Catherine

it was a normal day like any other. The team was heading out to the different ministires. Our team in particular was heading out to the Hope house which is the hospus for the sick and dying.  It was like most any other ministry day except that we had just come off of a pretty emotional day  the day before..  The day before we had been to the hospital which was pretty tough.  It was our first time there and the darkness that hung over that place was almost overwhelming. Everyone was full of despair. The people there were sick and hopeless; no smiles in that place.  I had never experienced such darkness and just began to pray like crazy for the people there and our ministry team. Specifically we were in the children’s ward praying and visiting with people who probably don’t have many visitors. I was a little intimadated at first but as a leader it was time to step up. I was with a group of girls who were terrified looking up with faces of “what do we do?” I can’t explain it but God completley moved in me in that situation. I just began to model talking to people and praying with them. I look back and think, “Really? did I do that? Did I prayer walk through a destitute hospital and pray with sick children?” It was really an emotionally heavy day for us.

 

Coming into this new day at the Hope House, I challenged the girls to not be defeated and that God can still work in your brokenness. In fact, that’s when He works best, when we are week He is strong!  So we walked through the area from house to house, knocking and going into these houses to sit with, talk with and pray with people. It was exciting to see the girls step up and pray even though it was uncomfortable. They were being pushed and it was good. 

 

There was a woman in particular that we came to. Her name was Catherine. She was so sweet. She was a christian woman who loved the Lord and was so encouraging. She was staying there with her father who was very ill. They weren’t sure what it was but he was in bed and couldn’t move.  This would be our second time visting her after coming before and praying and visiting with her. The time before that we had visited her was so sweet. We brought a guitar with us and Sarah played while we sang. She was joyful.  We were her sisis (sisters).  We came to her on this day and she smiled so wide, happy to see us.  As she greeted us she said “look” and pointed. Who did we see? Her father, sitting outside in his chair smiling and talking! It was such a blessing to be able to sit outside and talk to her and her family.

 

 

(Houses we visitied)                              (Catherine in black sitting down, Father by her)

 

I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe in God appointments and that He knows excactly what we need.  We had had a rough day previously but through and through he showed His faithfulness in providing encouragement through this family and this woman of God. I will never forget Catherine and the way she called us her sisters and was so excited to see us.  I miss her and think of her often. It was a very hard goodbye but I know that He has her and her family in His hands.  It was such a testimony of how God works out the details of EVERY situation!!