Healer of the Broken: Reflections From a Missions Trip in Belize
By Sue Busche, Belize trip participant
Isaiah 61:1-2a
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me
to preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord….”
This was the Lord’s mission in Belmopan, Belize, January of 2017. The facts could be penned of the several souls who became believers during that week of our trip, or of how many poor were fed. I could recall how many were prayed for and received healing, or of how many Bibles were given out.
Children were ministered to, messages were preached, the Word affected many, and one soul returned to her Jesus after time in the wilderness. But I sincerely believe that would be a synopsis of this God inspired trip, yet not convey the Father’s heart of the whole mission. The Master Architect with a grand scheme allowed us, the willing pawns, to be blessed in the partaking of His glorious work. (John 17:22-23 comes to mind)
We witnessed God’s love and heart our first day at the local hospital. He opened doors no man could shut into the previously barred psychiatric ward. Not even the pastor we worked with had been allowed in to minister. Two precious souls received the glory of God and comfort of the Holy Spirit pouring all over them! Both were separated away from their children. Both needed peace. One needed saving, and boy was he saved mightily! Words fail to explain the peace, hope, love and assurance given them. Psalm 23:3 says, “He restores my soul”. The man who received Jesus also had heard a prophetic word about his future at the local Assembly of God church, a precious hope for a previously condemned and shamed person. (Jer. 29:11) I believe the prayer for the restoration of their families was answered. Also, the doors were opened for the local pastor to come back and continue ministering the love of Jesus in the only psych ward in all of Belize!
Many hurting souls were encountered during our community outreach regarding the evangelical services and during the feeding of poor families. A man had lost his wife to cancer and had his children taken from him while he ministered to her. He had lost them and was desperately seeking them again, with no avail…..so much hurt! I believe the Lord gave him hope that day and answered prayer, as with the parents in the psych ward, to be reunited with his kids. God is a restorer! I know those prayers were just the beginning of the restoration God had in mind. Also during home visits, a completely devastated young lady was ministered to. She had been in a motorcycle accident with her boyfriend who died because of it. She was left with a broken hip and two broken legs, bedridden, and worse, brokenhearted. During the second visit to her home, she received Jesus and hope, and was given a Bible! Of course she was prayed for concerning healing in her body as well. The Lord had her marked for hope that day! Many other souls in sad situations received prayer in those visits.
How can I describe in these few words how one member of the partnering church had so much hope and health ministered to her? During visits to feed the poor, she was among them. She was a widow. She had miscarried a child. And now she was having a very dark day recalling another son who not long before had died of leukemia. Recent events brought this horror back to her and her hope was sapped. One team member had also lost a teen boy, about the same age, and was among the many ministering God’s love to her. I personally saw her countenance change after encouragement and prayer. The Spirit of heaviness began to leave. But her story does not stop there! She attended our service that evening at our host church….her church. She received prayer and I know the Lord is faithful to answer that. This sweet soul had the Father reach down to her during our trip, fulfilling the Isaiah passage above in multiple ways. She was a gloriously changed person when we departed.
Lastly, our team was asked by the pastor to go to a certain poor family. We arrived to bestow food, only to see them living in a trash dump! The family picked through trash to sell what they could, and they had many children to care for. The whole neighborhood was destitute. The father was visibly in shame as we gathered, but as the gospel, which he had never known ANYTHING about before, was preached, his head began to lift. With tears he nodded “yes” to wanting to be saved. Long story short, he, his wife, their kids, and other kids from the area were saved that day! They were told of a hope of a new life they did not know existed…..Jesus was good tidings to these poor. That night at the evening service a big red pick-up truck pulled up to the church doors. Out jumped this family and many neighborhood children, all beaming, ready to hear more good news….they filled at least 1/3 of the church! I have heard they still attend church there.
Jesus did preach good tidings to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, open prison doors and set captives free during our visit. He even somewhat opened one man’s blind eye. But He does it using servants. I am amazed, looking back, at how He uses one to plant, one to water, but HE gives the increase. He ordered the steps of all involved. (Ps. 37:23) God led the Thirst leaders to match us with the church in Belmopan, knowing what the area needed and when. He led our mission leader on what types of ministries to pick. The Lord guided the pastor to pick the homes to visit. He hand chose the team members who had various gifts and experiences for the trip, placing us where we were needed and when…divinely ordered. (Prov. 16:9; Prov. 20:24)
Lesson learned: When your trip is inspired by and led by God, where He works and you rest in being led as He wills, He moves gloriously! As mission team members we need to realize it is the Lord’s mission, not ours. I cringe thinking of anyone participating in mission work in order to feel better about themselves, impress others, put a feather in their cap, or gain favor in God’s eyes. No, a thousand times! (Prov. 16:2) I love a simple saying the Lord impressed upon me twenty years ago: “It’s not about me”. Nothing is about or for us. All we are, all we do, is by His grace; for Him; for others. This trip in January was His plan, not a self-contrived effort. By His unmerited favor, He uses us in our weaknesses. ( 2 Cor. 12:9) He devised all the steps, led us blindly, and He accomplished His Word and desire. ( Is. 55:9-13) He healed the brokenhearted that week, and I suspect it was just the beginning of a ripple effect that will endlessly yield! Praise God we were honored to be a part of it and see all glory go to Him! Thank you Thirst for this opportunity; for being in existence for the sheer purpose of what we saw unfold in people’s lives, being forever impacted by Jesus. You show God’s heart.
Special thanks and love to Luda and Perla. Heb. 6:10 – God is not unjust to forget your labor of love…..
Sue Busche is involved with Diane Burke Ministries.
