Upendo Ministries

After seven months of continual pain, with only three minutes pain free, I “Reached Out” and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, and He took away all pain for 22 hours! I was so thankful to be in Oregon/Washington when this miracle took place, because I was able to have energy and exceeding joy while I was with friends and family. I am still thanking God for that touch and continuing to reach out to Him for complete healing.

When the severity of the illness began to display itself when we arrived in Pakistan, we were expecting to arrive home and soon thereafter, get better. I never expected my year to look like it has, or suffer from a chronic illness in my life. I have been so humbled by all of the cards, texts, and kind words that people have shared with me. Most of all, your prayers have been so comforting to me, especially in the darkest nights.

This past week has been the worst week of my whole sickness, so I continue humbly asking God for healing, but most importantly for His will to be done. He showed me for 22 hours that it is possible to be pain-free, so I know for a fact that He is able.

In the more recent weeks and months, the reality of not being able to travel internationally on mission trips has been setting in very hard. There are some of my very close friends who will be graduating and leaving the orphanage in Kenya before the year ends, and I most likely won’t be able to see them again. While mission trips are being planned, I am trying to remember that there will be days without pain and this won’t be forever. But until then, I pray for those people in other lands who I can’t currently travel to be with. Both those who we know and those we don’t. They are all in need of God’s comfort and guidance as are we.

Intercession for the Nations is continuing, but currently I’m not able to keep up with it on a public platform. When I am able, I plan to continue sharing.

Thank you all for your love and prayers for me as I navigate through these hills and valleys and also for sharing the burden for our persecuted brothers and sisters. May God bless you all abundantly!

Vanessa Smith