Need Encouragement?

Testimony of Healing & Salvation

I would like to share a story that I heard this morning from my wife's aunt. I found it inspirational, encouraging and instructive. My wife's aunt and uncle do short term medical missions. Uncle C is a chiropractor and aunt L is his admin. asst. They travel to Peru several times a year to share the gospel while treating the hurting people in the cities and/or remote villages of Peru.


Aunt L told a story this morning of an elderly man who came to the clinic with severe arthritis. His elderly wife joined him for companionship and as his translator. He painfully crawled onto the table to receive his treatment. It was the end of a long week for the medical team and the volunteers were not supposed to let anyone else come through the line. Somehow this couple made it in.

The routine while standing in line for treatment includes a quick physical, silent or spoken prayer, sometimes the gospel message and then the treatment. Upon exiting the clinic, again there is prayer and the gospel message given by the team of volunteers. It was quite obvious that the elderly man was nearly 100% deaf. His wife cupped her hands into his ear to shout out instructions in her native tongue. "Move your arm over your head" my uncle said to him. The wife translated the instructions loudly into his ear but with no response. Finally they resorted to physically manipulating his arms and head. My aunt remembers praying for healing to what looked like a hopeless situation. His arthritis was too far advanced for them to be much help.

After the treatment was completed, the old man sat up with assistance and said something to his wife. They began a conversation and left. They departed the clinic as feeble as they came. But later in the evening as the team was packing to leave, the elderly wife returned with a message. She told the medical team "thank you - my husband left the clinic with the ability to hear the birds singing and children playing basketball for the first time in many many years. And as he was leaving the clinic, he was able to hear the Gospel message for the first time in his life. He accepted Christ today. Thank you for coming and serving us here."

For me, this is a touching message of faith, intercessory prayer, God's will and not assuming we know all the details of what is best in a certain situation. I hope this testimony helps you process your own circumstances. I think this is one of those cases where "things are not always as they seem".

Blessings,

Craig



Craig from Illinois 09/05/2010 12:17

Replies:
Davidwayne Lackey 09/05/2010 20:18
Amen Craig!!! The power of Prayer that never returns void.
Jake Van Horn 09/05/2010 23:39
This is an awesome story. Very encouraging, God is great!
Simon Ashmead 09/06/2010 18:23
Thankyou for that Craig. It helped me t refocus on what Gd sees as the most important healing. Praise God.
Simon Ashmead 09/06/2010 18:25
Please excuse the "O" key on my keyboard and lack of proof reading skills regarding the above post.
Helga 09/06/2010 22:51
Awesome