In Kenya, we got many opportunities to work with children of all ages. Loving them and pouring into them as much and hard as we could. One of my favorite things we did was with the girls – a two day Beauty for Ashes event solely focusing on ages 8-18.
My team and I planned long and hard for this event. What would speak to these girls deeply? What do they need to hear? Is there freedom and healing needed? What truth can we give them to hold onto?
We felt strongly that these girls needed to hear how valued, chosen, worthy and adored they are to the Father, along with letting them HAVE FUN – something the Maasai culture girls don’t get to do due to being married off or raising their siblings so young. We felt that they needed to experience freedom from whatever is holding them captive. We felt them needing to laugh and dance and just be kids. We planned to do the story of the woman at the well, John 4. With a skit following the story so they can visually see what Jesus had done for this woman. Madison did an incredible job at leading the story, while Shelby and Sarah performed the skit beautifully. Then, Nikki shared a powerful part of her testimony.
The girls, then, split themselves into groups of 4-5. We asked the girls to ask the Lord for a memory that made them feel worthless, unimportant or just sad. We asked the girls to draw out what memory came to their mind. Most of the girls drew photos of their home life – mostly abuse of some sort.
After having the girls relive these not-so-fun memories, we asked them to ask the Lord to reveal as to where He was at during the memory. Was He right in the middle? Was He in the room but not as close? Was He even there?
After sitting on it for a little bit, most of these girls came to know that Jesus was there with them. Right in the middle of the mess. Not the mess He created, but let happen. We got to share with them that even though we felt shame, sadness and unworthy in that moment, He is still a good, good Father who cares for His daughters more than we could ever comprehend.
The second day all the girls came back and MORE. More wanted to hear the Good News. More have the desire to be free. Courtney did a wonderful job at sharing the story of Esther. We had them make a crown for themselves with who the Father says they are. We got to sing lots of worship. We danced A LOT. We showered them in love by giving them photos of themselves with who the Father calls them. We painted nails. We did their makeup. We let them be the kids that they ever got to be.
And to top it all off, we held a runway for the girls!!! Wearing their crowns, strutting down, shaking their sass and even dropping it to the floor – they felt SEEN, WORTHY, CHOSEN and BOLD. Because they are, all of those things and so much more. I had never seen so many smiles and personalities come alive than I did during the runway.
Our hearts are completely broken for these girls because we know the wounds are deep. We knew that all we could’ve done, that would make a lasting impact, is just to love them hard and well. Just see them the way the Father sees them and love them recklessly and unconditionally because thats what Jesus does for us. So thankful we got to be apart of a small part on their road to true freedom.
