We had a great time of prayer last Wednesday for the HotS team. We did some warfare prayer knowing there are witchdoctors operating very close to where we pray. We also prayed for each team member individually for more faith amongst other things. We were all very positive after the prayers and feeling very encouraged. Today, we still only prayed with two people. Julia who comes most weeks for prayer as her ear problem still is not healed and for a lady whose husband left her last week leaving her with a baby to look after but no job or income. We spent some time praying for all the people we have prayed with in the past, especially one lady who had a huge growth on her ankle. We heard this week that it was diagnosed as cancer so they amputated her leg below the knee. Please pray for her as she adjusts to this big change.
Today was our last prayer time of 2010 as next week all the team will be busy running holiday clubs for the kids at Turning Point so no posts for a while but we will be back in the new year, with our missing team members back and ready for action!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Ready to change
Apologies for not posting last week, I was attending a very important conference! We prayed for a few more people this week, some with stomach problems, high blood pressure and one problem that was described as stones in the eye – sounds painful! Our friend July also returned who often stops for prayer for various things. One guy called Jackson wanted prayer to stop drinking, he said he has many problems, his wife has left because of his drinking and he wants to change. We were able to pray with him and encourage him with testimonies and he left in a very positive state.
We are hoping to meet as a team this Wednesday morning to pray together for each other and for the HotS ministry. We are wondering why less people have been stopping for prayer recently and whether we need to change anything. Mostly we just want to spend some time seeking God, His heart and plans for each of us and for the HotS prayer times.
We are hoping to meet as a team this Wednesday morning to pray together for each other and for the HotS ministry. We are wondering why less people have been stopping for prayer recently and whether we need to change anything. Mostly we just want to spend some time seeking God, His heart and plans for each of us and for the HotS prayer times.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Another quiet one
We prayed for just three people again today, it is a privilege to pray even with a few people and those few people really appreciate the prayers but we're wondering why the numbers have gone down so much from the first term. We have decided we need to take some time to pray again as a team for the ministry and align ourselves again with God's vision. We hope to do that soon before we hit the streets again.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Rain interrupts play
Today was the first time that we didn't pray with anyone, It was a rainy morning and we went back inside for a while as we had no umberellas and no-one was likely to stop and sit in the rain for prayer if they were already feeling sick! The sun came out and we returned to our post but still no-one stopped for prayer just to greet us and ask questions.
But I counted we have prayed for around 250 people up to this point so we lifted those people up in prayers again, praying that God would keep on working in their lives.
But I counted we have prayed for around 250 people up to this point so we lifted those people up in prayers again, praying that God would keep on working in their lives.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Pastor/Plumber
Today we met Leah who was incredibly grateful for prayers for her son, he is four years old but has the body of a two year old, he has never walked and she carries him in a leso (material sheet) on her back like a baby. He doesn't understand much of what is going on but seeing his mum was happy with the prayers he was smiling too.
We went back to Lillian's place to check on her but she had been taken to hospital for more tests on the growth on her foot. Her daughter said there had been no change since we prayed so we prayed again with her. We also prayed with a lady who had lost two of her children, she just did not know where they were and was very worried.
Two young mums shyly asked for prayer this morning for jobs and for peace in their homes, one also had a bad back. It is often humbling to see people responding in faith, however tentatively, to the offer of prayer. We often don't see people again but reading so many verses in the bible where God says that he hears the call of the weak I am confident that He is responding.
One of these ladies' sons kindly broke the water pipe next to us while he was waiting for his mum, flooding the area next to us. Pastor valiantly got soaked putting it back together.
We went back to Lillian's place to check on her but she had been taken to hospital for more tests on the growth on her foot. Her daughter said there had been no change since we prayed so we prayed again with her. We also prayed with a lady who had lost two of her children, she just did not know where they were and was very worried.
Two young mums shyly asked for prayer this morning for jobs and for peace in their homes, one also had a bad back. It is often humbling to see people responding in faith, however tentatively, to the offer of prayer. We often don't see people again but reading so many verses in the bible where God says that he hears the call of the weak I am confident that He is responding.
One of these ladies' sons kindly broke the water pipe next to us while he was waiting for his mum, flooding the area next to us. Pastor valiantly got soaked putting it back together.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Persistance pays off
There is a lady who stops to greet us every Monday with a huge smile on her face, today was the first time she sat down for prayer. As she got talking and shared many family problems she started to cry, telling about her husband who drinks too much and how she worries about her children who have all run away to the streets. We prayed with her and she left peaceful and hopefully encouraged having shared her burden and brought it to God.
Later we went to visit Lillian who we have visited a couple of times before. She has a huge growth on the side of her foot, bigger than a tennis ball. It has been operated on several times but it keeps coming back. When she tries to walk it starts bleeding so she is stuck lying on a sack on the floor, there is little she can do. Eunice had a sense that there was some witchcraft involved and felt the Holy Spirit saying we needed to pray against that. So, she called the rest of us in and we did just that. There was no immediate change but we will see what happens.
Judy, the lady with persistent faith, had finally been healed of every problem she came with. It has taken quite a while but one by one God has healed her. She stopped by to let us know so we could celebrate and thank God with her.
Later we went to visit Lillian who we have visited a couple of times before. She has a huge growth on the side of her foot, bigger than a tennis ball. It has been operated on several times but it keeps coming back. When she tries to walk it starts bleeding so she is stuck lying on a sack on the floor, there is little she can do. Eunice had a sense that there was some witchcraft involved and felt the Holy Spirit saying we needed to pray against that. So, she called the rest of us in and we did just that. There was no immediate change but we will see what happens.
Judy, the lady with persistent faith, had finally been healed of every problem she came with. It has taken quite a while but one by one God has healed her. She stopped by to let us know so we could celebrate and thank God with her.
Monday, October 4, 2010
I need prayer!
This week everyone who stopped for prayer had been before or heard of us and knew what we were doing. Emelda sat down and stated 'I need prayer' without even greeting us! We prayed for her headache and cough and she spent a good while just quietly sitting in God's presence. She said she felt very hot and off she went!
Another lady felt pain especially in her knees and again she stayed quiet in prayer for quite a long time, just enjoying a peaceful moment. She said she felt a change as she stretched out her arms and legs testing for the pain.
Judy is a lady of persistent faith, she was coming from prayer weekly before we broke up for school holidays and only just heard we had returned. Originally she had a long list of illnesses for us to pray for, today we just prayed for her ear, the last thing that needs healing. Then maybe she will stop coming!
We also prayed with a couple of ladies who wanted to pray for their husbands who drank changaa, illegal brew, they did not care about their families and would sometimes be violent. One lady said, 'God is good and loves everyone so we need to pray for him'.
Another lady felt pain especially in her knees and again she stayed quiet in prayer for quite a long time, just enjoying a peaceful moment. She said she felt a change as she stretched out her arms and legs testing for the pain.
Judy is a lady of persistent faith, she was coming from prayer weekly before we broke up for school holidays and only just heard we had returned. Originally she had a long list of illnesses for us to pray for, today we just prayed for her ear, the last thing that needs healing. Then maybe she will stop coming!
We also prayed with a couple of ladies who wanted to pray for their husbands who drank changaa, illegal brew, they did not care about their families and would sometimes be violent. One lady said, 'God is good and loves everyone so we need to pray for him'.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Arise
Pastor and I were the only pray-ers today and we were busy! We prayed for knee pain, a wrist injury, stomach ulcers and skin disease. Two friends asked us for free medicine and walked away when we said we were offering prayers, but they got somewhere down the road and hit a spark of faith, they decided to come back so we prayed for Cornelius' back pain.
Margaret had pain in her knees, back and head which had gone by the end of the prayers, she wanted to bring her child next Monday. I was reading in Psalms this morning that the Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord is on his heavenly throne and he says 'because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise'. And I was imagining the mighty God rising from his heavenly throne on behalf of those we were praying for.
Eunice is ill with pneumonia, Godwill is busy with work, and Florence came late today that's why they did not join us. So please pray for God to protect our team
Margaret had pain in her knees, back and head which had gone by the end of the prayers, she wanted to bring her child next Monday. I was reading in Psalms this morning that the Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord is on his heavenly throne and he says 'because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise'. And I was imagining the mighty God rising from his heavenly throne on behalf of those we were praying for.
Eunice is ill with pneumonia, Godwill is busy with work, and Florence came late today that's why they did not join us. So please pray for God to protect our team
Monday, September 20, 2010
Nearly missed it!
There weren't too many people stopping for prayer again today but maybe it will take a while for word to spread that HotS is happening again. This morning thus involved a lot of sitting and waiting. Florence and Eunice were called to pray for someone in their house, they had a growth on their foot and could not walk to our prayer spot.
Another young guy asked very shyly what we were doing, he practically had his back turned to us as he asked. He was expecting us to have some free dawa (medicine) but he was open to prayer too so we prayed for his stomach which has given him pain for a long time.
Just as we were packing up to leave, having waited a good 20 minutes without anyone stopping a lady came and asked us to pray for her. She had several problems including a growth on her throat around the size of a golf ball, a bad cough and chest pain and pain that spread from her back around her waist. The only symptom she was feeling when she sat down was the back pain, when she should up to test it afterwards the pain had gone.
Hopefully that is a step towards a complete healing, we invited her back for more prayer next week. She caught us just in time to go home pain-free! God is good.
