Heather is married with 2 children and works as an Early Childhood and Women’s Pastor. She loves coffee, mentoring and one-on-one discipleship. 

Last fall, after feeling God’s calling to Central Eurasia, our family visited one of it’s beautiful cities. We were able to spend our time touring the city and praying for direction. Our favorite days were the last four when we joined the Live Dead Silk Road team to experience their daily life. The friendships made, conversations and experiences of those few days changed our lives in so many ways.

One of those experiences came on an afternoon when we had the privilege of joining one of the team members on a prayer walk/treasure hunt. This is simply a time of walking while being attentive to the direction of the Holy Spirit. Praying over people and places as we walk, and listening/watching for God’s direction to speak with individuals. Over the previous couple of weeks, our guide had been drawn to a particular neighborhood park in her walks and prayers; a park where she noticed sorrow in the faces of the women. She asked if we’d mind walking there with her.

“This is My World!”

Following her lead, we headed through the streets where I could barely imagine space for any significant park. As we turned the corner and saw the spacious square I was surprised with the sight of a large playground filled with children and my heart jumped. “This is my world!” I remember saying to her. She hadn’t known that I am an early childhood pastor and can’t seem to keep myself away from children. To see all of the children playing and laughing with parents and grandparents, pushing swings and strollers, filled my heart with the realization that the freedom and joy in this place is only a tiny taste of the freedom and joy that Christ wants for these people. Beyond the park were apartment buildings filled with emptiness. It was as if the people came to this playground to find a bit of joy to fill moments in their lives.

Fullness of Joy

We prayed for the women behind the apartment windows that surrounded the park. We spoke with a woman as she watched her little boy play. My favorite moment was when my 16 year old daughter and I joined two little girls jumping on trampolines. The look on their faces was beautiful. They talked with us and laughed at us, and as my husband watched from a nearby bench, he and our team guide noticed the women throughout the park begin to watch us and break into smiles.

Did they see the something filling us that they longed for?

Did they see lives full of freedom and joy in Jesus Christ?

I pray they did.

Today I pray that those who saw us, crazy American women, jumping and laughing on a children’s trampoline saw something of my Jesus. I pray that moment was a seed of hope for fullness of joy that penetrated hearts. I pray that Father God will send someone to water that seed and introduce them to the source of joy.

I pray that they will be filled with freedom and joy in Jesus Christ.