From the first day arriving to Haridwar, India. God highlighted a nearby mountain. During our first listening prayer me and my teammate Lennie both felt led to go up the mountain and pray over the city. Again prayer and worship was our focus this month and how we wanted to start our time in this new place, especially since is was such a spiritually heavy city doing just that. This mountain housed a hindu temple at the top. So we start walking (struggling more than we would like to admit physically). There were people walking up to the temple. There were people walking back down from the temple. There were vendors all along the way selling drinks and snacks. And there were beggars, most with physically deformities sporadically along the path.
We began prayer walking and softly worshiping. Smiling at everyone we passed by (and taking more selfies the anyone needs in a lifetime). As we turned one of the last curves before the temple we came upon Balram. He was leaning up against the wall and had a small piece of fabric on the ground in front of him where people would place money. It was quickly clear that he had a large tumor on his right leg that had completely deformed his leg and its ability to function. But as large as the tumor was the only thing larger was his smile. The joy that he exuded was beyond beautiful and was contagious. We stopped for just a minute to introduce ourselves and say hello.
We continued to the top and walked through the temple. It was sad to see all the idol worship, and empty rituals and offerings being done in that place. As we exited the temple and stood at the top of the mountain we prayed over the city, over our time there, over the people that we would meet, over the spiritual atmosphere there, and over our team. We decided that we wanted to stop and talk to Balram again on our way down. Just before we got to him we stopped at the fruit vendor and bought three fruit bowls to share. We gave one bowl to him and each had one. We told him how beautiful his smile was and how joyful he was that we just wanted to spend some time with him. And as per usual we being Americans drew a crowd. So as we parted ways we agreed we would come back at least 2more times during our week there.
While he continued to be on our hearts and in our prayers it ended up being a couple days before we were able to go again. This time our teammate Leah joined us. She was excited to meet our friend that we had talked so much about. So we started round 2. And before we could reach him he spotted us and started waving and saying our names. We stopped for a moment and then continued up to the top to pray for bit. On the way back down we stopped for some water and bananas to share. We talked for a while in his very broken English, celebrating his overwhelming joy in the midst of his unfortunate circumstances. His tumor faded behind his smile. We tried to talk as much as we could through language barriers and google translate. As we parted ways we knew we would be back the next day and wanted to really be able to pray and talk to him so we asked God for a translator.
The next day was our last day in Haridwar and round number 3 up the mountain. This time once we reached Balram we stopped and did not venture to the top. It was not about anything but ministering to him. As we began talking he motioned us to keep going up as we had the times before. We began to try to explain that we were not here for the temple. We were here for him, because he is loved and seen and valued much more than the temple. A crowd gathered of about 8men who stopped to listen to what we were saying. As Lennie boldly spoke up about the temple having no meaning but that Balram and his joy meant so much more (which was totally true but most likely not going to be received well by the devout followers who were venturing up the mountain for the temple) Leah and I began to intercede and pray for protection and understanding. Realizing that Balram was not understanding everything being said one of the men in the crowd (a hindu who had just come from the tempe) began to translate for us. And even though what we said he probably did not agree with he translated it word for word. We shared that Jesus loves him and cares about him, and that God doesn’t see him and see his leg, he sees his heart and his joy.
Our heart for that day was to pray over and speak life into Balram but God had bigger plans. We got to speak life into 9mens lives and in a language they could all understand. We prayed for healing over him and while the tumor did not miraculously disappear, not one of us left disappointed. It was quite the opposite; I left filled with joy knowing God was there and he was moving, not in a tangible way that I could even put my finger on but knowing we fulfilled our purpose there. As we walked down Leah shared I feel like God just told me, “more than you can see.” That he did more than we could see in that moment and we still got to walk in the victory of that! In American culture we like to see results and receive instant gratification but there is so much more. The picture of Balram in my head is his smile, not his leg, and he will continue to be in my prayers. I pray that God does miraculously heal his leg but more so I pray that he continues to heal his heart. That his joy is used for Gods glory.
1Corinthians 3:7-9 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers, you are God’s field, God’s building.
