Up an at em’ at 6:30 a.m. for prayer and worship in the church. Soaking it in as I knew this was our final moments there. We were eating breakfast when we were told a “few more” orphans and widows were coming over because some were not able to make it the night before. Our eyes widened as we watched people from all different directions coming down our dirt driveway. Little children in wheelchairs being pushed by other small children made their way to us. The flow of people did not seem to ever stop. Well over 200 people came over that morning whom were all hungry for something MORE. That more was God. He is the only thing that would fill that void in their hearts and life. Our Lord moved mightily in that time. Hearts came to know Him and healings happened.
At this point we were all pretty drained. Our translator informed us that we had prayed for over 1,000 people in the last 1.5 days. But the Lord was not done moving. More healing happened that morning then ever because once again when he have nothing left, His power sweeps over us and does everything. I met this little boy who’s name i did not learn because we only had two translators in the mist of the hundreds of people. So we will call him Farah, which is Joy in Swahili. The joy of the Lord was upon him. I prayed and prayed healing over Farah who was constricted to a wheelchair. I declared healing and called him to walk. After a while though I just felt the Lord say, just hold him. So i picked up Farah, with a little help, and sat him in my lap. Not sure how much time went by, maybe an hour or more but I wish my time with him never ended. When I first met Farah his legs were stuck in the crossed position. I tried to move them but they were literally unmoveable.It was like trying to break a steel pipe with your bare hands. It couldn’t be done. You could tell that even a light touch caused him pain. One of my squad mates, another Katie, joined me and we covered that little boy in prayer. This precious boy started to repeat what I prayed. He repeatedly said in a small voice, ” Heal me. I want to walk. I love you God. Heal me. I believe.” And the Lord did heal. Not in the way that I wanted. I wanted to see Farah jump out of the wheelchair and join the other children who where dancing. Once again, God’s power is not mine to understand. He never jumped out of his wheelchair but he did get to a place where he could uncross his legs. Not only could he uncross them but he could kick them. I would put my hand at a good distance away from his legs and he would kick my hand, 10 times with each leg. And he would do so smiling and laughing. The pain was no more. Praise God for the healing he received!
At the end of the journey we’ll surely rest with God so lets keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest with God – Hebrews 4:9-10 ( the message )
inside the church praying over people
We prayed and prayed over people one by one in the church, which was powerful. The Lords healing hand was at work. More came to know God as their personal Savior and more healing’s happened. We left the village at 2:00 p.m which is not exactly close to 6:30 a.m. Unless you call 7.5 hours close 🙂 We arrive at the bus station at 5:00 p.m. and are told to wait an hour or two and the bus will arrive. As we are waiting I see a really sweet old man walking alone. I felt the “nudge” to go talk to him. I got up to walk towards him and our translator followed. He was an Islamic man who had just lost his son the day before, to a snake bite. His heart was very shattered. I asked if he knew Jesus and he said no, so we talked about how the love of God has come to rescue us. In His brokenness he said, ” I am ready for Jesus. I am ready to give it all to him”. In the middle of a busy African street, this man gave his life to Jesus. He surrendered it all to the one and only true God. I was covered in joy. I think I received a little glimpse of the joy the Lord feels when a heart He has wanted for so long is finally HIS. From the breakfast table to the encounter with this man the Lord was speaking to my heart. He spoke that there is no end to ministry. It is our life. So while we still have life we will always have a ministry.
We caught a bus at 7:00 p.m. and made it home around 10:30 p.m. What a journey! Thank you Lord for it all. I am so blessed that you chose me to go. Beyond humbled by the entire experience. Thank you Lord!
the end to the four part series.
