Reach Update
We stepped off the bus and climbed over the foundation of a block wall trying to access the church. It was hot and very muggy, even the dust was sticking to our skin. As we stepped under the tin roof onto the dirt floor of our network church, it was evident that God was going to do something special.
It was late in the evening as the sun was just going down, and there was only one light bulb hanging from the tin roof. The building was packed with worshipers with little room to even stand. Faith was in the room as the people pressed into God.
It wasn’t long after we entered the building that Andrea saw her: sweet Sarah sitting in her wheelchair, born as a paraplegic with no control of her body movements. She was also deaf and could not speak, but her smile was full of joy. Andrea was drawn to Sarah and asked her mom if she could pray for her. So with permission, Andrea began to pray. It wasn’t long until Sarah began laughing. A few minutes later, she began responding with head nods and noises. Her mother continued to say, “She can’t hear you; Sarah is deaf”
Andrea began dancing with Sarah as joy filled her heart.
I found them at the back of the church, carried Sarah to the front of the church, and continued to dance with her. Andrea then asked Sarah to say "Jesus" as a sign that she could hear and speak now, and Sarah yelled out, "JEZI" before the entire church and her mom. She said, "Jezi" several times as she continued to laugh with joy in His presence. Sarah's mom and the church were stunned and awed by the love of God and the healing power of the Holy Spirit as Sarah could now hear and speak. Sarah's life was returned to her, and she regained her voice as a living testimony to the love, goodness, and power of God!
Many people ask why we do what we do. We do it for the many Sarah’s that are out there waiting for people of faith to step into their lives.
Thank you for investing in Reach International and making it possible for Sarah to be touched by the Holy Spirit.
Reach Status Update
I have witnessed over the years many people step into international missions just to disappear from the scene a short time later. Why is this? Well, I have determined that most of the time, it is a lack of mentoring into the call of God. Mentoring relationships are a key to long-term success on the mission field.
In August 2009, Andrea and I stepped into the role of full-time missionaries to Haiti, but we stepped in with a long-term commitment to see transformation. We also had a solid understanding of the call of God on our lives. Because of this understanding, we were not motivated by poverty, sad stories, or what we could see with our natural eyes, but instead, we were and still are motivated by what we see our Heavenly Father doing.