Dream Catcher

I hope you had the opportunity to read my last post. Actually, it was my very FIRST post. If you didn't get the chance to read it, you can find it HERE. Writing about my dream, for the first time, was an interesting experience. I've never considered myself a writer. A talker, yes! But a writer? Not so much. But lately, I have found myself to have something on my heart that just needs to be said. Or, expressed. And so this blog was born out of a tug on my heart.

Ever heard of a God wink? Apparently, a God wink is a real thing. I thought I had made it up, but I googled it once, and low-and-behold, there it was! A God wink is like a coincidence, but much stronger than that. Its like a divine intervention. For me, a God wink is how God shows Himself to be intricately involved in my dreams and desires for the future. Perhaps you've had this experience, too? I mentioned in my last blog that God has blessed me with the gift of a great imagination. Of dreaming big dreams. Well, this particular dream has been lingering in my head for a very long time.

I mentioned in the last blog (sorry for those who have read it and don't want a repeat...you'll just need to bear with me for a moment), that this dream was birthed from a trip to Peru. I've traveled there a number of times, with different groups from our church, and each time I've walked the dusty streets, my heart has the same tug. If you could just see the faces of the children, there! And meet the men and women who live and work there. And experience the beauty. I simply haven't found the words to correctly express how precious this little village has become to me. I pray for them, constantly. I still look at the photographs I've taken there. I maintain connections, though they've become less consistent over time, on social media. And it is within this tiny mountainside village that my dream was birthed.

This dream, even as I write it now, seems rather implausible. Unlikely to come true. Maybe even ridiculous. But, then there is God.

dreamstime.com

Now, don't get me wrong. I certainly do not believe that just because I have a dream, it will come to pass. The verse cited above does not mean that Christ enables me to do ALL things. Seriously. This verse is taken out of context so often it drives me crazy! If I decided to jump off my roof and fly about town, I'm pretty certain that I will fall flat on my face, and likely break various bones as I fall! What I do believe to be true is this: If my heart is truly aligned with God and His will for my life, then Christ's strength within me enables me to succeed where He sends me. In other words, the things that I do, I do from His strength, and not my own. 

SO HERE IT IS

Here is the dream that God has continued to press on my heart...

As I was walking down a dusty street, in the town of Surco, I came upon a partially completed structure on the side of the road. But before I tell you about this structure, let me paint a picture of the village for you. Surco, home to fewer than 1,500 people, is situated on the side of a mountain in the Andes, with roads not much longer than a couple of city blocks, bending as switchbacks, traveling higher and higher. As you stand on the highest roads and look down you can see the entire village as it spreads out from a central plaza. Each road higher gives you a new vantage point. Near the park are the primary and secondary schools. Children wearing official school uniforms can be seen playing ball in the school courtyards, as well as in classrooms, learning history, arithmetic, or language. From store-fronts with open windows and doors you can smell food cooking or hear music playing. On the outskirts of town is a large, dusty soccer field with concrete bleachers on one side. On the opposite side of town is the local cemetery, with above ground tombs and ornately trimmed bushes, in the shapes of various animals. The government building, housing the mayor and his staff, is near the top of the village, looking down over the people, next door to the library and internet cafe. Donkey and cattle are found in various places on dusty roads. The surrounding mountainside is blanketed in green. There are grasses, shrubs, and trees. A long, rocky, dirt path winds up from Surco into the mountain, to another much smaller village and about a 5k hike from Surco is a beautiful waterfall.

Now, back to the place I was standing, on the dusty road in the upper section of town. The beginning of a structure was seen, with a concrete foundation, a few sections of concrete walls for a first floor, and exposed rebar extending skyward. It appeared that construction had begun a long time ago, and subsequently abandoned. A hand-painted sign next to the structure revealed this was a property for sale. Another vacant lot was also posted for sale, just around the corner. The view from both of these locations was spectacular! Standing there with my husband, on my first trip to Surco, I shared my dream with him. It came upon me immediately. I told him I could clearly envision the entire building, as a completed project! In my vision, there are three floors. The bottom-most floor houses a large kitchen and restrooms. The rest of the first floor is open space with lots of large windows, to take in the view from every angle. It is painted with bright colors and holds large tables and lots of chairs. There is plenty of open space for people to gather. A wide stairwell takes visitors up to the top two floors which provide sleeping quarters and large bathrooms. The hostel in these upper two floors will house traveling short-term missionaries, for free, and can also house tourists for a small fee. I told my husband that the lowest floor is a space for local children to come after school for assistance with their school work, English lessons, and to provide a safe place to play. And it even has a name! The JAM Room: Jesus And Me

I still see it. Exactly the same. Every time. As I've said, I have traveled to Surco several times. Each time with different friends. And each time I've seen the same piece of property. And my dream is the same.

Perhaps, my dream is unreasonable. Unlikely. Ridiculous. But, maybe it isn't. God has rekindled a fire in my belly. He has plans for the people of Surco. He has plans for His people everywhere! Maybe He will use me in a mighty way to bring this particular dream to fruition in Surco. And maybe he is using this dream to create a purpose that will be birthed elsewhere. Who knows? All I know for now is I'm going to keep dreaming. I'm not pushing. I'm not expecting things to work out any particular way. I know God has perfect timing. I know His plans are perfect in every way. For some reason, He hasn't allowed this dream to die. Instead, it is building. 

Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.  ~Proverbs 19:21 

This much I know, if it is of Him, it will happen. I would really love for you to share your God wink stories with me in the comments. He really is alive and working out His plan. And just as Job exclaimed, 

I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.   ~Job 42:2

Keep jammin'!

~ellen