Sept 5, 2013
Fights, Lice and Fire
If I could have
penned my first month here, I never would have imagined including fights, lice
and fire. So much happens each day that I could write a story each day about
the life and drama that happens. If only there was time.
The next day, after
my last blog, the girls arrived back from a church camp. It was there they
learned about forgiveness, letting go and of God’s love. It was so cool to hear
each girl state that even though they went not wanting to know God, they came
away knowing Christ personally! It was an incredible night!!
I thought the battle
was over. These girls are different and life is going to be a bit easier now.
Well, just as God works and has to keep working in me, so He is going to be
working in the girls. Change takes time AND lessons AND experiences AND trust. My
precious girls have known abuse, hurt, being let down by those they love, fear
and so many things we would never want sweet girls to experience. As a result,
they have each developed ways of handling life’s struggles. Anger, walls,
fighting, shutting down and not communicating are their coping mechanisms.
As a result, we have
had quite a few blow ups. Typical teenage drama over clothes, chores and going
to school has resulted in things being thrown at me and being called names that
thankfully I didn’t understand. One week, I was so discouraged. If there ever was
a week of drama it was this one. I had
to hold back a girl trying to go fight another girl regarding a torn up letter
and missing clothes. I had a match lit outside of my door. I had to try to
break down a bathroom door that was locked and a girl inside trying to hang
herself - fyi, there are no more doors in the girls areaJ- I had another girl not like
her punishment of not being able to participate in the evening fun activity so
she tried to light a fire by tearing up drawings and putting them under a lamp.
I came away from the week exhausted and wondering, can I do this? That weekend,
God came to me like none other. He kept saying your job is to rest and let me
fight the battles. This was reiterated so many times in each devotion, message
and even fb posts I saw that weekend. I came away refreshed and ready for what
God had!
As I came back this
week, ready for God to fight for me and to just rest in Him, I saw a huge
difference in the girls. We have had breakthroughs on getting the girls to talk
about their feelings and not fight them out. One girl, was able to report her
past abuse to the authorities and stated for the first time she was able to say
everything that happened to her. The freedom she felt was so noticeable! God is
working. Sometimes subtly and sometimes you see it as plain as Day!
Ok, so I am a nurse.
I know my way around doctors and hospitals. Let me tell you, I am so confused with
how things are done here. We finally got the girls cards to go get physicals.
We take them to the doctor. This includes me getting up at 5:30 to get in line
and make an appointment. One hour later, I have an appointment at 11a for the
four girls. One girl doesn’t even get treatment because they want to take her
to the judge so she can state the past abuse. I agree this needs to happen but
shouldn’t her health be considered first? They saw the doctor and were given
some prescriptions. They were also given another date in late September for
another exam and a date in late October for the labs and then they will go see
the doctor after all that to know if everything is ok or not. In the meantime,
we pray they don’t have TB or HIV or other communicable diseases! I must learn
this system of many systems in order for these girls to get the treatment they
need!!
This last month has
been exhausting. It has been full of love. It has been full of heartache. It
has been a time of learning. I am blessed that God has allowed me to be able to
serve these girls and love them like they have never experienced before. Thank
you for joining with me on this journey. You support prayerfully and
financially blesses me beyond what you could imagine!
Please join me in praying for:
1)
The lice that each one of us has to be
eliminated
2)
God to provide a car so I can enjoy and rest on
my days off
3)
The girls to learn to communicate and
experience God’s love
4)
More volunteers, bilingual, to come and serve
with us at the clubhouse and the shelter
5)
For the boys that have yet to be reached because
there are currently no guys serving here full time.
6)
FOR WISDOM!!!
https://www.seedsofhopehome.com
