EXPECTING MIRACLES

Last night as we discussed the things we had seen, Pete mentioned a man in a wheelchair that was in bad shape. The man had tied a lawn chair seat to replace the missing seat. Scott said that it just happened that the the container that had arrived last week had a wheelchair on it. GOD's timing is perfect.

Today in eye glasses it seems that God wanted to remind us that He doesn't stop with one miracle. I think we fit more glasses through prayer than through our high-tech equipment. From multiple cataract cases to another small child with crossed eyes, we were amazed at GOD's provision for our patients.

My favorite was an older lady who had extreme cataracts. We took turns trying desperately to get a reading before accepting that it wouldn't happen. We prayed and went to the box of glasses not in our inventory, where we found an older style of glasses that had been in the box for the past several trips. We had no idea what the prescription was, but they looked like they would be perfect on the lady.

As I put them on her face, she said praise God she could see the people out in the field and thanked us. I told her that God had provided the glasses for her and she looked beautiful in them. Her precious smile reminded me once again to never stop EXPECTING MIRACLES.

To God be the Glory!

Back in May, when we were distributing shoes in Emanuel, we met a special young boy. This boy had wandering eyes and couldn’t see much at all. We weren’t equipped to do any testing that day because we had just went to church and did the shoe and food distribution. The mother asked if she could bring him the next day to where we were working.

As we arrived at the site, the young boy was one of our first patients. Because of his wandering eyes and inability to focus, it was impossible to get a reading. Cristina Lindsey and I tried for almost an hour before we gave up in tears, feeling as if we had failed.

This morning, as we started the clinic, Cristina and I were surprised by the same little boy, Eric, there to have his eyes checked. Emanuel is not too far from where we were working and they had walked over, wanting desperately to try again. We immediately decided that we HAD to try but that God was the only way it was possible. So we gathered as many people as were available and surrounded Eric and put hands on him in prayer.

We prayed boldly for God to guide Tom’s hands and the reader so that we could get a reading. As I prayed, I sensed that there were many around us watching and even those praying that needed to KNOW that God can do anything and that miracles are still possible. So I prayed that God’s glory would be evident to all watching and those who heard later.

After we finished the prayer, Tom went to work, trying to get a reading. He tried several angles and positions and we finally put Eric on my lap so that he could try again. As I held Eric’s head, I prayed once again that Eric not only would receive glasses today and be able to see, but he also would see God. For a moment, I thought about telling Deb to start looking for any children’s glasses in the extra inventory but then that still small voice said “Don’t try in your own power. God’s got this!”

Finally Tom got one of the eyes to read, but the other wasn’t happening. The eye turned too much out and wouldn’t focus. So we decided to try with the one that we had. As he sent the information to the computer, we saw that there was only one possible match (after we reduced the parameters way off from the reading). We continued to pray as Deb looked for the one possible match that the computer found. She pulled out the glasses that were in the specified slot and almost screamed in amazement. We looked and they were children’s glasses!

We put them on him and the look on his face was priceless! He could see!!!! We shouted and sang Glory to God, crying and then proceeded to explain to the mother why we were so happy. We explained how impossible it was and that only with GOD were we able to fit Eric with the glasses. We asked her to tell the story to Eric as he grew up so that he would always know what God had done.

As the family left and we started to log the inventory, Deb noticed that the bag Eric’s glasses came out of didn’t even have a number on them. We don’t know HOW they got in the slot that they did….but we know WHY.

I truly believe that miracles are still possible and I KNOW that God uses them to strengthen, encourage us and most importantly to recognize HIS GLORY.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

HOPE

Today as the team arrived at the open field that would be our site for the week, I was once again stirred by the poverty of the Honduran people. But before I could get too wrapped up in sorrow for their circumstances, they overwhelmed me with their love. While walking down the muddy path to the site, I received countless hugs from children and adults coming out of their ‘shacks’ to welcome us.

The eyeglass clinic had not received the inventory file for the computer system and we discussed the possibility of not being able to do prescription glasses at all. Without the correct inventory, it would be impossible to match the correct glasses with the patients. God quickly reminded us that ALL things are possible through Him and we got excited to see what miracles HE was going to show us today….which He of course did. Through prayer, we were able to help everyone who came through the clinic and were rewarded with lots of hugs and smiles. Tom was having a hard time getting a reading on an older gentleman with cataracts and asked me if I wanted to try. We prayed and I had a reading within seconds…not me….GOD. I don’t know which made the man smile bigger, the glasses allowing him to see or us telling Him that GOD was the one who made it happen.

