Oasis

A few weeks ago, I had the honor and privilege of interpreting one of my absolute favorite stories of all time:

God's Oasis Story.

I don't know if I can put into words what it was like to take a private tour through so many interviews that touched the very heart of our ministry at Oasis, but I'm going to try! 

First, it was a blast to work with the talented group of people who came to produce the video and to see what goes in to a project like this. We were blessed by the generous heart of a man who runs a similar ministry in the States who gathered the support to send this team our way.  It was special to see a small group of people get to know our ministry for the very first time and to watch them open their hearts to the bigness of what God is doing, without assuming or judging or short-cutting the deepness of what it means to live life at the Oasis.

Then there are the times that sharing stories of hope means uncovering the details of darkness so that others will see just how beautiful is the light. I cannot think of a story I would rather enter into at such a personal level, but I would be lying if I said that I didn't cry myself to sleep, hard, after some of these days.

But by far the most humbling and amazing part of that whole week was listening to story after story after story that put God on display in the mightiest of ways!  I'm still in awe.

I felt completely inadequate sitting down and pressing play on each interview with one of my dear, sweet, brave little sisters, about to take her words into my mind and into my heart and make them my own. 

These girls can say things that I will never be able to say. 

They have broken in ways that I have never broken. 
They have forgiven more deeply than I have ever been offended.
They have healed more than I have ever hurt. 
They have surrendered themselves to God and received life in place of death.

 And there we were, hearing the account of God's faithfulness step-by-step, word-by-word.

My heart could just explode!

Their stories are sacred. Hearing them is to walk on holy ground. God is present in this place and His glory is on full display. 

 
Pain.

"My dad used to abuse me."
"My mom didn't care. I never mattered to her."

Brokenness.

"I was abused for 7 years by a man I didn't know."
"Her dad abused her sexually and made her brother abuse her." 

Hope.

"I received justice at the other home, because they took me out of [that situation], but not like the justice we receive at the Oasis. This is the kind of justice where God heals your heart."

Mercy.

"My dream is for my dad to know God, and repent of the evil things he's done, and find forgiveness."
"She came in the room with her head held high, looked him in the eye and said, 'I forgive you for everything you did to me.'"

Grace.

"I felt clean and pure. It's like you're re-born in the eyes of God."
"I am a daughter of God."

Joy.

"God answers our prayers. Even when we fail him, he is faithful! His mercies new every morning and he is worthy of our worship!"

Abba, you are so, so good!!

It's easy to focus on the girls who are still broken. They are still angry. They are still hurting. They are confused. They are so lost.

But, God is here. Immanuel.

We have many girls who are learning. They are starting to see new things. They are beginning to think new thoughts. They are walking in new ways. They are growing.

Immanuel.

But because God is rich in grace and infinitely merciful, we have girls who have been redeemed! They are clean and they know it. They speak the truth and are not afraid. They are forgiven, and they have forgiven others. They are free!  Oh, it's just so beautiful.

Immanuel.

Watch the final product here!