This month, Chasing the Deep is at Village of Hope, a rehabilitation center for men with criminal histories, drug and/or alcohol addictions. Many of these men have spent years in prison in the past. They are riddled with tattoos. They look like they could scare Mickey Rourke. But here we are, 2 scrawny, christian men and 5 silly, sweet christian girls.
The rehab facility is essentially a large sawmill. Every man gets a job when he comes in, as did every member of Team Chasing the Deep. There are bible-based, practical classes every morning for the men. We all begin work at 10 a.m. and work until 12, for an hour lunch break. We go back out to work at one and have a “Sacred Ring”.
This is pretty much my favorite part of the day. We all stand in a large circle and talk about what has been going on inside us in the morning. Emotional stuff. They oozy gooey center of these seemingly hard men. After getting all the mess out in the open, we pray then start work again. We work until 5, and have dinner at 5:30.
During the day, we are working alongside these men. At meals we sit with them. We talk to them, laugh with them, joke with them. We encourage them to follow their dreams, and to find their wholeness in God. I know that I personally have encouraged one of the men (and one of my now dear friends), Ragnar, to continue pursuing a renewed relationship with his mother.
Wednesdays nights are prayer nights, where everyone comes together for an hour of worship and prayer–prayer for oneself and others. Every wednesday, I see these men holding hands, weeping with one another, encouraging one another, hugging anyone they can find, and worshiping their hearts out, regardless of the way it sounds, might I add. Their worship is beautiful. Beyond beautiful. It is the meaning of making a joyful noise to the Lord. It moves me every time.
Sundays are family visit days and church days. In the morning there is an incredible service here at the Village of Hope. A few men get up to share their gut-wrenching, tear-jerking stories each sunday. Then, a program graduate preaches a service, the likes of which would rival your bible-school-degree-toting pastors. In the afternoon on Sundays, we go to Paldiski, a nearby city, to a church their that is entirely led by men who completed the rehab program. The pastor was an addict. The associate pastor was an addict. The worship leader was an addict. The missions pastor was an addict.
It is incredible. I spent this month with criminals. I spent this month with addicts. I spent this month with big, burly, strong, scary, intimidating, hardened men. I spent this month in a rehab facility. I spent this month being a lumberjack–and a poor one at that. I worked until my fingers were sore, literally. I eat 3 or 4 hefty portions of each meal. I fall into bed exhausted at night.
And I spent this month in the unmitigated presence of God.
I have heard story after story from this place. The Lord is using this place as a chain-breaking tool in his hand. Freedom comes here. Redemption Reigns here. I have experienced the goodness of God that rests on every inch of this place. It is incredible
So I spent this month in rehab. And It feels like Moses. I will need to veil my face after this place. I have communed with the Creator and Chain-breaker in this place.
Stay tuned for some more Village of Hope Stories to come.
Please consider supporting me financially. My deadline is fast approaching and I am roughly 5,000 dollars away from my final goal. If I do not make that financial goal, I could be sent home from this amazing journey, thus ending all that the lord has brought about in me here, removing me from the leadership of team Chasing the Deep and removing me from what I believe to be God’s will for my life. Please please please consider giving towards this work in and through me.