Another young guy asked very shyly what we were doing, he practically had his back turned to us as he asked. He was expecting us to have some free dawa (medicine) but he was open to prayer too so we prayed for his stomach which has given him pain for a long time.
Just as we were packing up to leave, having waited a good 20 minutes without anyone stopping a lady came and asked us to pray for her. She had several problems including a growth on her throat around the size of a golf ball, a bad cough and chest pain and pain that spread from her back around her waist. The only symptom she was feeling when she sat down was the back pain, when she should up to test it afterwards the pain had gone.
Hopefully that is a step towards a complete healing, we invited her back for more prayer next week. She caught us just in time to go home pain-free! God is good.
Monday, September 13, 2010
HotS Returns
We returned to our spot in the alley outside the Turning Point compound this week to offer prayer for healing. It was good to be back meeting new people and having the opportunity to listen and share in their struggles with them. This week we only prayed for one ill person directly, otherwise we prayed with people who had children or other family members who were sick in the house or upcountry.
During the break Godwill has been continuing with some ad hoc healing on the streets around his home, some of his neighbours heard about what he was doing on mondays and called him to their house when they had a problem with their knees. The next day after he had prayed he had a call to say the pain was nearly gone.
During the break Godwill has been continuing with some ad hoc healing on the streets around his home, some of his neighbours heard about what he was doing on mondays and called him to their house when they had a problem with their knees. The next day after he had prayed he had a call to say the pain was nearly gone.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Wait for me!
Florence came rushing into the project late this morning, she was determined to join the prayer team so she downed her morning tea and mandazi at a speed which probably made her feel a little queezy. Soon enough she was back out the gate on her way to pray.
The team was somewhat reduced today as I was busy with visitors while Godwill had other work. So Pastor, Eunice and Florence were the only ones. They prayed for people with stomache aches, ear aches and malaria and for a lady preparing for her mother-in-law's funeral.
To be honest I don't know much more about what happened but Florence was very happy to have been on the team when I saw her afterwards. Its very cool to see others get excited about what God is doing and want to be a part of it.
The team was somewhat reduced today as I was busy with visitors while Godwill had other work. So Pastor, Eunice and Florence were the only ones. They prayed for people with stomache aches, ear aches and malaria and for a lady preparing for her mother-in-law's funeral.
To be honest I don't know much more about what happened but Florence was very happy to have been on the team when I saw her afterwards. Its very cool to see others get excited about what God is doing and want to be a part of it.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Lucky Lucy
There was quite a sense of peace today as we prayed, sat and waited to see what God would get up to this week. The HotS model is all about praying gently and operating out of a place of peace. To me it seemed God established an atmosphere of peace from the beginning. Sometimes I feel restless waiting for people to stop but today I was able to be patient.
We prayed for two people with asthma, as well as, blood pressure (I don't know if it was too low or too high, it just wasn't right!), malaria, cancer and a swollen hand. We took the opportunity between patients to pray for friends upcountry in the advanced stages of AIDs
One lady returned for the third week in a row still seeking and believing for healing in her ear and the pain in her side. Hesbon the sausage seller also returned for a chat and for more prayers for his business and family. We also prayed for twin babies Lucky and Lucy, Lucky had a skin problem down the right hand side of her face while Lucy had a nasty cough.
We prayed for a guy a couple of weeks ago who was standing just down the alley from us talking and shouting constantly without making any sense. Though we could not convince him to come for prayer we prayed for him from a distance for deliverance. He walked past us today quiet and calm, certainly a change from last time we saw him.
We prayed for two people with asthma, as well as, blood pressure (I don't know if it was too low or too high, it just wasn't right!), malaria, cancer and a swollen hand. We took the opportunity between patients to pray for friends upcountry in the advanced stages of AIDs
One lady returned for the third week in a row still seeking and believing for healing in her ear and the pain in her side. Hesbon the sausage seller also returned for a chat and for more prayers for his business and family. We also prayed for twin babies Lucky and Lucy, Lucky had a skin problem down the right hand side of her face while Lucy had a nasty cough.
We prayed for a guy a couple of weeks ago who was standing just down the alley from us talking and shouting constantly without making any sense. Though we could not convince him to come for prayer we prayed for him from a distance for deliverance. He walked past us today quiet and calm, certainly a change from last time we saw him.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Learning on the job
The open sewer running through our prayer spot had been freshly cleared this morning which made the smell particularly pungent, we had to re-order our stools a little so nobody had their feet in sewage but otherwise it was a good morning of prayer. We prayed with around nine people altogether although extras came to find us in the project after we had packed away asking for prayer.
We prayed for those with chest pain, skin disease, hip and joint pain, stomach aches, unemployment and family problems. One single mother came for healing for ulcers, she has no husband and no job or business with which to support her kids, the stress she felt was visible so we prayed for healing and peace and for some way to provide for her kids. Two people returned this week, one lady had less pain in her side after we prayed last week and so asked us to pray again. One man had not seen any change since we prayed and did not want us to pray again.
After praying this week, Eunice was telling us how she often feels tired after doing the HotS ministry because sometimes its like the Holy Spirit in her is fighting with other spirits and she is caught in the middle of the battle. She says she has learnt a lot through doing this prayer, particularly in discerning between spirits and learning to listen to God's voice and guidance. So we continue to learn as we go.
We prayed for those with chest pain, skin disease, hip and joint pain, stomach aches, unemployment and family problems. One single mother came for healing for ulcers, she has no husband and no job or business with which to support her kids, the stress she felt was visible so we prayed for healing and peace and for some way to provide for her kids. Two people returned this week, one lady had less pain in her side after we prayed last week and so asked us to pray again. One man had not seen any change since we prayed and did not want us to pray again.
After praying this week, Eunice was telling us how she often feels tired after doing the HotS ministry because sometimes its like the Holy Spirit in her is fighting with other spirits and she is caught in the middle of the battle. She says she has learnt a lot through doing this prayer, particularly in discerning between spirits and learning to listen to God's voice and guidance. So we continue to learn as we go.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Three types of healing
The HotS team was mixed up today as Jon and Pastor took a break for the week. Eunice went with Godwill and visiting Beki while Florence and I (I being Emily) prayed together. Godwill was the first customer today with a high temperature and bad headache, after praying the temperature came down although he continued to pray through sniffles for the others that came.
We prayed for people with boils, poor hearing, weakness, and struggling businesses. Several people also stop just to ask what we are doing but don't want prayer. A lady with knee pain felt an instant change as she got up to leave, a lady with chest pain was healed about 15 minutes after we prayed and a lady with neck pain felt a small change but left full of faith for complete healing.
As we pray often you can see a sense of peace on people's faces, today a lady lingered so long just enjoying God's presence I thought she had fallen asleep!
We prayed for people with boils, poor hearing, weakness, and struggling businesses. Several people also stop just to ask what we are doing but don't want prayer. A lady with knee pain felt an instant change as she got up to leave, a lady with chest pain was healed about 15 minutes after we prayed and a lady with neck pain felt a small change but left full of faith for complete healing.
As we pray often you can see a sense of peace on people's faces, today a lady lingered so long just enjoying God's presence I thought she had fallen asleep!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Healing for anyone
I found myself questioning today whether someone deserved to be healed.
Two ladies were walking past and stopped, and started talking. One of the ladies sat down, and as the conversation progressed, and she started talking about herself, I started judging her. I'm not proud of it, just owning up to it.
What followed, once we began praying for her, was the most obvious experience of the Holy Spirit working on someone right there in front of us that we have seen. She began to sob, then cry out to Jesus. Her crying was almost violent - her whole body was shaking as the sobbing racked her body. Eunice said afterwards that she could feel the Holy Spirit powerfully moving, and that He was causing her to shake too.
It reminded me of the Samaritan woman at the well, and the impact that her meeting with Jesus had on her. We could see and hear this lady meeting Jesus, and we pray that the impact will last.
Apart from that lady, we had the usual range of illnesses and needs to pray for. We were summoned by one person to go to somebody's house who was unable to walk to see us. And we had more reports of healings from previous weeks, and one man who came back for more prayer after an improvement in his condition, but not complete healing.
So today was a reminder for me that God's love is for everyone, that none of us deserve it, and that it is there for us no matter how we live and what choices we make. And sometimes it's easy to judge someone according to my own standards, but unless I have lived their life, I don't really have any right to do that.
Plus it's not my job to judge anyway. It's my job to minister God's grace. And that's for anyone and everyone.
Two ladies were walking past and stopped, and started talking. One of the ladies sat down, and as the conversation progressed, and she started talking about herself, I started judging her. I'm not proud of it, just owning up to it.
What followed, once we began praying for her, was the most obvious experience of the Holy Spirit working on someone right there in front of us that we have seen. She began to sob, then cry out to Jesus. Her crying was almost violent - her whole body was shaking as the sobbing racked her body. Eunice said afterwards that she could feel the Holy Spirit powerfully moving, and that He was causing her to shake too.
It reminded me of the Samaritan woman at the well, and the impact that her meeting with Jesus had on her. We could see and hear this lady meeting Jesus, and we pray that the impact will last.
Apart from that lady, we had the usual range of illnesses and needs to pray for. We were summoned by one person to go to somebody's house who was unable to walk to see us. And we had more reports of healings from previous weeks, and one man who came back for more prayer after an improvement in his condition, but not complete healing.
