Streaks of black and white. Splashes of yellow. Hues of green. Paint seeps into a grain, grey wall. Chaos begins to blend together to form shapes. Life springs anew. An image jumps off of a once blank wall. Forever, there is its mark. Forever, there is New Life.
During our last week in Malaybalay, Philippines, I had the honor and blessing to paint two murals on the outdoor walls of New Life Home. New Life home was founded by former World Racer, Jodi Greenly. The home is basically a rehabilitation center for young boys who are coming out of the local prison, incarserated from crimes that range from petty theft, all the way to murder. Jodi takes them boys from the prison, and offers them love and hope. She offers them a place to live, education, and a chance to learn new skills that will help them start a new life. Most importantly, she gives them the love of Christ, and allows them to walk in freedom. She points them to the freedom of Christ. In Christ, these boys truly have New Life.
It was such a blessing to get to know Jodi and the three boys that are currently in her home. Hearing how God moved Jodi's heart and planted vision deep in her soul, and how it has been shaped and formed over the past year was amazing. God is doing some big work through Jodi's ministry at New Life.
Our two teams took on the project of helping create a half basketball court in the front yard of the home for the boys. Because basically all Filipino boys (and a lot of girls) love basketball. In Africa, it was futbol, here in the Philippines, it's basketball. And they're pretty good, too! So as the boys were helping lay the court, Jodi asked if I would design and paint two murals to fill up the walls outside surrounding the court.
I agreed.
At first, I felt overwhelmed. Underqualified. I've never done a painting this size before. I've never done a mural before. I've never really painted any design on any wall. But, God filled me with His strength and His vision for these two walls. Images to represent the heart of New Life. A constant reminder to these boys as they play ball that they have been given New Life, and to walk boldly in that.
For the first wall, I knew I had to paint the name, New Life, on the wall. I looked up grafitti style writing, got some ideas, and ran with it. Before I knew it, the first layer way laid. The name was on the wall. I continued to build on the name, and pretty soon, it was finished. So the boys contastantly have their name, New Life, declared over them. A proclamation that they are now claimed by Christ, and no longer have to walk the way they did before. They have been declared new.
The second wall took a little longer to develop. I got an image of a tree as I had taken time to pray about what should go on the second wall. I played around with several ideas before I settled on the final draft. It would all be in black and white, with a splash of green. Simple. Impacting. It was the image of two hands, cupped together. In the hands, a pile of dirt with roots of a tree showing through. The tree sprang up, the branches and limbs shooting out. To finish it off, the limbs and branches had new green leaves budding out. Another delcaration and sign of new life.
This image was to remind the boys visually that God has uprooted them from their old life. He has uprooted them from their sins. He has forgiven them. He has picked them up, and He sustains them. He makes new life spring up. He brings life to dry bones.
They are forever in His hands, and forever given new life.
Here are some images of the process of getting these murals up! Enjoy!
