WOW, WHAT A WEEK IT HAS BEEN!!
It seems absolutely crazy that we only have a week left in our first month of ministry in Peru! Time seems to be moving in fast-forward, yet I am intentionally trying to slow down and acknowledge God in each moment. Luckily, He has not been hard to find. It is so evident that the presence of God is alive and active in this community. Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to pray for a blind woman in the market of a nearby village called Carhuaz. After praying for her healing, her eyes filled with tears, and she exclaimed that she could see again!!
That same night, I was experiencing some problems with my own health. I was diagnosed with type one diabetes when I was 14 years old and coming on the race while transporting months-worth of insulin and other medical supplies has been a huge leap of faith. On this particular day, my blood sugar levels had been extremely high. My team surrounded me at the end of the day, and we all decided to spend the next two days praying and fasting. This is just one of many examples why I love my team so much! They are like my brothers and sisters, and each one of them reflects the love Christ has for His church in such a real and unique way.
The next day, while we were still fasting, my entire team went to another market in Huaraz. As we had so many times before, we began to sing a worship song that had been recently translated to the Quechua language. When we sang “Nothing but the Blood” in Quechua, the native people instantly began to surround us and ask questions. They could not fathom the idea of a perfect God extending grace and love to people who seem so undeserving. Many had never heard of a God who would send His only Son to pay the ultimate price for our sins. This opened a door for us to be able to pray for four Quechua women nearby. One woman, in particular, struggled with constant migraines and was unable to see. I asked God to heal her head/eyes, then her headache vanished, and she was able to see again!! The other women around her witnessed what the Lord had done and immediately asked for prayer as well. One woman had a tremor in her left hand and paresis on the entire left side of her body. After praying for her multiple times, the shaking subsided slightly, and she was able to walk with no pain in her legs! All four of the women said that they wanted to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, so we all got to pray for their salvation together.
By this time, more people noticed what was happening, and lines of men, women, and children began to form to receive prayers for healing. The faith of the people amazed me. We were ultimately able to direct their focus away from us and toward the healing work of Jesus Christ. As we continued to pray, we saw headaches, back pains, and knees completely healed and restored. Mothers brought their babies and asked me to pray for healing and greater anointing on their lives. A woman who had liver disease and lived in constant pain for years was relieved of all pain in an instant. A man with tendon damage in his shoulder was not able to raise his hands at all, and after we prayed, he was raising his hands above his head and singing joyfully in worship!
I felt completely overwhelmed by God’s presence, His goodness, and His faithfulness, when suddenly another woman approached me. She invited my team into her home and explained that she needed healing from diabetes. It was one of the most unforgettable moments of my life. I will admit that believing for my own healing has been difficult at times, and in a moment when I was feeling discouraged with my own health, God surrounded me so intentionally with community. I was able to sit with this woman and contend for her healing. Then, I was able to ask her and her family to pray for me as well. It was the first time they had ever prayed to God out loud, and I have never experienced something so humbling and beautiful. I know that God delights in giving good gifts to His children, and I am reminded that He is contending for and fighting with me in every battle. He delights in seeing the full-circle healing and redemption that occurs in the context of a relationship with Him. I am fully trusting that God will heal me in His perfect timing.
It is so much better His way.