So today was a reminder for me that God's love is for everyone, that none of us deserve it, and that it is there for us no matter how we live and what choices we make. And sometimes it's easy to judge someone according to my own standards, but unless I have lived their life, I don't really have any right to do that.
Plus it's not my job to judge anyway. It's my job to minister God's grace. And that's for anyone and everyone.
Monday, June 14, 2010
God's sense of humour
Today God seemed to want to focus on people with unusual names! We were visited by Fernice, Consolata, Ephely, Leonita and Devna amongst others. When I look back to the previous week's record of who we prayed for, and see it's made up of people like Jimmy, Thomas, Ruth & Margaret, I have to wonder about God's sense of humour.
Today was busy – we had people waiting again, the first time for a while. After the customary 30 minutes at the beginning when nobody stopped, we then had an almost constant stream of people needing God's touch on their lives - more than 20 prayed for in this week's 2-hour session. It continues to amaze me how some, especially women, will share openly about what in the West would be considered very personal, and usually embarrassing. Today's list included people with stomach pain, high blood pressure, asthma, painful joints, injuries to heads and necks, menstrual problems, hearing, and eyesight. We also prayed for people's employment and their businesses.
About half way through this morning's session, a troubled young man took up residence a little way down the dirty street, speaking out loudly. Not much of what he was saying made much sense, and it appears from what others said that he has been like this since the post-election violence, in which his parents were killed. We sent Godwill to invite him for prayer but he refused and gradually moved further and further away. As he moved out of sight and sound, we prayed for deliverance and peace for him.
I also discovered this morning that a local witch doctor, Ndanu, lives within a stone's throw of our base for HotS. She walked past us a couple of times, and we invited her for prayer, but she refused our offer. In faith we bound the power that she is using to influence people in the neighbourhood, and prayed that the Holy Spirit would reveal His power to her. I was hoping and praying for an opportunity to pray with her, but she didn't reappear – maybe next week.
Last week we prayed for Godwill, who suffered from asthma and nosebleeds. He hasn't had any asthmatic symptoms since we prayed, and no nosebleeds either.
Today was busy – we had people waiting again, the first time for a while. After the customary 30 minutes at the beginning when nobody stopped, we then had an almost constant stream of people needing God's touch on their lives - more than 20 prayed for in this week's 2-hour session. It continues to amaze me how some, especially women, will share openly about what in the West would be considered very personal, and usually embarrassing. Today's list included people with stomach pain, high blood pressure, asthma, painful joints, injuries to heads and necks, menstrual problems, hearing, and eyesight. We also prayed for people's employment and their businesses.
About half way through this morning's session, a troubled young man took up residence a little way down the dirty street, speaking out loudly. Not much of what he was saying made much sense, and it appears from what others said that he has been like this since the post-election violence, in which his parents were killed. We sent Godwill to invite him for prayer but he refused and gradually moved further and further away. As he moved out of sight and sound, we prayed for deliverance and peace for him.
I also discovered this morning that a local witch doctor, Ndanu, lives within a stone's throw of our base for HotS. She walked past us a couple of times, and we invited her for prayer, but she refused our offer. In faith we bound the power that she is using to influence people in the neighbourhood, and prayed that the Holy Spirit would reveal His power to her. I was hoping and praying for an opportunity to pray with her, but she didn't reappear – maybe next week.
Last week we prayed for Godwill, who suffered from asthma and nosebleeds. He hasn't had any asthmatic symptoms since we prayed, and no nosebleeds either.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Compelled to grab
After today I've only got another 3 Mondays in Kibera before we go to the UK for our annual fundraising jaunt, and then we have a sabbatical until Christmas. How I am going to miss these Monday mornings!
Every week is different, and this week was no exception. One guy who we encouraged to come and sit down told us there was nothing wrong. Whilst we were chatting I was asking the Holy Spirit what we could pray for, and I felt prompted to ask the guy about his feet. Sure enough, he has a cut on one foot that he got about 1 month ago, and that is refusing to heal up. Then he told us about the pain in his back, the need for prayer for his family, and his need for a job. It was as if the Holy Spirit just needed him to get started, and prompted me with the right question for him.
Another lady was walking past, and although busy with one person I noticed her and quietly said to Em to go and get her. She did, and she was happy to receive prayer - she has a badly scarred face from a burn, and has lost the sight in one eye because of it. Pastor Shadrack and Em were able to lay hands on her face, and the lady could feel heat coming while they were praying. Although there was no instant change, we are hoping she comes back to see us next week and to report improvements, and that healing is on the way.
But that's the first time I've felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to actually grab someone for prayer, rather than just waiting for them to stop.
There were other sight issues today that we were able to pray for, and one young girl who came with pain and soreness behind her eyes, and left pain-free after the prayer. It was another great week of seeing God's heart for the poor at work through us. This week we had Godwill on the team again, and next week we hope that Florence will join us once more, which will mean a team of 6.
Roll on next week.
Every week is different, and this week was no exception. One guy who we encouraged to come and sit down told us there was nothing wrong. Whilst we were chatting I was asking the Holy Spirit what we could pray for, and I felt prompted to ask the guy about his feet. Sure enough, he has a cut on one foot that he got about 1 month ago, and that is refusing to heal up. Then he told us about the pain in his back, the need for prayer for his family, and his need for a job. It was as if the Holy Spirit just needed him to get started, and prompted me with the right question for him.
Another lady was walking past, and although busy with one person I noticed her and quietly said to Em to go and get her. She did, and she was happy to receive prayer - she has a badly scarred face from a burn, and has lost the sight in one eye because of it. Pastor Shadrack and Em were able to lay hands on her face, and the lady could feel heat coming while they were praying. Although there was no instant change, we are hoping she comes back to see us next week and to report improvements, and that healing is on the way.
But that's the first time I've felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to actually grab someone for prayer, rather than just waiting for them to stop.
There were other sight issues today that we were able to pray for, and one young girl who came with pain and soreness behind her eyes, and left pain-free after the prayer. It was another great week of seeing God's heart for the poor at work through us. This week we had Godwill on the team again, and next week we hope that Florence will join us once more, which will mean a team of 6.
Roll on next week.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
God loves sausages
I wasn't there this week - I was unavoidably detained at the coast! So this week's update comes from Emily.
We waited a full hour before anyone stopped for prayer today but once one had sat down, several followed. We prayed for people with chest pain, coughs, very swollen glands and skin diseases as well as for some businesses, there were more guys this week than usual including one man who had cut a finger off! It did not grow back but we prayed for the pain to go.
One guy came back to say hi, last week we had prayed for his sausage selling business and his wife and family. He reported that his wife is fine now and he sold all of his sausages, not only that day but everyday since! Before last week he would only sell a few here and there, he said his faith is strong now so we prayed together again that God would keep showing Himself.
Godwill, the Turning Point football coach, stepped up to take Jon's place on the team this week, he said it was a very moving and humbling experience.
We waited a full hour before anyone stopped for prayer today but once one had sat down, several followed. We prayed for people with chest pain, coughs, very swollen glands and skin diseases as well as for some businesses, there were more guys this week than usual including one man who had cut a finger off! It did not grow back but we prayed for the pain to go.
One guy came back to say hi, last week we had prayed for his sausage selling business and his wife and family. He reported that his wife is fine now and he sold all of his sausages, not only that day but everyday since! Before last week he would only sell a few here and there, he said his faith is strong now so we prayed together again that God would keep showing Himself.
Godwill, the Turning Point football coach, stepped up to take Jon's place on the team this week, he said it was a very moving and humbling experience.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Getting better
Saw the Queen again today - Queen Elizabeth that is (see 10th May blog post). Her ankles are completely healed, so she was coming back for prayer for other needs. Other returners today as well, including Maximilla who two months ago had no sight in her left eye, and through prayer is gradually receiving her sight. She can now see distance, and we continued to pray for complete healing - I told her off for not coming back sooner so we could continue to pray - hopefully we'll see her next week for an update.
A massive privilege today was praying for Sylvester. He's a grown-up street boy, probably now 25. Every day he wanders around with a sack on his back, sifting through rubbish and sewage to get anything he may possibly be able to sell. Grown-up street boys are the outcasts of society here - nobody talks to them, and even the dogs are trained to chase them away. In fact Sylvester had a wound on his leg from a dog bite he recieved recently. We were able to spend a few minutes praying with him, for the wound to heal, for him to get work, and for him to know God's love for him, and his worth to God.
I recognised Sylvester as having walked past on previous weeks. Then I had half wanted him to stop, but half wanted him to carry on. If you could mentally picture someone completely devoid of hope, you'd be seeing Sylvester. But today, by God's grace in me, I was able to genuinely feel some of the love that God has for him, and to pray that he would know that love for himself. It was a privilege to lay hands on and pray for someone whom society would rather ignore, or kick down further into the dirt where they have to live. Surely he is the sort of person that Jesus would have spent time with, would have valued.
In fact, a number of the people who stopped today, we sensed needed prayer for more than what they had asked for. Many needed to know God's love for them, and to know God's power breaking through into their lives. We had physical healings too, and no doubt God is continuing to bring physical healing and restoration to many, but today we were able to go deeper than just the physical, and speak words of affirmation, grace and love into people's hearts.
We had Tom with us, who's been involved in HotS in Inverness for a couple of years now. It was good to speak with him and to compare how we do it differently to them, and he enjoyed the experience of praying in the warmth (!), and of experiencing people just coming and sitting down with their needs, and openly sharing them.
