Healing ... (written July 26)

Healing is happening in so many different places and appearing in so many different ways it is hard to get my head around it all. Healing of hearts, healing of relationships, healing of bodies, and healing of souls. Only God…

Today we visited Merciful Redeemer Children’s Home with the team. We did “church” together. The children led us in amazing worship and Brandon Way preached. After Brandon preached, the children sang one more soulful worship songs and then Mama John (the lady who founded and directs the Home) stood and asked her “intercessory prayers” to come forward. They timidly rose from their seats in the crowd and walked to the front. She explained that these 4 girls (ranging in ages from perhaps 8 – 12 years) were prayer warriors. As the children grow in their walk with God, Mama John and the other leaders of the home work to identify their spiritual gifts and then they purpose in their hearts to enable each child pursuing their “gift” from God. These 4 girls wake each morning at 3:15 AM to join Mama John and her sister Leah in intercessory prayer lasting until 4:45 AM. Oh dear Lord – these 4 tiny warriors stand shoulder to shoulder with their adult leaders for 1 and ½ hours every morning to petition You on behalf of others --- while the rest of the home sleeps on. There is much to learn here…
Mama John explained to the group that this team of prayers prayed specifically for many things, some of which are Heart for Africa and every single individual who had a part in lifting them out of the slum (referred to as “hell”) and moved them to the “paradise” where they now live. Some of you reading this blog --- are on the list of names they lift up to our Father each and every morning. I was moved to tears. They do not forget who gave the money to purchase the land they now grow vegetables on and the buildings that hold the clean, orderly beds they sleep in each night. And they pray for blessings in your life --- every night --- in the wee- hours of morning – before their world wakes up – they carry your name to God. Oh dear Lord.
Mama John then told the group that if any of them ever had a prayer request to please send an email – and her team of tiny prayer warriors would commit to carrying it to the Lord.
David Kariuki (Heart for Africa’s Kenyan staff member who lives at Tumaini and coordinates our work at the 3 homes we serve in Kenya) stood and tearfully asked for the tiny warriors to please pray for healing of his friend Jake Robinson --- who had been paralyzed in a car accident last year.
Jake sat there with us all – as he in on this trip. What a courageous young man he is. From the night of the wreck in September 2008, Jake’s heart has longed to come back to Kenya to see “his” kids at Tumaini. And so as he has endured bad news from the doctors, multiple surgeries, and ongoing physical therapy --- he has had many goals in mind --- and one was to endure and work hard so that he could return to see the children here. He is a very humble young man who does not like to bring attention to himself. But being the muzungu in a wheelchair does not allow him to remain hidden in the background. So he is being stretched to endure the constant stares both hear in Kenya as well as in America. God please keep your mighty hands on this precious son of yours.
David’s tearful prayer request was embraced immediately by Mama John and her tiny army who asked Jake to come forward --- and they along with about 20 other children from the home and a few fellow team members, those who could find space in the wall of love formed by tiny black hands, laid their hands on Jake and went to work. They began by praising God – so fervently – I’m certain the roof must work to remain in place. Oh God – how you must weep for joy over these little warriors. They praise you in KiSwahili, in Kikuyu, in English, in Masaii, in Mero, in Turkana, and more. They lift up so many languages to you in their pursuit of praising you --- it is beyond beautiful. Then they went to work --- a work that many on our American team had never seen --- but work these children are well acquainted with. One voice would raise up above the many others as they prayed for healing. Mama John then began praying powerfully pouring the blood of Christ over any and every specific curse that she sensed had brought this dear young man to this place. She spoke to Jehovah Ropha (Hebrew for the God who HEALS) and in the Name of Jesus she broke the power of any generational curses. She took authority over any words of death and injury that had ever been spoken over Jake. And she spoke to many other minions of the enemy that were unseen to our human eyes, but most certainly at work against the healing of this young man. It was POWERFUL! ---- not scary or weird --- instead it felt like a place of home in another realm. I could feel angel wings as they battled victoriously against the evil – they had power poured into them because of the words of rightful authority being spoken into the air around us. At the name of Jesus Christ --- the gates of hell are shaken ---- for “by His wounds we are healed”…
Jake sat quietly and humbly --- and allowed himself to be wrapped in the love being lavished on him. Oh if I could have taken a picture for him --- but the moment was just too beautiful to try and capture. After many minutes of intense prayer --- under the direction of Mama John several men helped Jake to stand and Mama John continued her ministering work of laying on hands and calling on her Father. Then her prayers shifted. She began praising God for the healing! I opened my eyes to see if Jake was standing there alone. He was not. But she continued thanking God for the healing. I confess it was hard to continue watching – for I love this young man so very much – with a motherly love that is not of this world. I wanted to see him walk across the room – as I heard the prayers of thanksgiving. But he did not. And after some time – he was assisted back to his seat – but Mama John continued in her thanksgiving for the healing.
Oh God --- your ways are so, so much greater than our ways.
I felt such power and beauty in the room --- bathed in love and surrender. Oh if I could only hear from you – if you would only type onto this page --- what your heart was feeling as you saw your tiny warriors lavish your precious Jake with words that spoke of you, to you, and for you. You bring beauty from ashes – it’s in your Word and in your hands.
Then Mama John invited everyone to join she and the children for lunch --- a meal that had been provided by Jake’s church. The children quietly left the room and slowly our team members composed themselves and followed the children. Jake and a small intimate circle remained in the room.
He did not walk ----- yet. But healing took place.
We humans tend to only believe what we can see with our eyes. Oh we of little faith. Well at least some of us…
Mama John later shared with me --- that Jake has been healed --- and in God’s time “it will be seen by eyes”. But for now it can be known with our hearts.
Wow --- I asked her if she discerned that anything was “blocking” the “seeing” of the healing. And she firmly said ---- NO --- he is HEALED --- and in God’s time He will allow it to be seen. She said God told her exactly what curses to break --- and then He rushed in with HIS HEALING.
Friends – the children did not leave the room with heads hung low because their new friend was not walking. They left the room with confidence. You see – these children are willing to WAIT on the Lord. They lived in squalor in a slum for years as they waited on the Lord --- and then they experienced the day of “seeing” their Father move them to this new land they call paradise.
Waiting is a part of the process in their minds. Waiting does not mean the victory is lost – it means God is doing what only God can do. He is putting all the pieces into place and at the exact moment that best fits with His perfect will – He will allow eyes to see.
As I have prayed for Jake over the past 10 months, God has said to me ---- “HE IS WALKING DONNA! He is walking with me – I’m holding Him – just because you can not SEE him walking does not mean he is not walking – for he is. My son Jake does not need legs to “walk”. He is so remarkable --- I will prove what I can do --- through him --- he and I together will do amazing things – that will bring me much glory and give him a life that is beyond what he could ever have imagined.”
And God has promised me in beautiful moments that Jake will walk again --- I believe God has assured me of this --- because He lets me know my prayers are heard and He is not ignoring them. But then He graciously reminds me that the “walking” will come in HIS time. God has beautiful things at work in and around this young man. May he never be limited in the ways that matter the most and may he never be distracted by the appearance of limitations.