The entire team reported that they had an amazing day as we shared stories after supper. The best of all, for me, was a young mother and a little baby that we discovered had worked their way into all our hearts. I held this one month old baby while the mother was fitted for glasses. Before I gave him back, I felt we needed to pray blessing on his life. So we gathered around the mother and prayed. As I held the baby in my arms we prayed that God would bless him and protect him as he grew up with difficult circumstances and seemingly bleak possibilities for the future. I prayed that God would use this child to change lives in Honduras.

At the end of the day, I was called over to talk to the same mother. Her husband had been murdered and she lived with her mother with little hope for the future…until today. She had been touched by all the team as she went through the clinic. She had been given HOPE. She bonded with Deb White and requested that Deb be the godmother of the baby. We explained to her that Deb lived far away and would likely never see them again, but she would be honored to pray for the mother and child. Don took a picture for them, because the mother wanted to remember this day forever….the day she found HOPE.

It’s the little moments that make a difference. Whether in Honduras or at home, your kind words, prayers and love can change the world for Christ. YOU can offer them HOPE.

The Heart of Anita Ford lives on….

Anita Ford was an amazing lady who served as a missionary in Honduras for many years. She had a heart for this country and a spirit of service that constantly amazed me. Even after she got sick, Anita’s heart was still in Honduras. The Honduras loved and respected her, as did anyone who knew her.

I was reminded of that this morning, as we worshipped in El Banano and I got to spend some time with Anita’s dear friend Isabel. With tear-filled eyes, Isabel shared with me about her memories of Anita and how she taught her so much about God and how to help and love others. Isabel said Anita loved her unconditionally and she would not have gotten through many hard times, without the wisdom and love Anita shared with her. Isabel wants to carry on some of the things that Anita started in Honduras and we prayed with her that she would have the courage and strength to do that. Anita was God’s heart to the people of Honduras and her heart lives on through the lives she touched.

Isabel's grandson

It is my prayer that I could help to carry on the work of Anita. I want to be God’s heart to the people of Honduras as she was. I want the Heart of Anita Ford to live on…..

Excited!

As we arrived in El Banano this morning to worship, I searched the crowd for the friends that I knew in that community. We walked down the grown up path to the last place I had seen Sadia, the young girl we helped with hearing aids. My heart sunk as I saw the abandoned shack that we had last visited the amazing girl who stole our heart. It appeared that nobody had been there in a while. I prayed that God would bless Sadia and her family, wherever they are, and that I would get to see her again someday.

I could hear the awesome sounds of Honduran worship, as we returned to the church. It was beginning to rain and the building was packed, as well as the thatched roof shelter outside the church. Through the crowd, I saw one of my little friends, Heidi, standing on the side of the road near the church. Her eyes lit up as she recognized me, and she quickly came over saying my name. The hug of a child is always special, but this little girl’s hug came with a whisper in my ear from God ‘this is why you are coming here’. I lifted Heidi up to the window so she could see inside the church as we clapped and sang in worship.

The children gathered in another area for children’s church. Their voices were like angels, as they sang the children’s songs with all their heart. After loving on a few babies, I snuck in among the children while they were having their lesson. I scanned each face, looking for my friend Cynthia. Suddenly, I spotted her at the front of the group and she let out a squeal as she ran and jumped into my arms. She just kept hugging tightly and then taking my face in her hands and looking at me like she wasn’t sure I was real. She was my shadow for the rest of the morning.

After church, we walked down another road where Sadia’s grandmother used to live, hoping to find her. We were told she had moved, but was doing well with her hearing aid. Cynthia and Heidi each held my hand, and as we walked down the dirt road together, I had a flash back in time. February 2010, these same two little girls had accompanied me and Leona Cole as we visited the ladies co-op on the backside of El Banano. That was one of the first times that I felt myself wishing that I could just stay in Honduras, and considered it as a possibility.

I am excited to see what God is going to do in the community of El Banano. I am excited to see God move in Honduras. I am excited to see God work through the children of Faith Home. I am excited to be a part of this incredible ministry!