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Continued from Pray For A Water Buffalo?
“Paul and Silas have come!”
Word of these remarkable events taking place soon spread around to other neighbouring villages. People were saying, “Paul and Silas have come!” Miracles like this had not been seen there before.
The next morning Almeda and I were prepared for the scheduled teaching session with the pastors to be held in the adjacent compound. But where were the pastors? Why had Mr. Stephen not come? We waited and waited and waited. Eventually Mr. Stephen and all the pastors arrived bringing with them an ox cart drawn by two water buffalos.
"Our plan has changed," he informed us." The pastors heard about the miracle on the buffalo. They are saying, ‘This is too good for just a buffalo. The people need help”. So we are going to Adipudi Village to hold a healing meeting."
We two ladies climbed aboard the flat wooden platform of the two-wheeled cart, which was drawn by the buffaloes. We enjoyed the countryside where cotton plants, rice paddy, red chillies and other crops were growing prolifically. In spite of the reeling of the cart, as we traversed back roads and crossed fields we enjoyed the adventure. The pace these beasts move at is only two to three miles per hour. The cart had no side railings; so we often had to clutch the sides of the swaying conveyance while still trying to hold our umbrellas over our heads to protect us from the hot blaze of the sun. The pastors were chattering away in Telugu among themselves as they trudged happily along-- some going before and some behind the rumbling cart.
When we arrived at the specified village two hours later, we were immediately greeted in typical Indian fashion-- hands raised to face level, in a "praying hands" position. The first to greet us was a little elderly lady with a beaming smile. She was unable to raise herself or straighten up. She walked with the aid of a stick. This home was not her own, but she it was who served us a lovely hot rice meal.
As we finished, her request was, "Pray for me." We prayed but saw no immediate result. She had been in that stooped condition for many years.
Soon it was time for the service to begin. The local pastor, one of our group of men, had gathered the people into his little church. It was a flimsy structure made of split bamboo for walls and a roof thatched with rice straw. About 35 to 40 people were present. Everyone was sitting cross-legged on the mud floor on grass mats, curiously staring at us. Most of these villagers had never seen white people before.
After the lusty singing was over, we were introduced and I spoke a powerful message from Acts 3: The healing of the crippled man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple.
A call was given following the message, inviting people to come forward for healing prayer. At first, they were slow to respond, except for one person--our smiling, crooked-backed Mary! Again we prayed for her. There was some disruption on one side of the room due to the action of a demon-possessed person.
During the service all of the village people wore drab, homespun, rough sarees. This lady had on a lovely pink silk saree with gold thread in the border. But it was not really the dress that attracted me. It was the expression on this lady’s face. It seemed to be filled with mixed emotions. It was she that now was disturbing the service. I went over to pray for her. As I approached she said in clear English, "God bless you." Then when I was within arms length, she cried out, “No, no!” Immediately I recognised that this lovely looking woman was possessed with an evil spirit that was resisting God. She had three witchcraft charms on her body. One was a copper anklet; the other charms were around her neck and waist. I requested her to remove them. She did so without any objection. After the removal I prayed, commanding the devil, saying: “Come out in Jesus’ name!”
She fell out flat on the floor. Laying my hands on her body I prayed for her. Then leaving her lying prostrate, I quickly moved across the room to pray for the many others who were waiting for prayer.
On the other side of the little thatched roofed church a few people were now gathering to receive prayer. Whom should I find out in front? Our smiling friend, little hunch-backed Mary! Again she wanted prayer. All the people were seated cross-legged on the floor, as is their custom. I was drawn in my spirit to pray once more for Mary. Our Interpreter, Stephen, a little agitated with my delay, said, "Leave her; there are others!”
I breathed prayer thinking to myself,” Oh that I could speak to them!” I groaned to myself because I was unable to speak the Telugu. I knew only Tamil. I did know ONE word common to all these South Indian languages. That word is "Stothirum!" meaning: "Praise the Lord." I spoke that word and taking Mary’s hand, motioned to her to get up on to her feet and praise the Lord.
Instantaneously she sprang to her feet as nimbly as if she were a youth. Her back straightened and she stood fully erect, raising both her hands above her head in praise to God. Her face was aglow! God had healed her in an instant. Praise the Lord! All her neighbours and friends present clapped their hands at the obvious miracle happening before their eyes.
Witnessing this miracle, Mr. Steven, normally a very sedate person was so amazed that he leapt up in the air. He had known Mary for many years, but in no other posture than the stooped over position.
The miracle was so remarkable that it was as though the whole congregation was electrified. Her reaction was so spontaneous that now all the people began lining up for prayer.
By this time the lady out of whom we had cast devils had arisen and had come over to where we were and was asking if she could help us pray for the people. I later learned her story. She had been raised in that village as a Christian, but her father had given her in marriage to a Muslim man. The couple had moved away to Hyderabad City. Under the influence and pressure of that husband and his Muslim home she had left her faith in the Lord Jesus. Now, after that prayer she had been delivered from Satan’s grip. She was restored to her faith and her face was glowing. She even wanted to help us pray for the people.
By this time the pastors had become so excited, they and other members of the local congregation, had gone out into the village and had brought in all the sick and suffering for us to pray for . Almeda stood on one side of the room and I on the other, forming two lines. We were kept busy praying for all kinds of complaints for about two hours. We did not know the problems unless the persons would show us by placing their hand on the problematic parts of the body. We just prayed in faith according to Mark 16:17&18: “In the name of Jesus Christ be healed.” Many miracles and healings took place which only heaven knows about.
The plan had been that following the service we were to go back to Noothanapadu that same afternoon to the place where we were staying. But again, change of plans! Everyone was so charged up after what they had seen in that service that they urged us to have an outdoor service that night for any of the village to attend. Electricity failed--what little that village had available. But a car battery and sound system were hired and two pressure lamps were procured. I had the privilege to preach salvation to a large crowd. Large you might say, at least, for a village of that size. Probably most everyone in the village came out. Some, perhaps, may have come just out of curiosity. Besides, what else is there to do when the only light was the pressure lamp at the meeting place? We could not see their dark faces but could recognize the intense appreciation.
What a thrilling opportunity it was to give the gospel to this group of mostly Hindus! Once or twice we had to stop the message while we went amongst the crowd in order to cast out devils from persons who were disturbing the other people. Only after that could we proceed with the service. We saw many people healed and other miracles performed in that service.
As we prayed the prayer of faith in Jesus’ name, people were healed from various kinds of diseases-- fevers, heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes and many more ailments. One little boy had his hearing restored to his deaf ears. Only heaven knows all that took place in that dimly lighted, out-of-doors village meeting.
Word of these remarkable events taking place soon spread around to other neighbouring villages. People were saying, “Paul and Silas have come!” Miracles like this had not been seen there before.
The hour was late when we were finished with that service, but our spirits were light and our hearts were full of joy. The silvery full moon shone brightly in the clear indigo night sky---matching our jubilant spirits as we rumbled back over the fields in the swaying buffalo cart to the village from where we had come.
On the day following we were together again with the pastors. One question was raised. "What about that Bible verse that says, “Let your women keep silence in the churches?" Mr. Stephen relayed the question to me. I replied simply: "Well, you saw what God did yesterday in your own church!"
No more questions!
In a country of a culture, where male supremacy is predominate, for women to have any credibility is a challenge! From that time onwards, although I am a woman, there was an OPEN DOOR for me in my adopted land of INDIA.
© Evelyn Splane
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