Written by Barb Dunn, Beauty for Ashes trip, June 2018
A team of 12 ladies flew to San Jose, Costa Rica in June to hold several Beauty for Ashes retreats. We stayed at the Casa Transforma House, which is an awesome ministry that not only prepares women with work skills, but it is a safe place for women to share “their stories” of heartache and pain.
It was an honor and a joy to be used by God to listen and pray over several beautiful women. We heard many painful stories, but God was faithful to heal hurting hearts with his love. His beauty for the ashes of pain. One of the ladies asked why God wanted her to talk about the hurts in her heart. God wanted her to know his scripture in Luke 8:17 that says, “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.” As she understood the meaning of the truth, God’s truth was revealed to her. God wants to take the hurt so it doesn’t have a hold on us anymore. This is what happens when we share our stories.. It was a joy to see her being freed of the weight of her burden. As we cried with the ladies and hugged them, many said they felt the love of Jesus.
One of the team members, Jean, brought some paper crowns so each lady received one so they could decorate it with gems, scriptures and truths . As the crowns were completed, we all went outside and shouted our “truth” to the mountains . It was truly a prophetic act that reinforced what the Lord was doing in their hearts. Each lady felt special and knew that they were princesses of the most high God.
Jesus told us in Isaiah 61:1 that, “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim liberty to the captives and to open prison doors to those that are bound.”
I believe that our team was powerfully used by God this week to allow freedom to come to hurting women. It was a priviledge and an honor to be used by God to bring his love, mercy and grace to so many hurting ladies.
Our team laughed, we cried, we hugged and we ate some fantastic food prepared by our beloved Costa Rican friend, “Lucy.” She is an amazing women of God who works at the Transforma House loving on the ladies and helping every way she can. She glows with the love of God. The overseer of the House is another beautiful women of God, Vanessa. She allowed us to stay at the House for the week. She has an amazing love and a deep compassion to see the ladies healed, saved, and set free by God. She also has a great desire to see them trained with work skills, so they can help provide for their families and walk in their destinies and callings that the Lord has planned for them. A shout out to Lucy and Vanessa!!!!!! We love you!!!!
There are truly so many things I am thankful for as I write this blog. Being part of the team was awesome, and I truly miss the friends I made . The beach day was wonderful as we played in the sand and the ocean. Climbing over the rocks and climbing up the hill was a challenge – it made for some great photos. The 3 hour van trip allowed us to see so many beautiful sights. The tropical jungle was absolutely wonderful too as we saw so many beautiful animals including the frogs, butterflies and hummingbirds. The delicious buffet lunch was over the top!!!!!!
I am looking forward to my next Beauty for Ashes trip. Being part of the Lord’s plan to bring healing to a world of hurting people is what I long to do. I so appreciate the ministry that God has formed and the healing that the Beauty for Ashes program is providing women all over the world.
In His Service, Barb Dunn
