I’m done. I’m done being satisfied. I’m done feeling like I’ve done enough. I’m tired of going to ministry everyday and feeling like I’ve done my time. I was created for more than to just “punch my card”. I was created to be employee of the month. I was made to bring the Kingdom.
I’ve been on the Race for 204 days, in Mozambique for 3 weeks and living at the orphanage for 16 days. I love my ministry here, yet there’s nothing stretching me, nothing pushing me out of my comfort zone. So God asked me to get uncomfortable, go where He’s going, and be His hands and feet… Even if that means leaving the orphanage.
The first time I crossed the Bridge of the Blind, I felt an overwhelming desire to help, yet didn’t know how. And of course, this bridge is the exactly place where God called Alysa and I to return.
Approaching the bridge with Alysa and our translator Alberto, butterfly’s filled our stomachs. We walked the bridge, searching for the best place to stand and begin. We found the center to be the best place.
Growing in confidence, we broke out in song, gaining the attention of the 5 blind beggars who made that location their territory. As we gently sang the words to “All who are thirsty”, some of the beggars became quiet, while one broke out into laughter. Shocked by the outburst and the awkward stares from by-passers, we continued on with Amazing Grace. With a crowd gathered, we decided it was time to do what we came to that bridge to do, and Alysa began sharing truth and life.
Alysa told the onlookers of Jesus’ overwhelming passion for His people, the way their eternal life is of more value than their physical sight, and how Jesus gave freely so that they can receive freely. I then shared of how I was born blind and the way that Jesus healed me. I told them that even though we live in different countries, Jesus knows no borders. I knew that them simply hearing the Word and listening to the stories we had to share, was not enough for them to be healed. Each of them needed to decide for themselves if they really wanted healing and the faith to see it happen. After we asked them if they truly wanted their sight restored, with Ablerto’s help of course, each responded with an overwhelming “yes”. We delayed no further and went to the first blind beggar.
His name was Gabriel. I knelt down to his feet, below his eye level, and he told me how he missed his garden. He wished he could be back there, in his hometown, but because he was blind, he needed the city streets in order to beg. As soon as I started praying over Gabriel, I began to cry because the Spirit of the Lord was heavy and moving. I held Gabriel’s face, anointed him with oil, and spoke healing over his eyes. When I finished, I asked him what he could see. He told me that he could see light, more light than before, and asked me to pray again. Excited that he had the faith to not settle with seeing light, but wanting more, I called Alysa over and we prayed a second time.
This time I did something I have never done, and licked my thumbs and rubbed them on his eyes (I don’t why, but I heard Jesus telling me to). When we finished praying for the second time, he told us that he could see a little more. He kept blinking a whole lot and opening his eyes really wide. I could see the fight in his heart. He was determined to see and wasn’t going to settle. He asked us to pray a third time, and afterwards told us that he knew it was the Jesus inside of us that was healing him. He was full of faith that Jesus was going to completely restore his sight. Having prayed three times, we assured him we would be back and moved on to the next.
We prayed over 3 more blind women, two of which said they could see light for the first time, but still no shapes. After we saw that they couldn’t stop begging, even while we were praying, we realized that we needed to pray more for their Spiritual eyes than their physical eyes. After we prayed over all who asked for prayer, we handed out the loaves of bread and apples Alysa bought at the store.
During the whole time we were sharing and praying, there was a great crowd that had gathered on the bridge. There were so many people on the bridge that it was nearly impossible for others to pass. Alberto later told us that the onlookers were telling the blind beggars to have faith so that they could see. It was as if the crowd was cheering on Jesus and encouraging us at the same time, chanting “Amen” and “hallelujah”. We were even interviewed by a local who recorded us on his phone.
We made sure to fully document our time on the bridge of the blind, but needed a few more photos with Gabriel. Alysa asked to take a photo with him, and he just kept pointing at me while I was holding the camera, and then in Alberto’s direction. I wondered to myself what he was pointing at and if blind people usually point. I then traded places with Alysa, and Gabriel continued to point.
As we were leaving, Gabriel walked over to us to tell us goodbye. He couldn’t stop smiling and was repeatedly telling us thank you. Alysa said, “He is seeing more! I just know it”! So Alberto asked him, “Can you see any more than you did a moment ago”? Gabriel looked strait at Alysa, pointed to her shirt, and said, “I can see the color of your shirt!”
Like I said, I am done being satisfied… And tomorrow is another day.
