The truest side of grace is this, from wounded hands redemption can be fed… David Crowder has no idea how these simple lyrics have proven so true in my life these past few days. It blows my mind how someone as broken and sinful as me can be used to deliver the message of God’s redeeming love to another.
As weeks go on here in Swazi I continue to see broken hearts and dry souls thirsty for living water. I see dying people, abused children, and people with righteous anger crying out for our Lord. And even though it may seem that something is blocking Heaven from flooding on this dry land we have to remember we serve a BIG GOD who is doing BIG things. He is God of the city of Nsoko, He is God of the people who we serve at the care points, and He is God of the nation of Swaziland.
This same God has completely rocked my world. He continues to shatter my heart with the use of one teenage girl who clings to me with hurt like I have never experienced before. Yet, through this hurt I am experiencing freedom like I have never felt before. God continues to use me despite my past, despite my little knowledge to the subject, and despite my emptiness.
It’s amazing how alone you can feel surrounded by 18 girls and about a hundred children all around ALL THE TIME!! But for the first time in my life I am screaming out to Christ “here I am. All of me, everything finally!” and it feels so great! I realized the need to let go of the past and fix broken relationships. It clicked one night during worship when we sang the song I have sung so many times before, “Oh How He Loves.” We got to the part saying we don’t have time to maintain these regrets… HELLO!!
God is working in wonderful ways, he is teaching things to me that I have heard over and over but they are just now sinking in. It doesn’t matter your past we serve a BIG GOD who can use broken people, broken relationships, and broken countries.
This is for all the Parents who have kids in Swaziland lets exchange contact inofrmation so we can support one another while our girls are gone.
David and Sharon Hazouri Baileys parents
[email protected]
205-987-7842
Thank you
Bailey keep up the good work! I am very proud of you and all that you are doing. I know God is watching out for you and standing with you.
We love you,
Mom and Dad
Bailey, you have no idea how much you are missed!! i can’t even begin to tell you how much you are in our thoughts and in our prayers! i know it has to be tough over there, but i know that that is exactly why God placed you there. just think, if you weren’t there, who would do what you are doing. i know you have others with you on your team, but Bailey, there’s something special about the way that you reach out to people–the sincerity, and the love are so real. know that Natalie and i pray for you often, and how awesome we think you are!!
i thought i would give you an update on how everything was going over here, and hopefully We just had our bring your peeps night: fright night and we had over 140 students and hopefully we’ll see all of them again really soon. i’m getting excited about winter retreat–kind of. but i already talked to your mother about you going with us, and she said it shouldn’t be a problem. yay!!
i miss Luke…a lot…hahaha!! i thought i’d throw that in there.
well keep up the good work, and know that as much as you love the people there, and sometimes it feels like that is what you went on this trip for, that you really are doing it for Christ. He’s the reason, and He alone can bring the fulfillment in any and everything that we do. we love you tons!!
by the way, i sent this as a message to your facebook too, b/c i was writing it there, and then i thought… “hmm, i wonder if she’ll be able to check her facebook.” anyways, we’ll be praying for you!!
seth
I am so touched to hear how God is working in your life and all your team members. Even in poverty and dispair, God is still at work and his love is so real. I believe with all my heart, God has chosen to send each of you for a reason. God Bless you all.
Also, Bailey, could you let Erica Bane know that she should be able to get funds from her debit card now. I called her bank. Thank you so much.
Linda Fisher
HEY GIRL !!! IT’S ME NIKKIS FRIEND. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!I JUST GOT YOUR ADDRESS FROM YOUR MOM AND IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE YOUR THERE. I KNOW HOW REWARDING IT MUST BE TO BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE WITH SO MANY NEEDS IN SUCH AN ISOLATED PLACE IN THE WORLD. WHO WOULD HAVE EVER PLACED YOU THERE OTHER THAN THE LORD! I KNOW YOU MUST BE OVERWHELMED AND AT THE SAME TIME THAT YOUR HEART IS OVER FLOWING WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IN FULFILLING HIS WORK IN WHICH WE ARE ALL CALLED TO DO. YOU HAVE MOST DIFFENTLY TAKEN IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. HE IS ALWAYS FULL OF SURPRISES FOLLOWED BY COUNTLESS BLESSINGS!!!!KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND NEVER FORGET THAT HE IS ALWAYS WITH YOU AND WILL NEVER PUT ON YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE!!!! WHEN GOD PUTS A BURDEN ON US HE ALWAYS HAS HIS ARMS BENEATH US. WISH YOU THE BEST AND CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR ALL ABOUT IT WHEN YOU GET HOME! YOUR IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYS DAILY !!!!! JUNIOR