Crammed in a small village house, with little room to catch a breath – the team and I were joined together in praise and worship with a precious Christian Indian family whom was asking us to partner in prayer alongside of them for the hearts of their neighbors to be open to the Gospel. Apparently, this village area was devout Hindu believers that shied away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
As we sang songs and continued to lift up the name of Jesus in this place, one could not help but to notice the hope that was restored to the hearts of these believers and faith that was refreshed in the goodness of the Lord through and in all things.
They asked us to pray for them, so of course, we did and tears of love strolled down the cheeks of the pastor and his wife. It was extremely beautiful seeing a couple so dedicated and compelled with compassion for their neighbors. After things came to a close there, we walked two doors down to attend a dinner that a family had wanted to bless us with as a gift. Throughout our time in India, we had prayed for this family countless times.
One of the daughters particularly was in a wheel chair and has been for 21 years. Earlier in the month, we came across her and prayed for strength to be restored within her legs. After the team prayed, they sat her in a chair and she wiggled her feet. As they prayed for a greater miracle, she assured them that a miracle indeed had already taken place – that in 21 years she hadn’t been able to sit in a chair and for 21 years she had never moved her feet the way she was. She proceeded – with tears in her eyes – that she had been to many churches, had several pastors and other believers pray for her, yet no one has dared to embrace her feet within the warmth of their own two palms. This was a first.
Throughout the month, we continued to cross paths with this lady that the world may deem disabled, but indeed a lady that carried more joy, love, and hope on her face more than anyone I have possibly ever met.
So here we are, in their house embracing the opportunity to be humbled as these people invite us into their home, give us the best that they can offer just out of a servant’s heart. Before we eat, we decided that we would have a time of worship and prayer – so we did. Because of this, we knew dinner would be quite some time away for these people know how to worship and know how to pray diligently and fervently. We first started off with a song in Telagu, the Indian language, that we all learned from the brothers the first week of being in India. There is something so special about getting to sing alongside your brothers and sisters in Christ in their language.
Engaged in worship, I am just so moved that this is the life that I am called to live and the huge blessing to get to be where I am at with these people. As I am praising God, I finally opened my eyes to realize that the house if FULL of people. There’s no more room in the house.
“Where in the world did the people come?” from was the first thought that crossed my mind. I was puzzled as to if everyone was invited to eat or if they just showed up.
More time passed and before you know it we are being asked to lay hands on people for a numerous amount of things. We prayed for everything from back and knee pain to abusive husbands and babies that had been given over to witchcraft in desperation for healing.
Although many people had been prayed for, there was one lady that continued to stick out to me. Her face was expressionless, her emotions were non existent, she had circles of death around her eyes, she kept to herself, and I knew instantly the Lord wanted to set her free. She ends up coming up to Markelle and I for prayer. She sits in front of us with her Hindu dot on her head and we just start praying for freedom and love. We declared that God would encounter her in a way that is undeniable and that she would know Him has her one and only true God. As we were praying, I sensed a block. Something that was holding her back – So we quit praying and I asked her if she believed in Jesus and started telling her more about the Gospel.
We then pray again as we feel the spirit prompting and as we finish praying, right before our very own eyes, this lady removes the Hindu dot from her head – oddly enough sticks it in her bra and then informs our translator that she wants to only follow Jesus and wants to denounce her other Gods.
I just begin to cry.
I was in amazement at what the Lord was doing in this woman’s life. After so many years of serving countless Gods, she finally found the ONE that will truly satisfy. Not only that – I could see freedom on this woman’s face.
She was glowing in a way she wasn’t before.
She was getting up and offering everyone Chai tea.
She was talking and making friends.
Those circles of death that previously captivated her eyes turned into circles of life.
She was indeed a new creation in a matter of minutes.
This is the power of the God I serve at hand.
Three to four hours later we are still praying for people. We have people at the door saying,
“I heard there are miracles happening here – can I come in and get prayer?”
Non hesitantly, we ushered them in and started to filter people in and out of this house as we pray for individuals, see God show up, and then make room for others to experience the power of God as well.
Let me remind you this was in the village area that just hours ago we were praying would be open to the Gospel. This is the same area that was closed off to the things of God, and here we have people coming to us – running and desperate for the very thing they have for years been denying.
This night that was originally intended to fill our bellies with great Indian food became a night of many healings and many salvations – which fed our hearts and fed our souls. We ended up eating around 11 o’clock at night, and boy was it worth the wait. To this day the best food I ever ate in India – Not to mention one of my favorite memories of my favorite country thus far.
