In the morning, I get to wake up at 5 a.m., hearing the dogs barking and roosters crowing, and walk out of my room, which I share with two of my beautiful teammates, to the breath taking view of the sunrise rising over Lake Managua. I sit in my chair with a cup of Nicaraguan coffee and get to view a marble pool overlooking the beautiful Lake and soak in all the quiet time while reading my bible.
This month, we are princesses living in a castle. This castle is full of God’s princesses: children, girls, and women. These princesses are being redeemed by God. They are learning about His love for them no matter what has been done to them or what they have done. They are being renewed from their past of being enslaved in sex trafficking, rape, or prostitution. God is alluring them tenderly into the wilderness ‘castle,’ to speak to them and redeem them.
The castle we are serving at is the home of Breaking Chains Ministry in Managua, Nicaragua. This is their mission statement:
To fight for the freedom of innocent women and children who have been caught in the chains of prostitution, sex trafficking and sexual abuse. To give these victims hope through the saving grace of Jesus Christ in safe, loving homes and outpatient programs that provide a holistic solution that includes Christian counseling, training, independent living and work skills, as well as the education necessary to enable them to live productive lives. To not only rescue and restore these victims, but to train them to become disciples of Christ, who in turn will become part of the solution, using their new lives to help others find freedom.
After reading my bible, the girls who live at the castle come out and greet you with their beautiful smiles, Buenos dias, and a kiss on the cheek. They eat their breakfast and go to school. I am the ‘chef’ at the castle for breakfast and lunch for the time being. With the help of my teammates, we cook breakfast and eat with the other ladies. Meal times are full of laughs and love, even when we don’t understand the majority of the language.
After mealtime, other women come to the castle for a 3 month day program who have been sexually exploited. We take care of their babies or teach a bible study to the women. We take care of their babies to enable them to have time solely learning about Christ and not having to worry about their children for the time being, as most of them have had kids at as young of an age as 13 and haven’t had time to grow up themselves.
Steve and Kenia, our ministry contacts, interview women to be a part of the day program which consists of teaching about Christ, lessons on healing from their pain, meals provided, money for transportation, and the opportunity to create a self-sustaining business if they have completed the 3 month program. There are strict rules to be able to be in the program, as Steven and Kenia invest a lot in these women over the 3 month time period. If they complete the program, they help them start a self-sustaining food business.
After, we cook lunch and play with the girls when they get back from school.
Praying that you realize too the power of Christ and His redemption. That has been the most amazing thing is seeing these women who have been trafficked and raped at such a young age going out and outreaching to those who are in prostitution currently. Nothing you have done can prevent Christ from loving you.
Prayer Requests:
v Redemption for these women and that they will stay in the program and truly feel Christ’s love and transforming power. They learn how to become mothers at the same time as most of them have children.
v Our team has been having various sicknesses. Pray for health.
v Pray for encouragement for Steven and Kenia, our ministry contacts who have rescued over 1,000 girls in sex trafficking.
