Month one debrief. None of us knew what was coming for us… We only knew that it would be refreshing, fun, and impactful. But I don’t think we fully understood just how impactful it would be.
Let me back track for a second and talk about how since training camp, I’ve been having my squad pray for my healing. Celiac disease isn’t the end of the world, but it sure puts a burden on not just me but those I am serving amongst. It’s not the easiest thing to find gluten free items in foreign countries. The language barrier is just the start to the difficulties. It’s followed by the problem of cross contamination, lack of gluten free products in general, and my major dislike of having people go totally out the way to make me a separate meal from the group. My lovely hosts in India were gems and never once complained about it – not to mention that I only had to make one comment of the fact that I couldn’t eat gluten and from there on out they ALWAYS remembered to make me something special. That was a huge blessing. But that also made me feel like a huge burden/problem. No one likes to feel like a problem.
I remember having a day between camp and launch in which Q Squad prayed and fasted for my healing. Several people had spoken over me that the Lord did, in fact, want to heal me and that they thought it would happen on the Race. This was incredibly encouraging, but I had my doubts; after all, my doctor told me that Celiac disease isn’t something that you can just get over. It’s a chronic, autoimmune disorder and my body would never be able to handle gluten ever again. But, my squad members were so supportive of me and kept praying and speaking into my healing. They kept encouraging me to believe that the Lord can and WILL do it. It’s just a matter of time. One of my squad mate’s girlfriend even messaged me on Facebook to tell me of a vision she had where I was eating cupcakes with children in Swaziland! It was such a beautiful picture that she described that it brought tears to my eyes as I read it.
Fast-forward to month one debrief. This was a debrief that will forever be a game changer in my faith. It’s the first night and we are on the roof top of our hostel having a worship night. I was anticipating the usual night of singing a few songs, sharing a few testimonies, and praying both individually and corporately – nothing out of the ordinary. We begin singing and sharing what the Lord puts on our hearts. Tyler was leading worship and asked if there was anyone who had pain in their right leg. Several people walked to the front who had pain in their legs and we began praying over them. Shortly after that started, Wayne stands up and says, “God wants to heal this squad.” This might seem like a “duuuh’ moment, but Q Squad has been attacked heavily with health issues and injuries since being out on the field. This statement meant a lot to all of us, and I would go so far as to say that the statement meant the most to me.
I had gotten to the point of irritation and anger when it came to healings. The word left a bad taste in my mouth because the Lord hadn’t responded to my plea for healing yet. So, I broke down and started crying. Wayne walked over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. This is significant because I was in the middle of a large group of people and somehow the people just parted and Wayne walked straight through. Two or three minutes pasted and we split off into out teams to talk about whatever was on our hearts that night and anything we needed prayer for. When it came to be my turn, I expressed that I was tired of having something physically wrong with me. It feels like ever since I can remember I’ve had either a sickness or an injury. I’ve felt like a problem to many people along the way because of this and I was over it. I also expressed that I was kind of angry with God because He didn’t seem to want to heal me. I had had it at this point. My team began to pray over me and give me words of encouragement. At this time, Rachel speaks up and tells me that the Lord gave her a picture of me. She began by telling me that I was in a field…
Rachel: You’re in a field and you are dancing. You are alone and the field goes on and on forever. You can’t really see where it ends.
Me: Wait… Haha. Am I in a wheat field?
Rachel: Yes. You are dancing in a wheat field and it’s like gold.
Me: (At this point, I lost it and started laughing and crying at the same time.) What! This is crazy. What color dress am I wearing?
Rachel: White.
Me: YEP! Is it long?
Rachel: Yes, and you have a crown of flowers on your head.
Me: *Laughing and crying tears of joy*
Let me explain why I was freaking out. This picture is one the Lord has been giving me since I was a child. Any time that I would ask Abba what he thinks of me or how he sees me he would give me this exact picture. And to my knowledge, I had never really told anyone about it because I thought it was just a sweet picture that the Lord had for me. There wasn’t any real significance to it. Until now, that is! So, I explained the my team that this was the first time I realized the significance of me dancing in a WHEAT field. You see, in the picture, I am dancing freely and the sun is shining brightly down on me in this golden wheat field that goes on forever. I am engulfed in it and I am at peace and filled with joy! The odds of the Rachel getting the exact same picture as I have been getting for years are out of this world. As I sit here writing this on a roof top in Nepal, I still get goose bumps!
That night, Jenni leaned over to me and said, “I don’t think any of this is a coincidence, Heather.” So, my team and I declared healing over my body and spoke against any doubts of this healing I might have over the next few days. We rejoiced and gave thanks to our Father in Heaven for this glorious work he did in our midst.
The next morning, I went to breakfast and had a piece of toast with my eggs… and I was fine. I kept testing it with all sorts of things. One of which was this incredible pastry from the bakery around the corner form our hostel. Thanks for that, Kyle!
Doubt did in deed sneak in for a few days. For about three days I had some issues digesting food. Every time I felt “movement” I would declare my healing and rebuke the work of the Enemy. I also would tell my great teammates and they would encourage me and pray for me. This all settled down, and I haven’t looked back since! I’ve been enjoying meals with my squad and I haven’t had a worry in the world. I have had full energy and no stomach/digestive issues out of the ordinary when you are traveling around foreign countries.
The best moment yet was just yesterday at church. We went to a Nepali church for ministry and this Sabbath was one of the times that the church was having communion. This would be the first normal “glutenized” communion I have had in about 5 years. As we read from 1 Corinthians 11: 23-24, the tears started streaming down my cheeks.
“… the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”
He was betrayed and knew what was coming for him. He chose to break his body for me. Not only for the forgiveness of the sins of the world, but also for the healing of every sickness and disease. He died on the cross, took on shame and all my sin, took on all my iniquities and diseases, and rose to life to complete this act of true love and full redemption.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. – Isaiah 53:5
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. – 1 Peter 2:24-25
By his stripes I have been healed! Hallelujah! I am forever grateful to my Jesus for his act of love and redemption on the cross. I am forever healed from Celiac because his great sacrifice 2000 years ago. I am so in love my Savior, and I am so in awe of his grace over me.
DUDE, I AM HEALED! He is faithful and just and his timing is perfect. Don’t give up on him. He will come through always. Keep pressing in. Keep crying out. Keep declaring his glory and goodness.
