Un Milagro (A miracle)

We want to share with you a miracle that has happened before our very eyes. For those who doubt the power of God and His ability to perform miracles, please read further. The first week we arrived here to Jaco, we met a guy walking back from the beach named Palmera. Everyone calls him this because he makes baskets, purses, animals, etc out of palm branches and sells them in town to support his family. He offered to make our kids something. We began talking to him and realized very quickly that he was under the influence of some major demonic powers. He shared with us about his addiction to cocaine and marijuana, his addiction to cutting (he showed us the HUNDREDS of scars all over his body), and the fact that he has worshiped satan for a long time but decided it was better to begin just worshiping himself. He shared how empty he was and how much pain he was in...it was very difficult to hear and I don't know why he felt the need to begin sharing all of this with us. Well, we as a family prayed for him right there on the beach, invited him to church and committed to praying for him from then on. We later realized that everyone in town knows Palmera because he is "the guy who makes stuff" and he is constantly causing problems in the street due to his addictions. We began seeing him almost daily and developed a friendship with him---I hate to admit that Daniel had a lot more faith than I did that he would ever come to church let alone anything else because he was so far gone.

Back in November he came to church for the first time and it was a miracle. He was obviously wrestling with spiritual things inside and he paced the entire time. He then brought his kids to kid's club on Sat. morning because they live in the neighborhood we work in. We returned from Christmas in the States and saw him once before his 3 kids were removed from his home due to all that they were witnessing with him. He was totally broken. He was angry. Later that week he got in a fight with a group of security guards in town and they broke his knee with a metal pipe. He was taken to the hospital, operated on and got an infection. He ended up having to stay there about 3 weeks. We truly believe this extra time in the hospital for him was of the Lord. He asked his wife to find us and get a Bible brought to him. Daniel, Gabe and Mike decided to travel to the hospital to visit him--and what a visit it was! After talking for a while, he said he wanted to be done with the drugs, the cutting, etc. He wanted to be free of all this. Daniel asked if they could pray for him and as he began praying, Palmera began weeping uncontrollably. After praying, he said he felt his body get all warm while they were praying and he truly felt the presence of God there. They asked him if he wanted to accept Jesus into his heart and begin living for him and he said he did. He received Christ and had never felt more peace before in his life. That night in his room he had an experience where we was awakened by a demon face to face with him and he began renouncing it with the name of Jesus and has not seen one since. He is a NEW CREATION!!! It is a miracle!! A few days later the hospital had talked about amputating his leg. We were all praying and a few days later he was brought home. We have been over at his house regularly visiting with him and his wife. They have asked us to just sit and read the Bible to them and pray with them so they can hear God's word. Palmera weeps every time! While he was in the hospital, we kept in close contact with his wife who began seeking the Lord as well. She, too, is a new woman and so hungry for The Word!! To witness these transformations in progress has been nothing short of a miracle! We know Satan is not happy that he has lost one of his and is constantly attacking--he will not give up so we are really praying for Palmera and his wife, Gabriella, that they would remain steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord....that they would rest in His love and peace--for it is there that we find safety (Ps. 4:8). Please pray for them with us---they are in a WAR and praise God He is getting the victory! Here are a few pictures of Palmera...