Dear Reconciliation MCC Family,
I am having a wonderful time at Saint John the Apostle MCC in Fort Myers, Florida. Pastor Steve introduced me to the whole congregation on Sunday morning and shared with them about my missionary work.
At the end of service Pastor Steve included me in the benediction. He told the congregation that the mission of spreading God’s love and care to the stranger was their mission also.
After service I got to be part of a very special ministry at St. John’s and was introduced to a great group of God’s servants. I found I had a lot in common with the Prayer Team.
Saint John’s has a truly dedicated group of bears in their prayer team. They are known as the “Prayer Bears”. These bears are sent out near and far to be with people as a sign of the prayers that are being lifted up during their time of illness or loss. When a Prayer Bear request comes to the church, one of the bears volunteers for the assignment. They know that their job is to go and be with that person from then on. They report back to the church so that the prayers continue to be lifted up. They shared with me some of the missions that the bears have gone on. One bear was dispatched to a very, very little girl weighing 1 lb. 14 oz. She was born months earlier than expected on the island of Guam. The doctors did not think she would survive. May 15th 2011 she celebrates her first birthday and she is thriving and weighs 15 lbs.
Another was sent to a ninety year old woman who had fallen and broken her hip. The doctors told her she could not have surgery and would never walk again. A report came back that she is able to get around her house with the aid of a walker. Another bear was sent to a man who was the victim of an attempted murder. He recovered completely but then sent the bear to a young boy who was in a coma. The minute the bear arrived in the room, the young boy began to come out of the coma. At last report all are doing well. The bears are very clear that they aren’t doing anything but being a sign of God’s love and it is God’s love that is helping people.
After church, I was taken on something called “Spring Break”. They told me that a lot of people come to Florida just to relax a little. They decided I wasn’t dressed right for Florida so they took me shopping for Florida style.
Pastor Steve announced that St. John’s is sending me off to MCC Albuquerque. He always has wanted to go to New Mexico, so he is sending me instead.
