Hope Reborn...and a dress ceremony to celebrate!

Today was an unusual day.  There was an excitement and joy buzzing around the air from the moment the ladies woke up.  I don't know if they sensed that something exciting was happening today, or if it was just by chance, but they were unusually cheery.   I love to see how God brings light to the darkness.  It's amazing the transformation that has happened since last week.  I had to look at a calendar to make sure that only a week and a few days had passed since Dr. Lauri left because it has felt like an eternity has passed!  The dark mood that was inhabiting the ward has lifted, and left in it's place is laughter, fun, and dancing!   It's almost as if we have an entirely different ward of ladies.

After 4.5 llloonnnggg weeks of emotional ups and downs, joys and sorrows, tears and laughter, wet and dry, we FINALLY had a dress ceremony! The dress ceremony is the symbol of Hope Reborn.  It's a celebration not only of their physical healing, but also their emotional healing.  A new dress is a symbol of a new life, a new hope, a new beginning.

"I delight greatly in the Lord;

my soul rejoices in my God. 

For He has clothed me with garments 

of salvation 

and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness." Isaiah 61:10

 So today we witnessed great delight and rejoicing with testimonies of healing; songs of hope and thankfulness; and tears of gladness.  The pounding of the drums, the sweet melody of their voices, and the tears of joy falling from their faces still reverberate in my mind....it's a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth.