Day 436 - Packing & Heidi Baker

Well, I think I was on box #36 this morning. I'm not on box #57. And I'm no where near finished. I'm getting really tired of boxes! I feel like I'm just shuffling stuff & throwing out the odd thing here & there. I haven't made any headway in my bedroom & that's where most of the stuff is! Oh dear! I think I may have to leave things until I come back from Cuba. I did find my 'Havana Nights' Dirty Dancing DVD. Tee hee!

Roxy has come to my rescue once again. She's going to help me with my stuff at Dad's. She's going to use, potentially keep, the furniture that I have at Dad's, rather than Jaco & I paying storage fees for it to sit somewhere. I was going to let it all go, but now I can decide later & Roxy can have some more furniture in her house! Problem solved & stress relieved! Yay!

This evening I watched a service at Bethel Church online. It was so cool! It was streamed live & Heidi & Rolland Baker were the speakers this evening. I think it cost $3 & it was the best $3 I've spent in a long time! It was like I was right back there! I LOVED every minute of it! Heidi is one anointed woman! She lives in Mozambique & runs Iris Ministries. She is a gifted healer. Through her love of Christ, she has risen over 80 people from the dead, the blind see & the deaf hear. Don't believe me? Investigate for yourself! Miracles do exist! And I LOVE that she is showing the world that!

She is a very entertaining speaker & I found myself laughing out loud, crying, no, weeping... I can't wait to meet her one day! She's originally from Laguna Beach, CA & she gave up everything in her life to go to Mozambique & live in the dirt with the poor people there. She feeds over 7,000 orphans & nearly 10,000 people every day! She has some pretty amazing stories. She's written a few books & if you feel inclined, you can get them here.

After the show was over, I went to packing. It's now 0231 & I really need to hit the hay. The girls are sulking tonight, as I caught them both (at different times) in the cat's litter box. Gross! ARGH! They had their teeth brushed & got a chilly reminder that naughty dogs are not tolerated in the house. I think they both learned their lesson, as it took them a good 1.5 hrs to wipe the guilty look off their faces. Here's hoping!

xxxx Maria, Oceana, Valentina, Adios

Day 422 - Wow!

Where to begin?! Today was one of the most amazing days I've ever had! I was at Church at 0830 with George & Elizabeth for the morning service. They left after that & I stayed to sit in on the Firestarters class, with Kevin Dedmon. Elizabeth lent me her cell phone to call George when I was done. He picked me up shortly after 1300 & I went home for a little rest. George & I watched Furious Love in the afternoon, before the evening service. I didn't get home until shortly after 2200! I had to be up at 0345, so it would be a short night! A rather strange visitor to the Church really interrupted my 'high'. He had the worst case of verbal diarrhea I've ever witnessed, coupled with paranoia, bragging, and just plain bizarre behaviour! Yes, I prayed for him!

Here's the excerpt from today:

The next morning, at church, I saw my Sozo friends & sat with Kathy. Eric, the Pastor, shared an inspiring message about community. This church is like NOTHING I’ve ever been to before. I’ve never enjoyed a service to this extent before! Praise Jesus! After the service I went up for prayers. Diane from the choir prayed for me. She asked my name & when I said ‘Jill’, she said, ‘Like Jack & Jill, you’ve took a tumble or two, but the water that’s been spilled is Christ’s blood & you’ve been renewed & healed.’ Little did she know, but my husband’s name is Jaco. Close enough! :o)

Are you still with me? I know it’s a long story, but it was a life changing weekend. And NONE of it would have happened if I hadn’t seen Finger/Furious. I’m praying right now that Father of Lights isn’t the end!

Next up was Firestarters. I walked in & there was Kevin Dedmon! I was so excited to share my story with him (see end of this really long story!), but I decided to wait until the end of the class. Unfortunately Kevin left early – something about Hawaii & laying hands on turtles & tropical fish… :o) During the class we heard 30-45 minutes of incredible testimonies of the Lord using people just like you & I to heal people! It was incredible & inspiring! One fellow was only in his 4^th week & he had over 12 testimonies from the previous week! Wow! Go Tarry! At one point, they shared prophetic words with the class & one of the gentlemen had words for me! Little ol’ me! He said ‘Peace & Freedom’ and that I share it with everyone wherever I go. He also saw a diamond & that I am one of God’s precious gems. Our lesson that day was about developing a hunger for the Lord. Let me tell you, after hearing all the incredible stories of healing, I was STARVING!!!!

