This week we have been in training and have stayed at the K.I.M (Kids International Ministries) ministry site. I have been in the Philippines for five days and God has already stretched me in ways I never thought possible. For one thing, I am learning to just get over being clean and tidy. No more clean hair, clean clothes, or a clean living space. I’m starting to get used to sweating non-stop and having swollen ankles (which almost everyone has).
I never knew there were 3,000 dogs per person in this country, according to Jeff, a leader of our ministry site. I never knew two roosters could fight so viciously and that locals gather around to watch and cheer for these fights. I never knew I could eat rice with so many different toppings and sauces. I never knew I would swim under a waterfall. I never knew I could fall in love with so many little children after knowing them for only five minutes. 
I never knew God would call me to do something completely out of the ordinary…something that had never even crossed my mind…something that most people would call me crazy for doing. Several days ago, a young Filipino woman passed away from cancer. She was a mother to three small children, all under the age of ten. The woman’s close friends wanted someone to come pray for her. They wanted God to rise her from the dead. Our group felt called to go, so all 80 of us walked to her casket at 7:30am.
For two hours straight, we called out to God, asking for Him to rise up His daughter. We shouted that Satan would be gone in Jesus’ name. We asked our Creator to do a miracle. We laid hands on the woman and prayed over and over and over that she would get up and walk.
Two days ago I would have thought this was absolute insanity. I never would have believed that something like this could ever happen. I’d read the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, but I never believed God would raise the dead today, in this age. I never believed God would call me to have enough faith in Him to do something like this.
Yet somehow, walking up that hill to the woman’s casket with an army of prayer warriors, God gave me faith like I have never known before. He gave me faith that anything, yes, anything is possible for Him. God can raise the dead at any moment if He chooses to do so. Nothing is too big of a task for Him. Nothing. And I had complete confidence in the Lord’s ability to accomplish this task.
Though the woman did not rise from her casket that very hour, I firmly believe God can still raise her from the dead at any moment. If it is the Lord’s will for her to walk on earth again to be with her children, it will happen. If it is the Lord’s will for her to walk with Him in Eternity, it will happen.
God stretched my belief in Him once again. Regardless of the circumstance or the outcome, I know the Lord can do the impossible. I believe this with my entire being. I am drawn to His character as I keep discovering the depth of His power and love. Let me tell you, it goes deep. So deep that we can be exposed to more of it every single day.
My prayer is that my faith will only continue to increase. I pray that I will never have any doubt of what the Lord can do. My team is heading to Puerto Galera tomorrow to work with the organization Threads of Hope. I have faith that God will blow us away once again.
