[Written by Devin Garza, M.D.] Reflections on my trip back to North Africa… it is difficult to put into words…I can speak for the team when I say that we experienced powerful passionate prayer and witnessed true miracles of physical and spiritual healing by God’s hand for His glory! A woman very troubled with chronic severely painful swollen legs was literally dancing in the waiting room telling everyone her pain was gone after the team laid hands on her… a man from “Trash City” was healed of a solid kidney tumor by God as an answer to prayers of the first Austin Stone team ( I saw the reports myself). Humble testimonies of bravery in the face of persecution and the faithfulness of God were sobering and inspiring. We ministered to and were ministered by the local team of North Africans led by an American trained MD and my good friend.
We saw about 250 patients with various Obstetric and Gynecologic problems during six of the ten days we were there. Some refugees from Darfur, some that live and raise children in one of the city dumps called “The Mountain” (population about 10,000), and still others simply underprivileged North Africans in the capitol city or towns over 100 miles away.
Because of our status as an American medical team and our affiliation with a local health outreach we had the awesome privilege to lay hands on and pray with each patient, their spouses and families, both Christian and Muslim alike – in JESUS’ name. We prayed that they would know His presence because the Father went to extreme measures to bring us together to let them know that they are precious children in His sight, and to acknowledge that as the creator of life, He can heal anything if He wills it. We prayed with them to help them approach God in humility… asking forgiveness and accepting of His will in their unique case so that they would tell others of His greatness and become a light in this dark world as they reflect His glory – because He is the source of the light. We prayed specific prayers of healing so that if the infertile couple becomes blessed with a long awaited pregnancy, they would raise their child to know Him, love Him and follow Him. But if prayers were not answered the way they wanted, God’s glory would not be diminished… He simply has a better plan for them though they cannot see it now. The vast majority of prayers ended with them in tears as much pain and heartache was released by His touch. I can’t wait to hear of the fruit borne of the seeds He planted through us. By humbling ourselves as nothing but servants through which God may choose to heal them, we were able to share the gospel in word and deed in a way that would otherwise be very difficult in an Islamic country.
I left my 17 year old son, Devin Ross, there for an additional three weeks. His mother and I miss him greatly – but in the heartache is the joy of hope in confidence at what God is doing to him and through him. This was my second trip to North Africa, and I’m still prayerfully processing how to apply what I have experienced there into my daily life…
For His Name,
Devin M. Garza, M.D.
Our team of 13 are excited to meet the Didinga people, hear the vision for the boarding school, and seek the Lord’s will for long-term partnerships between the Church in America and Sudan. If you're interested in hearing more and helping send them out in prayer, we're having a time to do that at 9:30AM on July 13th in the Austin High Cafeteria. The team departs on August 1.
Below is a list of the teams that we are sending out this summer.
CENTRAL ASIA
College Co-Ed Trip to Central Asian City
June 2 – 16
Purpose: Relational evangelism
College Co-ed Trip to Central Asian City
June 14 – July 6
Purpose: Relational evangelism
Women’s Trip to Central Asian City
July 7-19
Purpose: Prayer; exposure; encouraging women; mercy ministry
Church Wide Trip to Central Asian City
July 18-29
Purpose: Prayer; exposure; encouraging believers
Church Wide Trip to Central Asian City
Sept. 25-Oct. 3, 2008
Purpose: Prayer; exposure; encouraging believers
NORTH AFRICA
College Co-ed Trip
May 19-June 3
Purpose: Prayer; Exposure; Medical; Relational Evangelism
College Co-ed Trip
June 2-17
Purpose: Prayer; Exposure; Medical; Relational Evangelism
Church Wide Trip
June 19-30
Purpose: Prayer; Exposure; Medical; Relational Evangelism
Church Wide Trip
July 7-21
Purpose: Prayer; Exposure; Medical; Relational Evangelism
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
In the Dominican Republic, we work in partnership with the local church as well as Makarios International
Church Wide Trip
June 6-14
Purpose: Prayer; Exposure; Education; Relational Evangelism
Church Wide Trip
July 25-August 2
Purpose: Prayer; Exposure; Education; Relational Evangelism
ZAMBIA
Spread out over eight weeks this summer, we have more than 30 people joining the work of Family Legacy Missions International in Zambia with their Camp Life program.