I found Craig Mercer in the classroom & shared the other story with him. (See below) He was excited!

I picked up the Furious Love Deluxe Edition at the bookstore & boogied back to the house for a quick break before the evening service. George & I watched Furious – he hadn’t seen it. I get giddy watching it with someone else! I’m so excited for them to see & learn the amazing things that happen! I think my favourite part is the last bit with Robby Dawkins at the New Age Festival. That used to be me. I had no idea of the darkness lurking there too!

Back to church I went. I went to the Encounter Room before the service started & the first person I saw when I walked in was Kevin Dedmon! (He had left Firestarters before I could share my story & I really wanted a photo!) I went right over for a photo & shared my story with him. He was elated! I then visited with Don, a 72 year old man visiting from Oregon on fire for the Lord. What a beautiful smile & laugh he has! His son’s friend prayed for me. Then we both went over & prayed for a lady in a wheelchair. I saw her yesterday. Her skin was green. Tonight she looked yellow. I’ll take that as improvement!

Then it was time for the service. We listened to Garrett Viggers & beautiful Christmas music, singing & bagpipes! Pastor Paul shared an incredible story about his family’s journey to America during 9/11 & an Angel that assisted them greatly! After the service they offered prayers for healing. I think I was the 3^rd person up there! Lynn prayed for me, along with Alex, & Holly from the Healing Rooms. I felt a strong presence of the Holy Spirit. And the tears, oh were there tears. I cried like I’ve never cried before! Lynn prayed for my destiny, restoring childhood dreams & having those dreams again. On my way back to my seat, Pastor Paul stopped me & asked me what kind of cancer I had. He himself recovered from cancer and he wanted to pray for me. When I sat down, the people behind me recognized me from the Firestarters class & they prayed for me too! I then went through the fire tunnel & received even more prayer & healing!

After the service was over, I went to say goodbye to Kathy, when Paul approached me. He was also in the Firestarters class. He said the Lord sent him over to talk to me & he had no clue why.

Ha ha. He had Nodular Sclerosing Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. So did I. He tried to treat it for 2.5 years alternatively. So did I. He ended up doing chemo. So did I. We had a great talk. He also found a feather floating in the air & gave it to me. At the time I was clueless & thought to myself, ‘What’s so great about a feather in the air?’ It wasn’t until I was at home & talking to Jenn about it that she revealed the wonder of the floating feather indoors!

Thank you for reading about my experience! It's been a life changing weekend - to say the least! 

xxxx Maria

Kathy from my Sozo team 

 Craig who responded to my email regarding Joanne

 Don from Portland

 SA flag!

 The Church

 Driving up past the flags of the world

 View of the mountains

 Soaking Chapel

 Fountain by the Soaking Chapel

 Another view of the fountain

 Welcome!

 Nature nearby

 Driving up

 View from the bottom of the hill

 Kevin Dedmon from the Firestarters class

 Chris Overstreet

 The girl I thought was Elizabeth! Twice!

 Garrett Viggers

 Bagpipers

 More bagpipers - note the camera on the left

 Prophetic painting - go to DrawnFromWater.org & be prepared to wipe away tears! Wow!

Kathy, from Sozo & Paul - Hodgkin's Survivor!

Day 421 - Healing Room!

Today was the Healing Room. I was excited, nervous & anxious. I'll add the excerpt from my novel to help me out. The rest of the day I picked up groceries, visited Target (Yay!) & skyped with Jenn. I also visited Elizabeth's neighbour, who has a ministry in Africa & bought some beaded coffee jewelry to support her girls. Elizabeth & I watched The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe in the evening. It was a great movie! Yes, I'm behind the times! I hadn't seen any of the Narnia films. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Tomorrow is a full day at the Church & my last day in Redding. :o( I'm so sad it's gone too quickly! I don't want to go! I feel like I've found a secret continent & I'm having the time of my life here! Anyhow, blessings to you! Here's the excerpt:

The following morning was the Healing Room. First Elizabeth & I went to the Encounter Room to do a little ‘prep work’. While I was in there, they announced that if you had a heart condition or problem to stand up. I have been taking a chemo drug that is hard on the heart, so I stood up. When I opened my eyes to stand up, a lady was behind me (I think her name was also Elizabeth) & she was looking straight at me. ‘I knew it!’ she exclaimed. I was standing in front of the drummer & he went crazy on the bongos at that moment & my heart beat to the rhythm of the drums.

