Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!”(which means “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
—Mark 7:31-37
Last week, while leading an Abogar Xposure Xperience team here in Guatemala, I had the privilege and blessing to witness many miracles of many kinds! Miracles from seeing people’s hearts softened and moved by God to deeper intimacy with Himself to seeing eternity touched and lives transformed as knees bent in surrender before God to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!
Partnering with Paradise Bound Ministries (http://www.paradisebound.org/), my small team along with their substantially larger team, we were so incredibly blessed to work hard, pray hard, play hard, love hard, and serve hard… sharing the love and light of Jesus Christ to many who did not yet know Him! We successfully created 5 small homes in a village, dedicated the homes to God, shared testimonies and the gospel in each home, and witnessed ~25 people come to faith in Jesus Christ in that village alone! Praise God!
As we were loading up the several large vehicles and getting ready to head back to Paradise Bound Ministries’ base camp, several children of the village were flocking to us. Most of you know that I love to love on the children and fight for them to have better lives and circumstances than they currently have. Well, as some from the team were distributing candies and gifts to the children, one boy caught my attention… Edgar.
Have you ever looked at someone and truly seen them? Have you looked at someone and they just oozed of light and love?! Well, as I saw Edgar, I was struck by how much joy, love, and light was exuding from his face! As he caught my attention, I noticed that I too had caught his attention.
With a huge smile, but a look of urgency, Edgar came to me and grabbed my arm and pointed off in the distance, toward a group of children who were observing the distribution of candies and gifts from afar. Edgar couldn’t seem to talk, so he led me over to the group and pointed out one boy. Then he pointed to the gifts and shook his head, as if to say, “No!” I immediately understood that he was saying that this little boy didn’t get a gift nor candy, so I ushered the boy to the line. Then Edgar came to me again and the same thing happened again.
Friends, my heart was so touched by Edgar. I watched him light up as he saw the boys receive their gifts and candy. Edgar, who I was then told is both mute and deaf, has such a deep and beautiful heart to bless others! I was struck by his desire that all should be blessed, and how he strove to see all the children receive something. I saw Jesus. I saw Jesus in a mute and deaf young boy.
It was then that I sensed God tell me to believe and pray for a miracle. I sensed that the Lord impressed upon me that we were to lay our hands on his ears and mouth and pray for a miracle. But as I shared with the group around me, I got some funny looks, so I only touched his ears and his chin! Many from the larger team joined in a prayer and blessing over Edgar. While there wasn’t an immediate miracle of healing, I believe with all my heart that Edgar will one day soon hear and speak!
As we returned to the base camp, a member from the large team approached me with a hearing aid that had been donated and brought with their team. They had wondered if it would even be able to be used, but then after praying over Edgar it was decided that it should be used for him! I gave the hearing aid to the leader of Paradise Bound Ministries, and he promised that it will get to Edgar!
Edgar was so generous, loving, and selfless… such an example and challenge to me, and hopefully to many others. But now I want to invite you to pray in faith with me, that Edgar will be able to hear and to speak for the glory of God! We serve a God of miracles, with limitless power and resources at His disposal! He says that we have not because we ask not! PLEASE join me in asking God to bless Edgar with hearing and a voice, that he would use as a leader for the glory of God… with such a powerful testimony! Let us pray in faith for Edgar to hear and to speak!!
