This past year I’ve learned a lot of things. How great but
how hard it is to live in community. That we were made for relationship. That
we are given freedom but its our choice to walk in it. That God really does
speak to me.
He’s shown me a lot about my passion for girls to know that
they have value and worth and beauty. I came alive in Thailand when we were
working at SHE in Phuket. God has really spoken to me about this. Back in month
4, before we even went to Thailand, I got this idea of a girls home–just a
place for girls to go to find their identity and get away from harmful
environments. I didn’t really know why
or what it would look like, but God kept it in my mind and kept speaking to me
about it.
The next month we were in Thailand working in the Red Light
District. I met so many amazing girls, but most of the time I was frustrated
because there wasn’t really much I could do for them except talk to them for a
few minutes. I became so frustrated with the world for the way it treats these
girls and all the darkness and evil that we saw there. I’ll never forget seeing
the European girls dancing in the glass boxes above the streets and the empty
and blank look in their eyes. It set me on fire.
I have this dream. Of a home for girls in a poor village. A
place where families can send their girls as opposed to selling them to
traffickers. The girls would have a sponsor who would pay for their schooling,
housing, and food so that it is no cost to the families. I even have this idea
of sponsorship for the families so that they don’t feel the need to sell their
daughters. The idea is that the home would give the girls a safe environment to
live in, they would get schooling so that they can get jobs and make money when
they are older, and that they would never be sold into a life that steals their
innocence and freedom.
The thing with dreams is that they take work. A lot of it. I
have no idea how to start anything. But that doesn’t change my dream. It just
means it will take a lot more effort. I have decided to go to G42, a leadership
academy in Mijas, Spain starting in January. There, I will receive training on
how to start a non-profit organization and have mentors to help me along the
way. Check out the website here.
G42 costs $6000 for the six months in Spain. I’ve learned a
lot about trust and faith on the Race. I know that God can and will provide. If
you would like to partner with me, you can donate by going to this link and clicking
on “intern support” and putting my name in the box that says “add intern” on
the donation page. It’s through paypal, so its safe and easy. You can also send
a check to this address:
G42
P.O. Box 130611
Houston, TX 77219-0611
Thank
you for all your support on the Race. My team and I couldn’t have done it
without your prayers and support.