Today – healing took place in Jesus’ Name. At the end of the day – the team had a time of personal sharing after dinner back at the hotel and there were more tears. The youth pastor shared --- that a part of his spirit had been healed during the prayers – as he watched an eight year old lay her hands on Jake and call out to her Father (the only father she has – since she is an orphan). She prayed with such peaceful confidence and anointed power – Brandon laid down the skepticism he had held against just such prayers. He felt his Father’s power and love in the beauty of the moment as this tiny warrior prayed. And Brandon felt healing.
I have had personal issues with Mama John as I have been unsure of her in many ways. Ways that I will not share now – because I will not speak of them. For God healed that part of me. I’m called to LOVE and pursue HIM. He will judge whether she is upright in her administration of the home. I was released from trying to discern – and was healed and relieved of the weight I’ve been trying to carry. If she is not upright in all her ways – God will deal with His daughter there --- just like He deals with me when I am in err. I’m so thankful He is a loving Father.
Three men stood tonight and shared testimony of how they were touched and changed during the prayer time and the day with the children. The questioning they had been wrestling with needing clarity of “why” God had called them to come on this trip had been answered today. And this is only the second day of the 15 days they will be here.

Much healing took place today --- as tiny warriors led the way.
Jake did not walk --- but healing was still lavished on him.

I am certain – God has chosen Jake to do amazing things --- and God will be seen by many --- it just is not coming about in a way that would be a chosen path. But my prayer for Jake is --- that he will hold fast to what God IS doing --- and that he will allow the greatness of God to be seen in his life --- for in the end ---- many will see, know, believe, understand, embrace, and want more of our great God --- because of what they see in this man’s life. In God’s eyes – Jake has not been limited --- instead --- he has been enabled.
May it be so --- in Jesus’ Name.