Another great week. Like the people we pray for, it just keeps getting better!
A massive privilege today was praying for Sylvester. He's a grown-up street boy, probably now 25. Every day he wanders around with a sack on his back, sifting through rubbish and sewage to get anything he may possibly be able to sell. Grown-up street boys are the outcasts of society here - nobody talks to them, and even the dogs are trained to chase them away. In fact Sylvester had a wound on his leg from a dog bite he recieved recently. We were able to spend a few minutes praying with him, for the wound to heal, for him to get work, and for him to know God's love for him, and his worth to God.
I recognised Sylvester as having walked past on previous weeks. Then I had half wanted him to stop, but half wanted him to carry on. If you could mentally picture someone completely devoid of hope, you'd be seeing Sylvester. But today, by God's grace in me, I was able to genuinely feel some of the love that God has for him, and to pray that he would know that love for himself. It was a privilege to lay hands on and pray for someone whom society would rather ignore, or kick down further into the dirt where they have to live. Surely he is the sort of person that Jesus would have spent time with, would have valued.
In fact, a number of the people who stopped today, we sensed needed prayer for more than what they had asked for. Many needed to know God's love for them, and to know God's power breaking through into their lives. We had physical healings too, and no doubt God is continuing to bring physical healing and restoration to many, but today we were able to go deeper than just the physical, and speak words of affirmation, grace and love into people's hearts.
We had Tom with us, who's been involved in HotS in Inverness for a couple of years now. It was good to speak with him and to compare how we do it differently to them, and he enjoyed the experience of praying in the warmth (!), and of experiencing people just coming and sitting down with their needs, and openly sharing them.
Another great week. Like the people we pray for, it just keeps getting better!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Is anybody sick?
What a strange week!
For most of this morning's session we were jokingly wondering if God had healed everybody's sicknesses. People were stopping and asking for prayer, but none of them were sick! Today seemed to be about praying for people who need work - which is probably more than 50% of the population of Kibera.
Towards the end of the time we got a few people who were sick, and after we'd packed up and returned to our centre we had three people over the next two hours come and find us and ask if they were too late for prayer, so we prayed for their illnesses. One had damage to his eyesight, and another had growths in her stomach. The third was really coming to report a healing from the previous week's prayer, but also needed prayer for another condition.
So it was a strange week. As humans we like to rationalise things, and come up with explanations and reasons. During this week's HotS I was doing that, and trying to think of why it was different this week, and where all the sick people were. But then I started to see what I was doing, and realised the futility of it. We don't serve a rational God - at least, not rational in human terms. So why should there be a rational reason for why one week is so completely different to the next.
What will next week hold? Only God knows the answer to that question, and I probably don't want to know, and certainly don't need to. We'll make ourselves available to the Holy Spirit, and see who He brings our way. We'll pray for them, and see what He does.
The lady who came to report her healing today also told us that she now has faith and is praying for her friends!
For most of this morning's session we were jokingly wondering if God had healed everybody's sicknesses. People were stopping and asking for prayer, but none of them were sick! Today seemed to be about praying for people who need work - which is probably more than 50% of the population of Kibera.
Towards the end of the time we got a few people who were sick, and after we'd packed up and returned to our centre we had three people over the next two hours come and find us and ask if they were too late for prayer, so we prayed for their illnesses. One had damage to his eyesight, and another had growths in her stomach. The third was really coming to report a healing from the previous week's prayer, but also needed prayer for another condition.
So it was a strange week. As humans we like to rationalise things, and come up with explanations and reasons. During this week's HotS I was doing that, and trying to think of why it was different this week, and where all the sick people were. But then I started to see what I was doing, and realised the futility of it. We don't serve a rational God - at least, not rational in human terms. So why should there be a rational reason for why one week is so completely different to the next.
What will next week hold? Only God knows the answer to that question, and I probably don't want to know, and certainly don't need to. We'll make ourselves available to the Holy Spirit, and see who He brings our way. We'll pray for them, and see what He does.
The lady who came to report her healing today also told us that she now has faith and is praying for her friends!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Praying for the Queen
Oh yes - it's good to be back!
This morning we welcomed Ashley onto the team. She's visiting from the UK where she's a Children's Pastor, and it was great to have her with us. And it was a welcome return to the team for Emily, back from the UK & India.
Even just setting up this morning,we had such a sense of anticipation at what God was going to do - it was so exciting. Actually, setting up sounds a bit grand - it's really just erecting our sign and placing a few stools on the ground to sit on.
After prayer to claim the time, the ground, and the people God wanted to send to us, we sat and waited. Some weeks we have to wait a while before anybody stops, and today it was about 30 minutes, but once the first had stopped, we hardly had a minute without both teams having someone to pray for.
As on previous occasions, some people were interested passers-by, others had come specifically. One lady walked past and saw the sign, went home and brought her teenage son back with her. He had been experiencing pain and weakness in his arms since the start of the year. Today he wasn't at school because of the pain. After we'd prayed for him he said the pain was less, so we prayed some more until he could say the pain was completely gone. We feel confident that God will restore his strength too, but the relief of pain was immediate.
There was also a lady who came with a rash on her arm, and pain in her arm. She was instantly healed too. And another lady with pain in her ankles whenever she stood up. She sat down, we prayed, and she stood up pain-free!
We prayed for people with back pain, colds, bleeding, stomach pain, gynae problems, TB, and a broken leg. We prayed for people who are out of work and desperately trying to find jobs so they can care for their family. We prayed for healing & freedom for a couple of men who are alcoholics, and who have lost their families because of their alcoholism.
One of the lady's we prayed for introduced herself as Queen Elizabeth - no joke! She was born in 1952 and was named by her parents after the Queen. She went away healed.
Once again we witnessed the love that God has for the people of Kibera in action, and felt privileged to be a part. Roll on next Monday!
This morning we welcomed Ashley onto the team. She's visiting from the UK where she's a Children's Pastor, and it was great to have her with us. And it was a welcome return to the team for Emily, back from the UK & India.
Even just setting up this morning,we had such a sense of anticipation at what God was going to do - it was so exciting. Actually, setting up sounds a bit grand - it's really just erecting our sign and placing a few stools on the ground to sit on.
After prayer to claim the time, the ground, and the people God wanted to send to us, we sat and waited. Some weeks we have to wait a while before anybody stops, and today it was about 30 minutes, but once the first had stopped, we hardly had a minute without both teams having someone to pray for.
As on previous occasions, some people were interested passers-by, others had come specifically. One lady walked past and saw the sign, went home and brought her teenage son back with her. He had been experiencing pain and weakness in his arms since the start of the year. Today he wasn't at school because of the pain. After we'd prayed for him he said the pain was less, so we prayed some more until he could say the pain was completely gone. We feel confident that God will restore his strength too, but the relief of pain was immediate.
There was also a lady who came with a rash on her arm, and pain in her arm. She was instantly healed too. And another lady with pain in her ankles whenever she stood up. She sat down, we prayed, and she stood up pain-free!
We prayed for people with back pain, colds, bleeding, stomach pain, gynae problems, TB, and a broken leg. We prayed for people who are out of work and desperately trying to find jobs so they can care for their family. We prayed for healing & freedom for a couple of men who are alcoholics, and who have lost their families because of their alcoholism.
One of the lady's we prayed for introduced herself as Queen Elizabeth - no joke! She was born in 1952 and was named by her parents after the Queen. She went away healed.
Once again we witnessed the love that God has for the people of Kibera in action, and felt privileged to be a part. Roll on next Monday!
Monday, May 3, 2010
It's not just for the poor
We were due to start up again today - unfortunately I'm sick and the two Kenyans on our team are a bit too busy with it being the first day of the project reopening after the Easter break. So instead of updating on HotS, I thought I'd update on someone I had the privilege of praying for after church a couple of weeks ago, let's call him Adam.
Adam had been experiencing a lot of pain on the right hand side of his chest and abdomen, and the doctors were baffled. In the ministry time after the service Pastor Doug asked a lady and myself to pray for him. We talked a little first, then began praying. We could sense the Holy Spirit with us as we prayed, and took authority over the condition and commanded it to come out. After a while of praying we asked Adam what he was feeling, and he could feel the Holy Spirit at work. I had a sense that something had to be pulled out from Adam's right hand side, and repositioned myself so I could concentrate on that area. Now it might seem weird - it did to me - but I felt that I needed to mime pulling something like a rope from his side, in a sort of tug-of-war style. I was a little hesitant to do this, especially as we were at the front of church and there were still many people there. But nevertheless, and feeling a bit of an idiot, that's what I started to do, praying whilst I was pulling this imaginary rope from Adam's side. At the end of the prayer time we asked Adam how he was feeling, and he said that the pain levels were coming down.
I didn't see him again till yesterday, and I approached him to see how he is now. He informed me that he's completely better, that there is absolutely no pain, and that God had really taught him some stuff through the sickness and healing process.
It's great that God healed Adam, but I felt a little sad that the healing needed to be justified by God teaching him through this time. And I said, "Maybe God healed you just because He wanted to heal you, not because He wanted to teach you anything".
We do like to rationalise God, but I think the Bible points to a God who is completely irrational, from a human perspective, and does things His own way, for His own reasons - and often just simply because He loves us and we ask.
