God's miracles.

So I just have to tell of an amazing thing that God did today. This is also a form of my procrastination on homework.

This Friday, I invited all of my Jr. High small group of girls over to my apartment to do dinner, dessert, and a movie. With that responsibility comes the task of calling all of their parents to ask for permission. The first of my phone calls was to Margie. This is Carley's mom. I've been in contact with Margie several times since working with my youth girls. Over the summer, from being away, I had put much of my investment in Carley's life on hold, but promised to fully jump back into her life when I arrived back in Washington. So, I call Margie. She was expecting my call sometime soon because back in May I let her know that I was going to be gone for the summer, but was willing and fully wanting to invest in her daughter's life when I returned. Carley is a unique teenager, struggling right now, but I know that God can do great things in her life. I have always believed in my heart that He can change and grow her.

Let me tell you a little bit about Carley. She was adopted not too long ago by her aunt and uncle which she now calls her parents because her real mom was on drugs and could not take care of her properly. Carley is a 14 year old 6th grader because she had struggled in school so much that she had to be held back for 3 consecutive years. Carley has had a rough life and has many challenges with finding her value and worth. She doesn't know that she's beautiful. She doesn't know that God made her for a specific purpose. She places her worth in nothing.

So, when I called her mother... God began to do something amazing. Her mother began to explain awful things that Carley was doing. Dangerous and scary things. Sneaking out, being very rebellious, hanging out with random guys that she meets in the mall... (one of which was 24 years old), sending inappropriate pictures to guys. And any punishment that her mom gives her doesn't phase Carley one bit. Carley just doesn't care. She's going to do what she wants to do. She won't listen to a single word her mother says. Her heart is hardened and she's trying to find her worth in getting attention from guys and rebelling from her house rules. And all of what she does in caught up in lies that she tries to hide. As her mom tells me these things, she begins to cry on the phone. She has no idea what to do. She said, "I just want Carley to know that I love her. I just want my Carley back." As she's saying these things... I am deeply understanding the situation. And I realize... that was me. I WAS Carley. Not to the extreme of sending pictures and getting guys phone numbers and things of that sort, BUT I did go through that exact phase. Where I lost all relationship with my mom. Where I rebelled just to be able to do what I wanted to do. Where no punishment could change my ways. I would sneak around as she did. So I told her mom... "I WAS Carley. and I want to encourage you..." The conversation went on and on and on. I told her how I've changed. How I've found my complete worth and value in the Lord. Knowing my purpose. I began to tell her of how my relationship with MY mom completely turned around, from anger and silence to an amazing friendship. The lies were gone and my heart was changed. I said to Margie, "I know exactly why your daughter is doing the things that she is doing. I know exactly what she's going through right now. And because of what I've been through with my mother, I also know what you are going through as a mother. My purpose is to be in Carley's life. To show her God's love."

Now here is the amazing thing. This is how God works. Last Sunday, I was in church and the pastor said, invite 3 friends next week that are not already involved in a church. And the thought that reoccurred in my mind was..."I don't have any friends up here that don't know the Lord. I don't associate with any." I'm caught in the private Christian school's bubble. And so recently my hearts prayer has been that God would bring someone into my life that I can truly invest in and that I can truly reach out to. Someone that is struggling. But also someone that I can fully relate with and fully understand why it is that they are struggling. The answer to my prayers is Carley. And I began to cry on the phone because I realized that THIS is why I'm back in Washington and not in Panama. This is my mission and purpose for right now in life. To reach out to this girl. To reach out of the Northwest bubble. To empty myself to this girl, only to be filled again by the Lord. Its like trying to pour water into a water bottle that is already full... you can't do it. You have to empty it out before it can become full again. So I told the mom on the phone that I am here to stay in Carley's life. Its a big commitment, but this is what God has shown me to do. And I will not leave. I will not stop trying until she has ran face to face with Jesus. Until she knows her worth. I said, I'm not leaving. And she will know Jesus Christ. The mother then began to cry more and said, "My husband and I have been praying for years for someone like you. And you are the answer to OUR prayers." She said if you need ANYTHING... we will give back to you. She said my husband is an engineer. If you ever need work on your car or even food for your apartment, we want to give to you. They are sending brownie mix with Carley on Friday to our little get together :).

This is the power of God and the power of prayer. I was praying for someone to reach out to while they were praying for someone to come.

Just thought I'd share...