angelica's healing

from the early morning hours yesterday, as we gathered to go to mexico for a one day medical mission trip, it was clear that God had great things planned. we just didn't know what that would look like. while we were a small team of 13, it was evident that He was in control from the beginning.

this is one of a hundred stories that could be told about the day.

angelica is a 44 year old woman who had waited a long time to be seen. she gave a brief introduction of her story to the intake team and got her vitals checked. her blood pressure was high. but there was more she wanted to talk about.

she was ready and waiting for me for the doctor part of the visit. i sat down and asked her how i could help. she told me about her leg and body cramps that had begun several weeks ago. her eyes were sensitive, painful, and red. her blood pressure was high. she was tired all the time. she had no energy. she was emotional. she has 3 kids, and she was stressed. she wasn't sure if it was all related to menopause 4 years ago. but her husband had cheated on her back then too, so maybe she was depressed because of that. but it was lasting too long. she started tearing up. she said she had no desires. she did not feel worthy or that her life was worthwhile. she sometimes wondered whether she should just die.

i listened...really listened. but the other part of my brain was thinking, what in the world can i do for her? medically i can give her calcium supplements and allergy medicine for her cramps and eyes, but there's a little more going on than a typical pediatric cardiologist knows about. like a band-aid on a compound fracture. depression came to mind. but we can't "treat" that. HELP!

i listened longer, put my hands on her arm as she talked, and empathized, knowing only a little about what suffering she must be experiencing. it was my turn to respond, and i had no idea what to say. i told her that there were a couple of things i could think of that may help some of her physical ailments, but the rest of it...well, God came to mind.

so we talked about God. and she seemed to have real faith. she talked about how He is the only reason she can get up in the morning and take every breath. it was refreshing to hear, but the burden she carried was still obvious.

so i asked her if i could pray with her, and she said yes. i don't know the exact words i said. or even if my praying in spanish was understandable. i prayed of God's promises to love her, to walk with her. that her dependence on Him would give her strength. and also that somehow her suffering would bring her closer to Him. i prayed the devil away. i prayed that God would take at least one of her "pains" away. it was a conviction i had never felt so sure of before. and at the end of it, both of us with crying eyes, i heard the deepest part of her heart as she thanked me. but i knew that the words were from Him, focused on the promises He gives us in the bible. the presence of the Spirit was so real.

but God wasn't done yet.

i took her to the pharmacy, and we filled her prescriptions. i introduced her to Dave, one of the leaders of the rockharbor mexico team that was building homes nearby. it "just so happened" that they were staying the weekend. he took her information and planned to stop by and check in with her over the next few days.

it also "just so happened" that she had to wait for a friend outside. so i told christi (our medical team leader) a brief synopsis of what angelica was going through (angelica had said before it was ok to tell anyone else that could help her about it). i hugged angelica and went off to see the next patient.

after that next patient, i went by the pharmacy again. i noticed christi and angelica sitting on the steps, laughing and crying like two sisters or best friends. my heart was overwhelmed. and one more patient later, as i walked to the pharmacy again, angelica was leaving. she had a huge smile on her face. she looked as if an enormous weight had just been lifted. i'm not sure which pain was now gone, but i know at least one was lifted.

it was just a beautiful beautiful experience. God orchestrated this day not just for angelica, but for me too. and christi. and each of us that had the privilege to go. i know that out of 14 of us that were there to serve "medically", what people saw were the various parts of the body of Christ. and the only name they need to have seen or remember is Jesus.

our next trip is march 28th. i'll let you know how angelica is doing.

blessings,

j-c

Bag # 561 The Bookhouse, (West) Costa Mesa.

The Thanksgiving dinner for The Bookhouse group recovery home in West Costa Mesa:

Steve (the manager) was overwhelmed with gratitude since he saidthey had no idea how they were going to be able to have Thanksgivingfor all 15 guys since they were previously only 9 and many going to be arriving new and there would not be money to cover such a spread. The Phipps Life Group covered it via God's generosity. He hopes to see us back next year! :)They were blessed with a turkey 16-20 lb, a huge sack of potatoes, gravy fixing,cranberries, yams, pumpkin pie fixings for 2 fresh pies, whipped topping, hot chocolate fixing, fresh frozen corn, green bean and onion casserole fixing, cornbread stuffing, mini marshmallows for yams and hot chocolate, dinner rolls, and candy.

From Ashes to Life

Joe Pendergrass, a fellow Hope Force Reservist, is assembling another team for debris removal and recovery work this Saturday, Dec. 6th. He shared an incredible story of last week's experience helping a Muslim family:

Joe had been trying to arrange this project since the fires occurred, two weeks earlier, but the family simply couldn't believe someone would do this for them free of charge. They sought estimates to hire a clean up crew. Joe persisted until finally a lawyer and relative of the family drew up papers for him to sign, guaranteeing he and his team would not ask for money. At the bottom of the document Joe wrote "Paid by Christ."

Two backhoes and a crew of 16 descended upon the property early Saturday morning, removing what was left of the structure and the burned landscape, filling dumpsters in the driveway. By 3 pm the work was completed.

But an even more amazing transformation had taken place that day. This homeowner was overwhelmed by the love and care demonstrated toward him by Christians and received Christ as his Savior! Out of the ashes, new life!
This coming Saturday, a crew will be demonstrating this same love to the next-door neighbor. If you would like to join them, contact Signe at shillyard@rockharbor.org

What is Happening in Watts?

"Dwight" is a hefty, 6'4, African-American gentleman who lives underneath a bridge in Watts and earns an income through recycling items. He recently visited the Watts Christian Health Center because of a deep wound on his hand. The night before someone had tried to cut Dwight's throat from behind but he had grabbed the blade as it was coming towards his neck. Dwight ended up fighting off the assailant and came to the Health Center when it opened with his hand wrapped in rags. While he was at the Health Center being treated for his physical needs, he was also prayed for and the gospel was shared with him. Although Dwight did not accept Christ at his appointment, he said that he would come to the PowerHouse Church plant. The church is connected to the Health Center. That following Sunday Dwight came to the church and brought three friends!
During a time of prayer at the beginning of the service, two of Dwight's friends broke down in tears. Regrettably, the brokenness that they were feeling in God's presence, made them feel like they could not stay. Although Pastor Todd and other church members comforted them and pleaded with them to stay, they said that they could not do that at the moment. The health center provided a helpful bridge to bring Dwight and his friends into the Church where they encountered the presence of God. The love that Dwight has encountered at the health center has continued to draw him back on a daily basis. Please pray with us that Dwight will take the final step of accepting Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord!

3rd Wednesday

Come and join us as we take the 3rd Wednesday of every month and meet in the Center from 6-7am, 12-1pm and 7-10pm to pray and reallign ourselves with the Lord and what He is doing in and around us! If you have any questions, check out www.rockharbor.org

Ways to get involved

http://www.rockharbor.org/content/contentpage.aspx?pageid=135

www.thelongbeachproject.org

Ways to get involved