captivating...{cautivante}

My bed and the bathroom held me captive for most of the day on Monday. I was pretty sick and could barely move. I'm not sure what I got sick from, maybe something I ate. I took some medicine in the afternoon and prayed a lot that day because there wasn't much else I could do. I was sad because I missed out on visiting a home for children whose parents are in prison and an indigenous church, but hopefully at the end of next week I will have the opportunity to do so.

On Tuesday morning we took care of some logistical stuff for the summer, and went to the market to buy groceries. I'm going to actually learn how to cook real food this summer. I made popcorn over a stove for the first time and learned how to make Guacamole and some pretty stinking good chicken fajitas. That night I got to see my host family from 2 years ago and it was pretty wonderful. My host mom said it was like I've been with them this whole time.

Wednesday morning Marissa and I went to the Bible Study at the women's prison. We helped lead worship (next time I have to bring my guitar) and went to the English Bible study. There were actually quite a few women of different nationalities there like Russian, Vietnamese, Nigerian. Some of them couldn't understand the leader speaking in English and had a hard time navigating through their Bible in their own language according to what she was talking about. Since the only other language I really know is Spanish it was hard for me to help them too. I've been thinking about a way we can help them follow more closely along. Maybe I can make a list of all the books of the Bible in English, Spanish & whatever language they speak. I'm sad that I can't visit these women more than just on Wednesdays because you have to have a special visitors card, but I'm glad I have the opportunity to go.


That afternoon took quite an interesting turn of events.


As I was sitting in the Cadena's living room watching futbol and laughing at our little mishap of being locked outside la casa in the rain when we got back from the prison, I spied a book I was recently encouraged to read - Cautivante (Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge "revealing the mystery of a woman's soul). At first intimidated by its 236 pages all in Spanish I browsed through it wondering if it was vale la pena (worth it). I thought I'd give it a try and asked Gustavo if I could borrow it. "No problema," he says, "pero leelo pronto porque es de mi hermana," (read it quick because it's my sisters). I laugh. "Gustavo...it's in Spanish...but I'll try!"

So, on the way to "Opcion de Vida" a ministry that reaches out to kids living on the streets, I start reading this book and am captivated, pardon the pun. Never have I been able to read a book in Spanish and understand it like this before...maybe that Spanish lit class did help afterall!

We arrived at OdV and there weren't any kids there, rather a bunch of teens hanging out. They seemed pretty cool and friendly, so I wanted to get to know them some more, but we were asked to pick up trash and rake leaves. Oh joy...oh yeah attitude check. I need to choose joy. Well, as I was raking I was just flooded with all of these emotions, ideas, and convictions that God is calling me to work with girls and women who just need to be loved, and know that they are precious daughters of the Rey de reyes {King of kings}!!!

I started to tear up a bit, not because I was sad, rather, looking back and seeing where and how God has brought me to this realization. As a young girl I had a lot of insecurities about my looks and my friends. As I grew older the insecurities developed into somewhat of a depression. I allowed myself to become emotionally attached to certain people I shouldn't have and was deeply hurt in the process. My youth leaders, pastors, and parents encouraged me to grow in my faith in a lot of different ways. God used me despite my depression, infact he miraculously helped me overcome it. God used me (and is using me) despite a severe back injury to learn more about the type of physical, emotional & spiritual healing that only he can bring and share that with others. As I began college I started to learn more about what it means to be a genuine woman of faith. I began to understand more fully that my King and my Lord is just enthralled and enamored by my beauty and the essence of who I am, because he made me and is molding me to become more like him everyday.

How Satan tries to attack me on a daily basis telling me of all the ways I am lacking is just unbelievable. In some ways those insecurities haven't fully vanished, but because I have grown more intimately to the one who can vanquish those insecurities and conquer the cause of them, I don't have sit in that darkness anymore. Christ has set me free!

Now that is my prayer and the cry of my heart for every woman (& man too) in the world. With all of my Spanish classes and trips to Latin American countries I have grown to love the culture, language and people, but I have also learned and am learning much about the challenges and injustices many people (in particular women) face here.

I have had the opportunity to learn about "trata de blancas" (sex trafficking) and how many women and even young girls are tricked or even kidnapped into becoming sex slaves. I'm just beginning to learn more about how many women are taken advantage of in their vulnerable state of poverty and desperation and persuaded to become a part of the drug trafficking industry. Something else also new for me concerns the problem of teen pregnancy and young mothers being left out on the street abandoned by both their family and boyfriends. Some of you may be thinking, "Well, that's their own fault, they chose that life for themselves." Those of you who are thinking that, I beg you to really think more about these issues. Many women did not choose that life, rather they were forced into it. Some, however, did have more of a choice in the matter, but that doesn't mean we should let them fend for themselves. As Christ-followers we are called to have eyes and a heart of compassion to come alongside those who are suffering, show them the love and gospel of Christ and help them out of their circumstance so that they may live a more abundant life.

When Gustavo came to pick us up, I shared with him this revelation and he told me more about how new ministries like transitional housing were being developed but it might be hard for me to get started with that this summer. He did, however, help me get in contact with some people and ministries that focus more on reaching out to young girls, teens, and women so I'm hoping to explore those more.

This morning Marissa and I went back to COVi (Centro Opcion de Vida) and hung out with some kids before they left for school at 12:30. We colored with them, played games, chatted, and served lunch. It's a pretty sweet ministry that is open almost all the time as a refuge for kids to go to hang out, get help with homework, food, and a place to shower if needed.

As Marissa and I just got off the bus stop some guys in a vehicle tried getting our attention by hissing at us, whistling, honking their horn. We just kept walking, trying to ignore it like we do every other time but these guys were persistant. Then one of them says, "Hey we're going to Casablanca, want a ride?"...We turned and it was two of our staff playing a joke on us...jerks...but I guess it was pretty funny.

When we got back here we met with Gustavo about the short term team coming on Saturday. They'll be building a church in El Carmen next week. It's at the same place where we cleared land with machetes during the amazing race. We also did some cleaning, and unpacking because we just moved back into Casablanca and we're all back together again.

Tomorrow we hope to visit a ministry for teen girls and celebrate Cassidi's birthday (which was on Wed) later in the day.

PLEASE PRAY:

That God opens doors and gives me direction on which ministries to focus on this summer

That God would prepare our hearts to lead and serve for the ministry he has for us in El Carmen in the week ahead.

That Marissa, Cassidi, Lisa & I would be united in love and welcome the new interns coming soon

That our leaders Gustavo, Mark & Cheryl would find peace and rest amidst a lot of stress

That I would find my camera battery charger so I can take pictures again or find one at a reasonable price I can buy