I will GO!

Sun, 30 May 2021 17:03:00 GMT

Faith is in every matter of life. The big events, and the small ones.

I was born in a single-parent home and raised by my Aunt who was a Seventh Day Adventist for many years. As a young child, I was taught about Sabbath and how to prepare for it. Hence the preparation started from Sunday just to ensure that we were prepared and ready to welcome the Sabbath. Although we were poor, I observed my wonderful God-fearing Auntie’s unwavering faith, love, and total dependence upon God. It planted a seed in my life that assured me from a tender age that I can trust God to provide for me. I fell in love with Jesus and His word and spent time studying and memorizing Bible texts. Looking back the adults were amazed at my natural ability to do this. Because of my aunt’s influence, I grew up to fear, trust, and obey God’s words.

After the passing of my Auntie, I went to City to live with my mother and her family. I likened this period of my life to the beginning of the best and worst years of my life. It was a difficult period of adjustment for me because she was never a part of my life during my formative years. It proved challenging trying to build a relationship with my birth mother at the tender age of 10, therefore I will remember this as the worst times of my life. The best part of this change was that the Seventh Day Adventist church was a short walk from home and my stepsister who was eight years my senior was a member there. I was thrilled when I realized that I would be able to continue serving Jesus just the way my aunt taught me. Also, it was my Aunt’s wish that I continued my walk with Jesus.

I attended church with my sister and committed my life to Jesus at the age of 12 during an Evangelistic Crusade led by Pastor Rainy. During and after this time the relationship between my mother and me deteriorated and I found comfort and reassurance in the Bible promise in Psalm 27:10 for many years. I have proved God in so many ways and have found Him to be faithful and true to His promises. As a result, I developed a love relationship with God. Later in my life when I attended college through Him I was able to sustain myself throughout my entire college years. I learned that persistent prayer and fasting were vital in sustaining and maintaining an intimate relationship with my Heavenly Father who supplied ALL my needs. The deep scars and wounds that occurred which were as a result, of the challenging relationships with my mother, stepfather, and siblings led me to forge a closer bond with God. I found shelter in His arms.

When I graduated from college at the age of 23, I sought love and comfort from another source other than the true source. Our relationship developed and blossomed and after a few years, I gave birth to a son and was now forced to raise this child as a single parent. I continued attending church and through my emotional and physical pain, I was led to believe that God had a very special plan and purpose for my life. It was after many prayers and fasting sessions that I returned to my home country under the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Scars, Scars, Scars. I was wounded and the sight and memories of these scars scared me. I cried out to God and begged Him to spare me from any more scars, yet He permitted them. After recommitting my life and several years went by, and after a failed marriage of one (1) year, I was

D etermined to take this time of brokenness to dig deep into the word of God and to rekindle my intimate relationship with him. I fell in love with the Bible again and it became my favorite book. I find myself spending several hours on my knees which became a favorite activity for me daily. Telling the story of Jesus’ love and what He did for me was what I like doing best. Since 2010 I have been reading the Bible consistently every year and sharing it with relatives, friends, and everyone I meet. I have proven God in so many ways over the years and I desire to allow Him to use my experience for His glory.

My love for the Lord, His words, and prayer have led me to be an intercessor for the sick, broken-hearted, despaired, anxious and confused souls. My love for people has led me to reach out in service to many in several ways using whatever resources the Lord has blessed me with. I give of myself voluntarily. I often time consider myself to being a Moses called by God to Go... but where to? Not to Pharoah, but to relatives, friends, uncommitted church members, and to a far country where I will be able to share that love that I have found in Jesus with those who are waiting to hear and share into this good news. However, I was crippled by fear and sidetracked by a speech impediment, but God took away the fear and gave me boldness. He turned my impediment into fluent speech. What an amazing God. Yes, He is faithful and there is nothing that He cannot do.

My most recent experience of disappointment and loss have rekindled within me a desire to fulfill my lifelong desire of working with the Lord in the mission field and as I contemplate and prayed, I shared this dream with two friends. They both prayed to ask God to make known His will to me. In March my best friend and partner in prayer joined me in three (3) days of praying and fasting. My request was specific. I wanted God to show me the plans that He has for my future. On day one (1) the spiritual attack and test came but thanks be to God on the 3rd day He answered. Karen, whom I met along with her husband Scott at the Avon Park Church in Florida, called and introduced me to a one-year full-time self-sustained mission call to Spokane. Oh, how amazing God is. He answers even before we call (Isaiah 65:24). I knew that that call was of and from God, and in answer to my prayer and supplication I have answered without hesitation.

