We Treat, He Heals

The title of this blog entry comes from the sign that is out in the front of the Tenwek Mission Hospital in Tenwek, Kenya. I am currently reading "Miracle at Tenwek", the life story of Dr. Ernie Steury, a medical missionary who was commited to serving Jesus on the mission field. Those stories have inspired me so much, and I have my own stories to tell you now. Granted all of them can't go on this short blog, but if you see me in person you can bet that i will want to tell you more.

Its more than I can understand sometimes, how God works. I am nothing but a messed up sinner, and the fact that He is using me to do this work blows my mind. I am not the top of my class, I'm not the smartest person you will ever meet, and I screw up most days. But God's grace is incredible. He still uses me, inspite of me. He still used our team of 38 people, all from different backgrounds, all with very different ages and personalities....that is how incredible He is. He can transform people from a state of hopelessness to an incredible knowledge of hope and joy. I know, I saw it the faces of people as they entered the prayer station at the clinic and then looked into their faces as they left. They were made new; born again. Who knows the impact God has made through us....I know none of us probably really understand it. I can't understand it.

I am home now. Back in the states, back being surrounded by people that I just want to grab and say, "COME AND SEE WHAT I SAW!!!!! YOU'LL NEVER THINK YOU NEED THAT HUGE 3 BEDROOM HOUSE WITH A WHITE FENCE ANYMORE!! THAT WON'T MATTER!!! COME SEE WHAT GOD CAN DO, AND HOW HE WANT'S TO USE US!!" I want to shout that to the people around me. Tell them that boards and whether or not we passed, in the long run, really doesn't matter. Yeah, we need to pass, but Jesus got us this far, He won't leave us now. We are going where he wants us in the long run, anyways.

Just being married last year I feel the social pressure of the "American Dream". The shows on TV about having a big nice house and all the stuff that will make you "happy". Many of the youth we encounter in Peru talk about wanting to have money and be in the USA. I hope one day I can be a testament to them. Live where they live and say, hey, I could have that and I'll tell you right now, it won't make you happy. It won't be worth it. A life dedicated to Jesus, no matter how off the beaten path, is what really matters. Now, I am not saying it is not OK to have a big nice house. I was blessed my entire life to have a great place and home to grow up in. However, to focus on getting houses and more money (what our society tends to tell us is the most important), is not what God wants. He wants us to look around and realize there is more out there. More than what we are seeing on the superficial. Right in your workplace is a hurting person who needs Jesus just as much as that woman who is way up in a mud brick house in Peru. I saw more in Peru.....more than the superficial. That is why missions trips change lives in Americans. My best friend in Medical school, Catherine, went on this trip with us. I saw the passion in her for Jesus, and over the past couple years have watched it grow. I knew God wanted her to go on this trip with us to Peru, and tonight she told me....."I'll never be the same". She saw more than just the superficial. I knew God would change her whole world. I hope this trip impacted the people of Peru as much as it impacted and inspired all of us to do more than just worry about the superficial.

I know I sort of got off on a random subject there, but I do want to share one specific story with you. The story is centered around Claudia. She is probably about my age, and was a patient of mine. When I picked her up from the triage line, I was immediately struck by the hurt on her face. She seemed to be in so much pain.....not physical pain, but I could tell she was hopeless, and hurting emotionally. The woman had an issue of blood. We didn't have any birth control pills in the pharmacy, so I knew there was nothing medically that we could do. I felt that I needed to share with her the Bible story about the woman with the issue of blood who simply touched the garments of Jesus and was healed. I shared with her, with Pastor Willy translating, that God could heal her now. I said a prayer with her in the clinic then personally walked with her to the Pharmacy and prayer station. She made the decision to accept Jesus into her heart, and her issue was healed. It was incredible, and I just hugged her and told her I loved her. She was made new, and something just came over me that she was called to be a powerful follower of Jesus Christ. Of course, I was in tears for much of this. I couldn't control the tears. I'm like that when the Holy Spirit starts moving. And oh, was He moving in that place. It was indescribable. He showed up, as my maw maw would say. He was with us wherever we went. There are so many other stories. Maybe one day I can write them all here, but just know that God worked. And it wouldn't have happened without all your prayers and support. To me, everything I go through here is worth it because of Claudia. Her heart was prepared to hear his message of mercy, hope, and love. And there are many more stories just like that one. Thank you all for teaming with us in this medical mission.


Spirit-Led Expeditions Team Members Eric, Stephanie, and Jonathan

to see more pictures from the mission go here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2004678&l=411ee&id=97000042

to see the album "faces of peru" with pics of peruvians i took go here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2004677&l=8b0bc&id=97000042

Family Farm Ministry

Deworming animals gets rid of all he internal parasites in cows, goats, sheep, llamas, and donkeys. Jonathan's passion has always been poultry science, and his many years growing up on his family's farm has given him the knowledge and passion for Spirit-Led Expeditions Family Farm Ministry. In the 2 weeks we were in Peru, 600 animals were seen personally by Jon and he also gave doses to local farmers for 200 more. He brought a whole new aspect of ministry to the team that was already helping so many people medically. He not only dewormed, but also supervised the birth of a baby calf, gave vitamin shots, and treated minor injuries suffered by the animals; for example a sheep had gotten caught in a barbed wire fence and Jon treated and disinfected it's wounds. It wasn't hard for the people to really trust Jon with their animals. By the second day of clinics, we all watched as a lady brought a herd of sheep down to the clinic area and tied them up for Jon to deworm while she got in line to be seen in the clinic. It was incredible to watch Jon in action. Most of the days in Lamay Pastor Willy's son walked around to translate for him. The bonds he was able to make with the people were awesome. In Lamay most of the farmers know what deworming agent is and how good it is for the animals, because they had revcieved doses of it from the government 3 years ago. That fact really helped the farmers trust Jon more quickly. Jon loved every second. He handed out Camino De Vida flyers as he invited people to the clinic, and shared the Gospel with a few he really bonded with. The man you see him with in the picture above told Jon that he would always be welcome in his home. On day one of ministry in Lamay, Jon had come by his home and dewormed a few sheep. Over the next night, 12 of the man's chickens died. Jon had not dewormed the chickens and so the man took it as a sign from God to trust Jon and let him deworm all the animals. The next day the man took Jon all over Lamay to make sure all his neighbors, friends, and family trusted Jon and his medicines. It was an incredible experience. Jon hopes to return to Peru in December 2008 for Spirit-Led's Operation Hope Blanket and Christmas distributions to follow up with the same families and continue the deworming supply, as the effects of the medicine wane at 3 months. The practical Family Farm Ministry made a huge impact for Pastor Willy's ministry in the area because of the very large reliance on livestock and agriculture, and we hope to continue building relationships with these amazing people through these practical means.

Thanks so much to Kirby Phillips for donating supplies for this ministry, and inspiring Jon to do this work. Kirby is Jon's father and was a agricultural missionary with People to People in Haiti for many years, where Jon was born. Thanks also to Jon's uncle, Kinsey, a vet who donated various supplies.