So on the race we have this policy that if you’re sick for 48 hours you must go to the clinic nearby. Sadly, right before Christmas this was me. I had a cold that would not go away and although I tried to fight this little policy, I ended up at the hospital with the rest of the sick gang. We were there for quite a few hours before we were all checked, tested, and got our test results back. Upper respiratory infection they told me. Regardless of this diagnosis I knew my body was getting better and I really didn’t want to miss ministry that day. Only Emili and I were up for it after out of all the sickies. So me, her, and our host Ujek went straight from the hospital on our way to a home visit. We walked a few blocks and ended up outside of a fabric store. We had our shoes half way off about the enter the door when Ujek looks at me and decides to mention that I will be sharing the sermon tonight.
I was ill prepared and didn’t even have my Bible with me. I said okay and immediately started praying in my head. They Lord surrounded me with peace and didn’t let me doubt his provision and goodness for even a moment. Thankfully while waiting for the family (they always make tea) Ujek found me an English Bible. The Lord took me to Acts 4, which happened to be there passage I read that morning. Its funny, that morning I even thought how great a passage it would be to preach from.
After waiting in a little room for a bit, we were led out o fit shop, down a few more blocks, into a house. We went into one of the bedrooms and stuffed at least twelve of us sitting on the bed or floor.
I began my message about boldness and discernment and the power of the spirit all while Ujek translates. When I finish one of the men in the room starts talking. And doesn’t stop. I was confused what he was saying and why it wasn’t being translated to me. And then Ujek helped me understand. He wa translating my message for the others in the room that spoke an entirely different language. He took everything I said in and stored it all up until the very end where he was able to re share it to the older women that had no idea what I was babbling about in the moment. That moment was so cool. I don’t really know how else to explain it.
After that they asked to pray over specific people in the room with different sicknesses or injuries. We prayed an abundant of times that night. For two women who’s congestion and headaches will never go away. For a woman who can not lift her arm up. For a woman with chest pain. And for the young girl who is dealing with anxiety. So many prayers were answered that night and this was one of them. I was able to speak life into someone that has dealt with something I have. Everything came full circle in that moment. I held back tears as I proclaimed freedom for her and rebuked any type of fear or anxiety holding her—how beautiful that moment was. We would pray for someone and then ask them how they are feeling before praying for the next. There were many tears and cheering that night. That woman lifted her arm straight up in the air. That other woman’s chest pain, gone. So many people were prayed over I wish I would have kept track of what every sickness or injury was, but I have full confidence the Lord healed everyone in that room, even if I can’t remember. While praying for one of th eklast people God whispered to me “Ask them to pray for your knee.” He reminded me of the things I just spoke to them about.
So when we were all done, I told them they have the exact same Holy Spirit living inside them as they do, and I asked them if they would pray over my knee. As we all prayed together out loud I was nervous. Nervous that I would get my hopes up. Nervous to be too confident. Nervous I wasn’t confident enough. I know God can heal my knee. So with full confidence I believed that. During the prayer I could tangibly feel burning in my knee cool down, Once the prayer was over everyone was looking in my direction waiting for me to tell them if it felt better. I said I couldn’t tell yet, I would need to move aorund. Ujek looked at me directly in the eyed said, “Lexi, I have full confidence that the Lord healed your knee and you will be a living testimony of this night.” I stood up, ran in place and jumped on it, and without meaning to at all, started crying. Regardless of everything, I knew the Lord had moved in my mighty ways in that small bedroom.
While leaving they invited me to come back for dinner. sadly, I never had time to say accept that request but I pray one day I can. I wish I had better words to explain that night. The way God showed up was unbelievable and will be a moment I hope to never forget in my life. I still have knee pain. I know I did not that night. I know that God is not a tease. And I will trust His purpose in the way He did that. Knee pain or not He is so good. He used me as a vessel to encourage those believers. Regardless of everything, that matters most.
