I've found my Prince!

You should have seen the crowd today.  We didn't have our normal set-up for gathering, but I was given a plastic chair and told to sit.  I invited the girls and their younger brothers among them to find a spot on the front porch and to gather around.  It was cramped, but we made it work.

The girls begged that I read the story from the beginning as many of them had missed weeks here and there.

To hear the girls reading along with me was so precious and I even stopped to let them finish my sentences...

"On an elegant table in the center of the room was the same gift given to the princess long ago..."

               "... THE KISS!!!!!" the girls all shouted.

With each suitor that came, the girls would exclaim his name in disapproval.  It is amazing how this book comes to life each Saturday.

When we reached the wedding day, the girls were once again moved with excitement.

The final page shows the royal newlyweds with their baby and the gift God had given her... her very own kiss.

The scripture we talked about today was from 1 Timothy 1:5,

"Love... comes from a pure heart and a good conscious and a sincere faith."

We discussed what this means, how the princess and prince couldn't truly love one another without a pure heart, good conscious, and sincere faith, and how we can obtain this kind of love, too.  I find it easier for kids to remember things when they attach pictures or actions to words, so I had the girls write down the scripture and make drawings.

"El amor brota de un corazon limpio, de una buena conciencia y de una fe sincera." Timoteo 1:5

The kids love to draw and there is such a hunger for the Word of God.  It could be because I give them a princess sticker for every memory verse they can remember... but, hey... whatever gets the Word planted in these girls works for me!

Once everyone had finished this task, the girls began leaving one by one, until I was left with only a few.  Madelin, Julenny, Mariana, Rosaura, and Maria Isabel hung around, reciting memory verses and writing them all down to practice at home.

It was then that I decided to proceed with the word I was going to share earlier...

"You know, I was going to share something exciting with everyone but I forgot once we all started drawing... maybe I should wait till next week."

            "No! Tell us now!"

"Ok... Well... I have found my Prince!"

Once again, I wish I had taken a video of the girls' reactions.  They all stopped what they were doing, including Marie Ester, who was moping the floor inside, and dropped their jaws in excitement and squealed.

"Yes! I have my found Prince, and do you want to know His name?"

            "YES!"

"His name is Jesus... He truly is the most important Prince in my life."

I admit, the girls were slightly disappointed, including Marie Ester, but they were all still laughing and taking joy in the moment.

"Is He not the Prince of Peace? No man is like Him and I have everything I need in Him.  You all can find your Prince Jesus today, He's actually waiting for us!"

The girls all agreed.  Then Julenny added, "And when you get married, your two princes will fight over you!"

I laughed.  "No, I don't think they will fight, because my husband will love Jesus just as much as I do.  They'll get along."

I love these small, intimate moments with the girls.  I told them to keep it a secret that I've "found my Prince" because I want to tell the rest of the girls next weekend.  They were all so excited that we share a secret.

I can't believe it's already December and I've been visiting the village for nearly half a year now.   I can hardly imagine my life without knowing these precious girls.

Lord only knows what next year holds.  All I know is that it just keeps getting better!

Eternal things

"It's your turn!"

I put down a Winnie the Pooh card to win the hand.  I didn't quite catch on to the game the girls had going until watching a couple hands.  If there was a Disney princess card on the cushion we were all sitting around and you laid down any card with a Disney princess, you got that deck.  Likewise, the same went for a match of Mickey or Minnie and Winnie the Pooh.

This game went on for a good while as girls transitioned in and out.  Since only 4 people could play this made-up game at a time, Madelin and I sat out during one of the rounds and began reviewing for her exam tomorrow.  We're entering into "finals" week in the Dominican Republic, too.

From a distance, I could see Marisol walking on her way to her house.  She stopped when she saw me and asked across the way,

"Are you coming to my house today?"

              "Do you want me to come to your house today?" I yelled back.

"Yes!"

It was settled.  I was going to Marisol's house today.

Marisol has been wanting me to come visit her family in her house for so long.  I've only made brief visits before, so today was special.  When I arrived, I was greeted by her mother and two younger brothers.  I was accompanied by three other girls and we all took a seat on the couch in the dimly-lit wooden house.  We began talking about our plans for Christmas and traditions we all have.  I shared how I will be attending yet another wedding while I'm back, but this time it will be in the frozen tundra of Iowa... and I haven't a warm dress to wear! The girls jumped in to give me advice on what I can do to alleviate this problem.

