We were doing door-to-door evangelism the morning we met Ronnie. I was with two other ladies from my team and Lewendo, our host’s wife. After walking for about 10 minutes, we saw an elderly man sitting outside. We exchanged greetings and talked with him for about 2 hours. At the end, we prayed for him. The following is what I wrote in my journal the day following this interaction.
God, yesterday. WOWOWOWOW. You showed up yesterday.
We did door-to-door evangelism in the morning (this was only my second day ever of door-to-door). We were walking, waiting for your spirit to guide us where we were supposed to go. I was waving to people who were outside in their yard. I waved to an older gentleman who was outside with his granddaughter and Lewendo goes “let’s go in there.” So we did. We met Ronnie and we found out that he had a stroke a little over a year ago that left the left side of his body significantly weaker than the right side. We sat and talked for 2 hours with Ronnie and his wife Christian. As we talked, we encouraged him in the word of God and he told us stories.
He told us his testimony about how he got injured at work and had to go to the hospital and he died for 3 hours. Got sent him back though and said “your foundation is not yet ready.” He described heaven and it’s beauty and splendor. He said he saw a white in heaven he’d never seen the likes of on earth. He also told us how his home used to be like an orphanage because he was generous with his money. He paid for kids to go to school and for them to have food. He went on to tell us that he felt abandoned after his stroke because before he was ill, he was investing in people’s lives and after the stroke, none of the people he’d invested in came back to help.
He and his wife rely heavily on the community (their friends and neighbors) and sometimes even divine intervention for food. Ronnie also told us of the hurt his family had caused his heart by not visiting or supporting or helping, especially after his stroke. We found out that there was unforgiveness and bitterness and hurt in his heart that hadn’t been dealt with. We prayed for him, that [Jesus] would heal his heart and his body and that he would seek [the Lord] in all things. After we prayed, he said he felt like there was more strength in his left hand. Lewendo said she could feel him squeezing her hand – HARD!!
God, you freaking healed Ronnie’s hand!! Not completely, but enough to encourage him in his faith! Thank you, Jesus! You are power and might and majesty King Jesus!
