Praying Through

   I think that most of you know that my main heart in ministry (and in life) is for the restoration of family. I long to see broken families restored. I long to see children loved and cared for. The Lord placed a dream in my heart years ago to become family for children who need family. Two years ago, He clarified that dream even more and began speaking to me about creating the Abide Home here in Nicaragua. It will be a foster care home where we can provide short-term care for children who cannot safely live in their homes right now. It will be a place for them to Abide in the Father's love and to know His heart and their worth before (hopefully) being reunited with a restored family. However, I also desire to BE family for children in more permanent ways for those who are truly orphans or for whom it would be unsafe or unhealthy to return to their first family. The love of a family, restoration of first families, hearts healed and set free, children dancing and rejoicing in their belovedness- these realities are my heartbeat in the Kingdom. 

    For the past two years I have been working towards the creation of the Abide Home. I have been waiting patiently on the Lord and moving forward as He opens doors. In May 2012, I received my Nicaraguan residency and in June I purchased the land that will be the site of the Abide home. Every major breakthrough in this process has happened through the power of prayer. I know that prayer moves the heart of God. Prayer brings spiritual change that is manifest in the physical. Prayer changes outcomes. I remember standing on the land with a group of incredibly powerful women of God praying for breakthrough and asking for a release of inheritance (pictured left). Time was running out to buy the land. I was leaving for the States and knew it would be sold by the time I returned. I couldn't get in touch with the owner though I tried and tried. We met on the land and cried out for the Lord's favor and movement on my behalf. We asked Him to release the land to me. And He did. The next day the owner called me and asked to meet with me. Two days later I bought the very last two plots of land available in that area. (To read the full story, read: Releasing Inheritance)

   The Lord continued to move in this dream for several months as I purchased land and build a wall to enclose it. I set up a non-profit organization called Abide, was given the most perfect floor plans for the home, and have had people surrounding me who are ready and waiting to help. Then, near the beginning of 2013, everything felt stalled and restrained. I struggled with the Lord asking why things were no longer moving forward in this dream. I wrestled with Him and was learning to move when He moved and to wait when His Spirit camped. This has been a season of being led like the Israelites in the desert, following the leading of His Spirit. I have been sitting in the same place for almost a year now. My paperwork has been filed with the IRS and I have been waiting for my tax-exempt approval for Abide. It's the last piece of the puzzle in order to begin running forth again. After such a long period of waiting, the Lord is moving again!!

    I just received word yesterday that our paperwork in now with a reviewer at the IRS. We will have an answer in regards to our tax-exempt status in 30-60 days. Once again, I know that I need fierce prayer warriors standing and fighting with me. Please join me in praying. Pray for favor with the government. Pray for a quick and positive response to our request for tax-exemption. Pray for the future Abide Home. Pray for fundraising to build our house (don't worry I'll send out our fundraising push once our tax-exempt status is in place!) Join me in asking the Lord to move once again on our behalf. This dream began in prayer and we are going to pray it through until the Lord brings it to completion. Please pray with us.