Day One in Suva Fiji at Home of Hope

Where do I begin? It's going to be difficult for me to truly capture all that we are experiencing so...

Let's begin with this... go to http://www.visionabolition.com/

This will help you get a feel for what we're involved in here.

Then, when you have a fair chunk of time read Isaiah 1:1-17. Then read Micah 6:1-8.

These are some of the questions we're fielding this morning in light of these passages.

• What is bothering God about their worship?
• What corrective steps does God want them to take?
• What does this tell you about the connection between justice and worship?

Now... on to Geography... we are now staying at the home of hope mission which is located on a 43 acre hillside in the suburb Wailoku just 2 miles north of the Capital City Suva in Fiji.

It's about 70 degrees this morning, cloudy, with a light constant mist that, when walked through, leaves a thin cool coat of water on your arms and face. Right now I'm sitting at a kitchen counter in our cabin looking North out the window at a hillside dotted with burries (small homes) a chicken coop, lush trees and groundcover teeming with all sorts of life. The sun is just beginning to burn through the morning fog. There are sounds of tropical birds all around ... children's voices ... laughing. I can hear some of the women working in the kitchen, someone trimming back bushes just outside of our cabin down by the road, and the short interrupting bursts of a hammer cracking away at the roof of the educational center, and the burrows further up.

Our morning began at 6 am, with coffee, bananas, and, yes, beef jerky. (Thanks Mom!) After our morning devotion and discussion, our teams all split up into their various responsibilities. Amber, is on the hillside today digging holes in the mud helping build another tiered garden where the women will grow food for everyone here. Josh is down helping fence in a new chicken coop that provides most of the protein for the mission. Rob and Brad are back up at the new double burrow putting in a set of stairs as well as finishing trimming up siding to protect the interior from weather. I will be joining whoever will have me when I'm done here.

I'm full of emotion today. This is such a beautiful place and yet there's an apparent darkness that permeates the island. The reality is that this place is a "city on a hill"; and a "light in the darkness". It's a refuge. It's the only ministry like it for over 300 islands and 800,000 people. Some of the women here, as young as 13, are victims of sexual abuse within their homes, some are have been raped and become pregnant, and in turn, a disgrace to their families. Some are victims of the sex trade industry. Some of the women have been sold to other family members at the age of 5 where they were tied to a tree and abused sexually for months. Last night we worshipped with over 20 of these women and their kids. They've all been devastated by unimaginable atrocities and yet what satan had intended for evil, God has brought around for good. What God is doing here is amazing! I can't wait to bring the team back with stories and pictures revealing all of our experiences.

Please pray for us to remember all that we'll experience here. Our responsibility is to come back and communicate what we've seen and experienced first hand to you so that you may have the same opportunity to be exposed to it. I believe God wants us to join Him here in some way. Pray for our wisdom in that.

Please pray for our kids and families as we're away.

justice ... humility ... mercy ...