prayers of protection for our girls

Right now I am reading a book by a female professor who held a women's reading group in Tehran. The women read and discussed books forbidden by their government, which led to them discussing their own lives and the pain inflicted upon them by their oppressors. Inside the walls of the professor's home the women removed their veils and their fears, and were free. Safe. And always when they left, the professor was saddened and frustrated because she had to send them back to their lives, which were, in fact, prisons.

This is how I am feeling today.

For one week 14 girls were safe. No one came into their beds at night to hold them down and molest them. No one beat them. They did not have to watch the adults fight with one another nor did they have to peer out their windows fearfully watching for the police who take their brothers and fathers away. There were no gunshots and nobody was drunk or out of control. The peace and safety were unreal to them for the first few days.

But then they began to relax in it. For just a brief time they were little girls, finger painting and playing in the creek and sleeping under the stars. Everything was new: snow, a deer walking through camp, a lovely banquet dinner on the meadow prepared just for them. Sometimes they would frown skeptically at us. "You did this for US?" they would ask. They couldn't believe it was real. They were amazed and their eyes searched us, wide at the wonder of it all. There are many stories and pictures to share. You can see a few here, here, and here.

Then the last day came, and we watched them harden again. Some of them begged us not to make them go home. Some expressed fear at the notion of returning to it all. Dee, who came to camp not believing God exists, told us "I know in my heart it is Jesus who makes so much love in this place."

Above is a picture of Cecilia. She confided to us something that happened to her the night before she left for Outpost. It was plaguing her the first couple of days and she had a hard time letting go. I love this picture of her catching the light. She did grasp it, finally, and was able to see how the love of Jesus brings light into the dark places. She held it briefly, and I saw the innocent young girl she truly is.

Please pray for all these girls that what was put into them--by Jesus through our amazing staff (Lily, Annie, Jessica, Kari, and Christina) and the love and generosity of Tony and all the staff at Calvin Crest--is sealed by the Holy Spirit. Please pray against the enemy's evil schemes to rob them of the truth of God's love and plans for them. I know he is at work right now trying to undo what was done in their hearts. We need prayers of protection for our girls. I have listed all of them below. Please pray for these girls by name.

His, Jamie

Morgan
Tessa
Desi
Cheyenne
Brandy
Cecilia
Dakota
Bianca
Blanca
Dee
Jade
Alexandria
Danielle
Elizabeth