In Peru we worked with young girls from a girls home and other youth from the local area surrounding our church.
I am not a youth leader.
But this month I was.
This month was hard.
Our team built beautiful relationships with the people in Ecuador and said some hard goodbyes.
Coming into this month , we were missing the comfortability of Ecuador.
Our host family.
Their home.
Our friends.
Their church.
Our ministry.
And this month was different.
We lived in a church.
Slept in the same rooms.
Spent a lot of time within the church walls.
It was a lot of time together in a small space and ministry wasn’t a heavy load either.
The relationships with the people we were ministering to wasn’t forming as rapidly as they did in Ecuador.
It was hard to be ok with not seeing so much fruit right away.
Especially after the month before.
For myself, I was trying to remain as present as possible, even with knowing my team is struggling, dealing with my own personal struggles, and the lack of comfort I found my own security in prior to this.
I had a hard time navigating with the relationships not forming with locals as quickly as they did the month before.
I heard God tell me that “I needed to just trust him.”
Trust that even if I don’t always see the fruit right away doesn’t mean He hasn’t planted the seed and is watering it.
And I saw fruit.
It just happened differently this month.
But it was just as beautiful.
My journal entry from 3/30/2019
“M”
16 years old
She had a smile very big on her face tonight .
Ever since we got here I’ve noticed her smile slowly getting bigger.
The first time I saw her she wouldn’t smile and tonight she was glowing.
We did a lesson on the power of words tonight .
Basically someone leads a lesson on the power of words and afterwards kids write down words that have had power on their life. Then they take the word they wrote and tear it and throw it away and our team wrote cards with new words and scriptures for them to choose.
After they chose their cards our team created a moment for the girls to reflect and if they needed prayer – an invitation for us to pray with them.
Out of nowhere “M” scooted next to the chair bedside me and looked down and then up at me and down with a sad expression.
I asked her if she wanted me to pray with her.
She said yes.
Valerie came over and began to translate for me.
I asked “M” if there was anything specifically I could pray for.
She said for her padre .
Madre – and as she said this she began to cry
She said she doesn’t know her mother .
Then she said “me.” – to pray for her as well.
So I started praying .
I have no idea what I said.
The Holy Spirit was interceding for me.
It was beautiful .
Her card said “ new creation.”
I do remember telling her that God has big big plans for her and that I will continue to be praying for her.
“P”
12 years old
Older sister of “A”
These two kids lost their dad unexpectedly.
He worked in the mines .
And died suddenly .
One of the kids found him.
But these two are special.
Every time the doors are open – they are there.
Even if it’s only adults and no other kids are around.
They are always there .
“A” (10 years old) chose the card that said “important.”
I hugged him and told him “you are important.”
I noticed “P” sitting beside me not interacting with the other kids .
I looked at her and smiled and gave her a big hug.
I took one look at Valerie and she came over to me and began to translate and also speak to “P” .
“P” choose the card “joyful.”
I asked her why she chose that card.
She said because people tell her that she is ugly.
My heart ached inside.
I took my hand and lifted her face towards me and said “you are not ugly , you are beautiful”
I told her how God created her and knew her long before she was even born.
And how he put her together piece by piece.
How he made her different from everyone else because it would be so boring if we all looked alike.
I told her that God is a God of God’s,
And is King of Kings ,
Which makes her a princess .
I told her He loves her so so much that He died for her.
And that He thinks about her all the time.
In fact He thinks about her so much that his thoughts about her are more than the number of grains in the sand.
And He thinks she is beautiful and will always love her and no one can ever take that away from her.
When we asked her if she still believed that about herself (being called ugly) she said no.
And for the first time I saw a bright smile on her face.
God , my lover, my savior my friend and my Dad,
Wow.
You are so good.
How you speak to everyone .
With songs we understand.
You draw us in with your voice ever so eloquently.
You know our hearts and pursue us , sweeping us off our feet with your truth and love.
My how you speak to youth and to children.
It baffles me.
You can speak to every heart and work in multiple hearts at the same time in the same room and even in other parts of the world during all of this.
Man, God you are busy.
How do you do it?
You always show up when you know you need to show up.
May your love be a covering of grace , and a shield for these youth. May they always know they can retreat to you. May they never forget the fullness of your love.
Thank you God. For allowing me to be a part of your work.
