Yes it’s true. Despite what many believe, Jesus is still in the business of healing and doing the impossible—just like He was 2000 years ago when He walked the Earth. Acts 10:38 says that Jesus was anointed with the Spirit and that He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. The great news is that He is still doing that today through His body, the Church. As my previous post divulged, I recently spent three weeks in Mozambique, Africa. Our team’s purpose was simple enough—see the Kingdom of God come in power. And come in power it did. This is one testimony of the power of God’s love.
As the end of our trip drew near we were looking forward to a two-day bush outreach. Our trip had already been life changing (and exhausting) in a number of different ways and I saw this last outreach as the culmination months of preparation and the entire trip, a final hoorah if you will. Our destination was the island community of Macaneta. A church had been planted there one month prior to our arrival and we were to be accompanied by the pastor who was overseeing its development.
Access to the island was limited to the use of a single ferry and, once on the other side, a handful of pick-ups that shuttled people to and from the interior of the large coastal island. The pick-ups were small, unreliable, and did not run on any apparent schedule. After cramming our 11 man team into the back of an already full pick-up truck, we left the loading dock in a flurry of activity and indiscernible shouts of Portuguese. The 20 minute ride quickly turned into a struggle for survival as every turn and bump threatened to toss us from the bed of the truck. What was supposed to be a routine ride to the rural community became even more eventful when the truck got stuck in a ditch attempting to circumvent a washed out tin-horn. The guys on our team, along with the help of some Mozambicans, were able to push the truck back to freedom after a few minutes of sweaty and sandy pushing.
We arrived at the church without further incident and were expectant to see what God had in store for this community. Prior to the church being planted the previous month, there had been no evangelical Christian presence on the island. In other words, these people were more or less an unreached people group. What we found was a community ripe for harvest.
On our second night in Macaneta our team, along with the pastor (who also acted as translator and transportation liaison), gathered at the local water well. We simply wanted the locals to experience God’s love. As we approached, I noticed that maybe twenty or so women and children were already there gathering water. The small well, surrounded by a sand embankment, was a flurry of activity. Young girls sang songs in Shangan as they drew up the bucket to fill countless containers as their mothers sat around chatting and enjoying the cool breeze. The laughter of children filled the air as playing children darted in and out chasing one another. It wasn’t long before a crowd of 50 or so had gathered. Whether it was because we were singing and playing music or because there were 11 white people there I don’t know. Most likely, it was a little of both.
As we began to worship the presence of Holy Spirit began to fall in a tangible way. God began speaking to different members of our team and we began to minister God’s love and healing. It was amazing to watch as young boys were set free of nightmares that had been plaguing them, and women who were barren were prayed for and introduced to Jesus for the first time. Others who had headaches and throat pain were healed instantly as we prayed for them.
As word began to spread that miracles were happening an elderly woman approached the pastor. She had a son who was deaf and dumb that she wanted us to pray for. The boy was maybe 18 or 19 years old and had never heard or spoken. Though, initially I was a little intimidated I knew this was a perfect opportunity for God to do something amazing.
We all placed our hands on him and began to declare and command healing in Jesus’ name. As we pressed in the presence of God came in an even greater way, it was thick. After 5 or so minutes we asked the pastor to begin repeating the name of Jesus softly in the boy’s ear. At first all the boy could muster was a few guttural grunts. It wasn’t long however, before the boy was hearing and repeating the name of Jesus! Our team and those around us were overwhelmed with God’s love and goodness.
Darkness came far too quickly in the Mozambican winter and we were forced to return to our tents aided only by moonlight. As we walked I couldn’t help but be utterly amazed at God. The Bible was truly coming alive for us as we partnered with God to see deaf ears opened.
*Picture shows the inside of the church at Macaneta.
