One of the kids I worked with in Zambia, wanted us to meet his mom and pray for her, so on Thursday during Camp Life, we took our entire group and went to visit Blessing's home. Unfortunately when we arrived Blessing's mom had left to go to the market, so we walked around to some of his neighbors and asked if our boys could share the Gospel with them. As two of my boys were sharing the story of Christ, an older lady straight out of Hollywood casting for a witch walked up and sat in the middle of all the action. I had already been warned that witch doctors were very active in this area, so I was not totally surprised, but being an American Christian, witches and witch doctors are not something I deal with every day.
Thankfully the old woman did not make much of a fuss, but I did notice that as we left she was following our group. Just as were were about to leave the area, she yelled something at my Zambian partner. She had asked him would we pray for her friend who was ill. In my mind I am pretty intimidated, because God already has me pretty far outside my comfort zone just coming on this trip. I was about to learn that I really don't need to worry, because he was there in a big way.
We followed the old lady to a small house. Understand house in this part of Zambia means a 7 by 7 space made of 4 walls of concrete blocks covered with a tin roof. Inside we found a young man of about 20 who obviously was suffering from some type of palsy. His hands and feed were curled under and he was unable to control his movements. He seemed to have a constant uncontrollable shake to his muscles. Even my Zambian boys who I thought seemed pretty fearless were somewhat intimidated by the look of this young man, but like troopers they went over and began praying for him. As we were praying, two teenage girls who identified themselves as the young mans sister and cousin came in. The two girls gave us some more background on this boy and in fact they were the ones primarily responsible for caring for him.
He had suffered from his condition his entire life. He had never walked and was essentially unable to do much for himself. The girls had not been able to move him for a week, because they needed the help of some men to get him up. Angel, my Zambian partner was the last one to go over and lay his hands on the young man as we were leaving and when Angel stood up the old woman asked were we not going to give some money to them? Angel told me later that at that moment he felt overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit and he responded "we have no money, but what we do have we freely give". Angel then began to pray the most fervent prayer for this young man and by now I had learned that Zambians know how to pray. They put all their emotion and even their entire body into a prayer.
After a few moments of calling on God, Angel stood up from the young man and said "in the Name of Jesus Christ, I command you to stand" and I am here to tell you that before my own eyes, this young man, who had never walked stood up. Angel then just began repeating over and over again "in the Name of Jesus Christ walk, in the Name of Jesus Christ walk" He continued this with all of us following behind until I looked around and we were standing outside the young man's room. This young man who had never stood up by himself much less walked had just walked 10 feet on his own and was standing on his own outside his home. I asked his caretakers to get his mat and we sat the young man down outside his room. I know our entire group was wide eyed and I could certainly see that the young man's care takers were in shock and crying over what we had just seen.
I think we all stood there for a moment not knowing what to do or say and not sure we could even let it totally sink in what we had just witnessed, because what we witnessed was a true miracle straight out of the New Testament. How many times have I asked God for a "burning bush". I am here to tell you be careful what you ask for, because actually witnessing a miracle like this forces you to decide if you really believe what you claim to believe. I look back now and think how easy it was to have this intellectual belief in an all powerful Lord, but it is pretty intimidating when you actually witness Him working right in front of your eyes.
Thankfully the old woman did not make much of a fuss, but I did notice that as we left she was following our group. Just as were were about to leave the area, she yelled something at my Zambian partner. She had asked him would we pray for her friend who was ill. In my mind I am pretty intimidated, because God already has me pretty far outside my comfort zone just coming on this trip. I was about to learn that I really don't need to worry, because he was there in a big way.
We followed the old lady to a small house. Understand house in this part of Zambia means a 7 by 7 space made of 4 walls of concrete blocks covered with a tin roof. Inside we found a young man of about 20 who obviously was suffering from some type of palsy. His hands and feed were curled under and he was unable to control his movements. He seemed to have a constant uncontrollable shake to his muscles. Even my Zambian boys who I thought seemed pretty fearless were somewhat intimidated by the look of this young man, but like troopers they went over and began praying for him. As we were praying, two teenage girls who identified themselves as the young mans sister and cousin came in. The two girls gave us some more background on this boy and in fact they were the ones primarily responsible for caring for him.
He had suffered from his condition his entire life. He had never walked and was essentially unable to do much for himself. The girls had not been able to move him for a week, because they needed the help of some men to get him up. Angel, my Zambian partner was the last one to go over and lay his hands on the young man as we were leaving and when Angel stood up the old woman asked were we not going to give some money to them? Angel told me later that at that moment he felt overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit and he responded "we have no money, but what we do have we freely give". Angel then began to pray the most fervent prayer for this young man and by now I had learned that Zambians know how to pray. They put all their emotion and even their entire body into a prayer.
After a few moments of calling on God, Angel stood up from the young man and said "in the Name of Jesus Christ, I command you to stand" and I am here to tell you that before my own eyes, this young man, who had never walked stood up. Angel then just began repeating over and over again "in the Name of Jesus Christ walk, in the Name of Jesus Christ walk" He continued this with all of us following behind until I looked around and we were standing outside the young man's room. This young man who had never stood up by himself much less walked had just walked 10 feet on his own and was standing on his own outside his home. I asked his caretakers to get his mat and we sat the young man down outside his room. I know our entire group was wide eyed and I could certainly see that the young man's care takers were in shock and crying over what we had just seen.
I think we all stood there for a moment not knowing what to do or say and not sure we could even let it totally sink in what we had just witnessed, because what we witnessed was a true miracle straight out of the New Testament. How many times have I asked God for a "burning bush". I am here to tell you be careful what you ask for, because actually witnessing a miracle like this forces you to decide if you really believe what you claim to believe. I look back now and think how easy it was to have this intellectual belief in an all powerful Lord, but it is pretty intimidating when you actually witness Him working right in front of your eyes.
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