A couple of days ago, Thomas traveled into the jungle to visit some of our friends in a community that we've been working in for the past two years. As he arrived, one of the ladies we know told him her cousin was not doing well, and could he go pray with him. When Thomas arrived at the hut, he found several people there in the home. He was taken inside where he saw a man laying in the middle of the wooden floor. The man was 41 years old, and although Thomas didn't know him personally, he knew his brother and several other family members. Thomas begin to ask questions about what was wrong with the man. As he listened to the people begin to tell the story, he could also hear the breathing of the man. The shallow rasping sounds coming out of him didn't sound good to Thomas. He could hear rattling sounds, and the mans eyes keep rolling back into his head. This man was dying. As Thomas knelt down beside the man, there was a smell coming out of him that made Thomas have to catch his breath to keep from vomiting. He turned his attention to the details of the story and listened to how this man had come to be in this condition. 15 days prior, the man had been bitten by a rabid dog. As he begin to get sick, the family told him he needed to go to the doctor, but the man refused saying "i'll be alright". But he didn't get better. He got worse really fast, and before he could understand what was really happening, he was so sick he couldn't respond to them to let them know he wanted to go to the doctor. The family stood by his request that he didn't want to go get medical help, and they watched his life slip away. This man left behind a wife, and 11 children that all lived together in that home. His oldest child was 19, still in school, and the youngest was two. Thomas told the people that he could call an ambulance to come there and take the man to the hospital, but they stood by the mans final decision. So, Thomas prayed for the man, and a short while after, watched him take his last breath. It was a very sad time and immediately the wailing and crying started for this father, husband, son.
Yesterday afternoon, Thomas received another call from the village asking if he could come and encourage the people. He was told that many people were there from other villages, and at the home of this family. They said the wife had no food to feed the people or even her own children. Thomas. Magali our translator and Rob a co-worker for the ministry, went and bought food for them and took it out to the community. He said there was probably over 100 people there. When he arrived, there was a small place that had a tin roof covering, and the man's body had already been placed in a casket. Lighted candles surrounded him and the glow penetrated the darkness of the jungle. He was asked to pray for the people, and then to speak to them to encourage them. He shared with them out of the book of John chapter 1. Let not your heart be troubled, believe in God, believe also in Me. He spoke to them in a compassionate way and then closed in prayer. Thomas took the food to the home and gave it to the widow and she was very appreciative. But knowing this woman had many children, the youngest being only two, we had to wonder how will this mother take care of her 11 children now. How can she work and provide the food, clothing, shelter, and many school supplies her children will need. Next week is coming. The little amount of food we took will be gone in a day or two.
It is for this reason that we are here in this place at this time. We never know what each day will bring with it. We never know what phone call we might get of someone needing our help. A call to come pray with them. A request to come bring food for a hurting family. A need to come and take someone to the hospital. We do our best to "feed them" when they are hungry. Clothe them when they have no cloths. We invite them in, even when we don't know them. We show them the love of Jesus Christ through our daily walk of life.
Your donations and monthly support help us to share all these things and much more with the people in the many river communites and jungle villages. It shows the people we care about them and want to help them in their sufferings and daily living. When we teach them about Jesus, you are being a part of that teaching. By praying for us, and supporting us financially. We thank you for being obedient and listening to God and sending us.
If you are not already supporting this ministry, please pray and ask God how you can be involved in Casting Seeds Ministries. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization. Your tax deductible donations/support can be sent to
Casting Seeds Ministries
P.O. Box 7537
Pensacola Fl, 32534
We even accept visa payments through PayPal, and also monthly "bill pay" through your bank.
God Bless
