Joan (posted by Kristin and Kent)

 Yesterday (Thursday) we met a young woman named Joan who had cerebral palsy.  She struggled to walk and had difficulty using her hands or holding her head steady or even speaking, although you could tell what she was saying if you listened carefully.  When it was her turn for a Bible study Kristin came over and helped her walk over to sit with her and visit.  The visit was good and it was clear that she was a friendly and sweet girl.  However, the most memorable moment came when Kristin asked her if she had any prayer requests and Joan responded, “I want to look like you.”  It made me want to cry hearing her talk about how she just wanted to be normal, knowing there was nothing our doctors, or any doctors, could do for her.  Later she went in to see the nurses and asked Jennifer, the nurse, why she was the way she was.  Jennifer told her it was probably from a difficult birth, but I think we all knew deep down that wasn’t the answer she was looking for.

Last night we talked several times about Joan and how we wished we could have encouraged or helped her more.  Tonight, we were about half way through the Crusade when Joan walked in and sat down three seats over from Kent.  As the sermon went on I (Kent) found my heart breaking for Joan.  I wanted so badly to tell her that she was beautiful and that God made her wonderfully and that it would all be better someday.  So I found myself sitting and crying through the end of the sermon.  As soon as we were dismissed, Kristin and I went to Joan to tell her all of the things that we wanted her to know, that she was beautiful, that God loved her and we did too, that we had thought about her and prayed for her and we were so glad to see her.  She was a truly courageous person who is living such a hard life. 

I (Kristin) was so moved by Joan.  She had to walk at least several blocks alone to get to the Crusade.  So many people had told me this week that they would come to the Crusade and they had not.  It would have been so easy for them to come and be blessed and receive God’s blessing and they didn’t.  And yet here was Joan, the one who had not been blessed and who had to go through so much just to come.  I was so touched and we both hugged her and tried to encourage her.  When we finally joined the circle of team members and local workers Kent and I just stood there and cried, wishing we could do so much more.

Joan left the clinic with all the meds we could give her and a new pair of eyeglasses and sunglasses.  She came looking for answers.  I hope she at least left with love, because our hearts and prayers certainly are with her.