Because God had given us a heart for Phyllis, Teresa and Imelda remained united and unrelenting in their efforts to continue praying and fasting. Two weeks had lapsed since Imelda first encountered Phyllis, and she had not returned to El Shaddai in the interim.
It was now Friday, November 23rd and we reconvened to seek the Lord in what He wanted us to do. Both of us felt like there was nothing to lose in continuing our efforts to intercede for Phyllis… the peace of God was with us!
The next morning, on Saturday, we took our usual places out on the huge rocks that jut out in front of our living quarters. Again we had decided to fast from food and only drink water. We huddled together, side-by-side and asked God what He wanted us to do again. We asked for visions, revelation or a word of confirmation. As we sat there quietly, the song “Shout to the Lord� came to Teresa’s mind.
We shouted unto the Lord with great zeal and praise. We lifted our voices and called out the name of Jesus! Prayers exploded from our mouths and the overflow of our hearts, not only for Phyllis but for Swaziland, the country’s king, the children of El Shaddai and our own families back home.
We prayed, praised and fellowshipped with each other and the Lord for about 4 hours. We did receive words and visions. Determined to keep seeking, Teresa noticed that Imelda was sunburned. We left.
Prayers continued all throughout the day. And then the night came, and it got a little rough for Imelda. It seemed her emotions were running high, and although she was very tired and sleepy, and a little empty in the tummyshe d idn’t sleep very well. A heaviness of doubt began to cloud her thoughts and she couldn’t gather her bearings enough to form full prayers.
Sadness, doubt, disbelief, questioning her own salvation, standing accused by this barrage of worries and lies made it a very long night for Imelda. Imelda was feeling like the punching bag, meanwhile, Teresa was right next door sleeping soundly and peacefully.
At long last, it was Sunday. Time for church. Once again, Phyllis did not show up. Teresa was refreshed and willing, “Ready to go to her house?� she turned to Imelda. Imelda nodded and stood up. We ended up with two new recruits for the effort: Vanessa and Richard. (We’d soon find out how God had included them in His plan all along.)
All that stood between us was a big gate, a thick wall of fog and the door to the house.
We needed God to make a way in so we could get to Phyllis. But how?
“Hellooooooooo!� called out Teresa. “Maaaaaseeeeeegoooo!� Imelda shouted out their last name. The fog just swallowed up their words. Imelda used her walking/fighting stick to bang at the gate loudly.
Nothing.
Richard stood by, the plastic bag of food in his hands crinkled and he prayed under his breath. Vanessa was ready with her bible wide open and eyes closed praying. “Jesus, please make a way for us,� someone uttered. Seconds felt like hours as we stood before the scene.
Imagine this: a cold day in the remote mountain tops of Swaziland. 4 missionaries stand in a rural village at the gate of a house secluded under avocado trees. The atmosphere is unwelcoming, and the weather sets the mood of something ominous lurking in the darkness of the fog before them. They are there because Jesus lead them to a woman tormented by demons.
Teresa spoke up, “Broken and contrite…� followed by “what does that mean?� Vanessa’s bible was quickly flipped to scripture in Psalms. Imelda read out loud, “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.� Psalm 51:17
As soon as the words escaped her mouth, a figure was seen walking through the fog. It was a boy. He was one of the school boys we had previously met and shared the Gospel with. He came to the gate to investigate the commotion. A short exchange of questions asking if the Masegos were home was followed by him bolting away. We were expecting him to go retrieve Phyllis but instead, many forms came back at us through the wall of mist.
It was a band of boys, holding Smiso the grandson by the hands, running at us with smiles and excitement. Smiso was ecstatic to see us again. Vanessa had a stash of cookies in her pockets and we broke off pieces to share with the boys, while asking where Phyllis was. Essentially, chocolate chip cookies got us in through the gate.
The welcome was warm and inviting once we were on the compound. We were lead to the house where Phyllis lives by the bustling boys, and it was her mother who answered the door. She was so grateful and amazed by the care package of food Richard handed to her. “God has not forgotten me this day! Thank you God!� she smiled and the front door gave way into her home.
We asked if we could pray for Phyllis, and she conceded. She quickly led us to the back of the house into a tinroofed cement room. There was Phyllis bundled up on a dirty mattress. She was under several blankets. Her room was dim and smelled dank. Her mom shut the door behind us to keep the boys from peering in. We greeted Phyllis, and asked her how she was doing.
