Tuesday, July 19, 2011

From a Mother's Perspective


It was really an honor to spend time with Kezia and the Exodus Cry team in Poland. I must admit, I was freaking out a bit the first night in Warsaw when they slipped off the bus into the dark, rainy night, and 2 1/2 hours later still hadn't returned to the hotel. They weren't able to operate the Polish cell phone I left with them so they couldn't let me know that the Thai cook had led them through her kitchen into the dark stairwell leading to the "red door" where girls were "at work." Nor could they tell me about the guy on the street who asked for a light and received more "Light" than his darkened heart could imagine! :):) And then on to OstrĂ³da where the girls shared their lives and testimonies with the youth from Israel. Kezia's teachings each morning were spoken softly but resounded loudly in each heart. By the end of the week when it was time to leave, hugs and tears abounded. So many seeds planted. The harvest is coming. Our next stop - Katowice. It's hard to describe all that happened in two short days. I watched as a seasoned, war-torn abolitionist was re-inspired by a handful of spirit-filled young women. We learned so much from Sister Anna, but it was painfully evident that she and her co-workers were weary from years of labor. Kezia and her team brought blessing and encouragement, expressed in tears, prayers, and gentle touches from God. We didn't know if they would allow the EC team to minister on the streets, but they decided to let Kezia and Marni go out with a few of their street workers. I remember clearly when Kezia and her partner walked through the door of the apartment. It was after midnight and they had been out on the streets for a couple hours. Their faces were glowing and all they could say was, "It was amazing." The presence of God had been strong and they saw major breakthroughs in several of the girls. I will never forget the moment when the streetworker, sitting on the couch with her arms wrapped around her knees, began weeping as she admitted how discouraged she had been. She was ready to give up. Nothing was happening on the streets. No changes. But she said tonight they prayed with the girls and God came in power-- it was like a new beginning. She has new hope. Amy prophesied over her -- that the desert season was finished and the rains were coming. It was such a powerfully precious moment. God is so good. He is using Kezia and her team in eternally significant ways. It hasn't been easy, e.g., traveling in Central/Eastern Europe is difficult. Standing on a train for 6 hours, hauling luggage up and down flights of stairs, walking everywhere, ... it's quite exhausting. And now the team is in Ukraine where conditions are even more taxing. It was difficult for me to say good-bye at the train station -- watching Kezia's sweet face at the window disappear into the distance. But I am convinced that God goes before them as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Yeshua, the Beautiful One, is at their side -- bringing light into the dark places. And because of that reality, this mother can rest and be at peace. :)

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