“I am HIV positive and my ten year old son is HIV positive.
I have seven other children. I am sick.” This quote came from a woman who shared her pain during February 2009 at
the first Beauty for Ashes retreat in
Manzini, Swaziland.It was a story
that echoes thousands of other women across Africa.
For
years, God had been speaking to Seth Barnes, the founder of Adventures in Missions about the women of Swaziland being the hope for this nation. In a culture
where there is so much brokenness (a large population of orphans and widows)
and many people hiding behind taboo topics such as AIDS, shame literally covers
this country like a blanket. The overwhelming question was “what can
be done?”
As
God continued to speak, the vision for a “Storybook Weekend” unfolded
where women would have a safe place to be authentic and vulnerable through
sharing their stories, lifting the veil of shame in a loving community. In
these communities, many women would find freedom and healing, therefore
empowering their nation to do the same. Though it was apparent that
humans couldn’t save an entire country from AIDS, or prevent beautiful children
and women from being orphaned or widowed, they did have the power to love, and
love they did!
Over 40
Swazi women and seven American women came together for a three-day weekend of
exchanging their ashes for beauty. It was a place where they encountered the
transformational love and freedom of Jesus and got to share the deepest parts
of their hearts and lives.Some
stories had never been told, and many of the women had never encountered the
“church” in this way.This wasn’t
just an event or retreat – it was God’s heart pouring out and His people
experiencing Him in ways never before tasted.
Shortly
after, in August of 2009 six American women (almost all strangers to each
other) came together in Sarasota, FL for their own mini-version of what took
place in Swaziland. Again there was a flood of more stories and tears, and
God’s presence, healing and freedom showed up.It was through this experience together that the Beauty
for Ashes ministry began to form – where
women around the world will be able to exchange the ashes of their
isolation, shame, and wounds for crowns of beauty and restoration through
Jesus. In community with other women, we see women being discipled in the Word
to walk daily in this new freedom and discover their true purpose here on
earth.
We
recognize that though our stories may not perfectly correspond with each other,
there are some fundamental needs at the heart of every woman . . . and some
very common wounds we encounter on this journey called “life.” Women are
relational to our very core – and it is important to know we are not alone,
that we have a safe place to be vulnerable, that we are able to identify with
one another, as well as share the beauty, freedom, and life-giving nature of
being created in the image of a loving God.We believe God’s heart is to see His people freed by the
truth – truth that transcends age, history, circumstance, geography and
culture.
John
8:32 – And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
