Our Jericho

"By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days." 

- Hebrews 11:30

The walls fell down today.

We all have been marching faithfully around our Jericho. The days leading up to leaving Highlands was a march. The journey to Santa Cruz was a march. The tensions, relationships and challenges we came to Bolivia with were a march. And finally today, the walls fell, and we took the city.

It seems so fitting that today was the third day of our work at the girl's home. If you search the words "third day" on BibleGateway.com, you'll find multiple scriptures that indicate very spiritual events that happened on the third day. Most importantly, Christ rising from the tomb. And Jesus rose here today. He shot up out of the dark, encamped all around and shone His glory for all to see.

Physically it was a difficult morning -- progress was going very slowly on the removal of the tree stumps. We were working with more primitive means - shovels, pick axes, regular axes, saws and rope. And since our first day was so incredibly productive, it felt defeating to have the stumps slow us down. And that defeat, coupled with exhaustion made for a frustrated group the first half of the day. And it seemed like the enemy was doing all he could to take advantage of it.

STUMP'S ANGELS

But we know a few things -- first that God had gone before us to Bolivia. Second that we had all prayed specifically for this trip. And third that we have friends, family and supporters that are praying for us each day while we're here.

We had a quick team meeting to vent a few frustrations, and then broke for lunch. And suddenly, after lunch, everything shifted. Individually, Mary and David had the opportunity to share their testimonies with the girls. With both of them, there were girls crying as they heard their stories, and different girls asked to pray over each of them. Their walls came down. To see these girls -- the ones that themselves are experiencing hardship we'll never know -- give of themselves to pray earnestly for Mary and David was just so weighty. I don't know another word to describe it. It just spiritually carries so much weight. I know both Mary and David sensed that and that it touched them in an indescribable way.

LYDIA & VICKI PRAYING OVER DAVID AFTER HE SHARED HIS TESTIMONY

We all saw a different characteristic of Christ today. For some it was in the kiss from one of the girl's on the cheek. For others it was the walls coming down from a girl's heart and allowing us to love on her. For yet others it was the release of bondage and the peace that descended from heaven as they faced fear and kicked it in the tail. It was a spiritually important day for everyone. Relationship happened today.

FRANCO, VICKI AND LYDIA PLAYING WITH US

Physically we ended up removing both MAMMOTH tree stumps (think sequoias) and got a lot of the trenches dug. That, in and of itself, would have satisfied us for today. But more important than the satisfaction of the labor of our hands, we saw the fruit of our marches. It may have felt at times like we've been walking in circles, not understanding why God would have us remain silent and then blow our trumpets and shout. But as the trumpets sounded and the shouts rang out, the walls fell. And that's when He showed up and showed off.

JENNY & ABIGIRL GOING TETANUS ON SOME TRENCH!

We are thrilled to say we have one more day to spend with the girls, and will go on Tuesday to finish our work and then spend time playing and having fun with them. We all couldn't say goodbye tonight -- we wanted to stay and they wanted us to stay as well. So much so they talked us into body surfing.

ALL HANDS ON DECK FOR JIMMY'S BODY SURF

We cannot wait until Tuesday to finish being Jesus' hands and feet to them one last time. He wouldn't have it any udder way.