Adam had been experiencing a lot of pain on the right hand side of his chest and abdomen, and the doctors were baffled. In the ministry time after the service Pastor Doug asked a lady and myself to pray for him. We talked a little first, then began praying. We could sense the Holy Spirit with us as we prayed, and took authority over the condition and commanded it to come out. After a while of praying we asked Adam what he was feeling, and he could feel the Holy Spirit at work. I had a sense that something had to be pulled out from Adam's right hand side, and repositioned myself so I could concentrate on that area. Now it might seem weird - it did to me - but I felt that I needed to mime pulling something like a rope from his side, in a sort of tug-of-war style. I was a little hesitant to do this, especially as we were at the front of church and there were still many people there. But nevertheless, and feeling a bit of an idiot, that's what I started to do, praying whilst I was pulling this imaginary rope from Adam's side. At the end of the prayer time we asked Adam how he was feeling, and he said that the pain levels were coming down.
I didn't see him again till yesterday, and I approached him to see how he is now. He informed me that he's completely better, that there is absolutely no pain, and that God had really taught him some stuff through the sickness and healing process.
It's great that God healed Adam, but I felt a little sad that the healing needed to be justified by God teaching him through this time. And I said, "Maybe God healed you just because He wanted to heal you, not because He wanted to teach you anything".
We do like to rationalise God, but I think the Bible points to a God who is completely irrational, from a human perspective, and does things His own way, for His own reasons - and often just simply because He loves us and we ask.
Monday, March 29, 2010
No more till May
Another week, another Monday, and another opportunity for people in Kibera to experience God's love for them through His healing power.
And it was another busy week, with more reports of healings from previous weeks. One lady that we prayed for last week was so grateful for the healing she received that this week she came with a thank offering of money - needless to say we pointed out that the healing ministry is free, and she went away even happier!
Maximilla has a serious problem with her left eye, and last week came for prayer. Last week she couldn't distinguish anything through her eye, now she can see light and dark. We prayed that God would continue the healing He has started.
Other prayers this week were said for diabetes, toothache, healing from burns, chest problems, malaria, sore rashes, reuniting of families, one lady with an alcoholic husband who regularly beats her, and a few who need employment. Some of these people had tried doctors, clinics, and various different medications without any improvement, some came to us deliberately, others were attracted by the offer of something for free. All received prayer, and we believe the Holy Spirit was with us once again, and even now is healing those we were privileged to pray with.
I'm still fasting on a Monday, and plan to continue as I'm still enjoying it, and find I am more spiritually aware on a Monday than on other days! However, last night I woke up in the night, with the words in my head "you are released from your fast". It was as if God was saying to me "you fasted when I asked you to fast, and now I'm releasing you". So now it's a personal choice, rather than something I feel God is compelling me to do.
The Turning Point project closes for the Easter break this week, so our HotS ministry will take a break too. We are excitedly looking forward to May 3rd when we'll be back out there, and Emily will be back with us, and we can be witnesses to God's heart in action for the poor of this world.
So, to God be the Glory, great things He has done!
And it was another busy week, with more reports of healings from previous weeks. One lady that we prayed for last week was so grateful for the healing she received that this week she came with a thank offering of money - needless to say we pointed out that the healing ministry is free, and she went away even happier!
Maximilla has a serious problem with her left eye, and last week came for prayer. Last week she couldn't distinguish anything through her eye, now she can see light and dark. We prayed that God would continue the healing He has started.
Other prayers this week were said for diabetes, toothache, healing from burns, chest problems, malaria, sore rashes, reuniting of families, one lady with an alcoholic husband who regularly beats her, and a few who need employment. Some of these people had tried doctors, clinics, and various different medications without any improvement, some came to us deliberately, others were attracted by the offer of something for free. All received prayer, and we believe the Holy Spirit was with us once again, and even now is healing those we were privileged to pray with.
I'm still fasting on a Monday, and plan to continue as I'm still enjoying it, and find I am more spiritually aware on a Monday than on other days! However, last night I woke up in the night, with the words in my head "you are released from your fast". It was as if God was saying to me "you fasted when I asked you to fast, and now I'm releasing you". So now it's a personal choice, rather than something I feel God is compelling me to do.
The Turning Point project closes for the Easter break this week, so our HotS ministry will take a break too. We are excitedly looking forward to May 3rd when we'll be back out there, and Emily will be back with us, and we can be witnesses to God's heart in action for the poor of this world.
So, to God be the Glory, great things He has done!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Breakthrough!
What a morning! Last week we had been sat waiting, waiting, waiting for people to come, and it seemed as if there was a spiritual barrier preventing people from even showing any interest.
This week, the complete opposite. There was hardly a moment when one of the groups wasn't involved praying with someone, and a lot of the time both groups were busy, and I was noticing people walking by and slowing down to see what was going on - this while I was attempting to hover between Pastor Shadrack and Eunice as they were praying - come back Emily!
Once again, we had people coming back reporting healing, and all told we had 15 visitors in our two hour stretch, and were able to pray for them and a variety of their family members who were sick. And, me being an Arsenal supporters, I was very pleased and privileged to pray for a young boy called Arshavin. This week's list of illnesses included malaria, typhoid, stomach ulcers, colds, boils, asthma, alcoholism, boils, fertility, eyesight, painful legs, pain & growths in mouths... I could continue.
We also prayed for employment for people desperate to find a way of supporting their family - one man was actually on his way to an interview and stopped for prayer. Today it was a privilege again, but it was also very exciting! All the team had a very real sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and I think our confidence and faith is growing. One lady came with an obvious eye problem, but wasn't asking us to pray for it - she'd come back to report healing from her first visit to us. But I felt I really wanted to pray for her eyesight, so asked specifically what the problem was with her eye, and if we could pray for healing. I'm hoping to see her next week, and that she can clearly see me!
Next week will be our last HotS session until May, as the project closes for the Easter holidays. And then in May we'll be restored to full strength with Emily returning - we're still praying for God to bring more to join us, and this morning is the first morning that we could have prayed for more had we had a larger team. No doubt, in God's timing, we'll have more helpers.
And just as I was about to sign off for this week Francis came through the door of the office in Kibera. He's the man who was going for an interview this morning, and he was coming to report that he'd got the job - praise God muchly!
This week, the complete opposite. There was hardly a moment when one of the groups wasn't involved praying with someone, and a lot of the time both groups were busy, and I was noticing people walking by and slowing down to see what was going on - this while I was attempting to hover between Pastor Shadrack and Eunice as they were praying - come back Emily!
Once again, we had people coming back reporting healing, and all told we had 15 visitors in our two hour stretch, and were able to pray for them and a variety of their family members who were sick. And, me being an Arsenal supporters, I was very pleased and privileged to pray for a young boy called Arshavin. This week's list of illnesses included malaria, typhoid, stomach ulcers, colds, boils, asthma, alcoholism, boils, fertility, eyesight, painful legs, pain & growths in mouths... I could continue.
We also prayed for employment for people desperate to find a way of supporting their family - one man was actually on his way to an interview and stopped for prayer. Today it was a privilege again, but it was also very exciting! All the team had a very real sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and I think our confidence and faith is growing. One lady came with an obvious eye problem, but wasn't asking us to pray for it - she'd come back to report healing from her first visit to us. But I felt I really wanted to pray for her eyesight, so asked specifically what the problem was with her eye, and if we could pray for healing. I'm hoping to see her next week, and that she can clearly see me!
Next week will be our last HotS session until May, as the project closes for the Easter holidays. And then in May we'll be restored to full strength with Emily returning - we're still praying for God to bring more to join us, and this morning is the first morning that we could have prayed for more had we had a larger team. No doubt, in God's timing, we'll have more helpers.
And just as I was about to sign off for this week Francis came through the door of the office in Kibera. He's the man who was going for an interview this morning, and he was coming to report that he'd got the job - praise God muchly!
Monday, March 15, 2010
I'm not a great advert for HotS this week
Another Monday, another 2 hours sat by an open sewer in Kibera, with people milling around going about their daily business. This week a local man decided to clear out the sewer a bit, as it was so blocked that it was preventing anything running down. This entailed raking out clumps of rubbish and sewage, and leaving piles at intervals along the edge of the sewer. It did improve the drainage, certainly, and for a few minutes I was grateful that I was so bunged up with cold that I couldn't effectively smell much!
However, being bunged up with cold isn't a great advert for a Healing ministry. Smiling weakly at people walking by whilst blowing one's nose repeatedly in front of a large sign proclaiming 'Healing' is a little ironic. The team did pray for me, but my nose continued to think it was in training for a marathon.
So, apart from me, we only had 3 takers this week. One mum with her 2 year old daughter who she was taking to a clinic. She had a persistent cough that we prayed for. Another mum came that we know because one of her children is in the TP Mashimoni project. She's a single mum with a lot of problems and issues, and we're fairly certain she's HIV+. She had a bad cough, which may well have been the signs of TB, and she asked for prayer for healing for it. She didn't want prayer for anything else, but if God heals her cough then maybe she'll come back for healing prayer for some of the other problems she experiences.
And the last lady was a repeater from last week. She'd come with her daughter who last week had painful boils on her bottom. we prayed last Monday, and by Friday they had completely disappeared - from memory she'd been suffering with them for a couple of months at least. We were also able to pray about the mum's marriage, as she suspects her husband has been looking elsewhere. It must take quite some courage to open up and admit something like that, and once again, it was a huge privilege to pray for her.
