Training in Zambia Story #1: Woman Made Well

Our daily field assignment (DFA) for this day was to visit a sick person or a family who recently lost a family member.  My partner and I visited Sick Woman.  She has heart problems and kidney problems.  She had been to the clinic and hospital, but her family does not have the funds to allow her to have surgery.  She had been on this sick mat in a small dark room for about one year.  After asking her questions relating to health and death issues in her culture, we asked her if she knew who Jesus was.  She said that she had heard of Jesus but did not know her story. 

God opened the door for His truth to reach her heart.  My partner and I shared the story of the gospel, starting with creation and moving on to Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection.  All the while, we kept asking her if she understood; she was listening so intently.  She asked how she could follow Christ, and we explained to her that if she confesses with her mouth that “Jesus is Lord” and believes in her heart that God raised her from the dead she will be saved.  She understood the true story of Jesus Christ and prayed with us right there, putting her faith in Jesus as her Lord and Savior.  The sick woman became the Woman Made Well.

Her daughter was overjoyed!  She and her own daughter were listening this whole time, and they themselves are believers.   They had actually shared stories from the Bible with this woman, but she never wanted to listen and still had not heard the truth, her eyes had not yet been opened.  She explained that it was God who brought us to the house that day to tell the story of Jesus to her mother.  She thanked us several times and promised to continue reading to her mother from the Bible.  Our Zambian helper, who did such a great job translating for us, also said that she would bring her women’s group from the nearby church so that they could encourage her in her faith.

Praise the Lord!!!

This Woman Made Well may not live much longer in this life.  But because of His unfailing mercy, grace, and love, she will live forever with Him.  Her body may be more unhealthy at this time than ever before, but her soul is clean and whole and pure before God.  Praise His Holy Name!!!  Praise the Great Healer!!!