SID: Hello, SidRoth your investigative reporter here with Mel and Desiree Ayers and Desiree went against that inner feeling;and she suffered.She was a stunt woman;and the car she was in burst into flames;she had second and third degree burns;and of all places – the worst place was her face.Now what does third degree burn mean?
DESIREE: Well first is the lightest,second is the blistering, the bubbling,and third you have taken it all the way down to thenerve endings.You’ve entirely burned your nerve endings.
SID: So Mel, you see your wife like thiswere you prepared for what you were going to see?
MEL: No.I’m not a real crier,but when I saw her bandaged up and all you could seewas her little eyes peeking out of there,I knew it was bad and I just…
SID: What did the doctors say about her?I’m sure you got the report before her.
MEL: Said that she had second and third degree burnsand she probably would have some scarringand that it would take some time for her to heal up;but there’d probably be scarring for life. And so,but our faith is in Godand I’ve seen God do miraculous thingsand so we stood on the word which is…The word of God is health and healing to all your flesh;and so we read the scriptures to her all day.We read the word of God, we believed godanticipated and expected that God would be big.
SID: Now you did something that really intrigued meabout her picture, tell me about that.
MEL: Well we’d found a picture of her that we really likedand put it up on the wall.The nurses were trying to put mirrors on the wallso that she could adjust to what she’d look like,and we just said no.The Lord made you perfectand you’re going to end up that way.
SID: So she was going to be permanently scarredfrom a medical viewpoint.
MEL: Permanently scarred.
SID: Did she have a good doctor?
MEL: We had the best burn doctor in the United Statesand possibly the world;Dr. Grossmanwho was Michael Jackson’s burn doctor.
SID: So what did this Jewish doctor…How did he react when you’re reading the bible?You refused to deal with what he considered reality;how did he react?
DESIREE: He was very encouragingwhen he’d see me reading my Bible.He’d say stay in thereand his words to me when I walked out, my last meetingwas “Desiree,it’s your faith in God that’s healed you.”
SID: Ok.I’m going to take you a few days later.You’re homeand one of the worst things I understand with burns isremoving the dressing and putting fresh bandages on.
DESIREE: Yeah, yeah. Well that was actually still in the hospital.I was there 10 days, but that was the most difficult partbecause your skin is starting to heal up.And it’s healing into the bandages,so when you go to pull them off,it’s taking the skin off too.And so I went into the shower.ThereI had the water coming down on me to loosen it up.I still couldn’t get it and it was so painfulbecause I wasn’t on any pain medicationbecause I was having allergic reactions to morphineand things like that.
SID: That would be awful.
DESIREE: It was just completely trusting God.
SID: It had to be excruciating though.
DESIREE: It was excruciatingly painful.It wasso at that point I was crying.I turned off the water.I got on my knees and I just started to worship God.And it was amazing because it was wrapped tight everywhere.But I lifted my hands up like I saw Mel do before;and just worshipping God;the presence of God so filled the place.I looked down; every bandage was at my feet,so it was a supernatural miracle.
SID: Wait, wait, wait…wait a second.Let me get this straight.She’s taking this shower, she raises her hands.Her face is filled with bandages.It’s excruciating to remove itand she’s worshipping God;and a presence comes over herand the bandages are on the floor.How did they get there?
DESIREE: I don’t know.
SID: But more important than that,10 days later what did you look like?
DESIREE: I looked like I had a little sunburn.
SID: So what did your Jewish doctor say?
DESIREE: Well he was very encouraging and very happy.
MEL: Very.He said “Lookyou know the doctors can’t do everything.”He said “He’s very happy when people believe God”because he knows they need God for healing.And he said just stay in the Bookbecause we couldn’t have done that.We don’t know how that happened.
SID: Now the most outstanding miracle that you have seen,what is that;beyond your wife?
MEL: Beyond Desiree, the most outstanding miracle I’ve seenis to see somebody who’s lost, and broken, and empty inside,come to know God as their Father;and to see the hope and the joy.
SID: Now we Jewish people are taught God is distant.“You can’t know God,”my father used to say.He’s a fireand most Christians they know about God,but that’s not what you’re talking about is it?
MEL: No. I’m talking about, not religion, but a relationship.Somebody that comes and makes themself known to you;who is real, and loving;and just touches you in every part of your beingso that there’s hope in your life.That all of a sudden, the things that were bothering you before,they don’t bother you because there’s somebody greater.
SID: Now, do you need hope in your life?Of course you do.I mean not just an ostrich in the sand type of hope.I mean reality.I mean, aren’t you tired with the Hollywood facade?Aren’t you tired with playing the game?Don’t you think that there is a greater purpose for your life?There is a fulfillment that you’re not getting;that you are entitled to because you are a creation of God.The truth is if no one’s ever told you this before,I tell you.And God tells you,You are special.You’re special. You are to God.There’s no one like himand if you’ll just go to your Father;just get in his lap and say Abba Father,I’m sorryI’ve done some wrong things.I’ve messed up.Please forgive me.I believe that Jesus died for my mistakes.I’m sorry and just wash them awayand have nothing separate me.I want this love that they’re talking about.I want this acceptance.I want this purpose.I want this intimacy.I want to hold you;I want you to hold me,God.Do that.You don’t need a complex prayer and theology.Be like a little child;just reach out, reach out.You know why?His invisible arms are reaching out to you right now.Go on, get in there.
