Ministry July 27. A typical day of ministry. Originally I planned on staying back to help tutor the kids. I’ve formed a relationship with them and wanted to spend all them them before we left. But God had a different plan. His plan was for me to go to village ministry. So I went. With not the greatest attitude, but I knew it was all gonna work out.
Our typical village ministry night looked like us driving 1-2 hours to the village. And then sitting for a good 30 minutes with the people staring at us. We attempt to have conversations with them, sometimes succeed, most of the time fail. The pastor’s family spoke English so we at least succeeded with some.
I knew as people started to walked in, tonight would be different. Tonight I felt power, I felt the Spirit. The place was on fire for God (and not just literally, it was real hot in the room) He was fully present. Emily and Amanda gave testimonies, both planned on the spot. Lindsay then gave her message that she did not plan because God told her at the last minute to preach on something different. God definitely spoke thorough them to impact the lives of the church.
Every night after the service the people would come up and we would lay hands on them and pray for them. Tonight was not different. I prayed for two children, and then it happened…
A woman and her husband came up. With his broken English he said “my family” and pointed at her and their kids. So I thought, okay pray for their family. The woman (let’s name her Beth, I don’t remember her name) then put her hand on her stomach. At this point the pastor’s daughter (Anne, name change) came up and translated for me. Beth was suffering from severe stomach pains. So I prayed…
Rewind: I’ve never experienced a physical healing during prayer before. I came into the race, wishing and hoping that it would happen when I prayed. I constantly asked God to show me a miracle. To almost prove to me his amazing power. Jesus called his disciples and us to heal the sick, raise the dead etc (Matthew 10:8) so why hasn’t God given me the power to heal someone? I can’t remember what point of my race I stopped praying for healing and for God to show his power (I think Month 3/4). I figured if it happens it happens.
Last month, I witnessed a healing, a woman with a migraine and a boy with shoulder pain. But I doubted it. Didn’t believe it happened, why? Because there was a lot of miscommunication between translator and us.
Remember when I said the Spirit was strong at church? Well, he showed up! He healed! Honestly, it was any other prayer I prayed. I’ve recently been in a funk with praying, finding myself praying the same words for any situation so I don’t fully remember what I said.
This prayer was different. I remember praying for her heart, for the joy she had. I thanked God for the healing He already gave her in her life. I thanked God for the forgiveness He gave her. I prayed that she could be a living testimony for God. I prayed heaven would come down to earth and heal her.
Did I mention God’s power healed her?! It wasn’t me that healed. It was God through me. When I was done praying I asked Anne to ask if she felt better. Beth said yes. So I asked again. Same reply. And I asked a third time “no pain at all? Not even a little bit?” The answer was the same!
Alleluia! Happy. Ecstatic. Overwhelmed. Did that just happen? Thank you Jesus, I exclaimed. I told Amanda what happened and she said we need to find someone for Beth to pray for. Since Beth was healed, she was overflowing with the power of God. We asked around and no one needed prayer. Bummer.
When I finally had a chance to breath, I stepped outside to cool off, and to process what happened. I thanked God again for the miracle. But instantly was attacked with doubt. Why is it when we are the highest of highs, the enemy attacks? Lies flooded my head. “You can’t heal; you don’t have the power; why would God use you to perform a miracle; it didn’t happen; there was a miscommunication.” And on and on.
I got summoned back into the room for dinner. Trying to push aside all lies that I was slowly starting to believe. God heals. He empowers me to heal. He still performs miracles. I constantly had to remind myself while I was eating.
When we were done, we were asked to pray for the family of the home we were in, so we did. Kierra then asked if they would pray for us. We knelt down on the ground, the congregation laid their hands on us and a woman began to pray. And what a prayer it was. This woman was on fire. Proudly exclaiming a prayer for us. Chills filled my body. I really wish I knew what she was saying, but it didn’t matter. She was praying with her full heart, holding back nothing.
Another woman began praying. When she said Amen, I slowly opened my eyes to see who the first woman was. My eyes met Beth’s and she smiled, and I smiled back. Beth. The woman God healed. Prayed for us. God didn’t want us to find someone for her to pray for because He wanted Beth to pray for us.
And that’s how the night ended. We took pictures and went on our way. I smiled at Beth one more time before we left. I know fully and confidently she is healed. She is power. She is fire. She is loved. A woman who impacted me. A woman I may never meet again.
When we got in the car, I instantly had to write this story down. As I’m writing and processing this, I can’t help but smile. The enemy better be scared, cuz these thoughts and feelings are staying in the light.
This month has a been a tough one for me emotionally. I’ve been homesick, I’ve been strongly disliking community living, I’ve been struggling at praying etc.
But tonight changed that.
I am empowered. I am refreshed. I am ready to take these next four months on. I am ready to say “not today Satan” because I’m coming for ya.