There is so much more to share of how God has been faithful. He has been my healer, provider, protector, strong tower, and Father. As I continue to dig deep into the word of God and by His grace live in obedience to His words I desire to share this ‘Jesus’ with people of every color, creek, and nation. I live and rest in the assurance that If I answer yes to the call, then God will make all things possible.

I can be described as one who desires more of Jesus daily, and I seek higher heights and deeper depths in Jesus each day. I am kind, hospitable, caring, friendly, forgiving. Freely I have received from my heavenly Father, so will I give. A few of my favorite texts are Phil. 1:6, Luke 6:38; Hebrews 11:8; Genesis 24 (58).

I solicit your prayers against spiritual attacks and that I will maintain bravery and stand as a true and faithful soldier for Jesus Christ ready to reach disciples for Him by fulfilling my desire to share with others the Great and Mighty God whom I have come to love and trust.

I am Hyacinth Baker, and I will GO!

Thank you

A THS Volunteer Testimony

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 20:01:29 GMT

When I first heard of Total Health Spokane (THS), I thought the concept was interesting, but I wasn’t ready to commit. I had just started my massage therapy business in Virginia Beach, and I was dedicated to its success. It wasn’t that mission work wasn’t important to me; that was one of the main reasons I became a business owner—I wanted the freedom to go on mission trips whenever I wanted without worrying about approval for time off. However, a year-long commitment seemed like too much of a sacrifice. God sure had other plans for me!

Before too long, both my business and other place of employment closed due to the pandemic. Life wasn’t terrible; however, I didn’t really have a purpose. I was surviving, but I was not thriving, and this went on for a while. Frankly, it was a frustrating time in my life.

Then I was truly introduced to Total Health Spokane in April 2020. As I learned more about this organization and spoke to the leaders, I was impressed to join. Within a month of conversing with the leadership, I sold what I could, gave away even more, packed what was left, and said goodbye to Hampton Roads. By the following month, I drove across the country and began my new life in Spokane, WA, one of the top post-Christian cities in America.

I have learned so much since moving here in June 2020. I’ve been trained to assist in the church’s media ministry. I’ve helped plant shrubs, lay sod, build a retaining wall, and pull a LOT of weeds. I was reintroduced to camping, taught how to canoe and kayak, and even started my own container garden. I’ve transitioned to a plant-based diet, and I have learned to make delicious plant-based meals (or so I’ve been told).

But life here is about more than what I’ve learned. It’s about service. I joined a group of individuals from around the country who have also sacrificed a year of their lives and have dedicated this time to serving God and this community. We participate in beneficent work in the area, we utilize our spiritual gifts, and we provide health coaching, thereby improving our clients’ quality of life.

Where I once drifted through life, I am now grounded. Where I lacked purpose, I now have a vision for the present and the future. Where I was once stifled and repressed, I am now able to funnel my knowledge, creativity, and even my sass (talk about a miracle!) into a ministry whose mission and values align with mine.

Life is not without its challenges, but Total Health Spokane has provided me with opportunities for growth and the knowledge and means to help others that I lacked beforehand. Furthermore, I am closer to God than I have ever been in my life, and I find joy and fulfillment in my work for Him.

I desperately want others to share in what I have gained from this experience of submitting to His will. This is not the trajectory that I saw for my life; however, exchanging my dreams for God’s noble call to ministry was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Truly, this is the extension of my commitment to forsake this world for Christ. In comparison to all He has done for me— choosing to leave heaven and the presence of His Father to dwell on this sin-filled earth and die the most miserable death because of His love for His Father and His love for us— sacrificing a year of my life feels miniscule; yet the rewards that He has heaped on me for obeying Him are tremendous and of eternal value.

I pray that you too will follow God’s path for your life. Harden not your hearts against God’s call, my friend. Serving Him is too precious a gift to lose for the transient things of this world.

jtorquato1

I will GO!

Faith is in every matter of life. The big events, and the small ones.

A THS Volunteer Testimony