So once again, we have been witnesses to the healing power of the Holy Spirit at work in Kibera. It may not be as dramatic as Peter & John, but God is reaching people at their point of need, and they are acknowledging it as Him. Awesome!
However, being bunged up with cold isn't a great advert for a Healing ministry. Smiling weakly at people walking by whilst blowing one's nose repeatedly in front of a large sign proclaiming 'Healing' is a little ironic. The team did pray for me, but my nose continued to think it was in training for a marathon.
So, apart from me, we only had 3 takers this week. One mum with her 2 year old daughter who she was taking to a clinic. She had a persistent cough that we prayed for. Another mum came that we know because one of her children is in the TP Mashimoni project. She's a single mum with a lot of problems and issues, and we're fairly certain she's HIV+. She had a bad cough, which may well have been the signs of TB, and she asked for prayer for healing for it. She didn't want prayer for anything else, but if God heals her cough then maybe she'll come back for healing prayer for some of the other problems she experiences.
And the last lady was a repeater from last week. She'd come with her daughter who last week had painful boils on her bottom. we prayed last Monday, and by Friday they had completely disappeared - from memory she'd been suffering with them for a couple of months at least. We were also able to pray about the mum's marriage, as she suspects her husband has been looking elsewhere. It must take quite some courage to open up and admit something like that, and once again, it was a huge privilege to pray for her.
So once again, we have been witnesses to the healing power of the Holy Spirit at work in Kibera. It may not be as dramatic as Peter & John, but God is reaching people at their point of need, and they are acknowledging it as Him. Awesome!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Positive to Negative?
Our God is an Awesome God!
Praying again this morning - this time without Emily as she's on her way back to the UK for a few weeks. We weren't quite sure how the dynamics would work without her, but decided that I'd attempt to hover in between Pastor Shadrack and Eunice, and join in with them.
For 45 minutes we sat with nobody requesting prayer. Several people stopped, some even sat down, to ask about what sort of 'healing' we were offering, but people seemed reluctant to accept our offers to pray for them. We had a couple of ladies stop with more encouraging reports of healing from our praying last week, saying they are 'completely better'.
But slowly things changed. One of the first people we prayed for had suspected lung cancer, found it hard to breathe at times, and the medicine he was getting from the hospital wasn't helping at all.
Another lady came on behalf of her and her husband, who were both diagnosed HIV+ in December. I was wondering whether my faith was big enough to pray that her status turns negative, but I needn't have worried. She announced that although her husband has been taking anti retro-viral medication, she isn't as she expects God to heal her. It was a privilege to pray for her, and we asked her to get another test done so she can see if God has healed her. And if God has healed her, to tell any HIV+ friends she has to come for prayer too.
We prayed for people suffering from allergies causing rashes all over their body, pain all over, problems with painful feet, a young child with boils on her bottom, a lady up-country with a severely swollen leg that the family can't afford the cost of treatment for, a lady in hospital with complications following the stillbirth of her baby, marital problems, and unemployment. The man who came needing employment was one of the ones who had stopped to chat earlier, but hadn't been brave enough to ask for prayer then. It was an hour later that he returned and sat down again, and this time told us about his family and how he can't provide for them.
Once again, it was a privilege to pray for them all, and we eagerly anticipate next week.
Praying again this morning - this time without Emily as she's on her way back to the UK for a few weeks. We weren't quite sure how the dynamics would work without her, but decided that I'd attempt to hover in between Pastor Shadrack and Eunice, and join in with them.
For 45 minutes we sat with nobody requesting prayer. Several people stopped, some even sat down, to ask about what sort of 'healing' we were offering, but people seemed reluctant to accept our offers to pray for them. We had a couple of ladies stop with more encouraging reports of healing from our praying last week, saying they are 'completely better'.
But slowly things changed. One of the first people we prayed for had suspected lung cancer, found it hard to breathe at times, and the medicine he was getting from the hospital wasn't helping at all.
Another lady came on behalf of her and her husband, who were both diagnosed HIV+ in December. I was wondering whether my faith was big enough to pray that her status turns negative, but I needn't have worried. She announced that although her husband has been taking anti retro-viral medication, she isn't as she expects God to heal her. It was a privilege to pray for her, and we asked her to get another test done so she can see if God has healed her. And if God has healed her, to tell any HIV+ friends she has to come for prayer too.
We prayed for people suffering from allergies causing rashes all over their body, pain all over, problems with painful feet, a young child with boils on her bottom, a lady up-country with a severely swollen leg that the family can't afford the cost of treatment for, a lady in hospital with complications following the stillbirth of her baby, marital problems, and unemployment. The man who came needing employment was one of the ones who had stopped to chat earlier, but hadn't been brave enough to ask for prayer then. It was an hour later that he returned and sat down again, and this time told us about his family and how he can't provide for them.
Once again, it was a privilege to pray for them all, and we eagerly anticipate next week.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Getting wet for Jesus
And not just wet, but cold as well. But what a privilege again!
Two people came back to report healing and thank us, and we were able to thank God with them for the healing. One lady came last week with high blood pressure, 170 over something, and after two days it was down to 150, and by the end of the week was down to 130. We prayed for it to continue coming down to a normal level.
We prayed for people with cancer, blindness in one eye, stomach problems, malaria, leg pain, a baby who is brain-damaged due to oxygen starvation at birth, infertility, allergies affecting eyes, chest pain, others with eye problems, and for employment opportunities for those struggling to support their families. All this in two hours.
It was incredible to be standing or sitting in the rain, and to know that God was with us, and His Holy Spirit was at work. Many of those we prayed for told us of strange feelings they experienced whilst we were praying - one lady said she just wanted to shake all over when we were praying for her. God was definitely at work amongst the poor today!
I'm still shaking, but that's from standing outside in the rain for two hours!
Today was the last HotS with Emily for a while, as she's off to the UK and then on holiday. So unless God brings someone else our team will be down to three. How we'll work that I'm not sure - I may try and hover between Pastor and Eunice, going to pray where I think I may be of more use. Or we may just have one team of three. We'll see how we sense God's leading before next Monday.
Emily says she's going to miss watching people meeting with God in the middle of the slum.
Two people came back to report healing and thank us, and we were able to thank God with them for the healing. One lady came last week with high blood pressure, 170 over something, and after two days it was down to 150, and by the end of the week was down to 130. We prayed for it to continue coming down to a normal level.
We prayed for people with cancer, blindness in one eye, stomach problems, malaria, leg pain, a baby who is brain-damaged due to oxygen starvation at birth, infertility, allergies affecting eyes, chest pain, others with eye problems, and for employment opportunities for those struggling to support their families. All this in two hours.
It was incredible to be standing or sitting in the rain, and to know that God was with us, and His Holy Spirit was at work. Many of those we prayed for told us of strange feelings they experienced whilst we were praying - one lady said she just wanted to shake all over when we were praying for her. God was definitely at work amongst the poor today!
I'm still shaking, but that's from standing outside in the rain for two hours!
Today was the last HotS with Emily for a while, as she's off to the UK and then on holiday. So unless God brings someone else our team will be down to three. How we'll work that I'm not sure - I may try and hover between Pastor and Eunice, going to pray where I think I may be of more use. Or we may just have one team of three. We'll see how we sense God's leading before next Monday.
Emily says she's going to miss watching people meeting with God in the middle of the slum.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Week 2
I must think up more imaginative titles for this blog.
Since last week's HotS three people have come to find us and tell us they've been healed. And at this morning's session one of the ladies we prayed for last week came back to thank us, and to tell us that her child who had been having nightmares repeatedly is now sleeping peacefully, and her 18 month old who hadn't previously walked had started walking the day we prayed. She had also been the victim of a violent robbery recently, and we were able to pray for peace, and also for the return of her stolen belongings.
Another lady we prayed for today, Elizabeth, had been living with pain in her knees and back, and unable to bend her knees much. After prayer, when she said she felt "heat and cold water" running down her legs, she was able to squat from standing - something she couldn't have even attempted before.
We had a couple of brave men who stopped for prayer today as well - last week it was just ladies. Others included people suffering from high blood pressure, where medication wasn't having any effect, malaria, stomach and head pain, and others.
The time flew by today, and before we knew it we were packing up for this week. I probably should have asked for prayer from the team myself, as I've got some sort of viral bug that's going round which is making me very tired, and I found it hard to concentrate this morning. But fortunately God doesn't need me to be with it, just to be available, and I was able to be that.
There were many people, like last week, who stopped to see what we were doing, but who didn't come for prayer. But the word is spreading, and those who were healed last week have been telling others. We prayed, once again, for God's victory in Kibera, and that it would become a place where God is glorified, and He is Lord.
Unfortunately, the other pastors who have been involved in some or all of the training don't seem to be sticking with it - one turned up at the end last week, and this week none of them came. So it's just the four of us, and with Emily going back to the UK two weeks today, she's only got one more session she'll be here for until May. We need to pray that God would build a team of people to run with this, and to see it expand into other parts of Kibera. And that we would recognise the people of His choosing for the task.
The more the merrier as they say.
Since last week's HotS three people have come to find us and tell us they've been healed. And at this morning's session one of the ladies we prayed for last week came back to thank us, and to tell us that her child who had been having nightmares repeatedly is now sleeping peacefully, and her 18 month old who hadn't previously walked had started walking the day we prayed. She had also been the victim of a violent robbery recently, and we were able to pray for peace, and also for the return of her stolen belongings.
