Jehovah Rapha at work in my Family

One of my focuses while on the Race, is restoration in my family.  I have a small family consisting of 2 uncles; one divorced with 1 daughter, one married with 2 sons, a cousin, my Mom, 3 brothers; all married, one with 3 children and a grandson, one with 2 daughters and 3 sisters; 2 are married, one had 2 daughters and 1, I met once when I was 23 and she was 6 years old.  I come from a broken family.  I grew up with 2 of my brothers and my twin sister in my home.  The 4 of us were very close, some was by choice and some was by necessity.  When I was 9 years old, going into the 5th grade, Milton Hershey School came into our lives and my 2 brothers and twin sister, Amy went to MHS and I was home with my Mom for 2 years.  MHS is a boarding school and it was a true Godsend for all 4 of us, but I would say that is the point when we all started to become distant from each other.  9, is early to part ways, I think more commonly for others they would have double that time, separating around 18 for college.  

I have tried keeping the lines of communication open with telephone calls, letters, postcards, e-mails, facebook, family get togethers at my home or places convenient for everyone.  Now that all of my siblings are married, they choose their in-laws for holiday gatherings, so I plan for non-peak days and invite everyone over.  

This is a generational battle.  For years, my Aunt Arlene was the link between her siblings, trying to keep her family together.  She would even host separate gatherings at her home when there were years that brothers and sisters were not talking with each other.

I have a passion for my family and want to break these chains that are separating us but I am at a loss as to how to do this!  That is why I have dedicated this year to praying fervently for revival and restoration in my family.

In Laos, we stayed with a family that was doing campus ministry.  We lived with at least 30 other people in their house:

Peter and Noi, with their son and daughter

Noi’s parents and 3 siblings

and more than 20 college students.

Their house was always an active place; with people studying the Word, learning English, learning guitar, studying for university, doing laundry, preparing food, practicing football, etc.  There was so much love and acceptance in those walls, with all their quirks and imperfections.  Anyone who was within the walls of the property was welcomed to share a meal when it was laid out, here is a small sampling of people one night:

For me, family when I was 9 years old, changed from just the people connected by blood, to include those around me who love me and do life with me.  The FRIENDS versions of family.  I am beyond grateful for my large modern family but I grieve so much over my natural family.  In Chiang Mai, while worshiping with my squad, the Lord told me to write to one brother that I have not heard from in 4 1/2 years.  I shared my heart with him, some of my teammates and I prayed over the letter before sending it off to him across the pond.  

I know that El Roi, God who sees me and knows my heart for my family is working to knit this family back together.  I trust that Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals, is going to bring healing and restoration to this family.  I believe that Elohim, the all powerful creator knows His creation, knows their hearts and what needs to be mended to begin restoration together, I trust that He is at work!