​            "My YWAM DTS team leaders and I stepped into the refreshing coolness of the air conditioning in the nearby McDonald’s after the rest of my team had settled in to get WiFi. We had just had a full day of ministry with Pure Joy. Not long after we had stepped in, a young white man with unruly wavy hair asked us in a thick French accent if we knew of a hotel where he and his girlfriend could stay. He told us they had spent the night in the local hospital while she was terribly sick. The hospital personnel had discharged her that morning, so now she needed a place to rest and heal.
            We called Pastor Ronny for any recommendations and he came as soon as he could. When he arrived, we went to the back of the McDonald’s to see how the young French woman was doing. She was pale and weak. She told me she had spent days vomiting, she had had intense pain and that she could barely eat anything. She described that the doctors had given conflicting diagnoses until they had settled on a kidney infection. I am a Registered Nurse, so I asked her about her symptoms, what the doctors had diagnosed and what medicines she was prescribed. The symptoms she described didn’t line up with the traditional symptoms a kidney infection causes. After discussing it, we decided she could visit one of Pastor Ronny’s doctor friends to confirm the diagnosis. Before they left the McDonalds, we asked if we could pray for her and her boyfriend. They agreed, so we prayed for her health and that God would give her peace.
            I was going to stay at the McDonalds, but then I felt like I should go with them. I wanted to make sure they understood everything that was told them in medical terms. As they were walking from the McDonalds to the pastor’s car, I quickly ran out with one of my team leaders and I joined them in the car. After visiting the doctor friend, we went to the clinic for an ultrasound that the doctor had recommended to confirm a diagnosis. At the clinic, we found out that they needed to wait until the next morning for an ultrasound. Throughout this whole adventure, I had made two new French friends! They were so kind and friendly. They kept thanking us for the kindness we were showing them. I was hoping that they would see Jesus through how we interacted with them. The next day I eagerly went with some of my teammates and leader to Pastor Ronny’s house to see them. They had spent the night there. Thankfully, the young woman was doing much better and the final diagnosis was a kidney infection that could be cured with antibiotics. As we talked, she explained that after we had spent time with her the day before, she felt the desire to eat without vomiting for the first time. “It must have been your good vibes,” she reasoned. “No, it’s Jesus!!!” I exclaimed! I wanted to make sure she knew that Jesus was the one who made her better, not us."

The YWAM team; Ana is in the first row, second from the right side

I shared in the end of the year newsletter about a home and piece of land we were able to purchase for a family in great need. This past March, however, was the first time I was able to see the land and home.  What a special moment it was! Antonia has made this home beautiful, planting flowers and vegetables in the front yard and fixing up the interior. As beautiful as the home was, what was more beautiful was the transformations I have been able to witness in the hearts of this family. When I first met them five years ago, I could feel the deep sense of hopelessness they were experiencing. When I looked in their eyes, I saw so much sadness. Over the last several years, I have witnessed God working in their hearts. Even in the midst of the difficult times, I saw God healing their hearts and drawing them closer to Him. This March, I shared with Antonia how God provided for this home and prayed over her and her family. When it was time to say goodbye, she gave me the biggest hug and started to cry. With tears in her eyes, she thanked me for everything. Knowing that this had nothing to do with me, I said, thanks be to God. She looked at me, with eyes full of joy—PURE JOY—, and in the most genuine way I have ever heard, she said, “Dios es maravilloso,” God is wonderful. What a mighty, faithful, and loving God we serve!         ​