Greetings from Rwanda!!
As this month comes to a close, I’d love to take a moment to share with you some encouragement from the Beauty for Ashes event my team hosted this week at our ministry site. We’ve spent the past few weeks getting to know the ladies here. Most of them are in their 20s and have very broken pasts. The organization we’re working with provides them with education on trade skills in sewing, embroidery, and asset management. We have absolutely loved joining them for morning devotions & worship, encouraging them during their classes, and singing & visiting with them in the evenings. We even managed to get in a couple of movie nights. This was just a part of our ministry here but where I felt most called. Perhaps it’s because of the brokenness and restoration I’ve experienced in my own life I felt especially drawn to these young women.
Friday afternoon, we had to the opportunity to host a ladies event. It was such an honor to be trusted with this time and their stories. Here’s a snippet of what was shared.
“Broken Made Beautiful”
After sharing some of their most painful experiences, the moments they felt most broken, the women at our Beauty for Ashes event were asked to think about where Jesus was in that moment. Most answered “you tell me. I know God is with me now, but I don’t know where He was then. I was here alone getting raped, abused, finding my parents dead in our home during the genocide, etc. Maybe God was up in the clouds taking a day off.” They were sincerely looking for an answer. Besides reading them verses about God never leaving us, I had nothing on the script to answer. The Lord was faithful to give me the words to answer such a sensitive and serious question. I explained that because we live in a broken world, terrible things happen. But God is not absent in those moments. He is right there with His arms wrapped tightly around us, His sobs matching ours. No beautiful daughter, He did not forget about you. He was not busy or taking the day off. He was hurting WITH you. Thousands of years ago, our pain was carried by Him on the cross & now He carries us through our pain. He doesn’t just weep with us in the moments we’re hurting, He wants to restore the brokenness they cause. The answer to our pain is Him, more of Him. He is the only one that can restore. Nothing else we seek will fully fill the void left by rejection, abuse, or loss. I encourage you to ask the Lord what brokenness you’re still trying to fill with things besides Him because He is the only one who can make you completely whole again.
There is so much power in our stories. Not only do we find healing when we share, but so do those who are listening. I hope you look for opportunities to share your story with those around you.
This has honestly been my favorite month so far. It’s the first time I’ve completely let my heart go. I’ve loved so hard, and letting go will be difficult. Please be praying for my heart as my time here comes to a close. Most of the women don’t have smartphones, email, or social media so keeping in touch isn’t an option. Yes, my heart could definitely use some extra prayer as we say goodbye and carry on to our next location. Thank you yet again for your love, support, and prayers.
Blessings from East Africa,
Ash
P.S. Wednesday, we will be traveling to Uganda. I’ll update again once I know more about what our ministry will be like there. Also, stay tuned for more stories from Rwanda. They’re slowly making it from my heart to my head to the page. Love to all!!
