Privilege

My team is worn out. Today was packed with business and flexibility, and we are exhausted. We probably spent 6 hours at restaurants just waiting for food to come out, and that is exhausting as its not productive. Time is limited here and there's so much to do and share with others, striving for others to experience all that is happening here. 

You may have  read and seen photos about the babies my dear friend Kim has taken in through her project Mattaw. What we experienced today (besides Kim's humility) is that they also have a home with 13 girls rescued from sexual violence and exploitation. The youngest is 4. 

As we met the girls, toured their home, saw their new tree house recently built by a team, counted chickens and enjoyed their beautiful garden filled with the scent of sweet rain, I was overwhelmed with the cleansing that my faith provides. These young girls have each survived hell, yet laugh and play and greeted us with genuine embrace. My heart was filled with joy as they sang for us "we are conquerors", and then the line of "sister why do you complain of your suffering, we are conquerors" shook my spirit. We stood in a light drizzle below giant trees amongst lush gardens, watching a sweet performance by young girls who have been enslaved - and freed. This privilege of experience will be engraved in my heart-memory all of my days. 

In not wanting to further exploit them we did not capture their faces, but I wanted to share this image from their classroom of cubbies with their names lovingly written and marked on each. 

Why is it such a blessing to be here? How is my heart brimmed full of joy and hope? Praising The Lord for His goodness, all the time. 

Ever hopeful,