Hello. My name is Michelle. I’m writing to express how God used Lighthouse founder, Millie McCarty, to help my mom way back in the 1980s. Through Millie, He LITERALLY changed the course of our lives. I ‘m currently 46 years old, but I would have known Ms Millie when I was 5 – 7 years of age. My mom received counseling in the basement of Trinity Methodist Church back then. The church, or someone, helped cover the cost of the counseling sessions because there was no way my mom would have been able to pay for them.
Every Good Friday, until my mom passed away in 2024, she and I would commemorate the fact that it was on a Good Friday she was completely healed from mental illness through the work of the Holy Spirit and the inner healing sessions with Millie.
In 1990, my mom started homeschooling myself and my younger brother. Through that change in our lives I was connected to sign language classes and found a passion for working with deaf people. My life plan would have kept me in Ohio close to family, but my mom constantly reminded me that following God's leading and His peace will always be better than my plan. I went on to study at Ozark Christian College in Joplin MO where I pursued a specialized program in deaf ministry and a dual psych degree followed by an MA in pastoral counseling. Then my life took a big turn. After visiting a town in Mexico at the MX/TX border during college to visit some deaf kids there, I ended up "accidently" becoming a missionary. For the last 22 yrs I have served in Matamoros, Tamps Mexico leading a Christian ministry reaching deaf people of all ages.
Back in Ohio, my mom became part of my missionary work by starting and leading the clothing distribution part of the ministry. She later came to Mexico each winter to help restock. Although she never learned Spanish or Mexican sign language, she faithfully volunteered for 20 years -- finding, sorting, washing and packing clothes for over 400 people per season.
If God had not graciously healed my mom through the counsel she received from Ms. Millie, I can say there is very little chance I would be a missionary in Mexico today.
My mom was not a tech person, and she never learned to email. But, for many years, she talked about wanting to contact you again. So, I want to fulfill her wish to say THANK YOU. Thank you for your work, and for your obedience to Christ. Thank you for being willing to accept a single mom with little kids who didn’t have money to pay for your services. My mom never struggled with mental health, bipolar, depression again. And, I have lived knowing God is a God who heals and restores and renews those who seek Him.
