A Surprise at the LA Urban Family Retreat

17 years ago I visited a hospital in Los Angeles and met Isaias Quirate, a newly-injured quadriplegic who had come from Mexico to have his pressure sores treated. During our conversation I learned he had a musical talent – I told him that often a disability can bring forth even more talent (I speak from experience :-). So you can imagine my surprise when, at our recent LA Urban Family Retreat, I learned that the Mariachi Band was led by… Isaias Quirate (he’s the lead singer)! From his wheelchair, Isaias and his 7-piece band helped lead worship and provided entertainment for dinner one evening. When Isaias “sang” his testimony in Spanish, many Spanish-speaking families at Retreat broke down in tears – they were so encouraged to see what someone who has a significant disability can, with the grace of God, do with his life! “God has brought me full circle from those days in the hospital and I would love to use my ministry of music at other Joni and Friends’ events,” says Isaias. I think we’ll be seeing more of this young man!