Marisol and her two brothers were beckoned by their father in the back room, so she asked to be pardoned for a moment, making sure I knew that she would be returning.  A few minutes later, they came in bearing treats from the local colmado.  They were so excited to give me the chocolate racecar they purchased just for me.  The other girls were given lollipops that had jokes written on the wrappers, so we, of course, had a good laugh with those.

I shared with some of the girls on Saturday the exciting news I received just the week before.  Realizing that neither Madelin nor Marisol were there to hear the news, I decided to share it once more.

"Guess who I talked to last week... The author of the book The Princess and the Kiss!  If it works out, we are going to meet up while I'm back!"

The girls were so excited!  They love this book and its message so dearly.  I told them that maybe they could make something for me to give to her.

"You mean, we can write her a letter and she'll get it!?"  They could hardly believe it.

Then the girls just exploded into retelling the story.  They began recounting  every page to Marisol's mother of how the princess encountered Principe Pavo Real and how he only thought in himself....  Principe Roman Romantico and how he came with roses and chocolates, telling the princess how everyday would be like a honeymoon... and then Principe Tobias del Tesoro who had enough money to buy whatever she desired in life.

They know this story front and back.

"And the princess was given a kiss by God that her parents protected until she was ready and she only had that one kiss to give so she was saving it.  And then she met the farmer and he had a kiss that God gave him when he was little... I know they're going to marry because I saw the page where they have a wedding!"

Marisol couldn't get the words out of her mouth fast enough!

Her mother then shared with the girls that there's a very important message to this story.  She went on to say how many girls here go around and give kisses to whatever man they see, but God wants them to guard their hearts and wait until they're old enough and find the person He has chosen for them.

YES!!!

Then Marisol shared how the kids at school often invite her to play some game similar to "spin the bottle" without the bottle.  Mind you, she's only 9 years-old.

"But I tell them, 'I'm a Christian, and I don't do that,' because I'm saving my kiss,"  Marisol said proudly.

WOW!  Go Marisol!

I am telling you... God is doing something new here.  The girls are beginning to see themselves through the eyes of our Father.

You should just see their faces when I take roll every Saturday... "Princesa Mariana"... "presente!"... "Princesa Madelin"... "presente!"... "Princesa Marisol"... "presente!"  The girls' countenances lift and they sit a little taller in their seats as I call their names in the truth of who they were made to be...


Daughters of the King of kings, absolutely beautiful in every way.


I needed today with the girls.  For the past month I have felt as though I've been slammed with one trial after another.  Yet God has faithfully encouraged me through His Word to hold fast.  I was particularly empowered through 2 Corinthians 4...

"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed... For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 

2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 17-18

 
That's just it.  We are charged to look not to the things that are seen, but the unseen.  I can become so distracted by ridiculously absurd cares of this world and fail to realize what God is working behind the scenes.  I know the enemy does his best to trip us up in every way possible and to get our minds off the goal, but I have to cling to my faith in my Father and trust He is moving despite the language barrier, despite my shortcomings, despite the roadblocks, and despite myself.

I'm not saying that it's been Satan who has thrown all these various trials into my path, but I certainly wouldn't put it past him... especially not after today and witnessing what God is doing in the lives of these girls.  Peter even tells us to "think it not strange" concerning the fiery trials which are to try us (1 Peter 4:12-13).

The things of this world are transient, but this- the girls standing up for what they believe in, setting their hearts on Jesus, and receiving this message of God's love and purity- these are the things that are eternal.

Media Naranja

"The farmer bowed humbly, and addressed the king and queen. 'May I speak with your daughter?' he asked.   

The princess' mother and father were surprised.  Who was this man? He seemed common- yet kindness was in his manner.   

Nodding slowly, the king and queen moved aside and stood close by.   

The man looked into the princess' eyes. 

'I have worked in your father's fields for many years.  I prayed and watched and waited for one who could be my wife, yet found no one.  Then one day I saw you walking on the palace lawn.  Your beauty was marvelous, and your purity sparkled like diamonds.'

The princess blushed, and her heart began to beat wildly.   

 'I have little to offer you, Princess,' the man said softly.  'I have no gold.  I have no means to travel the earth.  I am not as strong as many...'

The farmer stopped, and the princess was afraid he would not continue.  Then he whispered, '... but I do have one very special gift I can give to you.' "

As I turned the page, all the girls gasped and held their breath before breaking into full on squeals.

"What do you think the man has to give the princess?" I asked.

          "Gold!"

          "Money!"

          "Eternal love."

          "Kindness and gentleness."


The girls were just so excited that FINALLY a man who isn't dressed like a woman or has an ugly mustache was coming for the princess.  Trying to get the girls to look past the illustrations has been an amusing task in itself.

