So it’s come to my
attention that I know very little about God. Every time I think I have God
figured out, I’m humbled to my knees. Last night I got the privilege of
preaching at our ministry contact’s church. It’s a small church surrounded by
the noise and and business of the craziness that is simply just outside. It’s a
light in the darkness of the community.
Men and women sit on opposite sides of the church. The sound equipment
is a bit on the ghetto side and when you speak into the microphone, you pray
that it won’t crack and hurt peoples ears. But you have to be loud to block out
the sounds of the blaring music from all the parties and bars around. The doors
are always opened so as you stand in front of the congregation to preach, you
can literally see girls wearing pretty much nothing making out with guys right
outside the church. It’s deff a different kind of experience.
This month has been a
rough one for me personally. Every time I walked outside I was thrown into a
whirlwind of open wounds and things I thought were really healed but I found
out my wounds were simply scabbed over… This month has been all about cutting
the wound open and getting the infection out to let healing come into the core
of my wounds. We walk around what seems to be 50 miles a day but in all reality
it is around 8. But by the time we would go from our house to our mission
contact’s church to do VBS, I was already torn down and feeling icky. I have
found that our house and the church are the only 2 safe spiritual places here. As
soon as I left either place, I was spiritually attacked. Having guys say really
bad sexual things, telling you they want to *&#$ you and get a visa all
while hissing at you all the time def makes you rethink your worth in Christ
and how beautiful you are. It makes you question every good thing you have just
realized about yourself. It’s been rough. The Dominican Republic is in SERIOUS
NEED for hope, healing, answers, and GOD.
I got to share my
story and speak life over the people of the church as only I could… Bluntly.
Another thing I have
realized this month is I don’t have to change that “In your face” aspect that
if you know me, you know I have… Fact is, God made me that way for a reason.
I’m not here to sugar coat anything… I’m only hear to be honest to my heart and
feelings. That’s all I know how to do.
So as I started talking about finding Justin
at the age of 17, planning on getting married, rape, pregnancy, losing the
baby, and calling off the wedding I said the words, “When I was 17, I met a
boy.” And one of the girls just shouts out “GLORIA JESUS!!!” I was so
frustrated because I know that is the main thing they care about. Women here
think the main goal is to find a man, and then maybe if there is any room left,
seek God. But since being on the race, I have been healed from that because I
used to think the exact same way. I swear, the “NEED” to have a boyfriend is
almost like a virus. It’s awful, beats you up, makes you feel like crap, and it
spreads like a wildfire.
I yelled back at the
girl telling her that was exactly what I was speaking against! I told them it
didn’t matter how many boyfriends they had, what kind of car or moto they had,
how “hot” they were… The only thing that mattered is feeling beautiful in
Christ!
The main thing the
people at that church needed to hear was how beautiful and important they were!
And by me being the person to share that with them, it felt AMAZING! And it was
also a healing process for me as well! It was proof that I don’t just talk the
talk but I walk the walk as well! PRAISE GOD!
I also tried to
encourage the men of the church to step up and be an example to the women.
There are 5 times more women in that church then men. I told them it was their
job as Godly men to encourage and lift up their sisters in Christ and be an
example to other men. Because women can change their priorities and feelings
all day but until the men change as well, nothing is going to get better.
For the first time I
know what it’s like to be truly supported by Godly men and surrounded by them.
That’s what the world race has done for me so far. There has been a lot of
healing involved in this discovery and it hasn’t been a smooth ride by any
means, but now that I know there are Godly brothers out there who simply love
you because you share a love for Christ, I am happy. I plan on spreading that
knowledge to the world now. Thank you
Jesus for blessing me with Godly brothers who love me just because… and thank
you God for loving me so much that I don’t even understand it.
At training camp,
after a day of challenging exercises and women building skills, all the girls
got to be exposed to what we call “DECLARATIONS”! It’s where we stand on the
tallest piece of furnature or whatever we can find and scream truths over
ourselves. It might sound silly but it TOTALLY works! We actually loved it so
much that we shared it with the boys and our squad wrote our own declarations
to speak over ourselves! But if you’re a woman struggling with your self worth…
Try it out…. Go stand on your couch, kitchen cabinet, or whatever you would
like and say these words as loud as you can!
I AM A MIGHTY WOMAN
OF GOD!
I AM BEAUTIFUL!
I AM BEAUTIFUL!
I AM BEAUTIFUL!
I AM A PRINCESS OF
THE KING!
I HAVE AUTHORITY IN
HEAVEN AND ON EARTH!
MY FATHER IS JEALOUS
FOR ME!
I AM BEAUTIFUL!!!
(you can say whatever
you would like but those are just a few of my favs!)
Be blessed and know
that you are loved!!! ,
Britt