A few minutes later, we were called into the Healing Room. I met Holly & Katy, the two young girls the Heavenly Father was going to use to bring healing into my life. They laid hands on me & soon I started to weave & wobble back & forth. My back arched backwards & I held a really awkward position for a really long time, without any fatigue. One of the girls then suggested I lay down. Covered up under a warm blanket, my entire body felt this incredible coolness. I felt tingles on the left side, which is where the largest mass of cancer was. I felt my arm flush, as the lymph started to flow. There was burning heat in my head & neck and the presence of the Holy Spirit in my belly. My jaw stiffened & I felt heat transfer from the girls to my body. At some point, my husband & Jenn popped into my mind at the same time & I was instantly overwhelmed with love. The Lord showed me SO MUCH LOVE for them & from them. Jesus told me that I was healed & there was no more sickness. I was going to be fine! He told me I would heal others in His name one day.

The messages Holly & Katy shared with me included:

- I am one of God’s Queens

- They couldn’t leave my side, as they’ve never prayed for someone as powerful, with so much strength

- They see me piercing the darkness with God’s love & shattering the darkness

- I am one of God’s Warriors

- They don’t know anyone with as much hope.

- They see Angels around me

- I am courageous, strong & powerful

- God loves it when I sing (Is God tone deaf?) :o)

What a morning! Thank you Holly & Katy & thank you Jesus!!!

I felt like I could have run a marathon. Instead Elizabeth & I walked up the hill to the neighbours & I bought some jewelry to support her ministry in Ethiopia. She & her husband prayed for me before I left.


 Another life changing day! But the best is yet to come! Hang in there with me! xxxx Maria

Day 420 - Sozo & Redding

Oooooh!!!!!! Those were the cuddliest sheets I have EVER slept in! Ami - you may never leave home if you haven't slept in them & if you have, why oh why didn't you take them with you??!!

We enjoyed a late breakfast & then an early lunch! Whoops! I called the shuttle company to confirm & they wanted me there a little earlier than expected. So, we wolfed down some chicken buns, pasta salad & away we went! It had rained throughout the night & continued for the rest of the day. Lucky we stopped at the waterfalls when we did! We wouldn't have seen too much today & it would have been quite slippery.

We hugged our goodbyes, although I'm sure I'll be back - only when Ami is home! I haven't met her husband yet. Come to think of it, she hasn't met mine either! And I've never been to Disneyland. Shame, isn't it?

The shuttle driver was named Gary. He was a real sweetheart too. Must be a California thing. Even the passengers were nice! I met a young fellow coming to see his sister & her family. They are missionaries in Uganda & are home for a year of training. We had a great chat after he mentioned Food, Inc. - have you watched it yet? Get crackin'! The other fellow was driving his Mom to his place in Southern California for Christmas & was on his way to fetch her.

The drive was beautiful! Even though it rained most of the way, the old trees were beautiful! The rolling hills & cattle grazing. I understand why it's big ranching country! Even I could be persuaded to chase cattle here!

When I arrived at the hotel, I waited for about 15 minutes for George to arrive. We were early & I don't have a cell phone, so I couldn't let him know. (Everyone was shocked that I didn't have a cell phone - how did I survive!?) When he did arrive, I knew it was him right away. I second guessed myself when a Kenny Rogers/Oak Ridge Boy looking chap walked in, but realized I was (thankfully) wrong.

George & his wife Elizabeth have a beautiful home they share with people coming to visit the church. If you are wanting to go, here's their website. From the moment I walked in the door, I felt at home. I'm going to share with you what I typed in a 10 page novel about the events that have transpired since I was told about Finger of God & Furious Love. If you want to read the entire document, drop me a comment & I'll email it to you. In case you're wondering what Sozo is, you can read about it here. Sozo, for me, was VERY powerful. We have one in Edmonton if you're interested. Anyhow, here's the text:

Fast forward to December 17^th, 2010. I am met by George from Healing in His Wings. He picked me up from the shuttle & welcomed me into him & his wife’s home. I felt like I’d arrived home. They were so warm & welcoming – it was great! Their friend, Essie, was over for a visit. She hails from South Africa, a special place in my heart & coincidentally my husband’s home. Before she & Elizabeth left, they all prayed for me. Essie saw a dove land on my shoulder.

