157637279242654/ Yay! 😀
So here I am, already at the end of October, recapping this whirlwind of a month spent in Managua, Nicaragua. We have spent our month working with Breaking Chains ministry, which focuses on bringing healing, love, and discipleship to women and children who have been caught in prostitution, sex trafficking, and sexual abuse. It has been incredible working with Kenia and Steven, the duo that the Lord has so uniquely placed together to create and run this ministry. Each has their own, powerful testimony as to how and why God called them to this specific mission, and I wouldn’t be doing them justice to sum it up on here! To find out more about this entire program, visit www.breakingchains.ning.com
Our month in Nicaragua was a month full of personal growth. It was incredible to witness the impact and power that the program had on the women. I was able to firsthand see and experience the transformation in demeanors and personalities as the women grew closer to their Creator and Father daily. Since my freshman year in college, God put a fire and passion inside of me to have a heart for this specific issue, and it's been absolutely incredible the opportunities He's given me to work with this specific issue over the years. I was able to work with a program in both the U.S. and now Nicaragua, and compare the realities of trafficking in both and understand the supernatural power only God has to heal these women and children after such traumatizing, inhumane treatment.
Just to give y’all a bit of an understanding of all that’s gone down this month, I’m going to list a few of my favorite things!
-Living in a community of women believers! I’ve been learning the countless plusses of living in such a rooted community of believers in Christ; it’s something I’ve never had the chance to experience before but I thank God for this opportunity He’s given me to have it now! Living with these five other women of Christ has been incredible and freeing. The Lord has given them the words of encouragement, Truth, and ability to speak into different aspects of my life to continually challenge me and grow me deeper in Him, as well as I with them. God created man to live in community for a reason; we have others to keep us accountable in living out the life God intended for us, and becoming the people that He created us to be. A pure freedom in HIM! Others to challenge us, love us, accept us, encourage us, care about us with the same love that God overwhelms us in to spread onto others.
-Available babies and children to hold and love on popping out of every crevice of this place, I definitely was able to get my baby fix!
-MULTITUDES of diverse flowers! One of my absolute favorite things in God’s creation, and He provided me so many gorgeous little bouquets this month. I had a fun time finding unique ones with the kids on all of our walks, as well as with Lauren. She’s got quite the eye for finding new ones J
-Molly: the supa cool California hippy-wanderer videographer who is here creating a documentary on sex trafficking. This girl has such a special gift for capturing moments to create stories that others would have never seen or heard otherwise. Our team has been blessed by Molly’s easy-going, insightful, artistic persona and has been deemed our 7th honorary team member of Real Love.
-The huge slumber party we were able to have with all the women from the healing program full of nail painting, food, pool time, movies, worship, prayer, and activities. It was a special time for the women as well as us to be blessed in being apart of it all! We all had so much fun, and after all the women prayed over Susan, her fever broke and she was healed and able to be apart of the fun as well!! It was humbling to be apart of an experience that these women most likely never had in their childhood.
-As many of you know, October is my absolute favorite month, with Halloween being my favorite holiday- my sweet teammates knew this and I have received many thoughtful surprises from them throughout the month including; a soap in the shape of a pumpkin, a sucker covered with T.P. made into a ghost, more ghost creations stuck onto the bars of the window, candy corn, and candy pumpkin corn. My teammates are the best foreal.
-THE INCREDIBLE VIEW! We are staying in ‘the castle’, which is literally created to look like a castle and has a breathtaking view overlooking mountains, water, many trees, flowers, and nature. I’ve been beyond blessed to wake up and go to sleep to the sunrises and sunsets here.
