Let me introduce you to Ronny…
Ronny is a 64 year old man living in Livingstone, Zambia. Ronny has a wife, daughter, and three sons. He graduated from Nortic University and was one of the top welders in his class. He went right into a good job making great money, however, one day he was told to work with unsafe equipment. Unfortunately, the equipment broke his leg and cut off his finger. By the time he made it home he had lost so much blood that he lost consciousness. He found himself in the home of a witch doctor and, furious, asked to go find a real doctor. However, it was too late to give him anesthesia so they tied him down and operated military style.
That day Ronny had no heart beat for three hours and was pronounced dead! God clearly wasn’t done with him and his heart kicked back in.
About a year ago Ronny suffered a severe stroke. He is unable to move a good portion of his left side. His friends and family don’t come to visit and he feels alone, unloved, useless, and emasculated. We prayed with Ronny before we left and asked God to heal his hand. The next day when we came back he was able to move it! The joy found on Ronny’s face was unexplainable. We spent a couple more hours with him, lead a bible story, and left him with some resources. Our host here in Livingstone has also agreed to follow up with him on a regular basis.
Before leaving for the Race my friend Holly gave me a bucket list. One of the numbers said, “#99- Save a life, you’ll know it when it happens.” I don’t know everything Ronny experienced but I do know his circumstances left him hopeless. God may have healed his hand but he also did something so much greater during those few days together. Ronny has hope for the first time in a long time, he has a will to live, fight, thrive, and heal. I believe God does miracles to our physical bodies but when these happen we often miss the softening and renewing of hearts.
The miracle I witnessed was a man named Ronny finding his life again, choosing to fight, and falling more in love with Abba Father. God could have used anyone but he choose a few white girls from North America. God, in his great mercy, allowed us to see a man’s hand be healed but he also allowed us to see a man find hope. This is life and it’s good.
