It's easy for me to love on someone.  It's not as easy for me to ask the important questions and have the intentional talks.  It's easy for me to give up something I'm doing to go and hang out with someone who just needs to be loved on.  It's not as easy for me to dig deep with them.  I know that I came on this trip for a specific purpose.  In ways I have surely been obedient to God in what he has asked me to do. On the other side, I also know that I need to be really intentional. Right now.

Yesterday in my devotions, I was praying and God brought me to Isaiah 42:3-4:
" A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.  In faithfulness he will bring forth justice, he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.  In his law the islands will put their hope."

A bruised reed he will not break.  Through this, God revealed to me the reason I have been been scared to ask the questions I need to ask.  I spend time getting to know these girls, building a relationship with them and loving on them.  Then, when it comes time to dig deep, I'm scared I will make a tear in that relationship I have been building and they will push me away.  These girls have scars inside and out, invisible and visible. But I will not break them or hurt our relationship.  I trust that God will do the exact opposite.

I have become particularly close with one of the girls here.  Her name is Ambeleka.  At first, she was really quiet and didn't talk to us.  God told me to reach out to her.  I started to sit beside her in English and Bible Studies and make an effort to talk to her.  She slowly started to open up.  Then one day, I noticed that I didn't see her around at all.  Then she came behind me, covered my eyes and gave me a HUGE hug and told me she loved me.  A couple of days ago she handed me a heart.  As I looked at it, I could see how she intricately folded it and wrote "I love Tiff" on it.  She handed it to me, gave me another big hug and told me again how she loved me.  It was a really special moment for me.  

I will tell you a bit of the backround behind Ambeleka.  Her parents locked her in a room and sold her to the neighborhood men.  Then, she became pregnant with Anna.  Her parents kicked her out because they didn't want to support a child.  She got connected with her grandmother and then her grandmother sold Anna.  Ambeleka stole her back and through God, thankfully ended up here.  The very same girl that loves on me..whether it's doing my hair, giving me massages, complimenting me or simply telling me she loves me.  

I knew coming into this that I would be with womeworking n who were traumatically abused.  To hear the words that spell out their story takes it to another level.  It gets very real very fast.  I know that God has a specific purpose for me and Ambeleka's relationship and I am excited to continue loving on her and ask the questions I need to ask.  I know God will put the puzzle pieces together in a truly beautiful way.

Me and Ambeleka 🙂

Okay, so anything with sugar is pretty hard to find here. Our team found out there was a bakery and jumped on that fact.  We were very very excited to eat this!

This is what it looked like inside. Yes, it tasted exactly as it looks. We have learned not to have North American standards for dessert here.