Transform Grief into JOY

Greetings from Jamaica!

I can hardly believe that it’s already April! I have learned so much about myself since I started leading DTS school in the middle of January. Next newsletter, I will share with you my experience about what this leadership journey has taught me. As for this newsletter, I feel like the Holy Spirit is prompting me to share with you on the topic of turning grief into joy.

SCRIPTURES

John 16:20
"Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.”

James 1:2
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds…”

I want to share with you a bible story about Mary who grieved over Jesus’ death. This passage is from John 20:11-18, and it led her to experience such great joy to learn that He is alive! I too can relate to Mary’s deep grief and despair. I’m sure in many ways we all can at some point or another. Death is not the only reason why we experience grief. People grieve for many different reasons like when something dramatic happens to you or your loved ones i.e. illness, trauma events, losing a job, financial struggles, divorces, or changes in your relationships/friendships, etc. For me personally, there were some moments in my life when I faced several unexpected situations that brought me so much sorrow and pain. Like Mary, I was hopeless and felt discouraged. I would forget what God promises us and His continued blessings when I am in those low moments of darkness and gloom. But the good news is that Mary’s grief did in fact turn to joy when she saw her beloved Jesus rise from the dead and alive once again! What a great reminder that I too can turn to the Lord for His comfort and recall His promises. Even if I don’t understand why these struggles happen to me or the people I love. I recognize that it is the best gift in the whole world to be able to receive joy from the Lord. I can discover more joy in the midst of suffering remembering God’s promises rather than feeling bitter. Jesus is our only hope to banish our grief and despair and turn it into joy.

Please continue reading as I share with you a real-life example of what happened to some people I had just met and my beloved friends.

Testimonies

So as a YWAM team, we had decided to go out to different areas in Jamaica and develop relationships with the Deaf people there. We went to Westmoreland to begin this process. One day, we met with a Deaf woman there. As we were talking with her she shared how her mom had health issues, so we went ahead and prayed for her mom. Then last week we went for a second visit. We were hanging out with some other Deaf people when that woman from a week ago came over and told us “Hey, last week after you prayed for my mom, the next day after you left she was healed!” We were so excited! Praise God because He answered our prayers and healed her mother! The Deaf daughter was worried about her mother's illness. However, she recognized that God cares for her mother and is always looking after her. That helped her realize that she can experience joy no matter what happens to her in life and to her family.

I would like to share another testimony. A while back I went to a YWAM club gathering where I listened to people share their testimonies. After the event was over I was about to leave and Veledise came up to me. She said she had felt a strong tug from the Holy Spirit to tell me to help a Deaf girl from Caribbean Christian Center for the Deaf. She said, “Kevi, can you talk with that girl over there? She had a breakdown and needs your help!” So I looked at that girl and I felt such heartache for her, and agreed that was from the Holy Spirit and obeyed. I came to meet this girl and led her to a private place to talk. She then poured out her heart to me and told me she had been contemplating killing herself. As I was listening sympathetically trying to support her, I asked the Holy Spirit to guide me through this tough conversation. I wanted God to lead me in probing her questions to help her see a different perspective from Him. I really encouraged her to see that the lies she thought were true were not from God. At the end, I prayed for her, and then all at once all of her emotions hit her and she began to sob and sob. I tried to comfort her and asked her to see if she could pray that she be released to forgive those people who had caused her so much hurt. She was very eager and agreed. She asked God to release her and to help her give all of her heavy burdens to Him. Also, to put all of her faith and trust in Him and to let Him lead her life. After that, I joined to support her prayer. The next day she was up and about being very positive and was already Trusting in God! I was amazed at how quickly God had moved in her heart! Because before when she was having suicidal thoughts, many people were trying to come around her and give their support and help but nothing had really changed her until I prayed with her. She is so happy and has such joy now! She is very motivated to learn more about God and wants to grow closer to Him and build her faith! She also wants to know more about Jesus and who He is! Praise God! All glory to Him!

A Lot of Changes

This DTS season has had so many changes and it really influenced me and our ministry. We really had to depend on God and trust Him through this tough journey. I believe God is teaching us something!

Two major things happened this recent DTS season. First, Veledise, who is on the YWAM staff team, became seriously ill. There was something seriously wrong with her spleen, and she had to go see the doctor here in Jamaica. The doctor wasn’t really sure what was going on and thought it best to send her back to America to run more tests. They hope that after more detailed analyses are run they can figure out what the best approach for future treatment for her, even perhaps surgery. This unexpected situation caused her a lot of grief over this unexplained illness. However, she decided to trust God through this difficult journey.

After she left there was another major turn of events. Anna just left last week. She is transitioning to work on the YWAM staff in Mexico to spend more time with her boyfriend who works there. They are pursuing marriage, and are excited to start working together and getting to know each other better. Anna has had so many mixed emotions about this because she loves her ministry work in Jamaica being fully immersed in the Deaf culture here and using sign language. However, she knows God has a plan for this new chapter in her life! We are really excited for them and know that God has a wonderful plan for them. At the same time, we are still very bummed to see her go, but she will always be a part of our Jamaica YWAM family.

Prayer Points

Please Pray for our Ministry Team:

Pray for our ministry here through this transition period. We are not used to people coming and going and it can be a little overwhelming!
We will continue to depend on God and trust in His ways during this time of change. We know that God will teach us something great when it is all said and done.
We will remain united as brothers and sisters in Christ!
On April 20, we will be moving from the Caribbean Christian Center for the Deaf to the YWAM base. Pray for strength for us through this transition process to a different location.

Please pray for Veledise:

Her finances, because she did not have any insurance while in Jamaica so her doctor visits were very costly. Luckily, she has insurance in America. However, please pray that she will be able to pay off all of her debt in Jamaica. Please contact me for more information if you would like to help her out financially.
Veledise’s suffering can be turned into God’s joy, and the Holy Spirit can touch her heart and do a miracle on her health.
God will give wisdom to the nurses and doctors to do what’s best for her body.

Please Pray for Anna:

God will give her wisdom and clearly guide her down this new path of potential marriage as well as a new vision for ministry.
Her new community and the people that will be surrounding and guiding her in Mexico.
She makes strong connections there and develops great friendships!

I would like to close my newsletter with one final encouragement to you all. During my prayer time recently I have been having so many realizations that God cares for each of us so much! He truly feels our heartache. For those of you who feel hopeless and wonder why you go through struggles, and what is the point of being here on this earth? Well, take heart because God truly sees all of us, grieving right alongside us when we are in despair. It’s so interesting how God meets us right where we are through life’s ups and downs. Whenever you are feeling heartache turn to God and He can turn it into joy!

Happy Jesus' Risen Day!

(NOTE: Please feel free to view the pictures below. Enjoy!)

Love,

Kevlasha Humphrey