Last night when we went into yet another village, to say yet another prayer, to preform yet another skit, I wasn’t expecting God to have such a divine appointment in store for me. After we were done with our skits and songs and preaching the seven of us stood with our translator as the villagers began to form lines so the Americans could pray for them. By the time it was Asha’s turn in my line I had already prayed for leg pains and headaches and was beginning to get in a thoughtless routine. At first Asha told the translator she had no struggles and just wanted prayer for blessings. I began to pray for her and my heart wrenched. I asked her if she felt any pain and she said no. Then I asked her if she felt any pain in her heart. She then explained she was married five years ago and her husband left her and went to another country. She then asked if I could pray God would send her husband back to her. I prayed over her once again and for myself to have strength for what the Lord was so obviously orchestrating. I then grabbed Asha’s hand, left my line of villagers, and called a translator over. I then began to tell Asha the story of how I once was so in love and believed I was going to get married. I explained to her how the man I thought would someday be my husband changed his mind and it broke my heart. I told her about how it took a chunk out of my heart and I felt as if I would never be good enough to be anyone’s wife. I explained how I tried to fill that hole in my heart with other men and drinking but they only made the hole bigger. The only thing that made my heart complete again was Jesus. I told her no matter how unworthy she feels Jesus will never leave her and never stop loving her. After I let Jesus fill that whole in my heart he brought a man into my life that truly brings me more joy than I ever thought a man could. I realize now to have a successful relationship Jesus has to be the foundation. After explaining a piece of my life with Asha I opened my arms and went in to hug her. She buried her face in my shoulder and began to cry out all of the sadness she had in her heart. She then told me that her parents had died and her husband was all she had before he left her and now she has no one. I reassured her that she is never alone because she will always have Jesus. After that she smiled the most genuine smile I’ve ever seen. She asked me to not forget her and to continue praying for her. I will probably never see Asha again and that’s fine because last night God had every intention of us sharing our struggles with each other. God knew my story would give her a shred of hope that she can make it through this and that makes it all worth it. She followed me around for the rest of the night hugging me and kissing my cheeks smiling from ear to ear. I will never forget Asha and I will pray every day that God continues to light up her face like he did last night with that awesome feeling that only God can give.
