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11/28/2007 Jordy's storyGood morning all:
I'm writing today to ask all of you to please pray for and remember daily
one of my students-Jordy. Jordy is in 4th of secondary,
which is 10th grade to all us gringos. At the beginning of last week he missed
a few days of school and another student told me he was "really sick." A few
days later I was told his mom had taken him to Lima in order to find out what
was wrong with him. Now, for those of you who don't know, it's generally not a
good sign if you have to go to Lima to see a doctor, as this means the doctors
in Arequipa either can't make the diagnoses or aren't equipped to handle the
problem. In Jordy's case it was both.
The initial diagnoses at the end of last week was cancer in Jordy's lung.
However, that didn't explain the swelling of his knee, swelling I've been told
is between softball and volleyball in size. Further tests did reveal the cause,
however, as cancer which had metastasized.
My initial feeling when I first heard that doctors thought he had cancer
was that his situation was not good. After hearing that the cancer had spread
through his body to the extent it had my fears and feelings were confirmed.
However, in my own experiences, God is more powerful than anything this world
can bring upon us. My son has experienced a recent healing; my father was
diagnosed with advanced (stage 5) skin cancer earlier this year, and yet after
only one fairly minor surgery he has shown no signs of cancer being anywhere in
his body (much to the surprise of his oncologist ); and I,
myself, have experienced my own healing two years ago. Thus, it is not with a
lack of faith that I bring this prayer request to you all. Rather, it is
because I know the power of God to be quite real, but that it is through a
united faith that God's power is realized.
Several students, along with the school secretary, traveled to Lima today
to visit with Jordy. I can only imagine how difficult this time is for his
friends and family. I have simply taught Jordy for two years and I am
struggling with this reality, so please pray for his friends and family, as
well, to be encouraged and strengthened through our belief.
God Bless 11/15/2007 Still don't believe? Maybe this will convince you. . .For those of you who have known or met my family you likely know that Alec, our oldest son, was born with a disability. Diagnosed early on as Cerebral Palsy, we found out just recently the root cause of his condition is that the right side of his brain did not develop fully, a small whole or gap remaining where his brain should have grown together. As a result, his nervous system is incomplete and he has little control over his left hand, leg, and foot. During his 11 years he's undergone surgery, botox injections, years of therapy, and constant and chronic pain. In addition, he's suffered mentally and emotionally as he's struggled to be "normal." Despite his disability Alec has played sports and has fought to be just like any other kid. Well, it seems he has been victorious!!
I want to share with you all some amazing news. This past weekend in Arequipa we had what was called "Noches de Gloria" or "Glorious Nights," a 3-day crusade hosted by Cash Luna, a "famous" Latin-American evangelist from Guatemala. Prior to the crusade I had never heard of him, but for those of you who know (of) Benny Hinn, Cash Luna is his Latin-American counterpart. Cash Luna has a healing ministry, and during the 3-day crusade we witnessed hundreds of individuals being healed from various ailments- the blind could see, the lame could walk, the deaf could hear, and I believe someone was even raised from the dead!! The crusade was held at Melgar Stadium, home to Arequipa's professional soccer team. Seating 30,000+, the stadium was full all 3 nights with many left outside wishing to get in.
Each night the crusade began at 6:30. On Friday we arrived around 5:15 to make sure we got to our seats. We had VIP passes to sit on the grass in front of the stage, but even with these we were not assured of seats. By Sunday word had spread far and wide about the miracles, and as a result people were lined up and waiting hours in advance, coming from all over Peru, trying to get in.
Again, with our VIP passes, we had to arrive early on Sunday, only this time early was 3:30- 3 hours before the crusade started!! By 5:30 the gates were locked and people were being turned away. Even some pastors I know, who arrived around 6, and who the first night sat on stage with Cash Luna and his people, were turned away Sunday because there was no more room.
However, I still haven't gotten to the amazing part. Saturday night Joyce rec'd a word from God that Alec would be healed from his Cerebral Palsy on Sunday, and that when they got home from the crusade Saturday night we all needed to pray for him. We did just that for about an hour Saturday night then went to bed, believing for a miracle but not knowing exactly what to expect.
 Sunday came, and like I said, we headed to the stadium 3 hours early. The service started at 6:30, we sang, worshipped, prayed, etc. . .around 8 Cash Luna called all pastors, teachers, and those of us who work in ministry teaching the word to come to the stage. Kayla and I headed up, along with another couple hundred people. Kayla and I were two of the first, and in succession we were all slain in the Spirit!! This was something Kayla and I really needed!! With the expectation and belief that Alec could be healed, our emotions were all over the place.
We returned to our seats and Cash continued pouring out the Spirit on various groups and individuals. He then began to speak to individuals in the crowd with specific ailments, and then instructed us all to place one hand over our affected area and the other toward God.
I placed one hand on Alec's head and put my finger in the grasp of his left hand while he raised his right hand to God and prayed. Kayla stood beside me praying fervently, believing what we wanted to happen really could. Normally, Alec has no strength to speak of in his left hand. He could not take hold of my finger with his entire hand, and minimal upward force would release me from his grip.
 As I prayed I could feel his hand throbbing and pulsating, his grip increasing. I began to lift his hand higher and higher as we prayed. After we prayed and were told to check ourselves and our family for healing I pulled his hand up over his head- still while he was gripping my one finger- and I almost lifted him off the ground with his only hold being his normally useless left hand!!! He was able to open and close his hand and make a fist like never before. He grasped a full bottle of water in his left hand when just the day before he couldn't pick up an empty cup!! He could lift arm straight up and his fingers were straight rather than crooked!!
His left foot, too, was exhibiting improvements. Before he could not tap his toes. Now he could easily lift his toes an inch off the ground. He could pick his foot up in the air like never before!! He and Kayla headed to the stage to testify to God's power, and again were some of the first up there!! Seeing them on stage had me in tears, filled with pride, thanksgiving, and an overwhelming sense of the reality of God's power!!
The feeling was amazing, unbelievable, indescribable!! It hasn't yet gone away!! When we left the stadium that night we exited through the stands. These are stands similar to those in American sports arenas, but are nothing more than concrete levels. These stands have no stairs, just concrete "seats" about 1 1/2 feet high. Now, when Alec climbs stairs he always has to be on the right side so he can use the hand rail because he doesn't have the strength in his left leg/foot to push his body up. But, this night, climbing these double-sized stairs, he walked up them as normal as you or I- no hands, no hesitation, stair by stair, left and right, all the same!!
Now, I have no doubt many of you out there are skeptical- that's okay, I don't blame you. Still, I also know that it was only because of the belief of myself, Kayla, and most of all, the belief Alec had in God's ability to heal him, that he was healed. Without belief, without faith, we can hardly expect our prayers to be answered.
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