Danielle and Benjamin - Intensive testimony! August 2014

[JoelandKathy]

 

I'm writing this on the way home from the intensive. All I can say is wow! I
NEEDED that. We have been on just about every call for the last two months and
been on the phone with Joel and Kathy (and even their son once!) ministering to
my husband and I.

 

 Since we had been on every phone call minus a few and read the books I didn't know how the intensive would be any different.  I kept hearing Kathy saying people get their miracles there and to expect that. I kept hearing that and thinking I didn't know how that could be true since we hadn't gotten our full miracle yet being on all the calls and reading the books. We were still really, really struggling. 

 

I kept wondering how the calls and books could be any different than the intensive. I was also not that excited about going in general. I knew we needed to and I was dead set on going (only God for that!!) but I still was nervous in a sense because since our marriage I have become much more private.I'm naturally such a people person and will tell any stranger anything about my life, but since we have had issues in our marriage I've been
such a private person and a recluse in some ways. 

 

I wasn't even conscious of
this change in myself until the intensive really. I've just been so weary from
the marriage issues that I haven't had energy for socializing and I felt that being
with six other couples who would know we had marriage issues (just from the
sheer fact that we were there!) would be awkward and nerve-racking.

 

 I thought it would be a heavy experience and just awkward. How wrong was I!!!! It was literally the best thing we have ever done in our entire marriage!! We not only "survived" spending class time with the other couples but we even went out with another couple one night for dinner and had so much fun. It was so comforting and just fun!! And this is coming from a person who was nervous to even sit in the class with other coupes because I'm used to being so private. The next night we went out to dinner with the whole group and had the best time!! We laughed so much and after we left Ben and I said that we haven't laughed that much or had that much fun in so so long! We had such a good time with the other people in the ministry we even decided to get together with two of the moderators after the night intensive for dinner! And this is all coming from the person who was probably least excited about being around all of these people since I've become so private

 

. I don't know how to explain it but the laughter alone during the week was so healing for me. The time with the other couples and even Joel and Kathy (which was what I was least anticipating being great, and even anticipating being not so great) was so so good, I can't even describe it. Joel's mom, mostly known as Kathy's mother in law, sweet Elisabeth came and prayed over all of us as well. She just pours out the Holy Spirits love. She knew nothing about any of us. She just comes in one morning and prays and prophecies over the couples and really listens to the Holy Spirit. I remember her praying over us and I just remember her arm being around me and feeling Gods love so much, I didn't even want to let go of her arm! The time she ministered to us and prayed over us and let God speak through her is not something that can be planned. It's just totally God speaking and healing so much of our hearts and places we don't even know need healing. 

 

And then there's Joel and Kathy! They're truly amazing people who just give their entire hearts for others and each other primarily. Ben and I both said there are no other people that we would have ever wanted to lead a marriage intensive for us. They're called to what they do and if you listen to them they will truly truly help you. They know what to do even when it's tempting to think your situation is just different than everyone else's that they've helped. 

 

They will help you, no matter who you are and what
darkness you've walked through. They're so passionate because they truly love
all of the couples in such a big way and want to see them get their miracles. 

They are so loving to each other and it really affects the whole atmosphere of
the intensive. They are experiencing such a sweet relationship and they want
others to be able to have that as well. 

 

Being in their presence and with them
during the whole experience of the intensive is healing in another kind of way.
Being with them in person is so different than talking to them over the phone.
Not that talking to them over the phone isn't great!! That saved us long enough
to get to the intensive! The information at the intensive was so much more than
we had even gained from reading the books and being on the phone calls. My
husband was really affected by some of the information they gave. 

 

Like I said,
we had already read the books and been on all the phone calls and overtime calls
with Joel and Kathy but still there was information that we had to glean and
really actually learn that we hadn't yet. That was huge for both of us and
especially my husband. That was a big moment for him. The whole experience is
hard to put into words. I just know without a doubt that I think of the whole
experience as a complete miracle in and of itself.

 

For my husband and I as well-
just to give a tiny glimpse: we went to Disney world the day before the
intensive and ended up being up all night arguing! We were struggling so much
and in such a bad place that we ended up not even going to any Disney parks and
just wasting the money we had spent on going there. It was bad! We went to the
intensive and decided to go back to Disney AFTER the intensive to actually get
to spend some time there that was pleasant. We had an amazing, amazing time at
Disney after the intensive!! 

 

No one would even have recognized us being the same couple. We had so much healing at the intensive without even realizing we were
getting the healing really, because the experience was so good. I would go back
to another intensive tomorrow- it was that good!! It was worth every single
penny and more!

 

Thank you!!

Love y'all!!
 

Danielle Boyle (and Benjamin)