At the new house we live in, the neighbourhood is very
colourful. We rarely go a day without a noisy stereo blasting from one or more
of the neighbours. The neighbours directly in front of us are the worst because
the noise travels straight up from their garage into our house. Most of the
time they only play it during the day rather than at night, but it is still
frustrating. I have been meaning to go over and introduce myself. Not to
complain about their stereo, just to say hello. Unfortunately, I have gotten
busy with life, so I haven’t done it yet.
Then the other day, I was putting some recycling in the bin at the
front of our house when I noticed a man next door doing the same thing. I said
hello to him and got chatting to him. He eventually invited me to his house to meet the other people who lived
there. He took me straight to his garage where the same people who play their noisy stereo were sitting and chatting. They offered me a beer, but I said I
don’t really drink but that I would sit with them.
There was an older Maori lady there who wasted no time in
telling me that she had a sore leg which meant she couldn't go anywhere for Christmas. I, in turn, wasted no time telling her that
I pray for people and they get healed. She got me to pray for her right there,
so I did. I just prayed a short prayer of healing in Jesus’ name. Then I asked
her to try walking. You should have seen her face! She was able to put weight on
it and walk up her stairs with no pain, which she hasn’t been able to do for a
long time. Then she asked me to pray for her back and that was healed. Then she
asked me to pray for her neck and that was healed too!
The whole time this was happening, her son was there
drinking beer. He has cerebral palsy, but he said he’s “too far gone.” He
obviously had no faith to be healed so I didn’t bother praying for him. I just
concentrated on the lady. I started explaining the kingdom of heaven to her
and repentance but she changed the topic, so I didn’t bother continuing. She
brought up the topic of her stereo a few times and how they always try to keep
it down for the sake of our children.
She did tell me another interesting thing as well. She said
that earlier that day, she had been visited by a friend of hers who used to be
in the black power. He used to be a “mongrel,” according to her. When he
visited her, he was completely different. He had given his life to God and she
could see that he was a changed man.
I told her that it is interesting that both of these things
happened on the same day and that God is trying to tell her something. Then I left
it at that. I pray that she will come to a place of repentance soon. Jesus
urged us to love our neighbour. Showing them God’s love through healing is the
best way I can think of to do that!
