A God who heals

One of the villages that I travel to quite frequently is called Magugu. Last week, I was there for a couple of days. On Friday, we went to the home of a young girl who has been very sick for about two months. I knew that she had been extremely sick and had gone back and forth to the hospital several times but had not been able to figure out what was wrong, maybe malaria, maybe AIDS, maybe ???? We wanted to visit her and pray for her. As we walked into her home, I was taken aback by what I saw. On a mattress on the floor was a little girl that had eyes that looked completely vacant. She was just skin and bones and was very unresponsive. All I could think was please God no, don't let her die, let her get better. I went there with Ezekiel, the pastor and school manager there, Lynda (head of Joshua Teachers college) and Patrick (another pastor and fiance of one of my good friends).

I must confess how little faith I have had in God healing. I know I have heard of things and even known some people but I still find myself struggling to really pray in that way. I am so full of western skepticysm. I find that I have more faith in man-made medicine then in the Creator of the Universe. I know that God is able but will He?

So, with those feelings and faulty faith, I began to pray for healing for this precious little girl. Everything in me refuses to allow this girl to stay this way on the front porch of her home gradually dying. We are all praying. Even though she has a hard time hearing and seeing, she begins to respond and turns over on her back. She tries to sit up but falls back unable. You can see life beginning to return to her eyes. What you need to know about this amazing young girl is that she was bright and determined and a leader in her class. She had a strong faith and often lead times of worship and prayer. She believes God is who He says He is unlike me.

We continue praying and eventually she sits up and we are amazed. YES! You can do it! God heal her! I find myself not really knowing what to pray or how to pray. All I know is that I want God to work, I want God to heal her. At first, I tell her that I want her to try to press her feet against my hands and she is unable, actually she can't even make a fist. We continue to pray and massage her legs and arms and gradually she begins to regain some strength.

This continues for a while and she is given some orange juice. She declares that she wants to stand! WOW! She needs help but she does it. Unbelievable. Her mother is crying, I am crying, everyone is. This sweet little girl continues to say, asante Mungu (Thank you God). She is now sitting in Patrick's lap and we continue to pray and talk to her and massage.

After a while, she is taking some steps and has light in her eyes. She is sitting up on her own in a chair. We tell her mother about nutrition and how to help get her strong. After a little while longer, we leave. I am filled with such awe and amazement. She is going to get better. I can't wait to see her at school. What does God have in store for her! WOW! I am so grateful that God has allowed me to be a part of this and see what a strong faith exists in such a small body.

Two days ago, on Thursday, I learned that she passed away. It doesn't make any sense. I thought God healed her. Even as I write this now, I can't help but cry. I know God is good but I am sad. I was in another village and had to travel to hers on Thursday night. I just cried and read my Bible. I didn't know what I was looking for or how to pray. I know that God works all things for good. I know He is sovereign and has a plan. As I was reading, God reminded me that His promise of no tears and no pain is for heaven and that is where she is now. He does not promise that this life will be without challenges, grief, and hard times but He does promise to never leave or abandon us. As I am reading all of this, I am trying to process it all but I am still struggling. She now is with her Saviour, she does not have to struggle to walk but can dance and leap for joy. This is not what I thought would happen. This, especially, is not what I thought I would experience as I prepared to come here.

When we went to the funeral yesterday, her home was surrounded by people, evidence of the many lives she touched. However, what can you do when see a child weap over the loss of another child. We needed to cover our heads and then walk in a line to pass her open casket while people sang. I didn't cry again until I began to sing with them, songs of praise. As I walked passed her casket singing about the goodness of God, I just sobbed. My heart hurt.

Once everyone had had a chance to pay their respects, we went to the cemetery. There was a long procession of cars but mostly people walking, so many children. At the burial site, several pastors gave messages and we worshipped. Those that knew her walked by her grave and took a handful of dirt and tossed it on top of her casket. We help bury her. Once again while singing to our Lord of Lords, our great God. My tears fell into the dirt that I held in my hand as I released it down into her grave.

However, I did finally get to a place where I knew that she really is in a better place. She is at home with her heavenly father. Even Paul in Phillipians says that to die is gain because it means that he will be with Christ. Heaven is real. I am still sad but now I have peace in the midst of it.

Please pray for this community. Pray that the people would see God in the midst of this tragedy. Please pray that her family would find comfort in God. Pray that God would work and be honored and glorified. Please just pray....