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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.