YAOUNDE, CAMEROON Unforgiveness

Unforgiveness In Your Heart: 
Marcia speaking about unforgiveness, had a length of yellow rope - one end tied to my wrist and one end tied to her wrist. 

" When you have unforgiveness in your heart, you are dragging the memory of that person around with you where ever you go.  It is like a dead weight on your soul. Your days are colored by that person and the hurt you won't forgive. Release it by forgiving the person and bringing them to the cross and give them to Jesus." Marcia Carole

"Forgiveness has nothing to do with absolving  the criminal of his crime.  It has everything to do with relieving oneself of the burden of being the victim-letting go of the pain and transforming oneself from victim to survivor."  C.R. Strahan

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON At The Foot of the Cross

"We keep our stories, our 
wounds and sins buried deep in our hearts because we don't believe God has truly forgiven us and loves us profoundly through Jesus," 

said Marcia. 

After she talked about each troubling issue, Marcia passed the representational object to me and I put it at the foot of a simple cross.

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON What's In Your Heart?

What's In Your Heart was the title of the teaching Marcia did with the heart pillow.  A close friend of mine developed and used the idea in cross-cultural work. We too have traveled together with my art.

Since then it's been used by Cathy in Peru (link to see how) and by Marcia in Cameroon and other far away countries.  

Teaching creatively, using visuals, speaks to the heart much more effectively than simply talking through a lesson.  Both Cathy and Marcia took this idea and have taught it in slightly different ways. As their mentor of sorts, I've been blessed seeing them creatively making it their own!

In the presentation, objects are pulled out of the heart pillow. These represent issues that have a grip on a woman holding her back from walking free and unburdened: generational sin; greed; love of money; misogyny; idea that beauty will save you; the hold of drugs or alcohol; worry; depression and others.

After the objects and issues are talked about one by one...then what?...
• toy mice-worry that 'nibbles' away, wearing you down, becoming all-consuming. • black rik-rak- representing Satan's schemes, evil or witchcraft. 

YAOUNDE, CAMEROON The Heart Pillow

On the third morning, Marcia taught with her heart pillow. Take a look. It lights up! With a string of Christmas lights inside, it causes a stir at the airport - but always makes it through.  

What's this about? 
To be continued....