A Week of L O V E - Hope for Her | Dominican Republic
From start to finish, the presence of God was felt. Wednesday, February 2nd began a multi-day event called Hope for Her in the Dominican Republic which was centered around the theme of love. God is love, therefore every event, devotional, prayer, and conversation was centered around this truth.
Our ministry time started with a beautiful woman named Sonya. Sweet Sonya has had a hard life. At a young age, she became pregnant with her first child, Miguel Angel. Later, two daughters were added to her family. Her story is accurately depicted through her home. Supported by a cinder block foundation, weathered wood siding, and a rusted, hole-filled roof fashioned out of pieces of tin, her home told a story of trial, tribulation, sleepless nights, and sorrow. Walking up to her home, you see different sizes and colors of scrap wood that she pulled together to build her home. The patching of her home was similar to the way she explained her efforts to try and patch her life together. Here and there she has done things to survive and provide for her family.
Sonya lives in a populous community; she communicated that she has friends that live near her. But during a later home visit with her, Sonya communicated in tears that she felt unloved and unseen. Two words that no one should ever feel or communicate: unloved and unseen. This is not the Father’s perfect plan for His children. He desires His people to know and feel His love always. Scripture tells us in Ephesians 3: 17-18 “...And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”
The team that attended the Hope for Her trip was heartbroken by Sonya’s confession of rejection. No words could describe what people were witnessing and hearing; we were all speechless. The only thing we could do in that moment was pray for this sweet lady and for God to do what only He can do. After we prayed, we invited Sonya and her two daughters to the Women’s Appreciation Day event which was happening the very next day. She agreed to come which made everyone thankful. As we were getting ready to depart, a fun photoshoot happened organically. Sonya began to radiate joy; her beautiful smile joined our presence. Miguel Angel, her son, commented that “he had not seen his mom smile like that in a long time.” Everyone was comforted by the reminder that at that very moment, Sonya felt loved.
Saturday morning started and 142 women filled the room, ready to celebrate and worship. Sonya arrived with her two daughters dressed up and excited to see the Hope for Her team. At the same time, she was hesitant to engage fully with the event. God had a plan to show His perfect love to her and all the ladies who attended. The event fostered joy. In response, everyone began to settle into the truth of God's love by participating in worship, prayer, testimonies, food, dancing, and a craft. Each of the women were also given a gift to take home as they left. At the end of the event, Sonya’s face was beaming with the largest and brightest smile. You could see in her eyes the love she felt, not only from the Hope for Her team but from the other participants at the celebration. She left with God’s love in her heart and a bible in her hand, ready to spread God’s love to other people in her community.
The thread of love woven throughout the Hope for Her week was something only God could have planned. He knew the desperate place Sonya, and so many other women just like Sonya were at. He knew the difficulties each woman walked into the event with, and He was able to speak love into each and every heart. He knew the importance of inviting her to the event. He knew that other women needed to be reminded of His love. God is an intentional Father who wants His daughters to feel heard, seen, and loved. God is Love.