This is now my third week in San Francisco, and I'm falling in love harder and harder. I want to tell you all about the ministry I'm involved in three times a week here. It's called Because Justice Matters, this is their mission statement:
"To reach women who are victims of sexual exploitation and domestic
violence, and offer support to those experiencing isolation due to
economic and cultural challenges."
Heavy topic eh? Well sure was for me! Monday afternoons are Nail Days, where women from the Tenderloin District come in for a manicure, coffee, art activities, and fellowship! Such a great time to get to know the women and help support them in whatever they need. My first nail day was very hard and emotional for me. I wasn't really prepared, didn't know what to expect, and I just dove right in!
As you all know San Francisco is known as the "Gay Capital", well we also have a very large Trans gender population here, and these women are also invited to nail day. My first Nail Day was packed with these women who tend to seek a lot of attention and can to be very draining. I am a very observant person and with that, can feel emotions from people very well. To feel the amount of brokenness coming off of these women broke my heart in ways I cannot explain. I finished the day feeling very heavy and drained, asking God where I was supposed to fit in to such a broken culture/ ministry. I expressed my feelings with a leader and she reminded me about how we need to continually be giving these feelings to God. We are not called to carry these heavy burdens, but Jesus is! She also made a comment that really helped with my processing of the experience which was: the way you are hurting for these women is just a glimpse of the Father's heart for them, He cries for our brokenness, He's hurting with us. Wow! So powerful to have a glimpse of how God feels for me in my brokenness and every other person created!
For the rest of my week I spent time processing what I had experienced, and asking God to open my heart, but also protect my heart for future Nail Days. This past Monday was my second Nail Day and God totally used me and it totally rocked!! I had a lady sit down to get her nails done by me and instantly opened up to me about how she's new to the city and expressing issues she's having in the shelter she's staying at. With tears in both of our eyes, she spilled everything that was on her mind, and God just used me to listen to her and to also give her references for places that can help support her in her situation. That moment for me was a reminder of why I'm here, of the heart I have for women in general, and how God wants to use this gift He's given to me to serve His kingdom. She expressed how thankful she was to just have someone listen to her and how she would be coming back to Nail Day in the future. YAY!! Praise God he's sooo good and really meets us when we least expect it!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- For future Nail Days, that God will protect my heart and also use me to reach out to these women and to be a light to them.
- My Mom is having a fundraiser for me on Feb.18. Prayer that it will be successful and people will come out and support me.
- For the women that I connected with on Monday, that she'd come back to Nail Day and that she'd find another shelter to stay in with a healthier environment.
This is the website to Because Justice Matters if you are more interested in the ministry, or if you want to donate as well!
http://www.becausejusticematters.org/
Even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. PSALM 23:4
Goodbye for now!
Love Brenna
Heavy topic eh? Well sure was for me! Monday afternoons are Nail Days, where women from the Tenderloin District come in for a manicure, coffee, art activities, and fellowship! Such a great time to get to know the women and help support them in whatever they need. My first nail day was very hard and emotional for me. I wasn't really prepared, didn't know what to expect, and I just dove right in!
As you all know San Francisco is known as the "Gay Capital", well we also have a very large Trans gender population here, and these women are also invited to nail day. My first Nail Day was packed with these women who tend to seek a lot of attention and can to be very draining. I am a very observant person and with that, can feel emotions from people very well. To feel the amount of brokenness coming off of these women broke my heart in ways I cannot explain. I finished the day feeling very heavy and drained, asking God where I was supposed to fit in to such a broken culture/ ministry. I expressed my feelings with a leader and she reminded me about how we need to continually be giving these feelings to God. We are not called to carry these heavy burdens, but Jesus is! She also made a comment that really helped with my processing of the experience which was: the way you are hurting for these women is just a glimpse of the Father's heart for them, He cries for our brokenness, He's hurting with us. Wow! So powerful to have a glimpse of how God feels for me in my brokenness and every other person created!
For the rest of my week I spent time processing what I had experienced, and asking God to open my heart, but also protect my heart for future Nail Days. This past Monday was my second Nail Day and God totally used me and it totally rocked!! I had a lady sit down to get her nails done by me and instantly opened up to me about how she's new to the city and expressing issues she's having in the shelter she's staying at. With tears in both of our eyes, she spilled everything that was on her mind, and God just used me to listen to her and to also give her references for places that can help support her in her situation. That moment for me was a reminder of why I'm here, of the heart I have for women in general, and how God wants to use this gift He's given to me to serve His kingdom. She expressed how thankful she was to just have someone listen to her and how she would be coming back to Nail Day in the future. YAY!! Praise God he's sooo good and really meets us when we least expect it!
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- For future Nail Days, that God will protect my heart and also use me to reach out to these women and to be a light to them.
- My Mom is having a fundraiser for me on Feb.18. Prayer that it will be successful and people will come out and support me.
- For the women that I connected with on Monday, that she'd come back to Nail Day and that she'd find another shelter to stay in with a healthier environment.
This is the website to Because Justice Matters if you are more interested in the ministry, or if you want to donate as well!
http://www.becausejusticematters.org/
Even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. PSALM 23:4
Goodbye for now!
Love Brenna
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