We have a week left in Bolivia. And for me, it´s going to be a week filled with emotions. Starting ministry today we were told that two of our girls decided to leave the program over the weekend and go back to their families. Our hearts were broken and we immediately had to trust that God was in control and that He knows what´s best for these girls. We miss them already!
Oh how this month has flown by. When we heard last month what type of minsitry we would be working with in Bolivia, I will admit that I was less than excited. Working at a rehab facility gave me flashbacks of what it was like to do my mental health rotations for nursing school. That was the hardest set of clinicals for me because I wanted so badly to stay and see the progress the girls and boys were making. I wanted to tell them about Jesus every chance that I got but I couldn´t. I wanted to stay and help them in their recovery because consistency is important. But I could do none of those things.
So walking into our ministry house this month and seeing the girls took me right back to that place. I was apprehensive in what to do or how to interact with them. But this time the Lord opened my eyes to see that this was completely different. This was a place where the girls are healing and not just physically but spiritually. We are allowed to talk about Jesus and His love for them. We go to church on Sundays and every morning at 8 am the girls have a devotion time called encuentro which means Encounter. We had the opportunity to be apart of their devo time. That day we talked about dreams. Sister Ana, one of the leaders that works at the house, went around the circle and asked us what our BIGGEST dream was.
We went around the circle and one girl after the other, with tears in their eyes, began to say that they want to finish the rehab program, go to college, have a big family, return to their current families and be healthy.
Then it was my turn. My BIGGEST dream is to be a missionary nurse to central and south america. I told the girls that I am living out half of my dream right now. But the only way it could be accomplished is because I finally decided to give it to God. Not just the parts that I wanted to, but the whole thing. I encouraged them to give their dreams to the Lord and trust that He will make them happen in his perfect timing. Once I had truly surrendered my dreams to the Lord, I didn´t worry about them coming true because I had placed them in the hands of my Savior and my maker. He knows my heart better than I do. His word says in Psalm 37:4 ¨Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.¨ God´s word is truly living and active!!
This week I will live each day to the fullest. Hug the girls every day and make sure they know that Jesus loves them. There will be a lot of tears this week but I trust that God will take care of these beautiful girls that I have grown to know and love.
At the end of this week I will need to have reached the deadline of $9,500 by April 1st. I trust and believe that God will provide. He has proved himself time and time again. I serve the God of the universe. Who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. (Psalm 50:10)
The God who created everything and who knows my needs before I ask. He feeds the birds of the air. Am I not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:25-34)
So I choose not to worry about reaching the deadline by the end of this week. God has called me to this mission for 11 months not just 3! And I believe that He will provide.
Will you help me continue to live out my BIGGEST dream?
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I pray that God truly blesses you. Thank you for all of your support!
