February For Jonathan Sake Outreach Homevisits

I am continually blessed by the opportunity to visit my outreach families in their homes (their daily environments). What a privilege it is for me to enter their homes, meet their family, friends, neighbors

Outreach Homevisit #1- Mike
Mike is a newer outreach kid. He is super is so cute & it didn't take long for him to steal my heart. We had fun playing together today. His mom & dad are both young but definitely love their son & want the best for him. It was so wonderful to spend time pouring into this family & getting a chance to know them better. They live a small 1 room dirt floor house with extended family. We had a great time of Bible study looking at what John 9 has to say about God's purpose in disability. We also spent time praying together after sharing prayer requests. We ended our time together with the opportunity to bless this family with a solar power Christian radio with MP3 of New Testament on it from Radio 4VEH. Please keep this family In your prayers.

Outreach Homevisit #2- Valendine. When we arrived at Valendine's house she came running & tackled each of is with a BIG hug. She then grabbed my hand & drug me upstairs in excitement to show me her home and have me sit down so she could sit on my lap she thought the Camara on my phone where she could see herself & take selfies was the best! She took about 50 pictures before I decided we should put the phone away Valendine has 2 sisters who are just as adorable as her. Valendine is full of energy ALL the time but usually has a big smile. It was challenging to do Bible study while she was climbing all over me but we ended up having a blessed time of bible study looking at what John 9 had to say about God's sovereign purpose in disability. We had a good time of prayer and ended out time together blessing their family with a solar power Christian radio with the MP3 version of the New Testament from Radio 4VEH. Her mother asked specifically for prayers for more patience, her family, and that she would grow in her faith. Please join me in praying for her family.

Outreach Homevisit #3- Judline
Judline was fast asleep on a bed at her church when we arrived to visit her family. You can just tell how much her parents adore her & she is their princess! They have 4 other children and Judline is the 2nd youngest. Her father works at the church as their maintenance guy. He said he sets up the sanctuary, fixes the generator, & during the tour of the church he was so proud to show me the benches he built for the choir. He said he does not get paid much but his reward is in heaven! We had a wonderful time of doing Bible Study looking at what John 9 has to say on God's purpose in Disability. We had a powerful time of prayer together praying over & for Judline and praying for their church that is about to do a 40 day fast in preparation for building a new bigger church. We ended our time together being able to bless their family with a solar power Christian radio with MP3 of New Testament in Creole. I had such a blessed visit with this family. Please keep them in your prayers.

Outreach Homevisit # 4- LesKatie

When we arrived at LesKatie’s house we found out that her mother has been sick for 2 weeks & has not been out of bed much.  LesKatie’s father was not home & so her brother took us into their home where Leskatie was sitting next to mom who was lying on the floor. Presidue, Nicholson, & myself sat in chairs & spent some time talking to mom. After further questioning on what her symptoms were, whether she had been to the doctor, etc… she came out & said she thinks she may be pregnant. While talking we also  Found out that before she had gotten sick she would try to sell things in market to help out financially at home. LesKatie is doing well since her surgery and is standing straighter and taking steps with hands held. Her mother told us that her father walks with her & stretches her everyday. While I was there we walked across the room and outside. She did a really good job lifting her feet & taking steps. I am so proud of her!!!! I spent quite a while holding Leskatie, working on standing and just cuddling with her. I was reminded while helping her eat a dum-dum lollipop that she brings everything so close to her eyes to the point that she almost pokes her eye. The eye team was at the mission & we were able to get her in to see the eye doctors while they were here 2 days after our visit. We spent some time reading Psalm 139 and praying for mom’s health & the family in general. At the very end we were able to bless their family with a solar power Christian Radio from Radio 4VEH with the MP3 version of the New Testament in Creole. Her mother was so excited and turned it on next to her as she rested. I think it was already ministering to her.

Outreach Homevisit #5- Sydney

When we arrived at Sydney’s house her mother & grandmother were sitting outside grinding Coffee beans so they could sell coffee at market the next day. After further questioning found out that they sell coffee daily in market. Her father does sewing for a living. They have 5 kids and even with all of them pitching in & doing what they can it is hard for them to make ends meet & provide for everyday needs. It was wonderful to see Sydney father again as I have not seen him since 3 years ago when she first started coming to the program. Sydney & her siblings enjoyed dum-dum lollipops while Presidue & Nicholson shared Psalm 139. We then went inside their home circled up & prayed for their family. It was a wonderful time!

Outreach Homevisit #6- Wildens

When we arrived at Wilden’s house his mother was outside cooking food for everyone who lived in the house they rent a room from and Wilden’s was getting ready to take a bath in a big plastic bowl outside. I snatched Wilden’s up & spoiled him with a dum-dum lollipop which he was pretty excited about. Presidue & Nicholson shared psalm 139. We then circled up & had a good time of prayer together.

Outreach Homevisit #7-Annaniah

When we arrived at Annaniah’s house she was sitting on the porch eating dinner. As soon as she saw us, she started crying (she has a fear of “white people” and he associated me with work)…Her grandmother snatched her up & immediately started giving her a bath, dressed her and brought her over to me. She cried basically the entire time I held her nothing I tried (rocking, singing, watching a princess youtube video. As soon as she got back on grandma’s lap she fell asleep. Presidue & Nicholson shared psalm 139. Afterwards Grandma shared that she became a Christian a few years back but so many life events have happened that she does not know if she can believe in God. She said she has stopped going to church. I asked if I could pray for her and she agrees. We circled up & had a good time of prayer together.

