God is a Redeemer!

God is a Redeemer.

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of spending the weekend with ten beautiful 15 and 16 year old girls. A few months ago, two members of the Ocean View CPx outreach team, went to the principal of the Ocean View High School and asked him to give them the ten roughest, most troubled girls in the school. The principal happily agreed and they began meeting once a week after school. It did not take the team members long to see that these girls were not “trouble makers” but treasures waiting to be discovered. So they decided to have a camp just for them. A weekend dedicated to loving them and speaking truth into their lives. These girls have seen the harshness of the world. Most are addicted to drugs. Many are involved with gangs and have been abused by family members and boyfriends. These girls come from broken families and cycles of addiction and violence. They don’t have people in their lives telling them what they are really worth. No one is telling them they were made for greatness. No one is believing in them. So we did. Each girl had their own “big sister” for the weekend. It took me about 10 minutes with these girls to absolutely fall in love with them. It was a joy to get to know them and to share a cabin with them. It was so fun to watch them get the chance to simply be teenagers. I loved laying in bed at night listening to them talking and laughing, while eating junk food and listening to music. They told us that this was the first time in a long, long time that they were going to bed sober on a Friday night. wow. But most of all it was a privilege to witness the beauty of their hearts. They shared so much with us. Throughout the weekend we had different “sessions.” The first was about self worth and true identity. Another was about the truth behind a life of drugs, gangs and sex, giving them the hard facts. Another session was dedicated to encouraging them to dream for their futures. And for the last session they brought in women (from the girls' very own community) who have risen above lives of addiction, teen pregnancy and gang involvement, and are now living beautifully redeemed lives because of Jesus! wow. After each session, we would have one-on-one time with our “little sisters.” There were many tears, as they began realizing who they were made to be and the Love and greatness they were created for. After one session, my "little sis" shared with me all about her struggles and some deep secrets of some bad things that have happened to her. She told me that she really did want to leave her life of drugs, but that she didn't know how. “I believe in you.” Such a simple phrase for most, but ground shaking in her life. Tears filled both of our eyes as she began dreaming of a life of freedom and hope. Afterwards, just before she went running off to play volleyball with her friends, she told me that she felt free and happy! She said it felt like a heavy thing was lifted off her heart. wow. What a pleasure to be able to experience the Redeemer working miracles in these young girls lives and to be able to witness the furious love of God begin transforming in their lives. Bit by bit, these girls are finding freedom and life. Why? Because the Lover of their souls delights in them and is pursuing them. He has destined them for greatness and believes in them wholeheartedly. I am thankful that I got to spend a weekend with these girls and catch a glimpse into his heart for them.