Courage House will finally be welcoming our first girls home anytime now! The atmosphere is one of great anticipation, excitement, and expectancy. The staff and peer mentors are anxiously “counting down” the days…similar to that childhood feeling, awaiting Santa’s arrival. While we may not have an advent calendar with an exact “date” ahead of us, we do have their beds made, clothes hanging in the closet, and little gift bags with a “welcome home” present waiting at each bedside!
While we officially opened on August 1st, the process of actually bringing the girls home has taken a bit of time. Over the past month, staff and peer mentors have been busy visiting girls and going to court hearings. We have spent several weeks in staff training and using this time to get as prepared as possible. It’s not an uncommon scenario to find Courage House staff letting out little squeals of excitement at random times throughout the day as we plan recreational activities, meals, educational programs, and family outings. We simply cannot wait to bring these girls home!
As we have spent countless hours praying for our girls, the Lord reminded me of the scripture in Isaiah 66, “Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery? Says the Lord…Rejoice and be glad for her, all you who love her, rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her…. I will extend peace to her like a river….” As we await the “birth,” our posture remains one of joy and celebration. We have cried over them, we have prayed for them, and now we celebrate the homecoming of these girls, knowing that God Himself will provide the peace, healing, and restoration for every single one of them! Just a few more days and we will see the reality of this dream come to pass…and will watch as our girls realize that they too can begin to dream again.
Melissa Herrmann