My name is Maria Isabel Serulle and I'm from the Dominican Republic. I'm the president
of the foundation Fundación Pediátrica por un Mañana. It doesn't matter if you're
rich or poor, Fundación Pediátrica wanted to reach everybody.
People like Nick, they wanted him. We ended up hiring somebody to get the funds to sponsor
and everything, but it didn't really go through. One of the days that we were saying,
well, we're missing 3 million pesos, the sisters were like well, how are you going
to do that? And she's like, well God said he'll provide, so he'll provide, and he
did. I don't see anything without God, because
He brought me to where I am today, so I think without faith you can't go anywhere. We
don't have the strength made by ourselves to go through anything in our lives, and so
my dependence in God is always there. That same day, a man came, we didn't know
him. He came because he had heard of the foundation and he wanted to make a donation. It wasn't
the 3 million, but it was to show us that He was with us, and He was going to make it
happen. He will bring the people to us that would help us give this wonderful message
to the whole country. I've shared with you my story, but there
are things that we can put into action. It's more than just praying, it's about putting
what you know into practice. To serve your community. To love your nation. To understand
that every single person in the Dominican Republic is loved. Is valuable.
I think that the main reason why Maria Serulle was motivated with bringing Nick to the Dominican
Republic was because even though the foundation started working for the premature babies,
she started realizing with her work was that every year, the age of the mothers giving
birth to those babies was dropping, where it was initially around, you know, 18 years
old was a young mother, now we would see mothers as young as 11 or 12, like, come.
I think he's a very admirable example of being happy with what you've got. Fundación Pediátrica
has brought many people to speak to these women from the USA, but I think that
Nick was like something that was more visible. Love is an action. It's not just a word.
And to be able to see how these children in the incubators and all these babies are loved
in action is just beautiful. So we're very excited to be here.
So, she wanted to work with the mothers and with the Dominicans as a whole and just motivate
them and realize the value of their own lives and make them happy with themselves and try
to make people believe and know that every life is valuable and that they have to take
care of themselves, and they will only be able to do that in the measure that they feel
good about themselves and are grateful for what they have and not only see what they
don't have. Nick was such a great example for that, and I think she was really motivated
to bring this story to be known in our country.
When we announced that Nick was going, to the congress where he talks to the people is the same place where the president is sworn
in. Everybody, and I mean everybody want to be there. And they were calling us to please
make invitations for them, and I'm talking to you about the vice president of our country,
all the secretaries of state of the different departments of the states of our country,
all politicians from different parties. Everybody wants to go to hear Nick's messages. So
it was the first time in the history of our country that in the congress, you had someone
giving a speech, giving a conference, talking not about politics but about the people, about
our country, about our values, about God. And that was so amazing, that was extraordinary.
I repeat, no one before has given a speech in our congress with that kind of emotions.
We thank you Lord because we declare Jesus' name in the Dominican Republic after these
last two days will never be the same again, starting with the president and congress and
everyone involved in this country, Lord, we thank You for Nick, we thank You for the team,
we ask You to bless him, bless Kanae, bless Kiyoshi, we thank You Lord for all that You
are doing through him, Lord. May You receive all the honor and all the glory, in Jesus'
name, Amen. The whole world will agree with what happened
in Dominican Republic is the same thing that has happened in other countries. Everybody
that went to the event got transformed. Their hearts, the way they think, enjoying life
from another point of view, being grateful, knowing that we are very blessed with everything
we have, and knowing God from another perspective. That message of Nick's conference is unforgettable.
Wow, beautiful new chair. These guys are from Heartway in Taiwan, OK, they gave me my first
traveling wheelchair for free. Thank you for the sponsorship, and you saw me, we gave away
the other wheelchair to a limbless child in South America, so we're just so thankful,
thank you so much brother. Really appreciate it. Give me a hug, God bless you. Thank you.
Do you want me to go down, put the seat down? All the way up.
>>Now is 40%, the highest is 50. Ready? That was 50 last time.
>>OK, no more, no more, no more. I'm used to my other wheelchair. Alright,
here we go, ready? Let's see? Oh, yeah, you can feel it already. Watch. Wooow! Let's
see if it goes faster, does it go faster? Vrrrrm.
Good. I think we got a supercharger now or something.
We're here in Taipei, Taiwan with the mayor of Taipei here. We just had a press conference
here about people with special needs and just how we all have different abilities, but the
same value, and God has a plan for everyone, so it was a really cool press conference.
We have some people here, disabled swimming team just for fun, with Down Syndrome
and different types of disabilities, it's just amazing.
Oh, they were already told I went all the way?
>>Can you? I can, it'd be good. It'll be good exercise.
It's just spiritually significant movement that's really happening here in the country,
and we're just witnessing this wonderful awareness and integration in the country,
as well as just letting Taiwan know that all Taiwaneese are beautiful. It's awesome.
Thank you so much for you love, I love you all, thank you so much, bye bye!
There is a story, and it's a true story, a guy 6 AM in the morning every day in his
house blew the Yemenite shofar. One day, an earthquake came through, and a one-mile radius
exactly all around his house was not shaken. True story. There is power in oil, like the
Bible talks about oil. There is power in the blowing of the shofar. There is a presence
of God, it's calling upon God, it's used for different things. To proclaim that this
territory is the Lord's, so we blew one in the Mormon Tabernacle in 2008.
>>While we're at it, I'm going to give you a prayer shawl.
Oh wow, my first one ever. >>That's right, and it really is from Israel.
That is an honor. >>OK. And on this prayer shawl, in Hebrew,
is a Hebrew prayer, OK? Now usually, just stay right there for a minute, usually we
start like this, OK, and then when we're ready to do play the Shofar and such, we go
like this, and I'll bring this around a little bit for you. You see how that is? Doesn't
he look great? Now, now blow the Shofur.
>>Now blow the Shofur. Oh, my uncle Batta would love this.
>>That was perfect! Give him a hand! That was good!
>>And so, in Hebrew: [[Hebrew prayer]]
Thank you God, for never leaving me. Thank you God for the plan You have for my life.
Teach me to pray, teach me Your plan, one day at a time.
My wife just checks. I can't stop thinking about you. Can't wait to get home, I miss
them so much. Kiyoshi's grown some more teeth. So I look forward to giving him a hug
or seeing him asleep by the time I get home. I thank God for everything. Everything that
happened, every seed of hope faith that was planted. 24 countries in a year. The busiest
year of my life. Great sacrifice, great fruit, huge spiritual significance. For millions
of people. So I'm relieved, thankful, tired. But I'm just, I've got a heart full of
things to give gratitude to our God, who led us all as we planned out plans, He directed
our steps, protected us, given us health, gave us provision, given us His grace. I'm
pretty sure right now with some angels are smiling down. He got home. Mission accomplished.
I will always be reflecting on what happened in 2013. It was awesome.
Take one day at a time. And know that you can't do it on your own.
Battle after battle, you need to understand you will get through this. That's the power
of hope. But the miracle is this. That if I don't
get arms and legs here on Earth, I can still reach people and let them know that there's
so much greater things than this Earth, not even Death itself can stop my dreams.
I believe that most countries in the world need healing. Need the touch of God. We all
do need an awakening and sobering of the mind and drawing closer to the holy spirit.
When you realize the power of your tongue, stand up for what is right. Change your mind.
I don't want to be a reason why someone gives up. I want to be a reason for someone
to live! Happiness rejoices! Hallelujah!
I every day thank God. For being appointed to say some things that not a lot of people
get to say, and it's life-changing. It's an honor to share the hope of God.