God has blessed my heart with so many dear, dear friends.  Each one has a unique and vital place in my life and in my heart.  Kellie is one of those dear friends.  She got married yesterday, is officially a Mrs....and I had the privilege of being her matron of honor.  (BTW, matron is a rather unfortunate word that conjures mental images of house fraus in frumpy dresses.)  We took her bridal portraits in Virginia Beach.  She is beautiful. 

haha!  This is why Kellie and I are friends.  She wanted to chase the birds....I, of course, was all about it. (=

I have been wanting to write something about Nicaragua for awhile, but have held off for many reasons, not the least being that I don't want to use this blog as a way to show off a "good deed".   Please hear my heart in this.  I want to tell you, my friends, about a little place called the House of Hope.  It is a home and rescue mission for prostitutes and their children located in Managua, Nicaragua. 

The women and children who have been rescued out of prostitution and live in the HOH are heartbreakingly lovely and tragic at the same time.  For me, God made the HOH a simple question with a simple answer.  Jesus said that if we do something for the least, we have done it for Him.  Well, these women are the least.

Their society looks down on them.  Their circumstances have compelled them.  The 8, 9 and 10 year olds that have been raped, abused and scarred past the point of having children.  They matter to God.  The thirty year old woman that has 3 children and is in the first grade learning how to read after years and years of prostitution and alcohol abuse.  She matters.  The fifteen and 16 year olds that were in the park waiting for customers to sell their bodies for 5 dollars.  Or maybe 6 if they got lucky. 

Their stories and their circumstance compel me.  I cannot sit by and pretend that I don't know that a 12 year old is pregnant and dependent on the HOH for her future and the survival of her child.  I cannot call myself a follower of Jesus Christ and not hold the hand of a 9 year old and tell her she is beautiful although men have used her.

So, I am priviliged to return to Managua the week of August 30th-Sept 2.  Please bear with my absence and know that as soon as we get back I will pour all of my energy into the work you all have blessed me with.  And keep our team in your prayers.  There are 12 of us going from the church.  If you are interested in supporting the ministry, please visit the website:  www.houseofhopenicaragua.com.

One of my very favorite songs is The Luckiest, by Ben Folds.  The lyrics have a lot to do, I think with how I feel about the women and children in House of Hope. 

I don't get many things right the first time
In fact, I am told that a lot
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here

And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know

That I am
I am
I am
The luckiest

Meredith is as beautiful inside as she is outside.  I have her stunning wedding to Adam coming up to share with you guys!

"Beauty is not in the face, beauty is a light in the heart." ~Khalil Gibran