Sozo Ministry. Gosh. This is a novel, I’m sorry, but so much has happened to me since I was introduced to these films. I mean, I’m in California! Come on! *GRIN* Kathy, Kathy & Elizabeth conducted my Sozo. Wow. What a powerful experience. Immense forgiveness for both my parents, handing all my troubles to Jesus – I’m certain I lost 30 pounds in those 2 hours. (Don’t worry, most of it’s been gained back thanks to Turtles & egg nog. Merry Christmas!) Back to Sozo. A few key points – Kathy saw a crown being placed on my head. Jesus dressed me in a new white gown – my wedding gown! I’ve never had the gift of the Holy Spirit. I got it that night! Jesus also gave me the gift of Tongues. Oh & did I mention that he took me to a stream & baptized me? And ever since that night, I’ve felt his hand on my right shoulder. I haven’t had a Friday night like that in… NEVER! Yeah! 

Clearly is was a powerful night! And to think that this is just the beginning. Do you remember when I said I had spent nearly three years trying to heal myself? I tried physical & emotional healing, but never glanced in the direction of healing spiritually. People! I have arrived! The time is now! I haven't felt this amazing in a REALLY long time! 

Jenn had sent me a few messages on Skype and I really wanted to talk to her, but it wasn't going to happen, as it was really late in Texas! Tomorrow I have the Healing Room & then I would be able to share it all with her. I snuggled into my air bed under a scrumptious duvet of down & drifted away. Far away. Farther than California, that's for sure!

Sweet dreams & believe in MIRACLES my friend! 

xxxx Maria sans Valentina & Oceana 

 Posing by the tree - they have a beautiful tree!

Day 400 - Wenda.

It is with a heavy heart that I received the email this morning that my friend Wenda, whom I met in Tijuana at Dr. Castillo's, has passed away. Her bright & beautiful smile had the capacity to light up an entire room & warm the hearts of those in it. She always wore colourful socks to cheer up herself & others around her. Bless your heart Wenda. I miss you!

What a beautiful woman. Look at that smile.

This morning I called Jenn bright & early, as I was still awake. We had a wonderful chat about life & all the amazing things that are happening for the both of us. She has introduced me to the Bethel Church in Redding, California that has had many miracles. They have Healing Rooms on Saturday mornings & you can travel to Redding for a healing or you can skype them if you are unable to travel there. I tried to skype them last week, but didn't get through. I tried to call them during the week, but they are very busy! So, this morning I tried to skype them again. About the time I decided I was tired, I heard the skype phone ringing! It was the Healing Room! 

They prayed for me 3 times during our call & as soon as the first prayer began, I felt a huge heat wave rush through my body & when I looked at myself in the webcam, my face was beet red. I had my hand on my neck while the man prayed for me. I checked my neck after the prayers & the lumps were so much softer & smaller! Wow! It's a miracle! Praise God! Can you believe it! We said goodbye & I laid in bed, reciting a prayer over & over again with my hand on my neck. Shortly thereafter, they called me again! I had sent a message to both of their skype addresses, so I got a second call 'by accident'. Thus, I received more prayers! Whoo hoo! 

As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but notice the brightness behind my eyelids. It was as though the sun was beaming into the room. At first I thought, 'How am I going to sleep if it's this bright?' I opened my eyes, only to see NO SUNSHINE in the room! I closed my eyes & the brightness returned. It continued for about 10 minutes or until I finally drifted asleep! What a crazy way to start/end the day!

I woke up at 1800 this evening. Whoops. I was supposed to go to Mom2's via Black Diamond to shoot some Christmas photos for Stirr, but I realized that my Picc line wasn't looking so good. I think I may have an infection. I was about to drive to Black Diamond when I realized that I had the heavy boxes in my car & I couldn't lift them out. Hopefully things won't deteriorate too much by tomorrow morning (or afternoon at my rate!) So, I didn't go to the city today, either. I managed to catch up on the blog (finally!) & do some more reading. I seem to find all of these controversial topics... I'm not sure why, but I seem to be an advocate for some pretty crazy topics these days! Oh well, keeps things interesting! 

Phew. What a day. Have a great sleep & we'll see you tomorrow! 

xxxxMV&O

Meet Florence (as in Florence & the Machine)