Another lady we prayed for today, Elizabeth, had been living with pain in her knees and back, and unable to bend her knees much. After prayer, when she said she felt "heat and cold water" running down her legs, she was able to squat from standing - something she couldn't have even attempted before.
We had a couple of brave men who stopped for prayer today as well - last week it was just ladies. Others included people suffering from high blood pressure, where medication wasn't having any effect, malaria, stomach and head pain, and others.
The time flew by today, and before we knew it we were packing up for this week. I probably should have asked for prayer from the team myself, as I've got some sort of viral bug that's going round which is making me very tired, and I found it hard to concentrate this morning. But fortunately God doesn't need me to be with it, just to be available, and I was able to be that.
There were many people, like last week, who stopped to see what we were doing, but who didn't come for prayer. But the word is spreading, and those who were healed last week have been telling others. We prayed, once again, for God's victory in Kibera, and that it would become a place where God is glorified, and He is Lord.
Unfortunately, the other pastors who have been involved in some or all of the training don't seem to be sticking with it - one turned up at the end last week, and this week none of them came. So it's just the four of us, and with Emily going back to the UK two weeks today, she's only got one more session she'll be here for until May. We need to pray that God would build a team of people to run with this, and to see it expand into other parts of Kibera. And that we would recognise the people of His choosing for the task.
The more the merrier as they say.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Week 1
There we were, sat on little wooden stools, an open sewer running next to us, flies landing on us continuously, in the heat of the day, with the dust blowing into our eyes. There aren't many places on earth where physical poverty is more in evidence than there, in the heart of Kibera. And this morning God was there, and it was quite literally awesome to be included as a witness to it.
So many places in the Bible it talks about God's heart, or concern, for the poor. And this morning, that's what we saw. It was an amazingly humbling experience, a real privilege to be a part of, and a day I will long remember.
For two hours the four of us (Emily & Pastor Shadrack, Eunice & myself) were available to pray for people. And they came - we prayed for people suffering from all kinds of infirmities, some who were experiencing abuse, some who had exhausted their meagre finances on dodgy clinics and were no better for it, and all open to experiencing the power of God in their lives. At 12:00 when we were due to finish we had a queue of people waiting, and we had to continue till 12:20 to clear the backlog. All in all, 16 people with direct healing requests were prayed for, and many of them could feel the Holy Spirit on them, through them, in them, as we prayed.
There was suspicion at first, many people wondering what we were all about, unbelieving that it was free, and one even thought we were a mobile health clinic! But after the first one or two accepted the offer of prayer, and people could see there wasn't anything sinister going on, and that we didn't demand payment from them (something that many 'Christian healers' do here) their confidence grew. Some engaged us in conversation, before heading off on an errand, promising to return on their way back. Others walked past unwilling to make eye-contact, but obviously interested in what was on offer. Others just came and sat down on one of the available stools to chat and pass the time of day.
But through all of these came the ones who God wanted us to pray for. We had one lady openly breatfeeding her child whilst she was being prayed for (bet that doesn't often happen in Coleraine), and others who were so open with us when discussing their problems, with nowhere else to turn. The Holy Spirit was moving on these people as we prayed for them, and we believe He began the healing process in them at that time. It's funny to think that now, a couple of hours or so later, people will be realising they have been healed, and hopefully going and telling their friends about what God has done for them.
Could this morning have been any more encouraging for us as a team? I suppose if a one-legged person had come and we'd seen his missing leg grow, then yes. But maybe that's for next week!
So many places in the Bible it talks about God's heart, or concern, for the poor. And this morning, that's what we saw. It was an amazingly humbling experience, a real privilege to be a part of, and a day I will long remember.
For two hours the four of us (Emily & Pastor Shadrack, Eunice & myself) were available to pray for people. And they came - we prayed for people suffering from all kinds of infirmities, some who were experiencing abuse, some who had exhausted their meagre finances on dodgy clinics and were no better for it, and all open to experiencing the power of God in their lives. At 12:00 when we were due to finish we had a queue of people waiting, and we had to continue till 12:20 to clear the backlog. All in all, 16 people with direct healing requests were prayed for, and many of them could feel the Holy Spirit on them, through them, in them, as we prayed.
There was suspicion at first, many people wondering what we were all about, unbelieving that it was free, and one even thought we were a mobile health clinic! But after the first one or two accepted the offer of prayer, and people could see there wasn't anything sinister going on, and that we didn't demand payment from them (something that many 'Christian healers' do here) their confidence grew. Some engaged us in conversation, before heading off on an errand, promising to return on their way back. Others walked past unwilling to make eye-contact, but obviously interested in what was on offer. Others just came and sat down on one of the available stools to chat and pass the time of day.
But through all of these came the ones who God wanted us to pray for. We had one lady openly breatfeeding her child whilst she was being prayed for (bet that doesn't often happen in Coleraine), and others who were so open with us when discussing their problems, with nowhere else to turn. The Holy Spirit was moving on these people as we prayed for them, and we believe He began the healing process in them at that time. It's funny to think that now, a couple of hours or so later, people will be realising they have been healed, and hopefully going and telling their friends about what God has done for them.
Could this morning have been any more encouraging for us as a team? I suppose if a one-legged person had come and we'd seen his missing leg grow, then yes. But maybe that's for next week!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!
So, today we were in Kibera, me hungry again. TP's Pastor Shadrack was feeling very poorly, and none of the other pastors turned up. So our team was down to three, and because of this we decided just to pray for some people at the project, instead of going out and identifying a suitable site.
First we offered to pray for Pastor Shadrack. He has been sick for over a week, and the clinic he attended didn't know what the problem was. He was suffering from a bad headache, aching joints, and exhaustion. As there was Eunice, Emily & myself able to pray, we each took one thing. Em started with the headache, Eunice went on to the aching joints, and I finished with the exhaustion. After the prayer Pastor informed us that the headache had gone completely while we were praying - he'd had it for over a week so was very happy. We told him to go home and rest, and said in confidence that he'd be fine when he woke up the next day.
Then we called in Moses, who we'd previously prayed for two weeks ago. He had a very sore back, was often in a lot of pain, and sometimes couldn't really walk very well. We got ready to pray some more for him, but then he told us that he didn't want us to pray, as his back was "totally different", he was in no pain, and just wanted to thank God for his healing. We invited him to pray a prayer of thanks to God for that, which he did.
Then we prayed again for Eunice's back, and Emily's eyes, and passed on things we felt the Holy Spirit was saying which was great.
Then we finished, and Eunice received a call from Pastor Shadrack. He informed her that he wasn't going to take any of the medication he'd been given by the clinic this morning. When she asked why, he told her that it was because he hadn't even got to his home, and he felt completely better!
So roll on next week for more prayer, and maybe getting out there onto the streets!
First we offered to pray for Pastor Shadrack. He has been sick for over a week, and the clinic he attended didn't know what the problem was. He was suffering from a bad headache, aching joints, and exhaustion. As there was Eunice, Emily & myself able to pray, we each took one thing. Em started with the headache, Eunice went on to the aching joints, and I finished with the exhaustion. After the prayer Pastor informed us that the headache had gone completely while we were praying - he'd had it for over a week so was very happy. We told him to go home and rest, and said in confidence that he'd be fine when he woke up the next day.
Then we called in Moses, who we'd previously prayed for two weeks ago. He had a very sore back, was often in a lot of pain, and sometimes couldn't really walk very well. We got ready to pray some more for him, but then he told us that he didn't want us to pray, as his back was "totally different", he was in no pain, and just wanted to thank God for his healing. We invited him to pray a prayer of thanks to God for that, which he did.
Then we prayed again for Eunice's back, and Emily's eyes, and passed on things we felt the Holy Spirit was saying which was great.
Then we finished, and Eunice received a call from Pastor Shadrack. He informed her that he wasn't going to take any of the medication he'd been given by the clinic this morning. When she asked why, he told her that it was because he hadn't even got to his home, and he felt completely better!
So roll on next week for more prayer, and maybe getting out there onto the streets!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Sheila
Just been praying with Em and Eunice for Sheila - just over 1 year old, the 3rd of triplets, who is far behind the development of her sisters. She can't yet sit, and her body doesn't seem to grow - stick thin legs and arms, and always with her hands in tight fists.
It was a privilege to pray for her. Now it's up to God whether or not He heals her.
It was a privilege to pray for her. Now it's up to God whether or not He heals her.
Not disappointed
We were prevented from training today by sickness and unavailability of the pastors. So we've rearranged the session for next Monday, and I've been praying for protection for the pastors that God wants involved, and telling Satan he has to leave them alone.
Also been claiming Kibera for Jesus, and asking Him to prepare the hearts of those He wants to touch through the HotS ministry. And praying for an outpouring of His Holy Spirit with healing power on those He is bringing to be involved.
Somebody asked me if I was disappointed that this morning's training hadn't happened. I thought about it, and realised that as I am just God's servant here, doing His will, I wasn't disappointed. If this was all my plans and ideas, then I guess I would be. But it's not, and it would feel a bit odd to be disappointed for God!
Instead, I've viewed it as another opportunity to pray and commit this ministry to God, asking again that His will be done, for His glory.