God's Sovereign Purpose in Disability

The following is the first message I started sharing this past week during outreach homevisits on what the Bible has to say about Disability. I am very excited to start to share what God has been teaching me over the past 6-8 months with the families I work with. God has been burdening me the past few months my need to share. I have really been praying about when would be the right time to share. This past Tuesday when I woke up I really felt God telling me to start today during homevisits. I spent a few hours in prayer & studying John 9. My prayer was that my families would find Hope & Encouragement as we dug into the TRUTH of God’s word together. The following is the first message I plan to share (and I did share with 3 families last Tuesday).

 

One of the reasons I believe the Bible and love the Bible so much is because it deals with the hardest issues in life. It does not sweep painful…complex…confusing…controversial …shocking things under the rug.

 

I believe one of the hardest things in life is the suffering of children and the suffering of those who love them especially when early suffering turns into living a life of profound loss.

 

Disability is expensive…financially, emotionally and relationally.

 

John 9:1-12- Story of Healing of Blind Man from Birth

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

³ “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

⁶ After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. ⁷ “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

⁸ His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” ⁹ Some claimed that he was.

Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

¹⁰ “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.

¹¹ He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”

¹² “Where is this man?” they asked him.

“I don’t know,” he said.

I want to Specifically focus on verses 1-4

 

Vs. 1- “As he went along he saw a man blind from birth.”

·         Jesus Saw…this is where the story starts. The disciples did not see but Jesus saw. He did not just see but he had compassion…he acted. This verse is a reminder to me that we have an attentive, merciful savior.

 

Vs 2- “His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned this man or his parents that he was born blind?”

·         The disciples ask the question…they want an explanation for the cause. BUT Jesus does not answer their question for the cause but instead answers with the purpose. Jesus points out that there is a difference between cause and the purpose.

 

Vs. 3- “’Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.’”

·         Important Point: The point Jesus is making is NOT that suffering did not come into the world because of sin because the Bible is very clear it did BUT specific sins in the world are usually not the cause of specific suffering in the world. Jesus wanted them to know that the explanation of blindness & other disabilies lies not in past but in future purposes. There is a purpose in it…There is a divine design…There’s a plan. God means for his work to be displayed

·         Scripture is very clear that God knows ALL Things and if God sees & permits a conception that causes blindness (in this case) or disability, he has reasons for this permission and those reasons are his purposes…His designs…His plan. There  are no accidents in God’s mind or hands

·         There is no child and no suffering out of God’s purpose

·         God says that the purpose of the blindess is to put the work of God on display. This means that for our suffering to have ultimate meaning, God must be supremely valuable to us…More valuable than health and life. Many things make no sense until God becomes our supreme value.

·         The truth is that suffering can only have ultimate meaning in relation to God.

·         Scripture is clear that it is for God’s glory both healing and non-healing.

o       John 9- For Jesus blindness from birth is sufficiently explained by saying God intends to display some of his glory through blindness and in this case it happens to be healing and it was to the glory of God’s power to heal.

o       2 Corinthians- Paul cried out 3x for his thorn (disability) in his flesh to be taken and healed. God’s response was…

§         “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

§         God response was I will put my power on display not by healing you but sustaining you.

o       HEALING displays the works of God in John 9…SUSTAINING GRACE displays the work on God in 2 Corinthians 12. The common denominator between the 2 is the SUPREME VALUE OF THE GLORY OF GOD.

 

Vs. 4- “As long as it is day,  we must the works of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work.”

·         Jesus Ministry went from a healing ministry to a dying ministry.

·         Jesus had a limited time to do his healings on earth because nights was coming and his day work of relieving suffering would turn to the night work of suffering himself.

·         If we ask the same question as the disciples asked in this passage…Why?...Who Sinned? The answer is certainly NOT Jesus…but we did. That was the cause of Jesus suffering BUT that is not the decisive explanation…The decisive explanation is Jesus is suffering that the works of God His father might be displayed in Him. The works of wrath-bearing, curse-removing, guilt-lifting, righteousness providing, death-defeating, life-giving and in the end suffering-removing…TOTALLY REMOVING!

·         “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4

·         And over every sorrow & every disability and every loss embraced in faith for the glory of God will be written in blood.

·         “For our light & momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

 

My Prayer is that God would give us eyes to see that the display of God’s work in his son’s suffering and our suffering and our children’s suffering are all expressions of his love.

I based this Bible study off of "Disability and the Sovereign goodness of God booklet:
Here is a link to the PDF online: https://dwynrhh6bluza.cloudfront.net/website_uploads/documents/e-books/pdfs/disability-and-the-sovereign-goodness-of-god-1388566676.pdf

For Jonathan Sake Outreach Day 24- Immobert

Immobert is a shy & quiet young man. He has seizures & Autistic characteristics. His parents still live together and they have 4 children and Immobert is the second oldest at 13 years of age. His other siblings are 18 years, 11 years, and 8 years old. I have never met his mother because his brings him. His father started bringing him last June.

 Immoberts father was very concerned & eager to find help & answers for his son. He was concerned that his son could do nothing for himself like feed himself. He was also concerned that Immobert had no concept of danger and would wonder off. They used to live in PdP but now due to economical situation they had to move. They now live in the country very far from the mission about 3-4 hour drive. Due to distance they come every couple weeks to outreach & to pick up seizure medications. Immoberts dad used to be a welder but due to moving out of town & Immobert’s tendency to wander he is now unemployed. Immoberts father reports that his favorite part of program is therapy. He reports that he has seen progress in Immobert’s ability to use his hands more. Immobert has started holding a spoon to eat with cuing to scoop but independently takes the spoon to his mouth! Immobert LOVES sensory input and so during outreach he gets the opportunity to enjoy the compression swing and roll/bounce on the therapy ball. 

Please keep this family in your prayers!