Amazing Stories!!!

Hi!

There isn't much time - we're packing up to leave.... But I have INCREDIBLE news to tell you....

1. The construction team was unable to finish the building on Saturday because of delayed delivery of supplies. However, they were determined to have it finished for the service at 9a.m. the next day... The guys left Teen Challenge around 5a.m. to drive up to 8 Mile to have it finished just minutes before the service started.

2. On the drive to the church, someone passed me a note from the back of the van saying, "I want to give my testimony or more today - Gaby." I was so proud of her for volunteering, but even more proud of her when she told me she wanted to get baptized along with her testimony!

3. At first we were disappointed because the funeral kept many people away from the service... It was very empty in the beginning. But as the service went on, curious onlookers stopped by and stood in the doorway to see what was going on. The team did the Everything skit, which Pastor CJ then preached on and gave a salvation message... followed by a call for baptism... followed by a call for healing. At the end of the service, four accepted Christ, two were healed (one of back pain, one of depression), one was water baptized, and one baby was dedicated (at the request of a couple who just committed their lives to Christ)! It was pretty amazing...

4. BUT... we couldn't help being disappointed because the deaf child, Javon, still wasn't healed even though we prayed our hearts out and really believed he would be. That morning, I spoke with the little boy's mother (who was not saved), and she explained to me that they boy had been deaf since birth, but they only realized it when he was two years old. He could not attend a regular school, and to attend a special school, he would have to take 2 different buses everyday because it was so far away, and obviously unaffordable. For that reason, the boy did not attend school and had little chance of becoming self-sufficient.

When the service started, the mother, Miss Night, and Javon were no where to be found... To our delight, they arrived later. The mother brought the boy to the front for the healing call, and the whole team prayed with all their might... As his mother held him still he fought and hit to get away (the only way he really knows how to respond to people). Eventually Miss Night left with her son. Peter visited her at her home to encourage her and reassure her. Somehow in conversation, she expressed her desire to be saved, and so she came back to the church a few minutes later to publically accept Christ. We were thrilled she gave her life to Christ, but disappointed and confused regarding her son. We really, really thought he would be healed as a testimony to the village. Either way, we celebrated the other victories of the day.

And then I got the news. A few of the construction workers from Georgia who had been working along with us went up to the village today to finish a quick project. While they were there, they noticed that Javon's temperment had totally changed. He no longer ran away or hit. Now he was hugging and playing and being sweet. The construction team asked him a question, and he responded, "Yes!"

The deaf boy was healed!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've never experienced anything like it. It was in God's timing, which is so much better than our own. Had it occured yesterday, we may have taken credit for it. Since we waited, it really stretched our faith. The whole thing reminded me of Mark 2 which talks about the friends who lowered the paralytic through the roof. They came for physical healing for their friend, and the man received salvation FIRST. If Miss Night hadn't brought Javon for healing, she may not have accepted Christ. God did the salvation first and the healing later, just like in Mark 2! Absolutely phenomenal!!!!!


Love and gratitude,

*Pastor Courtney and our Jamaica family :)

P.S. Today we had our free day today at Dunn's River Falls, the craft market, and out on the catamaran for our ceremony. It was a great close to the trip, and we can't wait to fill you in on all the details!