The past two weeks have been weeks where I have seen God's hand working over and over again. I am grateful for the people He has put into my life who love me well, comfort me, pray with me and encourage me along the way.
I am also grateful for the friends who come back. A little over a week ago two visitors returned to love the people whom I love, serve alongside me, and live life in the Dominican for a bit. Together, we shared devotions every morning in Esther. It was really nice to have time apart in English reading the Word. And, God is teaching me as much as I'm sure He spoke to them.
Over four days, we read about Esther, a woman of the Old Testament, a jew, and a strong believer! Chosen to be in the palace as a candidate for queen because of her beauty, Esther eventually had to make a brave decision -- let one of the King's advisors kill the jews or defend her people. And, even though she knew it could cost her life, she recognized that God has a plan and He's in control. And thus, after fasting and praying, Esther, had the courage to trust God and obey. She talked to the King and stopped the killing of all of the Jews across 127 provinces.
I've read the story of Esther various times. But, God still teaches. His Word is alive and there are always lessons that we can learn.
God is faithful. He's teaching me to believe that He sees, is in control, and is with me. God has a plan.
I see Him working in the ladies I work with who are mothers of kids here at Emanuel House. Our Bible Study, while very slow moving and deep, is going so well. (We are going through the book of John and after a year find ourselves in John 12.) God is molding them into a united group of women who are learning to love and depend on the Word. They were given a challenge about a three weeks ago to learn the Old Testament books of the Bible and when Ellie came, we would go out to eat at a nice restaurant without children. Some of them struggle to read while others are just finishing high school… Some have been Christians for less than a year and we still have one who hasn't committed her life to the Lord yet.
But God is working. ..
Some learned easier than others. They worked together, spent time at each other's houses and encouraged each other. By the time it was time to go, four of the seven Bible Study ladies had learned the books and two of them knew both the old and the new testament books.
Our time out was a great experience once the nerves subsided. They enjoyed great food and fellowship, were encouraged, and were able to take some food home to family. Additionally, the abundant God we serve showed up! One of the biggest problems other than people not knowing the Lord, is that they don't have opportunities for work here in Quisqueya. And, we had the opportunity to share who we were to the boss at the restaurant. He talked to the ladies about the possibility of going to school to become waitresses. (As you imagine, tourism is huge in the D.R. and a great way to make money.)
I have been praying to God about ways to help deeper in order to have long term effects. And maybe He is showing me an avenue. But also He is giving the women a glimpse into opportunities to be able to do honest and God-glorifying work to be able to support their families and not have to go far to do so. (Oh, did I mention that three of the Bible Study ladies (not pictured above) were featured at a night devotion for McLean Bible Church / Empowering Action for the work that they are doing making jewelry, headbands and coasters? They got to share their testimonies in front of about 150 people -- and for 2 of them it was for the very first time.) Please pray for their continued unity and for God's provision. Doing God-glorifying work with the bodies He's given is a wonderful way that we can say, "thank you."
God sees.
God is working.
God has a plan!
Mirqueya, Josefa, Josefina, Kaitlin and I headed out to eat for the first time as a "family." (Two days out in one week is not common at all, but it was a nice treat.) Isn't it nice just to spend time outside in God's creation? No agenda other than to just enjoy... Just us... The reality is that sometime probably in the next month, the lives of these two girls are going to radically change. We've known since February when their mother passed away that Emanuel House would not be their permanent home since it's not an orphanage. The girls are passing through until they get put into an orphanage. We have been told that they will be removed from here by the time that school starts.
I know that God is faithful and trust that He has a great plan for their lives no matter where they are placed. I pray that their time with Mirqueya and me has been one where seeds have been planted for them to be faithful women of the Lord, where they have felt a love so deep, and that God has been glorified through their time here. Please pray for them and us as we imagine that very soon they will no longer be with us at Emanuel House. And, please pray for them emotionally as well. May God place them in just the right home in His perfect timing. May we grab onto His faithfulness and sovereignty.
A year and a half before moving to the Dominican, Mirqueya's younger sister died. I don't think I found it out until after about a year of living here when she really started to open up to me. But around that time, she started calling me, "hermanita" or little sister. And I've since found out that God sent me here at just the right time. Do you have people in your life who are just a perfect addition to the family that you already have? People who get you, pray for you and support you as if they were blood relatives? I thank God for Mirqueya. She is my sister (in Christ) and for real. I love her so much… (Sure, we really are like sisters -- we frustrate each other, argue, disagree and then make up, say sorry and hug it out…) God put her in my life and I love her. I pray for her all the time and thank God for her. She teaches me to have faith. When I think things are impossible, she prays on her knees next to me. When I just cannot see, she gets on her knees, talks to God, prays with me and encourages me. She tells me that I also teach her. I give her good advice…. I teach her to enjoy life... to stop... and to see God all around us. She tells me that she can tell me anything and that she's so grateful that God sent her another little sister.
Isn't it awesome how God knows us?
He knows what we need and how we need it.
His timing is perfect.
And yet, sometimes it's so easy to forget…
The israelites were such a forgetful people as well. They walked through the desert complaining about how God had left them even though they'd been freed from slavery. They began worshiping idols when Moses spent just a little too much time up on the mountain talking to God… They were so quick to forget, stop trusting, and disobey.
At the end of the book of Esther, a celebration that still happens today, began for the Israelites so they wouldn't forget what God had done for them through Esther. And, of course, God left us His Word and shows us Himself in how He works in our lives every day.
My prayer for all of those reading this and for myself as well is that we would not forget.
God is faithful…
He is on time…
and He is in control.
I pray that we would remember. May our eyes remain fixed on Him!
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