Our last day of ministry, a few of us ended up going to a hospital to pray over and sing with the people who are suffering there. This is no hospital you would want to have to visit! It was made of concrete and there is no electricity – which means, no working machines to keep you alive and healthy if need be. As soon as we were rounding the first corner – I had to push a few people away from the wall, as I noticed fresh blood on the wall and the floor that we almost stepped right into. We came upon some opposition when we entered the first room of people. This room had four beds, but 5 people in it – all the beds decorated with mosquito nets hanging right above them! As the sun was going down, it got darker and darker in the room. The man who was in charge that night said he is not a Christian and he did not want us praying for the people. So, as we prayed, God changed his mind and he decided to let us stay. Cameron brought his guitar and we began singing over these patients, as we cannot communicate directly to them through language… but music always does something to people’s hearts. We sang a song that says “Thank you for (healing, saving, hearing, knowing, loving…etc) me”. These are the only words to the song, and it is a beautiful song – and I think spoke volumes over the people there that night … I know it was meaningful for me to sing those words. We sang that song, then Jaco (our contact) shared a brief message about salvation and asked if any of them wanted to pray to receive Christ and all of them raised their hands. I prayed for a few ladies as they were praying a prayer that will forever change their lives.
The second room is where God moved for me in a most powerful way. I still can clearly see what I saw and experienced that night. As soon as I walked into this room – this one had about 10 beds in it… I was immediately drawn to a woman, who was almost not moving in her bed. Her body was so thin and frail that I think her legs were as thin as my arms (I could only feel them under the sheets, but not physically see them). Her body had a scent that I have not really ever smelled before – almost like the smell of death. I was overcome with compassion and love for her and I felt God’s presence as I sat with her. I took her hand and I began to just rub on her arms … wanting her to feel the love that God wanted to give to her. I even felt the need to touch her face, and show her through touch, what a precious gift she is. I just wanted her to FEEL love! I prayed so hard over her, prayed for her healing and just that God would move in her life. She barely kept her eyes opened the entire time I was with her. I sang with all of my heart right into her eyes, hoping that she would understand the words that I was saying over her. When Nate began sharing the message of salvation, she allowed me to grab her hand and she even gave a little bit of a squeeze, saying that it was okay for me to hold her hand. As soon as the offer was given to pray to receive Christ, her eyes opened really wide and the hand that she had been laying on – went up in the air! I grabbed her hand and held it while she prayed the most beautiful words she will ever say – what an incredible honor. To be a part of the moment she received Christ … to be holding her hand as she gave her life to Jesus – it was so unbelievable. Something else happened that night that has not happened to me ever before. We have been told several times this year that if your hands feel very hot, usually that is a sign that there is healing in your hands, and that God wants to use your hands to heal someone. I noticed that my hands were burning up while I was praying for her. I am not sure whether this healing was spiritually or physically, but I know there was healing that took place in her that night. I could see the change in her, from when I entered the room to when I left the room. I am still amazed at how much Love I felt in that room that night and that God would ever allow me to be a part of something so beautiful. When I left, I leaned in the room one more time – just to show her I cared, and she smiled so big! I know with all of my heart that I will see her again someday in Heaven – I will see her in her glorified and healthy body! We will be able to forever talk about how God crossed our paths in June of 2009 and I will hear her whole life’s story! I look forward to that day!
I don’t even know her name and yet I can’t stop thinking about her! I can see her little tiny body in my mind and I can still feel the warmth in my hands and the overwhelming love of God when I think about her. I hope that God is speaking to her and drawing her nearer and nearer to Him every moment that she lays in that terrible place!
