This is the story of what happens when you think you end up in a place you think you’re not suppose to be, but God has different plans. One night my team and I went to play basketball for team time.
I would like to mention that this month is manistry month which means that all the guys on the squad are together and all the girls are put on all-girl teams. Our host specifically requested an all guys team to go into the jungle and do manual labor plus bring Jesus to the people. So when we arrived in Lima, Peru we had a few days of just hanging out before heading to the jungle. These few days have been nothing short of fruitful and a gift from God.
On our way back from playing basketball (something that would not fly team time on a team with girls on it) we made a couple of turns that we normally don’t make (I want to add that I was leading and when it comes to directions I’m pretty much the last person you want to follow) and found ourselves just a few streets away from the house. As we were passing by, there was a couple of ladies sitting on the curb chatting and enjoying the night. They looked up and saw the few of us that turned down their street and waved us down. There is something interesting about a bunch of Americans walking down their street and they wanted to see what we were all about.
Solidad and Carmen are their names. They stopped us and asked us what we were doing. We told them that we are Christian missionaries. Then they told us that they too are Christians. Us guys wanted to pray for these women and asked if that was okay. Solidad asked for prayer for her knees as they bother her when she walks. Carmen asked for prayers for her family and her brother specifically as he is following the ways of this world. We as a team laid hands on them and lifted their needs to Jesus.
What an awesome opportunity to bring kingdom in that moment. Even when it didn’t look like we were suppose to be there God knew exactly where we were and the place we needed to be. Spiritually and Physically.
The story gets better.
The next morning my team leader, my teammate and I all found ourselves back in the same neighborhood. Not by accident this time, but we decided to return and pray for the people and the community. We could feel God calling us back. We knew our work there wasn’t finished.
When we arrived back on the same block I decided to walk off by myself and pray. I happened to bring the basketball with me. I was simply walking and dribbling while praying and the next thing I know there is a lady with a security vest on talking to me in Spanish (which I struggle to understand at best) but something told me that this was the reason I was supposed to be there that day.
She and I tried our best to communicate as we walked and talked about life. It wasn’t until later that we met up with the guys I came with and one of them asked if she wanted us to pray for anything for her. She told us that her back hurt when she walked. Immediately I felt that I should be the one to pray for her.
My team leader prayed for a couple other guys first and then it was my turn. But the positioning is key. I wasn’t standing next to my friend. (I later found out her name is Soyla). I prayed that God would heal her back. If I’m completely honest with you, I had never prayed for healing over someone like that before. So when we got done praying we asked if she felt any different and she said it still hurts.
My TL asked me to pray again. This time I put my hands on her back. I placed my hands where the pain was. When I prayed this time I prayed more than just healing, but that Gods will would be done. If she was suppose to be healed it would be because of Him. Nothing that I would do.
I don’t want to say I didn’t believe the first time but the second time I had more confidence. I actually believed in what I was praying. When finished I took my hands off and she began to walk around. This time she said she was pain free! She then asked me what I had in my hands!? To which I replied “Jesus!” as I pointed to the sky.
It’s kind of funny what happens when you ask for Gods will. When I walked away that day.. I honestly felt like someone else was doing the healing (in which He was) and I was a bystander just watching. That’s how it should be.
When I think about the disciples and how they were nothing but ordinary guys doing the work of God.. This is what I picture. People left in awe and wonder because of the things that God is doing through and inside of regular men and women like you and me.
I always say there is nothing that compares to being used by God and this is another prime example of that. The fact is that I don’t actually heal anyone but God uses me, a broken person, to heal other broken people.
This is a day on the race and in my life that I will never ever forget. It really is funny how when you go the “wrong way” you end up exactly where God wants you to be.
