When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
John 5:6
What an amazingly awesome day on Thursday of our trip. I will try to put it into words. A few of us were hanging around the house while others went to the grocery. Our interpreter, Daniel, arrived and he had his guitar with him. We sat around the patio table worshiping and it was the sweetest time. Creation worshipping the Creator. In the beautiful setting of the Pacific Ocean waves crashing in the background … a sweet offering to The One who brought us all into this place.
I have fallen in love with this country and with its people. The poverty here is evident in the surroundings, but you never see it in the spirits of the people that we are working with. The love that pours out of them, to us, to Jesus is so special.
After our impromptu worship session, we headed off to the local hospital to minister to the patients. It took quite a while for the administration to decide to let us in, but there is never a moment wasted with this group. The hour was spent in the waiting room of the hospital, singing praises to The King. When it was decided it was okay for us to visit the patients, we headed off to the maternity ward. There were precious new bundles of life everywhere and mothers about to give life.
One soon to be mother brought tears to my heart when she explained to us that she was in the hospital waiting to find out if her unborn baby was still alive inside of her. My heart caught in my throat, as I remembered the pain of finding out that Chance was no longer alive, and I prayed fervently that she would not receive that same message.
We met several young girls, only sixteen, and already mamas. The age of all the women in the ward we visited was very young. Motherhood came early to these young women. We prayed blessings, health, favor onto their lives and the lives of their little ones. It was a sweet time.
After the maternity ward, we had a choice to go to the Oncology or Surgery Floor. We chose Oncology. We prayed for several men who were suffering various ailments and then, as we were standing outside a room, determining where we should go next, a young woman approached us. Would we come quickly and pray for her brother. He was dying. He had decided that he didn’t want to live any longer, his wife had left him and he could not face the pain of her departure. So he decided to take his own life, by drinking some sort of poison. The doctors said he would die that day, his organs were shutting down.
We followed her down the hallway and there was met by such a sad sight. Her brother was shaking like a leaf and sweat was pouring off of him. His eyes were wild with fear and the smell of death was in the room. We approached him and explained to him that we wanted to pray for him. He had changed his mind, and he did not want to die. He now wanted to live, but death was overtaking him and he was panicked and afraid.
First we asked him if he wanted to receive Jesus into his heart and he said yes. We led him in a prayer of Salvation. Then we started praying healing over his body. As we prayed, you could see the peace of Jesus overtake him. It was something to watch. The sweat stopped, his eyes calmed and he began declaring the power of Jesus in his life. He declared healing and hope and that he would tell the world what Jesus did for him. As his mother and sister watched the life flow back into this man, their tears turned to smiles. When we left, he was praising God for healing and hope in his life.
I know I probably can’t convey the depth of the emotions of that event, but know that it was truly a miracle from Jesus, that we were allowed to see in that room. The healing hand of the Lord in action, right before our eyes. So humbling … so amazing.
I am going to stop with this story here. I want to encourage you to spend some time seeking God’s healing hand in your life. The power of the Holy Spirit working through you, healing you, comforting you.
There are two more parts to Day Two. It is amazing how much God packs into each day, if we are open and ready to receive it.
I’ve learned some things here in Costa Rica that I pray will never leave me. Being in that hospital, being a part of this miracle causes my heart to leap for joy.
The joy of the Lord is my strength. In Him I am strong … without him I can do no things.
There will be more to come ….
Blessings upon you today!
Love,
Joyce
The Choices You Make Today …
Will Affect Your Tomorrow!
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Lessons from Life 