“We visited a Rehabilitation center today that housed many people that could not do the one thing we take for granted everyday- walk. I was able to believe the Lord for healing in their lives. One woman I prayed with was stricken with a giant tumor that tripled the size of her neck. Her husband sat faithfully by her side- their love for one another was evident. Despite the frailness of her tiny body, he had eyes for her alone. Placing my hand on her tumor and my other around her tiny hand, I wept before the Lord. I have never seen a tumor before…”
“We also visited the National Children’s Home where we sang and danced with the kids. I saw a mentally handicapped Jamaican girl, who looked very much like any other mentally handicapped person I have met. The sweet, childlike spirit of these people holds a special place in my heart. The kids were wonderful and enjoyed company. We made several videos of them dancing and singing. They seem to enjoy entertaining.
Something that especially touched my heart was when a little girl tugged on my elbow and said, “Miss, sing please! In my ear Miss, sing!” I sang a lullaby to her and seeming pleased she smiled and thanked me. I wish these kids had people to sing them lullabies every night. We are so blessed.”
“We went to Blossom’s Children’s Home and got to hang out with orphans. We sang worship songs to the “school agers”. They were precious. I held a little boy named Daniel and a little girl, whose name I know not. She seemed to enjoy being held. I pray these kids will be given parents to set an example of God lavishing His love on them. Several of the small children accepted Christ into their hearts and I pray they continue to serve the Lord as they grow.
Next I got to spend time with the babies. I decided to pick up a little girl and then took her to eat her lunch. She was precious and very calm being held. She just wrapped her arms around my body and laid against my chest – her head nestled closely to mine. My heart was warmed as I realized how much I long to care for and have babies. Feeding her was a sweet experience. She was quite unemotional at first, just eating and resting her tiny hands on my legs. I decided to play airplane and “Vroom, Vroomed” the food in her mouth. This made her smile.
Leaving her to cry in her crib because we had to go and I was no longer holding her, was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I laid her in her crib and she cried, but as long as I stroked her tummy or arms, she was okay. When I pulled my hand away she wept. She just wanted someone to hold her, to cradle her, to make her warm – to show her love, and I had to leave! This broke my heart- I have never met nor held an orphan before.
After leaving my little one, we went to the AIDS Hospice. Here I met Chalds James. I have never met anyone with AIDS before and he sang me several hymns of praise. This caused me to weep as well. He shared with me his hunger for the Word of God and his inability to read it. Choking on my tears I asked if I might read him something from the Bible. He agreed and we read 1 Corinthians 13 – the chapter of love. Today God’s love permeated my heart. I was reminded that we MUST bless the Lord at ALL TIMES! For crying out loud, if people with AIDS can bless His name, who am I? Who do I think I am that I can go about my day complaining and only blessing His name when I feel like it? No! All times…God is worthy of such praise and much more! This experience has impacted my heart significantly and I know I will never be the same.”
“I was blessed tonight by God’s goodness. I was asked to share my testimony and the significance finally sunk in. I never imagined God would afford me the opportunity to share my testimony of God’s restoring work in my life in Jamaica, Florida, the Carolinas, all along the East coast of the USA and Canada. God is so faithful! What the enemy sought to kill and destroy, God has restored, claimed, and used for His glory. I am amazed by the goodness of my Lord!”
As you can gather, this was a deeply moving and stretching time for me. I am still processing and learning about myself and the Lord as I replay the trip in my mind. I was blessed to have this opportunity. :)
3 comments:
Christy,
This is a great site. The pictures are precious. It looks like your time there was quite fulfilling, to say the least. This is the first time I've checked out your blog; keep up the great work. You are a talented writer, which compliments the great things you are doing quite well.
Zach, It is great to hear from you. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and taking some time to catch a glimpse of my life and experience in Jamaica. It blesses me to know people are about to share a bit of what I experienced be it through pictures, writing, and such. :)
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