First Volunteer of the Year!

Our first volunteer of the year is named Jacqueline and she is from Holland.  She has a beautiful testimony!  

Jacqueline was born in a city called Salvador, which is located in the northeastern region of Brazil.  Her mother was only 15 years old when Jacqueline was born.  By the time Jacqueline was 5 months old she was extremely sick.  Her mother took her to a children's shelter in Salvador and left her there because she was not able to properly take care of Jacqueline.  One of the missionaries at the children's home felt God wanted them to take in Jacqueline.  God also spoke a strong word to this man that Jacqueline had a great future.

A loving family adopted Jacqueline and she moved to Holland where she grew up and she lives there until today.  Jacqueline deeply loves her parents as they have taught her much about God and His great love. 

Today, Jacqueline is 26 years old and this is her first trip back to Brazil since she was a baby.   Jacqueline is very thankful and excited to be back in Brazil, and her trip here has such deep meaning for her.  She is finally able to learn all about the culture and country where was born. How wonderful!

In the girls' group this week Jacqueline shared her beautiful testimony.  She shared that it was really hard for her at times growing up in Holland being adopted and also wondering about her biological mother.   Her parents in Holland continually taught her about the love and comfort of God.  Jacqueline shared with the girls that even when she doesn't always understand everything in life, even when things have been hard for her,  she knows she can always go to God and He brings her a deep peace with His great love.

Jacqueline also shared a beautiful gift with the girls while she was with the girls.  She shared the gift of dance!  Jacqueline took ballet lessons from the time she was 3 years old until she was 16 years old.  She loves to dance and worship freely before the Lord in dance.

 Jacqueline presented a beautiful worship dance.

Afterwards she led the girls in a fun time of dancing to various upbeat worship music.  The girls absolutely LOVED it!  It was a  wonderful dancing day!

Even one of the shiest girls in the group was all smiles while she was dancing. All the girls were laughing and just getting free as they had fun dancing!

Next week Jacqueline will be celebrating her birthday in the city where she was born, in Salvador.  She is spending two weeks there to get to know the city where she is originally from.  How special is that!?!  Jacqueline has contact with the children's home where she taken as a baby, and some people there think they possibly have found Jacqueline's biological mother.  It is a great desire of Jacqueline to meet her biological mother and have a heart-to-heart talk with her one day. She is making steps of faith on this journey of finding her biological mom.

What an amazing God we have and what a beautiful story of a life that was transformed!  Jacqueline realizes that her life would have been much different had she never been taken to this children's home or been adopted.  She was literally rescued from darkness. God restored her life and gave her a great future, and God still has many more beautiful things HE is yet to do!

Jacqueline truly is a beautiful young woman who reflects the joy and love of God!  She left Belo Horizonte just this morning to travel to Salvador. We miss her already at the Lighthouse.  We wish she could have stayed longer!

More info about volunteers:

Most international volunteers who come to the Lighthouse take anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months out of their lives to serve here on a short-term basis.  If you are interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer click here or check out our "Get Involved" page on this blog.