# 116 Shanksteps- slow miracles
“The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.” (Matt 15:31) “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)
If I read these two verses correctly, I, Audrey Shank, daughter of the King, should be able to make the mute to speak, the lame to walk, and the blind to see. Sometimes I get frustrated that I can’t just say a word, or pray a prayer for my patients to be instantaneously healed. I like the idea of instant gratification – I don’t like waiting. I was feeling this way the other day, thinking about how useless I was as a prayer warrior, when I started to think about some of the patients I’ve taken care of here.
There was Marie. During our first meningitis epidemic in Feb 2006, Marie came to the hospital with meningitis. She had been in a coma for several days. When she was finally conscious, we realized that she was blind in one eye. I looked in her eye and she had no blood coming to her retina. Physically speaking, she should have been blind in that eye for the rest of her life. She remained in the hospital for 3-4 weeks, with us praying for her every day. By the time she left, she had full sight AND a saving relationship with Jesus, as did her parents. Through prayer, Jesus made the blind to see.
Then there was Baldagui. Baldagui came in the meningitis season of 2007. He was in a coma for almost a week. When he woke up, he was paralyzed on one side of his face, both arms, and both legs. It wasn’t until we stopped giving him medications and relied entirely on prayer for his healing that he started to get better. We prayed by his bedside every day, often telling him of Jesus’ healing power and love. We encouraged him to pray as well and to accept Jesus. We gave him a Bible and he read from it every day. Although Baldagui didn’t walk out of the hospital, he did leave with fully functional arms and a full reliance on God. The Peace Corps worker here, who was also a physical therapist, worked with Baldagui at his home almost every week. One of the most amazing days I can remember since coming to Africa was the day that Baldagui hiked down the mountain from his home to return to school. He still walks with a stick or arm braces, but if you ask him, God healed him from being a cripple.
Maybe you remember Birme. She came during the same meningitis season as Baldagui. When she regained consciousness, she was also paralyzed and was unable to speak. Although her paralysis was only for about a week, she was unable to speak for several months. As you may remember, her grandfather “sold her soul” in the devil’s heaven to gain longevity. We prayed with and for her every day, for a miracle. We tried to convince her family to have belief in Jesus, not clay idols. We got together in group prayer and commanded the evil spirits to leave her alone. Then we left to go to the US. I found out that several weeks after we left, one day she just started speaking again. Her family gave glory to God and now regularly attends a church in their village. Who says the mute can’t speak.
I have not yet told you about Guidaidi. Guidaidi came to us after suffering from abdominal pain for 16 years. He had already had 3 operations for this problem, none of which helped him get well. At first, I thought he was faking his pain, looking for attention. Soon though, I realized that he had already lost everything because of this pain. All of his money had gone to paying hospital bills. He was unable to work and support his family. I started to really listen to his story, and then started praying for him, and for guidance. I was very strongly impressed that his pain was more spiritual in nature than physical. So, I asked him what he thought about that idea. He agreed that he felt that someone was trying to harm him (spiritually). We began to pray for him in earnest. He repented before me, our chaplain, and God. He started to get better. Then one day, he had a crisis. He had intense abdominal pain and became unconscious. Then he started thrashing about, screeching, eyes rolled back in his head, and foaming at the mouth. His wife said that he had had similar episodes in the past, but that this one was by far the worst. We must have prayed for him for over an hour. I commanded the demons to leave him alone and never return, in Jesus’ name. He was finally calm and was unable to speak, but raised his hands toward heaven. I left him to sleep, and when he woke up, he was willing, but unable to tell me what happened. He stayed in the hospital for several weeks after that, never again having abdominal pain. He said he would go back to his village and tell everyone what God did for him. “They (disciples) went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” (Mark 6:12, 13)
Looking back on the past 3 ½ years, I realized that although none of my prayers have been answered instantaneously like happened in the New Testament, each of my patients that was healed now gives glory to God. After all, isn’t that the reason we are supposed to heal in Jesus’ name; to bring glory to God?
My prayer for myself and for you is: “Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29, 30)