After all, it's all for Him, and it will happen in His time, with His choice of people. So I continue to be excited, and no, I'm not disappointed.
Also been claiming Kibera for Jesus, and asking Him to prepare the hearts of those He wants to touch through the HotS ministry. And praying for an outpouring of His Holy Spirit with healing power on those He is bringing to be involved.
Somebody asked me if I was disappointed that this morning's training hadn't happened. I thought about it, and realised that as I am just God's servant here, doing His will, I wasn't disappointed. If this was all my plans and ideas, then I guess I would be. But it's not, and it would feel a bit odd to be disappointed for God!
Instead, I've viewed it as another opportunity to pray and commit this ministry to God, asking again that His will be done, for His glory.
After all, it's all for Him, and it will happen in His time, with His choice of people. So I continue to be excited, and no, I'm not disappointed.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Alien Praying
A good training session today. Four pastors plus Eunice, Emily & myself. After reviewing the teaching briefly, we then plunged in with some practical trials. Two of the pastors watched as they hadn't been at the last training, and the others of us split into two groups - Pastor Shadrack, Pastor Alex & Emily in one group, Eunice and myself in the other.
We had four guinea pigs, so opportunities for four of us to take the lead in the praying. It was very interesting to see different people at different levels of comfort with the style of praying - some more able to be patient, others needing to fill space with words. But we had a great time, and two of the people we prayed for could feel the Holy Spirit at work on the areas we were ministering to.
We'll be training again next week - too many of us are still having to refer to the notes to try to make sure we don't forget stuff! Also next week I think we'll be looking for a suitable venue in Mashimoni.
All in all a very encouraging and exciting day - everyone seems very enthusiastic, and willing to learn and grasp this new style of praying, however alien it may feel to them. In time it will become more natural no doubt, but at the moment it's great just to see their desire, and their shared heart for the people of Kibera.
I feel privileged to be involved with them all.
We had four guinea pigs, so opportunities for four of us to take the lead in the praying. It was very interesting to see different people at different levels of comfort with the style of praying - some more able to be patient, others needing to fill space with words. But we had a great time, and two of the people we prayed for could feel the Holy Spirit at work on the areas we were ministering to.
We'll be training again next week - too many of us are still having to refer to the notes to try to make sure we don't forget stuff! Also next week I think we'll be looking for a suitable venue in Mashimoni.
All in all a very encouraging and exciting day - everyone seems very enthusiastic, and willing to learn and grasp this new style of praying, however alien it may feel to them. In time it will become more natural no doubt, but at the moment it's great just to see their desire, and their shared heart for the people of Kibera.
I feel privileged to be involved with them all.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Shrieking demons!
So we were due to do some more training this morning, but vehicle problems have prevented us. Rescheduled for next Tuesday, so the impetus will continue. I'm thinking that we'll hopefully get out on the streets of Kibera for the first time on 1st Feb - two weeks today.
I've been reading in Acts about how after Stephen died, Philip went and started preaching, and demons were shrieking as they came out. Did some more 'claiming Kibera prayer for God' today and was taking authority over Satan and sending him out of Kibera - obviously not in any of my own power, but it's great to know that he's already lost the battle, and that if we are standing with Jesus we have His authority and can basically order Satan or one of his demons to flee, and they have to obey.
I'm praying for that sort of power in Jesus' name in Kibera - whether it be through the HotS or some other means - but that Kibera would become a place that is known for Jesus, that it would be a place where people know the freedom that comes through knowing Jesus, and where Satan would have no more strongholds, but where he would know he has no place.
Now that would be a different Kibera! Am I being naive? Do I really think that my prayers, together with the prayers of a few pastors and others, can have that impact? I wonder whether the first apostles also had these sorts of questions? Did they doubt a person would be healed when they declared it? Did they fear taking authority over demons and casting them out, afraid of what the demons may do to them?
We're not told about the apostles having doubts, but they were human, so I imagine they did at first, but maybe after a few instances of taking authority they started to get confidence in God's power, and in their own ability to hear and discern God's voice telling them who to zap, and who not to. The healing of the man who went 'walking and leaping' by Peter and John I find interesting because I wonder, 'what was different that day?' They had walked past this man on countless other days, and not healed him. Why that day? I can only conclude that they discerned that it was on that day that God wanted to heal him, and on previous days He hadn't! Why? Only God knows.
And only God knows what'll happen when we start praying for people in Kibera on Feb 1st.
I've been reading in Acts about how after Stephen died, Philip went and started preaching, and demons were shrieking as they came out. Did some more 'claiming Kibera prayer for God' today and was taking authority over Satan and sending him out of Kibera - obviously not in any of my own power, but it's great to know that he's already lost the battle, and that if we are standing with Jesus we have His authority and can basically order Satan or one of his demons to flee, and they have to obey.
I'm praying for that sort of power in Jesus' name in Kibera - whether it be through the HotS or some other means - but that Kibera would become a place that is known for Jesus, that it would be a place where people know the freedom that comes through knowing Jesus, and where Satan would have no more strongholds, but where he would know he has no place.
Now that would be a different Kibera! Am I being naive? Do I really think that my prayers, together with the prayers of a few pastors and others, can have that impact? I wonder whether the first apostles also had these sorts of questions? Did they doubt a person would be healed when they declared it? Did they fear taking authority over demons and casting them out, afraid of what the demons may do to them?
We're not told about the apostles having doubts, but they were human, so I imagine they did at first, but maybe after a few instances of taking authority they started to get confidence in God's power, and in their own ability to hear and discern God's voice telling them who to zap, and who not to. The healing of the man who went 'walking and leaping' by Peter and John I find interesting because I wonder, 'what was different that day?' They had walked past this man on countless other days, and not healed him. Why that day? I can only conclude that they discerned that it was on that day that God wanted to heal him, and on previous days He hadn't! Why? Only God knows.
And only God knows what'll happen when we start praying for people in Kibera on Feb 1st.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Clean hands
So, we went through the teaching on the 'Healing on the Streets' prayer ministry model. Some laughs, which always helps, but the guys seem to have grasped some of the main differences between this method and how they usually do prayer ministry - lots of volume and lots of preaching.
We had a practice on one person which went well - no amazing healing to report, but it was great to see they'd taken the teaching on board. They struggled a bit to keep their eyes open when praying, but even I find it a bit unnatural to talk to God whilst looking at others.
All in all a very positive time, and the preparations continue. Banner should be ready in the next few days, stuff to give to people we've prayed for has been identified and is readily available, and we've got another teaching / practice session lined up for next Monday.
After that it's the real thing. Exciting, and I think I've made up my mind that I will be involved, rather than just supporting from the sidelines. I guess that means I'll be getting my hands clean?
We had a practice on one person which went well - no amazing healing to report, but it was great to see they'd taken the teaching on board. They struggled a bit to keep their eyes open when praying, but even I find it a bit unnatural to talk to God whilst looking at others.
All in all a very positive time, and the preparations continue. Banner should be ready in the next few days, stuff to give to people we've prayed for has been identified and is readily available, and we've got another teaching / practice session lined up for next Monday.
After that it's the real thing. Exciting, and I think I've made up my mind that I will be involved, rather than just supporting from the sidelines. I guess that means I'll be getting my hands clean?
Monday, January 4, 2010
My fasting is not slowing
So, attempting to do training on the first day back after the Christmas and New Year break was not one of my better ideas. One pastor turned up 1 hour late, the others haven't shown yet. Consequently we have postponed the training till next week.
And that gives me more time to reconsider what I'm reconsidering, that is my decision that I and Emily shouldn't be personally involved in the Healing in the Streets ministry. I have been feeling that my decision may have been based on worldly wisdom, rather than it being what God wants. I've been feeling again that God wants me to be personally involved, rather than just supporting on the sidelines. Much as I would like to, I continue to argue with myself about why I should need to be involved. But maybe that's asking the wrong question. Yes, God can do it through Kenyans. Of course He doesn't need me to be involved. But maybe He wants to bless me by allowing me to see God working powerfully at first hand, through me?
Having fasted every Monday since the start of September, I had a break last Monday when we were away for a few days in Naivasha, and I ate. Interesting - I missed fasting. I'm not quite sure exactly what I missed about it, but my week felt different, not having fasted. And I was keen to get to today so I could fast again.
Having never fasted before, I find I'm still enjoying it, and I feel much more spiritually aware and alive on the days and weeks when I have fasted.
So my weekly fast continues.
And that gives me more time to reconsider what I'm reconsidering, that is my decision that I and Emily shouldn't be personally involved in the Healing in the Streets ministry. I have been feeling that my decision may have been based on worldly wisdom, rather than it being what God wants. I've been feeling again that God wants me to be personally involved, rather than just supporting on the sidelines. Much as I would like to, I continue to argue with myself about why I should need to be involved. But maybe that's asking the wrong question. Yes, God can do it through Kenyans. Of course He doesn't need me to be involved. But maybe He wants to bless me by allowing me to see God working powerfully at first hand, through me?
Having fasted every Monday since the start of September, I had a break last Monday when we were away for a few days in Naivasha, and I ate. Interesting - I missed fasting. I'm not quite sure exactly what I missed about it, but my week felt different, not having fasted. And I was keen to get to today so I could fast again.
Having never fasted before, I find I'm still enjoying it, and I feel much more spiritually aware and alive on the days and weeks when I have fasted.
So my weekly fast continues.
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