Today was the Princesa Party!!
As I looked out over the backyard of my current home, I was overwhelmed. We were a group of 132 people: 84 kids, 48 adults!
The team here has been planning this event for quite a while. When my team arrived on Friday, we were immediately thrown into the mix. Saturday night, Sunday night, and Monday afternoon, we went to the streets to invite the guests of honor: girls and women that work on the streets. Many of the stories I have heard since arriving have broken my heart. This was not the life any of these girls chose. Most of them, if not all, have been sexually abused. Some stories start as early as 5 years old.
But today, their story was different. Today, 24 women signed up for the program offered by the ministry, Breaking Chains. For those women, it is their first step towards a new life.
The program starts tomorrow. It lasts 90 days. My team will get to be involved in the first 3 weeks! This program has changed the lives of over 1000 women thus far. They will come to our house 5 days a week for about 4-5 hours each time. The program starts by sharing the gospel with a study on the Book of John.
It is an intense process. However, in the end, those that see it through don’t just change their lives, they are transformed. When you look at an alumnus of the program, the difference is like comparing a caterpillar to a butterfly. And yes, the difference is that drastic and that noticeable.
I got to talk with so many of the girls today. Each of them has a story. While they don’t always share it with words, for many of them, you can simply read it in their eyes. There is hopelessness, desperation, an intense desire for something different. Outside they are calm, but inside they are screaming.
To be honest, there have been seasons in my life where I have viewed God and my faith as more of a social club than anything that actually carries weight in my life. My faith was my membership to a church and a way to gain access to friends. In the 4 shorts days I’ve been here, that perspective has been completely shattered to the point that I could never go back to that. You can argue that there is no god. Frankly, I can’t actually prove you wrong. That is why I need to have faith. But I’m telling you, whether you believe or not, there is something so powerful at work here in this place. I don’t know any amount of therapy, any amount of drugs, that can change hearts in this way. A girl raped, facing her rapist and forgiving him. A girl abused to the point that she could no longer have children, now married and holding her miracle baby boy. When they walk into a room, the room lights up. They smile, not just with their mouths, but it’s goes deeper than that, it’s in their eyes, pouring out from their souls.
God has blessed me by letting me see this journey begin for these 24 women. I am humbled by the opportunity to be here. I am blessed by their hugs, kisses, and smiles. I am excited to see all the butterflies flying out of here on graduation in a few months.
I am still raising financial support. I need approximately $2000 by April 1st in order to continue. If you would like to donate via web or snail mail, you can click the link to the left. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for all your continued prayers and support this year already!
