Masiel

Live as children of light. ::. Ephesians 5:8

Victory at last! Last night we had one of the best victories here at the house that I’ve seen so far. One of the girls, Luz (who I will be writing about soon) had just been sent to her room for playing with matches and lighting things on fire and was getting closer and closer to one of her screaming fits that she so often has with me. As I was on the brink of total frustration and losing my cool Masiel came up to me and asked if I had a Bible so that she could read a verse to Luz. I was shocked because nothing like this has ever happened before. I don’t have a Spanish Bible but I knew Lauren (our other American living here) had one so I suggested she ask Lauren. Masiel didn’t know what verse she wanted to read so she and Lauren prayed together that God would help them choose the perfect verse to read to Luz. This is what they opened the Bible to:

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)  and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”  Ephesians 5: 8-14

Not only was this verse meant for Luz, as her name literally translates in English to “light” but it is so perfect for the girls here at Havilah. I am certain that each girl has been hand-picked by God to live at this house and have the chance to shine goodness, righteousness and truth in the face of the darkness that has haunted them most of their lives.  That verse confirmed it for everyone. After Masiel read the verse to Luz, she finally calmed down, stayed in her room and the rest of the night was peaceful.

Masiel is a Hebrew name that means, “she who comes down from the stars.” Masiel has always been the good seed here. Sometimes she gets caught up in the peer pressure of being naughty but for the most part she truly strives to do good. She comes from a broken family that lives near the dump, but fortunately she has a very kind and loving mother who knows that living at Havilah is what’s best for her. Masiel is a star. She shines here at the house. She’s also hilarious. You can often find her wearing goofy clothes stuffed with pillows to emphasize certain body parts dancing and singing ridiculously. We are so blessed to have Masiel here to be an example to the other girls. Please pray for Masiel to keep on shining like the star that she is…