Heagy Updates
The Heagy Family is currently serving with YWAM (Youth with a Mission) overseas. This is a place where we share their most recent update from the field.
March 2010
Dear Friends and Families,
When we say "God BLESS THE U.S.A.", we really mean it! We've returned to the continental U.S. and are enjoying a few days with our families. Man! Is it good to be home and strange to think just days ago we were half way around the world.
It's hard to really know how to sum up the last two months, other than to say that they were fun, challenging, stretching, fascinating, gut wrenching and amazing. Without taking too much of your time, I want to highlight a few of the dozens of ministry opportunities we had as a family and team while we traveled the state of Karnataka in India.
1. Having a truly hands-on ministry opportunity to lepers was a delightful surprise and yet a sad look at a very lonely, isolated life these dear people have led. We ministered on two separate occasions to a leprosy hospital that has been around for 102 years. These lepers have been ravaged by leprosy, but with modern treatment, are no longer battling the disease. They're in the final stages of cure but are sadly mutilated from a lifetime of battling the disease. We were able to pray with and for them, do a church service and lead many to a personal relationship with Jesus!
2. There was a massive flood due to a dam break back in the fall that left countless thousands homeless and dozens dead. We were able to visit 7 villages that were affected by this flood, lead church services for them, pray over them and hand out much needed basic supplies. We were moved by their eagerness to hear God's Word and be touched and prayed for by our team, when previously they'd apparently been very closed to things regarding Jesus.
3. We had dozens, I'm sure more than 100, of opportunities to do house prayer: where we'd go into a home which was most often Hindu and pray for open spiritual eyes, blessing, healing and more. It struck us how blinded these people are spiritually as we looked around their humble homes and saw pictures of both multiple Hindu gods as well as Jesus. They really need Jesus! They need God to show Himself to be the One True God! So many of the 1 plus billion people are in bondage to more than 350 million impotent gods. It's an overwhelming statistic, but we know God can break through this stronghold.
4. Easily the most impacting ministry we had during our time in India was with the Devadasis, or temple prostitutes. The 30 women we spent a day with were just a sampling of the 250,000 women who currently serve as prostitutes serving the god Yellama. This horrible practice dates back thousands of years, to that of Old Testament times, and continues to have huge impacts on the spiritual, emotional and physical lives of these precious women. With more than 70% of them HIV positive, they are starkly aware of the hopelessness of their existence as prostitutes serving their female god/husband. It appears the only thing that keeps them motivated to live is the beautiful children that are the result of this horrid existence they call life. We served them, loved on them, fed them, prayed with them and did our best to BE JESUS to these desperate ladies. We pray that God's love will permeate their lives and bring hope and healing long after the missionaries go home.
This brings us to the end of February and a year remaining in our commitment to YWAM. At this point, we are still ironing out details, but we see God moving and opening doors for us to serve in Europe. We leave March 15th to volunteer at a YWAM base in Hainichen, Germany while we await work permits for a base in Skien, Norway. We've seen God preparing the way for us to go this base in Norway where we can serve in multiple capacities. The work permits are the last on the list of "to do's" to get us to Norway for the year. So, Lord willing, we'll be in Norway by spring.
Norway is a nation with a highly Christianized history, but has strayed far from most things Godly. Their youth are struggling with identity. Materialism is rampant. Reason has replaced Godly pursuits and they are a people desperate for Truth. It's a nation where humanism, secularism and godlessness prevail. We have the opportunity to go and disciple the staff at the Skien base, evangelize local colleges, minister to migrating Muslims, serve in mercy ministries to formerly Eastern Europe, and be involved with both worship and youth ministries happening right there on the base. We see God pointing us in a direction that utilizes both Brian's and my giftings and passions, as well as putting us in a position to stretch ourselves and Jensen, Tessa and Thad in loving others into the Kingdom.
We are excited to see the future unfold and trust that God will put us exactly where He wants to grow, stretch, mature and use us to further His message of Love and Redemption to this lost world. These past five months have been incredible. The instruction in Kona was invaluable, and the Christian community we were able to experience was a time we'll cherish always. We are continually amazed at how He graciously provides us with partners like YOU to pray for, support, encourage and love us through this journey. Can I just say that one big thing we've learned is that walking by faith, day to day, is not an easy endeavor! But we are eagerly seeking Him on a daily basis and can already see the fruit of the choices we've made as we watch our children grow, serve and pray in amazing ways. He has indeed worked in our family and we await more of Him in us.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and, more importantly, for committing to remember the Heagy family in 2010. We look forward to updating you on our activities and appreciate your continued prayer support as we "go". We couldn't do this without each of you.
Blessings on you,
Brian, Janell, Jensen, Tessa and Thad
p.s. We'll continue to use our same email address while we're out of the country. As always, we'd love to hear from you!!
