God bless the dirty roads…

Jesus was about to stoop low… and become a servant to His disciples… and was their feet.

Until I did missions in Guatemala, South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia and Tanzania Africa-this verse didn’t fully make sense to me.

“When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!””

John 13:6-9 NLT

The majority of all roads (other than the one main road) are not paved like we have in USA. They are deeply rutted, dirt roads… often muddy in rainy season; or very dusty and sandy in the other seasons…

Animals roam freely, no fences keeping them separated from traffic.

Children are among those who walk everywhere, often bare footed, or wearing sandals.

The roads are long, bumpy, dusty, dirty… and feet very quickly get dirty too. It’s the way of life for most cultures.

Most don’t possess shoes for their feet- and for those who have shoes, often they are open shoes, like sandals.

The primary mode of transportation was foot- walking. People of all ages walking everywhere.

There’s a variety of animal dung everywhere- sheep, goats, cows, chickens and more roam free- and many steps that occur during foot travel incur stepping in yucky stuff… at times, it’s unavoidable…so you can see now how filthy the feet easily became.

It was customary to have the lowest of servants stoop low, with a basin of warm water, and wash the feet of guests, and more so people in a higher stature.

I’ll never forget how incredibly humbling and moving it was the first time that my feet and hands were washed when a guest in a home on missions… I WENT TO SERVE THEM… and yet, through this simply, profoundly moving act, they served me.

It was life changing.

Now read this passage again.



Once Peter heard Jesus say ‘unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me’, Peters answer changed from ‘No! You will never ever wash my feet!’ to ‘then wash my hands, and my head as well, Lord, not just my feet!’

God bless the dirty roads that leads us straight to You.

Peter didn’t want Jesus on Sunday mornings only, Peter wanted Jesus on every day, and every moment of every day!

May our prayers be like Peters… in all the filth of our sins… let us cry out:

‘Wash ALL of me, Jesus!!! I want to belong to You FULLY Lord!!!’

“And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.”

John 13:14-15 NLT

Jesus gave us an example to follow, and told us to do likewise.

We must become servants. Church, let’s get busy!!!

Such a Time As This

I received some bad news today regarding Charles in Uganda.
Charles is a 15 year old boy whom I met in February this year, 2017, while there on a mission trip.   

Though there were thousands of people present who we prayed with, helped, and ministered to- when Charles approached me asking for me to pray for him, something happened.  
The Holy Spirit deposited this message into my spirit, “He is why you are here.”
Instantly, God-bumps arose all up and down my arms, an an instant Word of knowledge came to me by the Spirit.
Charles needed our help- and I was the vessel to get him connected to the help he needed.
Charles was diagnosed with a rare cancer at the early age of 9. 

His loving parents spent all they had to get him the care he needed, which included radiation, chemotherapy, and when that didn’t stop the aggressive cancer, surgery to remove the tumor on his right eye.

Sadly, the family ran out of funds… and the returned surgery planned for 6 weeks later never occurred in 2012…so this young boy had an open wound in the area where his eye used to be… getting infected…
When I met him this February, the eye was covered by gauze, and tape, but it was unclean.  When he asked me to pray for him, he apologized for the odor and pointed to his eye.  

He explained what I just shared, and asked if I would pray for him to be healed.  The odor was quite foul.
Yes.  
I laid hands on him, and prayed for his healing.  I prayed for his provision.  

I found out he had to drop out of school, since all the funds were being used for medical.  I found out he had a large family of brothers, and two young sisters.  I found out he had a dream.
But, like most 15 year olds, he had given up on his dream of becoming a doctor, because he had given up all hope of living through the cancer.
Without funds, there would be no treatment.
Without treatment, the cancer would continue spreading, and would eventually take his life.
So we said no to Satan, the spirit behind the sickness that bound him, and called him healed by the blood of Jesus.
I led him to the director, and first got him to wound care to treat the infected area, and then obtained permission to personally assist him. (Necessary when on a mission trip with an organization other than your own.)

We were able to go with him to meet his family at his homestead village in the bush.  

I was able to hold his hand, and watch hope come back to his countenance, with a smile from ear to ear.

I told him how God loved him so much and saw his struggles, and sent me from America to Uganda for such a time as this.  
I told him we would do all we could to help him get the eye surgery necessary so he could return to school.  I said ” hmmmm. Dr Charles…. that sounds good!”  
So a plan was arranged with the local doctor and pastor, funds were given to have Charles and his parents sent to hospital and to provide for food, transportation and lodging, and medical testing.
This all began on 2/24/17.  His initial biopsy showed him to be cancer free!  We were so happy! 
But then other symptoms began to appear… and his short term hospital stay has now grown into 5 months… and more bad news…
The cancer has returned and he will need to begin aggressive chemotherapy again on this coming Tuesday.
My husband and I had been covering the ongoing expenses each month out of pocket, and reached out to others through speaking engagements Churches 4 Africa: Planting Seeds 4 Love, through our newly formed non profit, iamjesusgal ministries.
The initial funds received specifically for Charles has long since been sent. Much more is needed.  
How can you help?
First and foremost, pray.  Prayers of faith for his complete healing are vitally important while we wait for these symptoms he’s experiencing to line up with God’s Word.  Prayers for finances to come are also needed.
****In order for Charles to receive treatment and ongoing medical care, we are asking if able, please make a contribution on our website, Iamjesusgal ministries, and in the comments state ‘Charles medical care-Uganda’.*****
The Christian Doctor, whom I personally know there in Uganda, is working hand in hand with his cancer doctors providing his care as long as funds continue.  She is reporting back to me his specific needs, and giving an account of each dollar given.
Currently they are in need of $500 US dollars very quickly., to ensure he receives necessary medical care.
I’m saddened by this news., but hopeful for his prognosis based on GOD’S report! 
Thank you to all who have helped thus far.  Thank you for reading this, and I hope, thank you for sharing this… and more, I hope, thank you for prayerfully making a contribution to help Charles live and not die.
“I will live and not die, and shall proclaim the deeds of the Lord.”

Psalm 119:17