So,
It’s time now to tell
you about some of the things that have been happening this week. I have been
putting this off but I don’t think I can any longer. When I signed up for the
race, I knew that some of the things racers were passionate about was healing the
sick, raising the dead and casting out demons. But I have never really had to
deal with that stuff in my small town country church back home. I have heard
people say that they prep us for those things because people in other countries
worship way more hardcore then we as Americans are used to and there is an
openness to the spirit moving around the world that we as Americans sometimes
turn away from because it scares us.
Okay, so if you would
have talked to be before this trip about speaking in tongues I would have said,
“Yeah sure, that’s fine. But I’ll never do it.” Oh how God works in funny ways!
God has been unlocking and showing me new things spiritually while on this trip
about the power of healing thru the holy spirit and that’s been exciting. Also
being able to sense the spiritual climates of where we go has been a nice thing
to tap into so far. Blessing houses that I go into to live in or work in is
just a normal thing for me now but speaking in tongues has been something that
I have never been interested in. I mean, it’s fine for some people but that
kind of stuff doesn’t happen thru small town Alabama girls. Right? ….. WRONG!
Last Sat night was
just like any other night. My team had come in from ministry and we were all
getting ready for church. We walked the 45 min walk to church and stayed close
to each other and the boys stared down the Dominican men who whistled at us as
we were walking… Typical night. We arrived at the church which is a super small
building without windows that’s placed in a not so great part of town. The boys
and girls sit on opposite sides of the church and kids climb all over your lap
as you sit there trying to figure out what people are going up and talking
about.
So on this night,
this random woman who we had never seen before comes in and starts praying this
prayer about angels, demons and begging god for more gifts for us as a people
to fight off the enemy. Next thing I knew, my leg started shaking and I just
felt the need to pray stronger than I ever have before. I felt like if I didn’t
open my mouth then I was going to explode with emotions. As soon as my mouth
opened my tongue started moving out of control. I was praying in Spanish! I
prayed for 2 hours straight some of the most intense prayers that I have ever
heard come from anyone even though I had no idea what I was saying! Anyway,
just didn’t talk about it much after because I needed to think and process thru
it more. I thought of all kinds of things and explanations but nothing made
sense except that the woman who had come in that night had prayed that over me
and next thing I knew, it was happening.
I didn’t talk with my
team much about it even though they all saw it for themselves as it was
happening and they patiently waited on me to be ready to talk about it… So
anyway, 2 nights ago (Fri night) we were having feedback and the spirit broke
out thru us! I don’t know how to explain to you my team in any other way but
thru joy and laughter. We have angels on our side and they constantly surround
us. Everyone who meets us feels it. It’s crazy! Well anyway, last night Aubrie
preached and felt the lord telling her that we as a team were supposed to pray
over individuals in the church. A crowd of people came up and the first person
we prayed over and anointed was a lady who had nose surgery done recently and
was asking for healing in recovery. As we prayed over her she started to twist,
moan, shake and just go crazy it seemed like. She almost passed out and we had
to drag her to a pew and sit her down. At first I think I was in shock because
I had never seen anything like that except on movies. But as the night
progressed more and more people were prayed for and healed. CRAZY! God is doing
some amazing things thru my team and I don’t even know what to expect now.
Last night at
feedback, Christy decided to have a foot washing ceremony. It was the most
beautiful thing I have ever experienced in my life. I have had my feet washed
before in a church setting but this was different. Back then I was 16, clean,
and didn’t understand the purpose… But this was when my feet were gross, tired,
and worn out. When my body was unclean and Christy decided to be Jesus to us.
All of a sudden it wasn’t Christy washing my feet and anointing them with oil,
but it was JESUS! Jesus LOVES us that much that he would get down on his hands
and knees and not only touch our smelly, dirty, aching feet but he would wash
them and anoint them. How amazing is that? God’s love is so thick and deep and
I’m learning more and more about it every single day… And I have just now hit
the tip of the ice burg… I’m excited about what’s to come in the future of me,
my team, my squad, and everyone we meet.
