Being completely honest…I did not want to post this blog…but I am stepping out in faith and I am going to trust that God has a reason for it, even if it’s me practicing the things He has called me to do: being honest and brave. It’s a tad long but I encourage you to read and trust that my heart is in the right place.
This summer, a week before training camp, I had a dream.
I dreamed that I was wandering through a random house but all the people there were familiar to me. I saw friends from college and others, however there was one man that was unknown.
He was a fragile, skinny, poor old man but even though his body seemed weak, I could look into his eyes and see a hard heart. One thing that immediately drew me to him was his broken left hipbone. When I got closer to him I asked him if I could offer something to help him. He sat down and I placed both my hands on his boney hip. I began to pray in my head. Now, this being a dream, it felt so real for the fact that I knew the difference from praying in my head and from praying out loud. I prayed…”Heavenly Father, I pray with your power and authority only that you would heal this man’s hip.” All of sudden, I could feel the bone grind beneath my hands and the old man sat up quickly. Not only was God healing his hip but I also saw healing begin in his heart. I began to pray out loud. This time was with more intensity and emotion: “Lord, only in Jesus’ name can you heal this man’s hip.” My hands got very hot and his hip was healed. I fell backwards and hit the floor. I woke up.
Since having this dream, every sermon, talk, or conversation… something has come up about Jesus’ ministry with healing and the power of it. I even had a friend hand me a book to take on the World Race called “I Believe in Healing.”
Obviously, God was trying to tell me something.
“There’s no way Lord that You have given me the gift of healing.” “What does all of this mean?” These questions run through my head in my daily prayers.
So, the World Race has begun and I am in the capital city of Cambodia. There’s so much poverty, brokenness and need but I’ve already fallen in love with the kindness and gentleness of the people.
Some of the children from New Hope School where we stayed for a few days.
I know one person here in Cambodia. Her name is Anna Rivers and she is a dear, sweet friend of mine. The Lord called her to teach English here for 2 years. My first weekend on the World Race, I was able to see her [How insane!]. Because our ministry this month is to find contacts for future World Racers to work with, our schedule is very open and looks different every day. My team isn’t working with just one ministry. We pray for God to guide us to believers here in the country of Cambodia so that we may build relationships with them and then as we partner with these locals, we can send future teams to uplift, encourage, and support their ministry. This particular ministry we are doing is called Unsung Heroes.
Anna came to visit, told us about her short time here and even gave us some cultural advice that we needed to learn. She invited us to her church “Water of Life” and told us that it could be even a potential contact to partner with since they have different ministries with orphans and sex trafficked victims.
My team and I went to church on our first Sunday to Water of Life. We walked into this small, open, hole-in-the-wall church that was filled with smiling faces. One little boy with crippled hands and feet and blemished, sore-filled skin walked by me. I was immediately drawn to this child. His name was Diamond.
The English pastor happened to be preaching that day. We sat down and he began to preach. He tells us to turn to John 5 and begins speaking about how Jesus healed a man that was crippled for 38 years. My stomach dropped.
God spoke, “Lynda, you’re going to pray healing over that little boy.”
Me: “No, God, I can’t. I am scared and what happens if this body isn’t healed?”
God spoke, “It’s not your power or authority… It’s mine that I’ve given to you.”
Me: “No, God. I can’t. I have no idea what I am doing.”
God spoke, “Yes my child, I am with you and I love through you. Go.”
At the end of the pastor’s sermon, I knew deep within my soul what was going to happen.
The pastor began to say…”I believe in healing and I know that sometimes we see God show up and sometimes He won’t show up until maybe years later. We don’t know except for the fact we can be obedient in praying for healing and trusting that if God wants to heal, His timing is perfect and His will will be done. So we are going to have time for prayer and if anyone feels called to come up and ask for healing, or if someone wants to pray, let that person come.”
My heart was racing.
I sat staring blankly. To the right, I could see Diamond sitting by himself in a doorway. My palms were sweating. But God kept saying, “Trust me and go.”
I happened to be sitting next to a girl on my team, Natalie, so I turned to her and told her what God was telling me. She affirmed me in saying, “Lynda when we walked into the church, I saw that little boy and immediately thought ‘Lynda.’ I believe you should go and trust that whatever God is going to do through you, whether healing physically, emotionally or even spiritually, you should pray for him.”
I got up. And walked.
I went to the pastor sitting at the front and told him my heart. I told him I was scared and had no idea why God was telling me this but I just had to be obedient. The pastor with a warm smile called Diamond over to us. A few people and myself carefully touched Diamond’s skin. I knew it was sensitive. He was covered in this disease. I began to pray. We all prayed. I saw Diamond’s face and I don’t know if he even understood me but I knew that God was working in his life. I had peace in my heart. But I saw nothing change on his skin. His hands and feet didn’t develop. But I know, fully and 100%, that God was working.
I left that morning confused of what God was doing and why He called me to do that.
Love was the answer though. Jesus loves that little boy and desires him to be healed more than I could ever want it. I knew that maybe he won’t be healed today, tomorrow or even in this lifetime but God has a plan…. A plan that is going to succeed in whatever way glorifies Him the most.
I walked away remembering the book, “I Believe in Healing.” It is filled with hundreds of stories of how God has healed people in every way possible. However, every story started with just one person stepping out in faith and trusting for Jesus to show up.
Even though I didn’t really want to share this with the world and it sounds crazy to some people, I know our God loves to heal. He is healing here in Cambodia, and I believe. I believe in healing. And I can’t wait to see all that He has in store for this city and for this country.
My team in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Thank you for everyone’s love and support.
It means so much to us.
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