It is always hard to put into words the bigness of God. How I wish I could give a decent glimpse of our time with the women. I will try.
We had two days to be with the 80 women that were once working the streets of Hosanna. We as a team have worked for several months to plan what it was that God wanted to do and specifically say to the women. In fact it was part of my last Potters Wheel contract. For the last 6 months of school I researched what God was saying and speaking to other leaders who worked with women across the world. I knew that God wanted to change mindsets and barriers that pain and mistreatment has caused these women. My desire for the last 3 years was to see them walk in the freedom of who they were in Jesus. There was a definite hardness, an anger, and lack of knowledge of the preciousness they possess.
Our theme was "Making Me New" based on the song "Beautiful Things" by Gungor. Regina Kehl started us out by walking us through the stages of a butterfly. In each change, each stage, God has a plan. To keep walking in Him for He has new things for us. His desire is for us to not be confined to one stage. He wants us go from one stage to the next until we are the beautiful butterfly He has designed us to be.
We then introduced the song "Beautiful Things" to them, teaching them the meaning of the song and motions to it. LOVE!
One of our favorite memories from this trip was here, when we had them make their own crowns. It was pure joy for them as they were able to use their creativity as women to be "crafty". The delight on their face as they tried to figure out how to use a glue stick, some plastic gems, glitter and Burger King Crowns to make something beautiful. They wore them proud as Gina talked about Esther. "You were created for such a time as this." "You are precious and created for something very important." We could see the slumped over positions they came in and blank stares start to change.
As they sat there with their crowns of splendor on their head, I read to them a blessing over them of what Jesus desires for them in their life. A chance for them to hear the truth of what they were meant for.
A women named Joyce made 130 royal purple scarves for the women. We handed them out as Lynn talked about Lydia and her heart being opened by God. From Acts 16:14. It was a sight I will never forget. A crown, a purple scarf and promises of truth spoken over them. Like the stages of a butterfly change was happening.
The next day we were greeted in the morning before the women joined us by the Mayor of Hosanna, the church staff and Hope Chest Team. They thanked us for all we are doing in Hosanna. The Mayor promises to help us further our vision in anyway he can. Amazed to say the least. So many confirmations and next steps and connections were made again on this trip.
Before meeting with the women we were also greeted by a friend of mine who we went and visited three days earlier to pray for her as she had fallen off a ladder and had a severe cut on her forehead. We prayed for her, as she was in significant pain. She lifted up her bandages to show us her stitches... my stomach turned as I saw the severity of the wound. When she came to greet us this morning for the women's retreat she came to show us her stitches were gone and no scar was to be found. What a miracle, what a faith builder as we started our final day with the women as we were talking about the healing God wanted to do in the hearts of these women.
With crowns on the heads and scarfs adoring the women, they enter the church with expectant smiles. We again sang "Beautiful Things".
I then began my talk about how God has designed us to walk in freedom from the chains that bind us. Freedom from anger, bitterness, pain and unforgiveness. I demonstrated how satan wants to keep us thinking that we have no power to change these mindsets. I talked how when my kids are struggling I ask them to write down how they feel and what they were struggling with. Then I ask them to write down the opposite. We then just declare the opposite and we start believing it and we are able to shift our thinking and change our circumstance and above all our heart. When we are pointing out our problem God is pointing out our promise. The enemy wants us to focus on the problems in our lives. This gives power to the problems and we hold on to them like a "friend." I took two chains a real chain and a paper chain. Demonstrating how we give power to a "chain" when we give it to God it is as easy as pulling apart paper. I also showed them how we think we can keep it all together and "hide" all this pain. I dropped a ping-pong ball in the water and held it down, dropping one after another I could no longer keep it all together and they were visible and not able to hide. I removed the balls and all that was left was the pure water. This is what we can be to others if we allow God to free us from these chains and mindsets. I had them think about what lies they had been believing and then to allow God to show them what the opposite of that was. I told them to find a partner and declare that to them. I encouraged them to continue to do this in each others lives. Speaking the truth out loud and speaking scriptures over each other, themselves a in their children.
We then had three stations for them to go to.
One was a Mother/Father blessing we were able to pray a blessing over them standing in the gap for what they may not have received as children. Freeing them of the orphan mind set and being able to pray this over their children themselves.
The second was face washing. Is 61:7 "Instead of shame you will have a double portion and instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will posses a double portion in their land and everlasting joy will be theirs." This was read over them as they washed their face in water and given the clothe to remember.
The third, they wrote on a piece of dissolvable paper someone they needed to forgive. As they put it into the bowl of water it was gone, just as the pain caused.
Women were weeping, and shouts of Hallelujahs were in the air. Pain was replaced with Joy and and hope restored. "Making me new." Thank you Jesus that you make beautiful things out of us. Out of pain and brokenness you can make all things new.
We ended our time with worship song and dance.
As we were preparing to leave a women approached us. We had seen her several times through out the last few days. She had a very large goiter, almost the size of two grapefruits. Our hearts went out to her. Many of us prayed at several different times for her. She came back it took us awhile to realize that it was her because it was practically gone.
We began our day at the women's retreat with a miracle and ended it with a miracle. As we drove away we were beyond amazed at ALL God had done. These women were transformed. They were changed, we are confident God did His work here in the women and in our team.
...Blessed!!!
Have had a wonderful time relaxing the last couple of days. Debriefing and sharing about what God has done on this trip. Leaving tomorrow night after I meet with Hope Chest Team in Addis and a new organization we are looking to hook up with for training and teaching the women in a trade to become sustainable.
...Blessed!!!
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