Her mother, in broken English, explained that she had been praying for decades regarding Phyllis. Limited in her vocabulary but expressive in her gestures, she thanked us for remembering Phyllis and coming to pray.
Vanessa stood at the head of Phyllis’ bed with her bible open. Imelda knelt right in front of Phyllis’ face, and Teresa got on her knees and reached out to lay her hands on Phyllis’ legs. Richard squatted down by her feet. Phyllis’ mother, an old and coffee colored woman with a soft face, stood by nodding and folding her hands together in prayer.
As soon as we began to pray, and Vanessa read Scripture out loud, Phyllis became agitated as she had the first time. Her breath was labored, her face distressed and contorted, her eyes wide open and staring Vanessa down. Teresa was quick to lay hands on her legs and pray for healing of her paralysis. As Phyllis swiped her hand out at Vanessa evidently angry by the reading of the Word of God, Imelda gently intercepted, took both her hands in her hands and stared Phyllis in the eyes.
Face to face, Imelda prayed and looked deep into Phyllis’ dark, dead eyes. Jesus was called into the forefront of our situation as we all prayed our parts to have Him come deliver Phyllis. Vanessa kept right on reading from the bible. Richard on his knees calling out to Jesus. Teresa pleading for a healing to come.
Imelda kept her eyes fixed and locked with Phyllis’ glare, calling in the Light of God’s spirit for protection and authoritatively calling out whatever was in her that was not of God. Imelda urged Phyllis repeatedly to call on the name of Jesus, but to no avail. Phyllis squirmed and panted and bit her lips, refusing to speak out His name. Shaking her head “no.� She stared Imelda down hatefully. Phyllis glowered back and forth from Imelda to Vanessa. Grunts and guttural sounds came forth as she writhed under her covers. We broke out into a song of worship, and as our singing tapered off, Phyllis spoke up.
“I’m feeling better. God bless you and thank you.� Phyllis’ attempted to conclude what we had begun. We stopped. We were silent. Teresa asked “Is there anything else we can pray about for you?� (This seemed so crucial as it’s important to keep in mind that Phyllis needed to ask Jesus what she wanted Him to do for her, as we were not there to force anything on her. We couldn’t force her to accept a healing or deliverance.)
“Yessss…� Phyllis now closed her eyes, almost grimacing and said she felt weak. She now asked that God would heal her and help her.
We prayed again, and again we held down our positions. This time, however, Imelda directed her prayer and dialogue directly with Phyllis. Urging her again, and proclaiming the love of Jesus for her, Imelda kept saying “Phyllis, call on the name of Jesus. Call Jesus. Jesus. Jesus loves you.� Suddenly, Imelda remembered a song in Siswati she had learned from the children, and began to praise Jesus in Phyllis’ native language. “Wahambanadi…Ohhhh Wahambanadi…Siabonga Jesu…Siabonga Jesu…� which loosely translates along the lines of “God is with us/walking with us…we thank you Jesus…we thank you Jesus…�
Her eyes closed, and breathing a bit calmer, Phyllis whispered out “Siabonga Jesu…Jesu…� Teresa glanced over and asked Imelda “Did she just say it???? Did she say Jesus?� A look of shock and joy covered Teresa’s face, as Imelda nodded yes and kept on singing in Siswati. Phyllis smiled for the first time, her face now relaxed and light shining in her eyes. She clutched Imelda’s hands too, and face to face they kept singing to Jesus and smiling. Phyllis breathed easy and kept softly calling “Jesu…Jesu…Jesu…�
The spiritual atmosphere switched from thick and dark to light and full of rejoicing. Some oppressive darkness had been lifted, and cast away. Darkness fled at the sound of His great name: JESUS!
We all smiled. Phyllis’ mother smiled, teary eyed and thankful.
“This day has shown me that God has not forgotten me and my family. I have nothing to give you, but I thank you and the Lord bless you! Continue to go to others and bless many more people. Thank you. Thank you.� The overflow of a mother’s heart to see her daughter Phyllis divinely appointed to receive God’s blessing and to begin the process of healing and deliverance was amazing!!!
Our God reigns.
p.s. If God can use us crazy girls, He for sure can use you to do even more amazing things! You just have to be willing! 🙂
