Busy, busy, busy

Oh yes, it's good to be back. Thanks, Emily, for keeping the blog going since July when I left for the UK and a sabbatical, and although I've enjoyed following the blog, it's nothing like getting involved for real!

This morning was our first HotS of this year, and we decided to change the format slightly. We now meet for prayer from 9-10, during which time this morning we had an opportunity to prepare ourselves through a short time of confession to one another, to invite the Holy Spirit to give insight into illnesses He wanted to heal today, and also to invite him to tell us names of people He wanted to heal today.

Encouragingly, some of the illnesses we got right - though none of the names! However, we think there was something going on with people whose name begins with a 'J', as three of the four of us suggested people with that initial. So when we got a couple of people whose name did begin with a 'J', we prayed for them with more confidence.

We were in our dusty alley from 10-12, and today they definitely came! It was non-stop, and often the couple of stools we had inadvertantly brought down as spares (because we miscounted!) were occupied by people waiting. Many people needed to find work, many were struggling to get fees or uniform for their children or grandchildren to go to school, and many were sick.

One lady came with a lot of pain in her stomach, and a headache. We prayed three times for physical healing and after the third time there was no pain left anywhere. Another lady came at the end with pain in all her joints. It was another gradual process, but by the end she stood up, bent over and touched her toes, and walked away with a spring in her step, pain-free.

We prayed for people with TB, stomach problems, leg pain, eye problems, alcohol addiction, chest problems, asthma, and someone in absentia who is lame. We prayed with power and authority, and received insight from the Holy Spirit and were able to speak directly into people's lives, with words of challenge or encouragement. As ever, it was a privilege, and a humbling experience, and we look forward eagerly to next week!