Over the past 2 years, we have uncovered so many new layers of darkness here – in ways we never imagined possible. We’ve created numerous opportunities for children to share their fears, sadness, and trauma in a safe space at the mission. To be honest, we didn’t expect them to open up so quickly and transparently. We are grateful that God has given us the eyes to see and the wisdom to respond, even if only in small ways.
We may not always know exactly how to rescue them from their current situations, but we can show them the love of Jehovah-Rapha! We can give them the opportunity to be the children God intended them to be. We can create a safe space where they don’t have to worry about anything bad happening.
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This past month, we began our Royal Resilience Camp! We have identified 12 girls and 12 boys (ages 7-9) who are in desperate need of love, encouragement, self-esteem, and trauma/abuse therapy. The Princesses (girls) will meet for 3 hours every Monday and Tuesday, and the Princes (boys) for 3 hours every Wednesday and Thursday.
We officially wrapped up the Superhero Camp with 20 boys on May 11th. It took nearly two weeks to transform the space back into a palace. Both groups will participate in crafts, lessons on building self-esteem and confidence, games, sand-tray therapy, trauma-play therapy, and of course, they will get to dress up as the prince or princess they truly are. Each day, we will offer them a hot meal along with snacks, drinks, candy, and special desserts.
(FYI – Sand tray and play therapy can help traumatized children express their feelings and experiences in a non-verbal, creative way. These therapeutic methods provide a safe and controlled environment where children can process and make sense of their trauma. Additionally, these therapies can foster emotional healing and resilience, enabling children to build healthier coping mechanisms).
We have learned so much over the past year from successfully running the Princess Camp last summer and the Superhero Camp recently. We have seen real fruit and experienced God’s divine intervention over and over again. We will continue to be intimately involved in the lives of the children who have already participated in these past programs and will spend the rest of the summer working privately with these new children – as we help them process their trauma.
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This upcoming week, we are focusing on body image and self-talk. Each child has a handheld mirror to discuss “what they see” and “what they feel” when they look at themselves. We will start each session by dressing up (each group has their own costume accessories) and making daily affirmations in the mirror. We will read stories together, watch video clips, color, eat rice and beans, dance, play games, work on crafts, and have a lesson each day. With the help of our leaders, the kids will journal about their feelings and complete worksheets as well.
Please continue to pray for wisdom. The stories and trauma these little children have faced are heart-wrenching. Their needs are great, and the answers aren’t simple.
(NOTE: For safety reasons, unless they are staff or my children, we will be covering or blocking the children’s faces in some way).
BEFORE PHOTOS
Princess 2023 & Superhero 2024
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THE NEW ROYAL PALACE
A Few Pictures From Week 1
