Until I started reading the Bible myself, the idea of Jesus healing someone was a Sunday school story accompanied by a coloring book. Yet scripture was constantly challenging my ideas: could God still move this way today? A few years ago I read this verse, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12 ‘do what I have been doing…’ Jesus was healing the sick, the deaf, the blind, the mute, casting out demons, feeding thousands, resisting temptation, serving people, loving those society viewed as outcasts and the lowest of the low. Our first time doing door to door we met this gentleman: Sitting on rocks outside with chickens and dogs running around us, we shared the message of God’s love and prayed with him. The next day we returned to his house. He told us how he couldn’t attend Church because his legs are in constant pain and he’s unable to walk. He explained the pain started in his knees and went all the way to his feet which he hasn’t felt in months. “This body was created by God and for God for his glory. Pain be gone in the name of Jesus. Body align yourself with the will of God, that this man be a living temple of the Holy Spirit. Healing be released in his entire body.” ‘Then Jesus said to the paralytic, “Get up, take up your mat and go home.” And the man got up and went home.’ Matthew 9:6-7 We asked him how his legs felt. He freely pushed himself up using the wall, took a few steps and a huge smile spread across his face. His steps became a swift jog as he exercised his new found healing and freedom. This man hadn’t felt his feet in months and now he walks pain free and feels every part of his body. We continue onward and find ourselves at Zora’s house. Zora was blind and a new to her Christian walk. After visiting for a bit, we asked if we could pray for her. And just like Jesus did, we prayed for her eyes to be opened to see the glory of God. After praying we asked her if she could see and she points to Kathleen and I & says, “there are 2 mazungos [white people] in the house!” The cataract in her eye was gone. She was pointing around the room and describing what she was seeing. It was the power of God in front of our eyes. What impacts me the most is not the healings themselves. Jesus is a good God and has compassion on his children and can heal them whenever he wants. What impacts me is that he chooses to use us to be a part of it. That in the midst of my own struggles, God pours out so much grace & mercy that he works through me to bring healing. And just to think…. 6 days later I was going to see even more miracles.
I spent last week in a Tanzanian village living with a Pastor. The bathroom was outside, electricity was non existent (we ate dinner by kerosene lamps), chickens ran everywhere, Church was a 1 room building, and the people were full of joy & hungry for the Gospel.
I laughed and laughed.I don’t think I’d ever been so happy to be called a mazungo before. The funniest part was we’d been in her house talking with her via translator for about 30 minutes before hand.
