When I look back on last year I simply stand in awe of how very real and how very faithful our God is. Seriously.
Exactly a year ago, I remember flying back to the DR with no idea as to what God was up to. The day before I left, I read My Utmost for His Highest, a new devotional book I had received over the holidays, and sensed an excitement come over me for the unknown...
When God spoke to me through these words, I knew there was a reason He had me returning to the DR and I was determined to "go out" and discover why.
Here we are, only a year later, and I find myself living on a Dominican mountainside with a ministry to over a hundred girls. It is so beautifully amazing. Far more than I ever hoped or imagined. I have no other words for it.
As the Christmas parties with the girls came to an end and I was preparing to travel home for the holidays, I began reflecting on the past few months and where the Lord was leading us.
Isaiah 54 came to mind yet again... I retrieved my bible and went back to the words that brought me instruction just months before, only this time I sensed God was leading me to the bottom of verse 2...
Enlarging the place of my tent required prayer for laborers to this abundant harvest... and He heard our prayers, sending Talita Cum several amazing women, including my new roommate Linley. God doesn't leave us nor forsake us!
Running to 3 villages to teach 5 different classes each week, I was obeying God's word in letting my curtains be stretched out; however, I allowed myself to be worn and stretched out in the process, as well. I began to see how difficult it was, in the current state of Talita Cum, to come alongside and disciple each girl one-on-one as my heart desired. The days of my week were instead spent traveling back and forth from the villages, counting up materials and supplies for each class, planning and translating lessons, and falling asleep most nights with my pen in hand as yet another attempt to journal had succumb to sleep... oh yea, and what about that thing called blogging?
God brought me back to Isaiah 54:2 for a reason... "and strengthen your stakes." I knew God was calling me to closer communion with Him but also to strengthen Talita Cum. I sought godly counsel and the Lord confirmed in me to begin building a stronger foundation for this girls' ministry.
So, once again, a year later, I found myself at a crossroad.
What does this mean? What does this look like for the year ahead?
Well, for this season, I am scaling back to focus my energy in and around Zion village. By doing so, I can begin visiting girls one-on-one, come alongside them in their day-to-day lives, and develop the base and foundation for where I sense the Lord leading Talita Cum.
My heart breaks at the thought of leaving the girls in Enmanuel and Liberacion. Though they have become like daughters to me, I have to remind myself they were never mine to begin with. As my heart and mind fought over this decision, questioning myself and God if this was truly what He wanted me to do, I was encouraged through the words of Job, a man well-acquainted with loss...
So, Chambers asks, "Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you 'go out' in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?"
I do believe in a miracle-working God, an unchangeable God, and although I may not know what will happen in Zion, Enmanuel, or Liberacion, I do know He will complete what He appoints and what He desires, He does.
My heart rejoices in this!
As I did before, I ask for your prayers again in this new season. I know God has amazing plans for these girls and this ministry, and your prayers for wisdom, guidance, and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the lives of these girls are more powerful than you can ever imagine.
In the days ahead, we have several mission teams on the schedule, but it is my goal to write more blog posts this year. I am so grateful for every one of my supporters-spiritual, emotional, and financial- as you are all part of this mission to reach a generation of girls whom God is calling to arise!
Exactly a year ago, I remember flying back to the DR with no idea as to what God was up to. The day before I left, I read My Utmost for His Highest, a new devotional book I had received over the holidays, and sensed an excitement come over me for the unknown...
Will You Go Out Without Knowing?
"He went out, not knowing where He was going." (Hebrews 11:8)
Have you ever 'gone out' in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, 'What do you expect to do?' You don't know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing...
Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do- He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you 'go out' in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?...
(Oswald Chambers)
When God spoke to me through these words, I knew there was a reason He had me returning to the DR and I was determined to "go out" and discover why.
Here we are, only a year later, and I find myself living on a Dominican mountainside with a ministry to over a hundred girls. It is so beautifully amazing. Far more than I ever hoped or imagined. I have no other words for it.
As the Christmas parties with the girls came to an end and I was preparing to travel home for the holidays, I began reflecting on the past few months and where the Lord was leading us.
Christmas party in Liberacion with Claire and Linley
"Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords... and strengthen your stakes."
Enlarging the place of my tent required prayer for laborers to this abundant harvest... and He heard our prayers, sending Talita Cum several amazing women, including my new roommate Linley. God doesn't leave us nor forsake us!
Linley, my roommate and answer to prayer, joined Talita Cum in December
Running to 3 villages to teach 5 different classes each week, I was obeying God's word in letting my curtains be stretched out; however, I allowed myself to be worn and stretched out in the process, as well. I began to see how difficult it was, in the current state of Talita Cum, to come alongside and disciple each girl one-on-one as my heart desired. The days of my week were instead spent traveling back and forth from the villages, counting up materials and supplies for each class, planning and translating lessons, and falling asleep most nights with my pen in hand as yet another attempt to journal had succumb to sleep... oh yea, and what about that thing called blogging?
God brought me back to Isaiah 54:2 for a reason... "and strengthen your stakes." I knew God was calling me to closer communion with Him but also to strengthen Talita Cum. I sought godly counsel and the Lord confirmed in me to begin building a stronger foundation for this girls' ministry.
So, once again, a year later, I found myself at a crossroad.
What does this mean? What does this look like for the year ahead?
Well, for this season, I am scaling back to focus my energy in and around Zion village. By doing so, I can begin visiting girls one-on-one, come alongside them in their day-to-day lives, and develop the base and foundation for where I sense the Lord leading Talita Cum.
My heart breaks at the thought of leaving the girls in Enmanuel and Liberacion. Though they have become like daughters to me, I have to remind myself they were never mine to begin with. As my heart and mind fought over this decision, questioning myself and God if this was truly what He wanted me to do, I was encouraged through the words of Job, a man well-acquainted with loss...
"But [God] is unchangeable, and who can turn Him back? What He desires, that He does. For He will complete what He appoints for me, and many such things are in His mind." (Job 23:13-14)
So, Chambers asks, "Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you 'go out' in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?"
I do believe in a miracle-working God, an unchangeable God, and although I may not know what will happen in Zion, Enmanuel, or Liberacion, I do know He will complete what He appoints and what He desires, He does.
My heart rejoices in this!
As I did before, I ask for your prayers again in this new season. I know God has amazing plans for these girls and this ministry, and your prayers for wisdom, guidance, and an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the lives of these girls are more powerful than you can ever imagine.
In the days ahead, we have several mission teams on the schedule, but it is my goal to write more blog posts this year. I am so grateful for every one of my supporters-spiritual, emotional, and financial- as you are all part of this mission to reach a generation of girls whom God is calling to arise!
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