Last week, I had the amazing opportunity to lead my first Beauty for Ashes (B4A) event. B4A is the women’s ministry of Adventures in Missions and has been created to empower women all over the world by listening, teaching, and sisterhood. I have the honor of the being one of the B4A coordinators for my squad. This means that alongside doing the planned ministry with my team each month, I get to seek out opportunities to minster and empower women that we encounter during ministry, in the community, or within my own team.
For part of this month, my team stayed with a team who was in their month 11 (they are now most likely back in the U.S.). This was a great opportunity for us to talk with racers who have been there and done that. One of the girls, Hannah, on this team happened to be one of the B4A coordinators for her squad. Hannah came to me 2 days before her team was leaving for their final debrief and told me that she had a dream that we came together and did this unity activity for both of our teams. After explaining to me what the activity consisted of and how to execute it, we decided that we would conduct it the next evening. She then asked me if I wanted to lead it since she has already lead this activity twice before. All I thought was, “Yikes… why do I need to lead this if Hannah already knew what to do”. But of course I said yes with a smile on my face and a pit in my stomach.
The next evening came quicker than I wanted it to. I was stoked to lead this but still didn’t have the confidence in myself to lead a flawless event. I had set up the materials we would need and gathered everyone in the living room around 7:30 pm. I prayed us into the process and invited God into our space. Hands shaking, I instructed everyone to fill out this lengthy, anonymous, and very vulnerable questionnaire, but didn’t tell them what we would be doing with them. When I sat down to answer the questions for myself, I suddenly realized how vulnerable I had to be. Again, I thought, “Yikes, what had I gotten myself into?”
After everyone was finished filling out their questionnaire, I collected them and handed each person a random questionnaire. We then got into a circle and I read each statement out loud. As I read the statements, each person stepped forward if the questionnaire she was holding in her hand indicated a ‘yes’, not if she answered ‘yes’ on her own questionnaire. We went through 45 statements over topics surrounding abuse, assault, mental health, addiction, family, sex, and more. Not once, did one girl step forward alone.
I explained that no matter what you are going through or have gone through, there is always someone who understands. Even though the answers were anonymous, it shows that you are never alone. While living in community for 11 months, we have to learn how to be vulnerable and trust each other in order to have the support we need to fight our personal battles.
After I had finished reading the statements, I played some music while Hannah told the story of the Israelites defeating the Amalekites. While the Israelites went and fought the Amalekites, Moses, Aaron, and Hur walked to the top of a hill. “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning” (Exodus 17: 11). When Moses’ hands grew tired, Aaron and Hur held his held his hands up. Because Moses had the support of his brother and friend, the Israelites defeated the Amalekites.
As I played the song Defender by Rita Springer, Hannah invited anyone to stand up with their hands in the air if they needed someone to “hold their hands up” in their personal battle and be their defender. As I looked around the room, several girls were standing with their teammates by their side. We don’t have to know all the details; sometimes all we need is for someone to help carry the weight that is our on shoulders when all we want to do is give up.
Through this activity, I learned that it doesn’t matter if I put on a flawless presentation. No one care if I make mistakes. What matters is that I use the testimony and strength that God has given me to empower others.
When we stand up for our sisters, we can conquer anything.
