Healing Love

“So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.” Luke 9:6, NIV.

Vannah* had worked with Western foreigners for over five years. She taught them her language and translated for them. She had also listened to them talk about Jesus dying for her sins because of His great love. While she heard what was said, she was not sure if it was true. So she watched these Christians, but it was God’s dramatic healing of a man that helped her understand His love for her.

Two years ago, Vannah watched her mother die a slow and painful death from cancer. After her mom’s death, Vannah withdrew from working with the Westerners for awhile. Terry, a Christian woman from Vannah’s people group, got Vannah involved in teaching health and traditional medicine in surrounding villages. In addition to the health education, Terry also taught stories from the Bible.

Terry spent hours talking with Vannah and answering her questions about Jesus. Over time Terry had developed a deep burden to see Vannah come to know Christ. About a month ago Terry and Vannah visited a man in one of the villages where they had taught. The man had fluid in his lungs. Terry shared about the love of the Father and the sacrifice of the Son. The man replied, “If Jesus heals me tonight, I will believe in him.”

The following day, they had made arrangements to take the man to the capital to have the fluid drained from his lungs. The man went along, but he said he felt great. When they got to the hospital x-rays showed that the fluid was gone. He was completely healed. He forgot all about his commitment to follow Jesus, but the healing, it turns out, was not for his benefit.

Vannah was in shock at God’s great healing power. That very night, on her own, she gave her heart and life to follow Jesus. It took another month before she shared her decision with Terry. She looks different now. She is often smiling from ear to ear.

Her next challenge is to tell her family about her decision to be a Christian. Many new believers in this Buddhist nation suffer family persecution and ostracism as a result of following Christ. The time period immediately following a decision for Christ is crucial. For many, the initial wave of trials either strengthens their faith or causes them to stumble and turn back.

*Names changed for security reasons.

Pray that:

Vannah will find her faith strengthened in the upcoming months.

Vannah’s family will accept her decision and will be drawn to follow Christ as well. She has led in animistic rituals with her family, and will be breaking from those traditions.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.