There are so many times I wish I'd have more time to send out updates more frequently and I apologize that it goes so long in between.
This past month has been stock full and incredible. I still think I could write a book and each week be a chapter while each month is a section. Pretty much every month has had a theme, and this last month has been no exception. It's been a month of progression and breathroughs.
We've connected with another church in the area who has a very focused youth program. The pastors are a couple who come from Puerto Rico and have had extensive experience in spiritual warfare, dealing with troubled youth, working in women's prisons, etc. and the wife has been doing further intensive discipleship with our girls. They ran a two week youth camp the end of July and we've seen so much spiritual breakthrough as fruit of that. We've had girls who have been very involved in witchcraft (not uncommon here) and the spiritual battle is very in our face right now but it's also been so amazing to see these girls' lives change. They want something else, they want to be free. They're learning what true power and real love is and the change is so evident, in spite of the challenges.
Two weeks ago I had the honor of sitting down with one of our girls who told me, "Rose, I haven't done as many bad things as some of the girls here, but I know I've done wrong and I want to change." For twenty minutes I walked her through the meaning of repentance, forgiveness, and salvation and she gave her life to Christ! Since then, she's been so thirsty for all things God. Her questions come in by the boatload and there is a change in her demeanor. Our little tough cookie who has been with us the longest made a similar decision at camp a few days later as well and even in the midst of the spiritual battle, there has been an evidence of peace in the house that has been different than before.
Even so, nightmares at night are happening again and I'm asking for people to begin fasting once a week while we fight this battle. Mark 9:29, "These kind only come out by prayer and fasting."
More changes this past month has brought is a revamping in our staffing. We brought on a Dominican employee to train as a social worker and will become accredited by child services and be able to work more efficiently in resolving papers and doing family checks. Additionally, we have a volunteer case worker moving down in a week. Together they will be taking over everything regarding managing the cases of each girl and meeting with the girls and aftercare staff to track progresses. Since we are constantly getting more cases and more girls need follow up, we're all excited to be able to better develop our social working program. On top of that, another learning center teacher is coming down (also this weekend) to help our learning center manager further develop our classes and extend the activities that fill the girls' days. We're excited for the addition and to have two amazing teachers working with the girls intentionally.
If all goes well, come September, I'll be able to take three weeks off! I'm looking forward to sharing personally with many of you all the things God has been doing and continues to do and all the doors He keeps flinging open right in front of us.
Onward we go!
This past month has been stock full and incredible. I still think I could write a book and each week be a chapter while each month is a section. Pretty much every month has had a theme, and this last month has been no exception. It's been a month of progression and breathroughs.
We've connected with another church in the area who has a very focused youth program. The pastors are a couple who come from Puerto Rico and have had extensive experience in spiritual warfare, dealing with troubled youth, working in women's prisons, etc. and the wife has been doing further intensive discipleship with our girls. They ran a two week youth camp the end of July and we've seen so much spiritual breakthrough as fruit of that. We've had girls who have been very involved in witchcraft (not uncommon here) and the spiritual battle is very in our face right now but it's also been so amazing to see these girls' lives change. They want something else, they want to be free. They're learning what true power and real love is and the change is so evident, in spite of the challenges.
Two weeks ago I had the honor of sitting down with one of our girls who told me, "Rose, I haven't done as many bad things as some of the girls here, but I know I've done wrong and I want to change." For twenty minutes I walked her through the meaning of repentance, forgiveness, and salvation and she gave her life to Christ! Since then, she's been so thirsty for all things God. Her questions come in by the boatload and there is a change in her demeanor. Our little tough cookie who has been with us the longest made a similar decision at camp a few days later as well and even in the midst of the spiritual battle, there has been an evidence of peace in the house that has been different than before.
Even so, nightmares at night are happening again and I'm asking for people to begin fasting once a week while we fight this battle. Mark 9:29, "These kind only come out by prayer and fasting."
More changes this past month has brought is a revamping in our staffing. We brought on a Dominican employee to train as a social worker and will become accredited by child services and be able to work more efficiently in resolving papers and doing family checks. Additionally, we have a volunteer case worker moving down in a week. Together they will be taking over everything regarding managing the cases of each girl and meeting with the girls and aftercare staff to track progresses. Since we are constantly getting more cases and more girls need follow up, we're all excited to be able to better develop our social working program. On top of that, another learning center teacher is coming down (also this weekend) to help our learning center manager further develop our classes and extend the activities that fill the girls' days. We're excited for the addition and to have two amazing teachers working with the girls intentionally.
If all goes well, come September, I'll be able to take three weeks off! I'm looking forward to sharing personally with many of you all the things God has been doing and continues to do and all the doors He keeps flinging open right in front of us.
Onward we go!
