Today my team and I went out in the village with the “task” of surveying women and children to see if they needed food assistance or help in any other way. Though this was the task at hand, my team and I all knew that we were really going out to minister to the village of Talanga and let Jesus lead our path. To back up to the beginning of the day, I woke up not feeling so hot. I also had a pill lodged in my throat and was having some difficulties breathing. Two other teammates were feeling ill and nauseous as well. I began to think, “Well maybe I should just stay home in the morning and go back out with everyone in the afternoon.” Then, I heard God speak so clearly to me. “Go. Minister and love my people.” So I decided to listen to the Lord and cast out the lies and my flesh, which were telling me to stay and rest. Thankfully, my other teammates decided to go out to the village as well.
One of the first places we stopped was at a Pulperia, or local store, where there were many women and children gathered. We asked the questions we were supposed to ask but also found out this little baby, Sophia, was very sick and was running a high fever. When I looked at her, she looked so still yet I could feel in my Spirit she was uneasy. My team and I started praying over this beautiful girl and declared healing in Jesus’ name. I explained to the mother that I am a nurse and she told me that her baby has a rash all over her body and that she has not been feeling well at all. My teammate Laura then anointed little Sophia with peppermint oil on the bottom of her feet, and I kid you not – Sophia instantly woke up. She looked so content and peaceful. We then laid hands on her forehead and felt that her fever was breaking. She was so warm that her mother had to take her sweater off and then minutes later we felt Sophia’s forehead with absolutely no fever. Her mother was amazed and slightly shocked. She kept telling her friends that Jesus has healed her baby! This precious, beautiful, little one was actually HEALED in front of our eyes. Yes! This is the first time I have actually SEEN healing happen in front of me. I cannot explain the peace I felt but I knew the Holy Spirit was there and God was working in profound ways. He wants to heal all of His children and we need to declare that and believe it in our hearts.
The day continued with many prayers, blessings, and divine occurrences. In the last house we went to, there lived a family that I cannot get out of my mind. The mother and children welcomed us in with open arms and loving smiles. I learned that the boy, Orlan, has been mute and deaf his whole life (he is 5 years old). Words cannot do justice to describe the joy this little one had. He was full of life, the Holy Spirit, and a love so strong it radiated from him. I know that God draws us to certain people for a reason, and I was intensely drawn to this boy and his family. I began talking to his father and surprisingly understood most of what he was asking me. I found out he has relatives in the United States and he even knows where my hometown is in Minnesota! We then asked to pray for Orlan and laid our hands on him. We began to pray for the Lord to heal this boy of being mute and deaf and then we just commanded it with a hope and faith so strong. After praying for Orlan, we began to sing Amazing Grace. After we were done singing the first verse, I opened my eyes to look behind me and hear Orlan’s father singing Amazing Grace in Spanish. Tears started to pour down my face and I knew in that instant that this is why God wanted me here. To see the hope in the eyes of an impoverished country. To see life in a boy who can only understand sign language. And to see faith in a father who loves his children to the ends of this Earth.
In devotional today, Gracie quoted a world racer on a different squad. He said something along the lines of this: In order for others to come to know Jesus and see how much He cares and loves them, WE have to care for and love these people first. Jesus was all about having a relationship with people. So many people in this country have undergone such oppression, abuse and suffering their whole life they do not understand how a God could love them. They might be angry or frustrated and ask why did God abandon or forget them? Why did He let them go through such suffering? Although there is much darkness and lost souls in this world, Jesus is stronger. He IS the light and that shines through in people He calls to carry out His plans. If I do not love on those who have been abused their whole life and tell them of their worth, who will? If I do not step outside my comfort zone to pray healing and blessings over a disabled child, who will? If I do not trudge through physical and spiritual obstacles to rock a crying baby and comfort a mother who feels abandoned, who will? My view of ministering and evangelizing has changed drastically since I have arrived in Honduras. I thought I would be preaching the Gospel and telling people about Jesus, but instead I am showing them Jesus. I am taking the time to get to know people and their families. I am hearing their stories and my heart aches with their hurts and struggles. I am beginning to see people through the eyes of Jesus – not my own.
I am so glad I listened to God today, even when my flesh was telling me to stay home and rest. This has been one of the best days in Talanga so far. I am so filled with joy right now I could burst. To have genuine love for those you just meet and be able to pray over them is the biggest blessing I could ever ask for. I have seen the face of God in Hondurans, in Gracie and Papi Lee, in my team, and in the small things. He is so present here.
Amazing Grace…. Orlan WILL be able to speak. Orlan will be able to hear and praise the name of Jesus. How Sweet the Sound.
