We welcomed our first residents last week and let me tell you – it’s been an incredible ride! We can’t wait to tell you more about it. Thank you for your prayers as we reached this key milestone.
When our first residents arrived, it felt like a holy and sacred moment. The tears were close for all of us. Some of the girls cried when they arrived, so thankful to finally be at a place of refuge and safety, eager to cast off the chains that have held them prisoner. They couldn’t get over the real sense of love and peace that just radiates from the home and staff.
It was a busy week though! We were checking in two residents a day, all week-long. Our Household Manager (we affectionately call her the Household Mama) handled it all beautifully. It was overwhelming – not just for the girls arriving but even for us, as a staff. It’s a bit surreal. After 7 years of praying and planning, fundraising and telling the story to ANYONE who would listen, now HERE WE ARE. We’re having supper together, we’re living life together, we’re going to church, counselling sessions have begun. So many emotions, so many details.
But we’ve hit our stride, thanks to your prayers and the support of the Mercy Ministries International team. The program is phenomenal – top-notch counsellors and excellent house staff. But, we don’t know what we would have done without Margaret from MMI who has flown up here from the States several times. She has 17 years of experience! Not only did she help with staff training and all of the details of running the program but her spiritual guidance and wisdom is phenomenal. She’s a true woman of God with great insight. Man, that woman can pray! Truthfully, the more I get to know our staff, the more I realise that we have mighty men and women of God working here.
Everyone is feeling settled in, quickly finding their routine and engaging well with their counsellors and leaders.
I almost had to pinch myself when I was sitting in my office, working away, and suddenly in the Classroom down the hall, I could hear all of the girls singing praises, lifting their voices in worship. It was one of the sweetest sounds I’ve ever heard in my life. It gave me chills – there is such power in worship. Everyone I spoke with has talked about how much they love our community Bible reading times. We gather together to read the Word, discuss it and, as a home, proclaim the promises of God. In so many of the girls, they are learning for the first time that God LOVES them and has a plan and purpose for their life!
The girls have such a hunger for the Word, such a hunger to be set free and they are turning to Jesus more and more. It’s these moments, when the girls are starting to see themselves as God sees them, when they get a glimpse of freedom, when a breakthrough – no matter how seemingly small or inconsequential – happens, that we realise afresh that seeds are being sown here that will bloom for generations.
The Mercy girls are so precious. I wish I could communicate with you how much we love them – how unique and lovely each one of them are to us. We know that God has brought them here, for such a time as this, and our primary emotion so far is gratitude. We’re so thankful that this is really happening, that the girls are settling in so well, that things are going so smoothly. We’re thankful for all of our friends, supporters and Treasure Builders that are making this miracle possible.
Is there anything that you would like to know about our first week? Have you been praying for our first week? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Grace and peace,
Sarah
Congratulations on week one! We first got involved about 6 years ago with you as my daughter was in need of Mercy. She went to Mercy in Nashville. You had all said that you were going to build a home in Canada and here it is a dream come true. It is beautiful and sounds that it is filled with love. Lives will be changed and passed down through many generations one Lady at a time. God Bless all of you!!
Pat and Michelle Ward