I flipped the pages to the beginning where the king and queen first revealed to the princess her first kiss- her gift of purity- God had given her when she was born.

"Remember what the princess' gift from God looked like?" I hinted for the girls.

               "Oh! He has her kiss!" one of the girls shouted.

 "Well, remember, her kiss is being kept safe in the palace tower.  It can't be her kiss, but whose could it be?"

The girls seemed confused.

We read on...

" 'This is my first kiss, Princess,' said the man.  'God gave this gift to me on the day I was born.  My parents kept it for me until I became a man.  I have saved it all my life for you.  Would you be my wife?' 

The king, the queen, and the princess rejoiced and embraced the humble farmer.  Was there any doubt that he was the one the princess had been waiting for? The princess thought her heart would burst with joy!   

'Yes!' she cried.  'Oh, yes, with all my heart!' " 

The girls screamed such high-pitched squeals as they grabbed hold of the person next to them while others climbed on their chairs to see the picture better.

Who knew that one book could cause such an atmosphere in a normally quiet village?

Marie Ester joined in the joy of the moment, "La princesa encontro su media naranja!"

Huh? The princess found her half an orange? What does that even mean?

She went on to explain that this is an expression they use in Spanish which means a "soul mate."  The princess has found her other half.

How beautiful!

Just as the princess waited and waited, guarding God's gift of her first kiss, her purity, for the man God had for her, there was a man who had waited and waited, guarding God's gift of his first kiss, his purity, for the woman God had for him.

His half an orange.

Marie Ester asked the girls, "Who wants to wait for their half an orange?"

All the girls shot their arms in the air and exclaimed "ME!" with the sweetest laughter.

Marie Ester added, "Just as the princess found her half an orange, Lauren will find her's, too.  God already has the man set aside for her, but she's waiting on the Lord, too."

One of the girls shouted, "Applause for Lauren!"

Ay, ay, ay... Quickly, I said, "no, no, no... applause for God!"

"Applause for God!... and now for Lauren!" the same girl repeated.

Silliness! I couldn't hold back my laughter.  It is incredibly humbling to me how loved I am by the girls and how intrigued they are about the man God has chosen for me. Sometimes I think they're more excited to find out who he is than me!

These girls are so precious to me.  They truly are princesses for whom God has extraordinary plans if they will only trust and obey Him.

I've said it before, but this teaching of purity and waiting on the Lord truly goes against the grains of the culture here.  The more time I spend with the girls and their families in the community, the more I realize I, myself, am powerless to bring change to these girls' lives.

I've recently come to terms with the fact that I may never see the fruit of my labor, but that's not why I'm here.  I am only called to be obedient to God.  He tells me to go, so I go.  He tells me to speak, so I speak.  He tells me to love and live in relationship with the women and girls, and so I love and live in relationship.

My prayer is that the Lord guards and keeps these young girls safe in His arms.  That though temptation will come, He delivers them from evil.  That the Lord brings revelation through His Spirit, enlightening the eyes of their hearts to the knowledge of Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:17-18).

Without this, without the revelation of Jesus, I am only reading a sweet storybook of love found.

He alone has the power to bring the light of revelation to those living in darkness (Isaiah 9:2) and the power to transform lives through the indwelling of His Spirit (Ezekiel 36:27).  I expectantly wait for Him in this promise to His children.

If the Lord has chosen to use my waiting upon Him for my "media naranja" as a means of ministering to the lives of these girls,  I will wait as long as it takes to fulfill His plans and purposes.  I have no other choice but to wait on the Lord.  Nothing else in this life matters more.  

Just as Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians, it is my desire for the girls to be imitators of me in this, as I imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 4: 16, 11:1).  The girls have begun wearing rings on their right hand and pulling their hair into side ponytails like I often wear mine, but I pray they see my love for Jesus and, above all things, imitate this.

This brings deeper meaning to James' words, "not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness" (James 3:1).

But really, as followers of Christ, aren't we all teachers in some way?  We are being observed and watched.  Jesus even said that by our fruits, we will be known (Matthew 7:20).  Are we bearing fruit in Jesus? Are we allowing ourselves to be reflections of our Father?

All I can say is I am grateful for the blood of Jesus that washes me clean daily and allows me to bear fruit and reflect the Father.  Lord knows, left to myself, that's impossible.

This Saturday we'll read the last page of the book.  Spoiler alert: there's going to be a wedding!  The girls have been patiently waiting for this moment.

I do hope and pray that every single one of these princesses find their media naranja someday, too.






excerpts from The Princess and the Kiss by Jennie Bishop (1999)