There are all different types of ministry opportunities on the race. They can range all the way from prayer walking, preaching, and healing to orphanages, hospitals, and universities. Last month, in northern Uganda, we were in a town called Lira. For three days towards the end of our trip our team visited the hospital. African hospitals are far different from American hospitals and chances are it would be hard for you to stomach the sight of them. The one we were in was one of the better ones that has been seen on the race and that isn’t saying a lot. At least all of the patients have beds. On our third day at the hospital, Allison, (our squad leader) had asked us to stop in and pray for Maxwell since she was unable to go with us. Maxwell was our first stop. We all laid our hands on him and began praying for healing
BACKGROUND INFO:
The problem with Maxwell is that he is losing all control of his muscles. It had been anywhere from one month to four months since Maxwell had opened his eyes. He had not been able to look at his wife, who has been at his side through it all.
The chief of police had been visiting Maxwell back on the first day the team was at the hospital. (Maxwell, use to be a police officer.) He is a Muslim, and was told on that first day that when Maxwell was healed that he would believe in Jesus and accept him as Lord and Savior.
BACK TO THE MAIN EVENT:
We all prayed for healing for about 15-20 minutes. Praying that the Lord would allow him to open his eyes and look at his wife again. Cindy then prayed for his wife and told her that she needed to pray to and read the Psalms over him and pray for healing for her husband as well. Then we left. Well, some of us did. Braedon and Katie were still in the men’s room praying with other patients. Tangi was outside praying with people, and Brandon, Cindy and I were playing with Nelson Mandela (click here for that story). We had been outside for about 30 minutes when Tangi and I start to head back over to the men’s ward. Katie has come running out of the building and is throwing her hands in the air. She is screaming, “He’s opened his eyes! He’s opened his eyes! He staring at his wife right now!” Tangi and I run into the ward and Maxwell is looking lovingly into his wife’s eyes. He wife just smiles at us, and we are told we have to leave cause the doctor is making his rounds. What? I want to see his face when he sees that Jesus healed Maxwell, I don’t want to leave, but we had to.
Katie plays the whole story out for us saying that she and Braedon were praying when Maxwell’s wife started calling out saying, “come here! Come here!” Katie saw that his eyes were open and she started scream with pure joy at him, “You’re healed! You’re healed! Do you understand how much Jesus loves you? He just healed you! He loves you so much!”
We left that place filled with the fullness of the Lord knowing that he is a God who heals and delights in us as we delight in him. I don’t know what happened with the chief of police. What I do know is that no word from the Lord is void and I know that he will come to know Jesus through Maxwell and his wife. He cannot deny the power of healing. I look forward to see Maxwell, his wife, and the police chief when I get to heaven. Until then I press on, knowing that God promised his Kingdom to come and his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Well, earth doesn’t look too much like heaven, but daily a little more of it is revealed to me. I will continue to pursue what the Lord asks of me. I will continue to go to the hard places, whether that is here or in America. I will continue to live a kingdom centered life. I have seen too much not to pursue Kingdom.
