My heart explodes with joy and praise. I have come alive people! The kingdom is here in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and it is advancing fiercely under tin roofs and through out paths covered in trash. I see Jesus in the two year old resting on my shoulder and in the people sleeping next to me on the ground every night.
Even in my few days of being sick, I saw Jesus in the nurse who stuck me with a needle and in my fellow squad mates who sat in my room and comforted me through it all.
He is everywhere, I knew that before but now I know it in a new way. This month our ministry has been split up in three different groups consisting of teaching, cleaning, and evangelizing. I’ve been apart of the evangelizing group and it has been such an awesome ministry experience.
People actually want you to come into their homes here. It is nothing like evangelizing on the streets of Los Angeles. There is such a warm welcoming. People invite you into their tin huts and cement homes like a five star hotel welcomes you at your arrival. Their hospitality is truly inspiring and so refreshing!
Many wonderful ministry moments have taken place this month but there is one in particular I’d like to share. It took place on a day that we had spent at the nearest mall enjoying the wifi and AC, which is GOLD on the world race. It was an extra off day, so every one was in rest mode. We had spent the majority of the day there and dealt with lots of walking and public transit. Every one was exhausted, and every one wanted to crash as soon as possible.
Upon our arrival home that night our host asked if some of us would do a church visit. The question wasn’t who wants to go but rather who doesn’t mind going. This is where things got real.
The Holy Spirit taps me, don’t even ponder the thought get with it and go. So I did with five of my fellow squad mates. The car ride there my energy level had supernaturally increased, praise Jesus. We get there not knowing what exactly the plan even was until moments before walking into the Church.
Our host Juan, said “give two testimonies, one sermon and everyone talk about the world race.” Well okay, my teammate Rachel Tart and I shared our testimonies and my team leader Paul Barnello preached and the then Holy Spirit breathed. Before Paul gave his message he whispered to me & the team ask the Lord if he wants to do any physical healing tonight.
Before he could finish his sentence the Holy Spirit rang within me, DING, DING, DING, GET READY JAIMIE RAE. In expectancy but without an agenda I sat joyfully anticipating what he was about to do.
At once fiery heat fell on my left leg from below my knee to the tip of my toes. I knew in my knower what was up. Along with heat came tingling that got louder by the second and escalated until my squad mate Rachel Snowden touched my left leg and said “Jaimie, all I hear is the word foot, but I don’t know what to do with it.” I laughed and said “yes, the left foot” and then another team mate said “Something about a leg.” The spirit gave me clarity “Left leg/foot.” Being familiar with words of Knowledge I knew it was confirmation to take it to the congregation.
Paul was preaching on the kingdom of heaven being at hand and shared healing testimonies. I knew that the Lord had prepared the congregation’s heart to receive what the Spirit was doing. While Paul wrapped up his message I wrote down the word of knowledge, walked up to the pulpit and slipped it to him.
He released it and a multitude of hands went up, and tears went down. My squad mates and I went around laying hands on those who had their hands up while the congregation prayed for them. Praises were shouted to the lord, tangible Joy filled the room and dancing broke out.
FOUR PEOPLE WERE HEALED, PRAISE JESUS!! GLORY TO THE LORD!!
At one point there was a joyful conga line consisting of world racers and all the children weaving through the isle up to the altar during worship. The Holy Spirit tickled my heart, and said “This is my bride.” As brothers and sisters from different nations together as one, celebrating the lovely one, I felt him rejoicing over us, his people, as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.
Tis’ the highlight of my race thus far, Gloria A Dios!
