Wednesday:
We are staying at a church here in Teapa that is actually the pastor’s house. He and his wife have been so hospitable to us. This is the first time Americans have come to this village, so they are very excited and at the same time we are a bit nervous because we will set the tone, but we know it will all be good.
During our training week, it was recommended that maybe we take turns or as a group to fast once a week, so we have divided days up and Jessica and I are fasting on Wednesday….so as the group ate one of my favorite breakfast foods, I was tortured…but during the time they were eating I enjoyed my time with the Lord.
We went to one of the other villages and did some door to door evangelism. We split up into2 groups and walked around for a couple of hors, then we all came back together and shared what the Lord had done and later that night had a worship service.
There are several stories I could tell, but I will only tell one in particular. We were talking to a lady asked if she had anything we could pray with her about and she said no, so we left her and went to another house.
While we were in the other house she sent her little girl in to get us and tell us to come back over and pray with her. When we got back she told us how as soon as she said no to our prayer there was something inside of her that ached, so she shared with us some things that were happening in her life. One in particular hit home with me and broke my heart because I have been there. She has a little boy (Raphael) that is probably about 3 years old and has been healed from epilepsy. He now how psoriasis very bad on his feet and hurts him to walk. She is torn because if she takes him to the doctor he will have to go far away and will be gone from the family for a while. I know the Lord can heal people of this disease, so it was laid on my heart to pray for him.
About a month or so ago, I was struggling with the psoriasis that I had. It had gotten pretty bad and when I saw the doctor the medicines he was given me were not helping too much. I remember going home and sitting in my room and saying Lord, I am sick of this. I know you can heal me of this completely, so I ask that you heal me in the name of Jesus. I never really felt that I was completely healed, but still had the faith. Well, as I was sitting there talking to this lady asking her if I could pray for her son, the Holy Spirit told me…I healed you and now you use that healing to heal this little boy in my name. Wow…I was blown away. The lady brought the little boy in and I held him and my lap and prayed over him. As I was praying I’ve never felt such assurance before. I knew the Lord was healing him right there. The Holy Spirit told me to tell the mom that she had to believe in this healing that as long as she stood in the gap for him and believed that he is healed…he is. She said she believed…he had been healed before and knows that the Lord can do it many more times. I left that house knowing with the assurance in my heart that he is healed. No, at the time there was no physical evidence, but I know what the Lord spoke to me and to his mom and he is healed!!!! Praise God!!!!
Last night, we went back to this village and had a worship service. Only 2 people other than the pastor go to this church on a regular basis and we had 5 adults, about 10 young children, and about 8 older kids. The younger kids played games with Jessica, Jessica, Laura, and I while Paul and Cory were worshiping, and Hugh was playing soccer with the older kids. They loved it the younger kids did not care that we couldn’t speak their language, they caught on and played and had so much fun. Two little girls just wanted to be held and loved, so Jessica and I just held them all night. Hugh was playing soccer with the older kids and they were amazed at the fact that someone older would play soccer with them. They have never had that before. It was amazing to see the way we were able to minister in so little things, but in so many ways.
Thursday:
Another day where we are woken up at 5am by the hammering, the rooster crowing, the crop duster planes flying low, and the Mexican music blaring all across the village. Another day to take a shower in (with) a bucket and to wash your hair in the most creative way possible in the same “room” where the toilet is and you have to pour water to flush the toilet and then throw the toilet paper in the garbage can. Another day to have all of my team mates make fun of the way I talk because I am from Mississippi and they love to make fun of my “twang”. Another day that Jess and I can talk about how we want to go and climb a banana tree and run through the fields. The fruit vegetation here is unbelievable.
Everything is great. We are going out to minister into a different village today and see what the Lord has in store for us. Where He will lead us, take us, and tell us what to do. When we got there it (the village) was just one street, so we kinda thought to ourselves, okay this won’t take long. We walked all the way to the end of the street prayer walking and then split off into 2 groups where some prayer walked and others went door to door to talk to people. Jessica, Laura, Paul, and I prayer walked…well, we did for about 30 minutes, until all the kids started following us around and laughing and wanting to play, do what do we do…we play. It was so much fun. It’s amazing how little kids can communicate with you and not let language be a barrier.
Of course (as there always is) one little girl stole my heart. Her name is Rosa and when we got ready to leave she followed me all the way to the truck and climbed in with me and wouldn’t get out. Cory (our translator) kept telling her to get out and she acted like she couldn’t understand him. I felt so bad that I had to leave, but we are going to go back tonight and play games with them, paint faces, and have sidewalk chalk for them to color with.
As you can tell, I am doing great. The anticipation I wake up with daily to see how God is going to use me and what He has in store for me is AMAZING!!!
Miss you and Love you so much…but I have to tell you right now…I think I miss white chocolate mochas more than anything!!!!! J
So…we just got back from our night in the village. It was a blast. As I type I have cat whiskers on my face. The whole village came out and the Americans made a really good impression for them. They were very happy that we came and we had just as much fun as they did.
