Did you ever dream as a kid? Maybe you laid on your lawn in the backyard staring up to the clouds and saw yourself in a rocket ship heading for Mars? Were you the little girl putting on a fancy princess dress dreaming of marrying your prince charming? Maybe you were the next scientist to discover the cure for cancer?
I would guess you dreamed of the future and your imagination was beyond your wildest dreams. What happened? Did your childhood dreams come true? Did your dreams change as you grew into adulthood or were they squashed by someone?
Growing up I had so many dreams—working for God, competing in the Olympics as a gymnast and winning the gold medal for America, becoming an astronaut and walking on the moon, skiing at all the Olympic venues, and traveling the world. Some of my dreams have come true, some not yet, and some may be will never happen.
Two years ago, I left the comfort of my condo in New Jersey and set out on an adventure of a lifetime, accomplishing two of my dreams. On Aug. 6, 2019, I was on a plane heading to Malawi, Africa. Just ten years prior to this trip, I was sitting on my sofa, staring out a window, living with a traumatic brain injury. The brain injury was caused by a car accident and I was told it would be impossible for me to live in “mainstream society.” My dreams vanished.
This vibrant, young lady who had huge plans for her life was now living in pain and was sometimes completely out of it. I would spend hours staring out a window or sleeping. This young lady who was once skiing down mountains and spinning on uneven parallel bars was now spinning internally and having trouble walking. During the 13 ½ years of living with the brain injury, I never thought about my dreams; however, I do believe deep down inside, there was hope that one day I might get back into the world amongst the living.
And indeed, I did! Once I believed God’s Word about healing, my brain and body woke up and my life was fully restored. You can learn more about my healing journey at my website at healingisforeveryone.com or my first book, From Night to Light. My life’s journey has been incredible, and it isn’t over yet.
My friends and I were invited to teach at a woman’s conference in Malawi, Africa. What an amazing opportunity! I not only was able to share my awesome healing testimony, but I was also able to teach God’s Word, fulfilling my dream to work for God. It doesn’t feel like working when you love sharing about God and what He has done in your life and how He enables you to help others discover Him and get to know who He is. This trip satisfied two of my dreams—working for God and traveling the world. I had always wanted to go to Africa and that dream has now been fulfilled.
The people of Malawi were amazing. So kind, loving, generous and filled with God’s love. They took amazing care of us and treated us like princesses. Their children were incredible. I will never forget their beautiful faces, smiling and thrilled whenever they saw us. They would run toward our car when they saw us coming and run alongside the car when we left the event. They were the most well-behaved children I have ever met. They sat along the side of the tent as we taught about God and never uttered a peep until we waived at them or walked toward them to say hello. We saw incredible miracles as we taught the Word of God and then prayed with the community. Physical and emotional healings and financial miracles happened while we were there We also heard amazing stories after we left. Click here to see a video my friend’s daughter made of our trip to Malawi.
What dreams have you abandoned or pushed aside because someone told you they were impossible? Stir up the imagination that God birthed into you. I am living proof that dreams do come true. I’m pretty sure I won’t become an astronaut and walk on the moon or get that gold medal as a gymnast, but most of my other dreams have come true and I’m still having new and even bigger dreams.
Dare to dream again!
~Donna Jones