Somewhere in a tiny remote African village, the Lord answered the prayer of 10-year-old Ruth asking for something impossible. She was not surprised. She never doubted it. I was ashamed of myself for being of so little faith. How could I say nothing was impossible for the Lord and not believe it? Answered prayer is a matter of childlike faith.
eastwind journals, July 7, 2022 (archives tr278)
By Bernie V. Lopez, eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com
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One night, I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward, but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a two-year-old daughter crying.
We had no special feeding facilities. An aide came running to me in distress, saying the rubber feeding bottle burst while she was filling it. It was our last hot-water bottle. It was not good crying over spilt milk from a broken bottle. There were no drugstores down the forest path.
Next day, while I was at prayer with the orphans, I told them that the feeding bottle broke and the premature baby may die. I told them to share their prayers about their problems. When it was the turn of ten-year-old Ruth, she said, “Please, God, send us a water bottle and please send it this afternoon before the baby dies, and while You are at it, You might as well send a doll to the baby’s older sister, so she’ll know You really love her?”
I hesitated to say ‘amen’. I just did not believe God could do this. Of course, I knew He could do everything. The Bible says so. Nothing is impossible for the Lord, but there are limits, aren’t there? At least for us adults. The only way God could answer this prayer would be to send me a parcel from homeland, or send an angel. I had never received a parcel in my four years at the orphanage. And who would put a feeding bottle or a doll in the parcel?
That afternoon, we were all surprised when a car arrived in this lonely outpost and dumped a gigantic two-kilo parcel at the front door. I gathered the 40-odd children, so we could open the parcel together. Everyone was silent in anticipation, crowding each other around me.
They gave a loud sigh when first to come out were brightly colored knitted jerseys, which I gave out at once, as they giggled with joy.As I reached in deeper, lo and behold a brand-new hot-water bottle. I could not hold my tears. They were asking what was wrong. I just nodded my head. Ruth came forward and took the bottle and danced with it. They all broke into a song that I had taught them just a day before.
I did not pray for the bottle. It was Ruth who did. She said, “If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the doll too!” Impossible, I said, the bottle was good enough, but a doll, that’s too much of a coincidence. So, I reached down again and there it was – a beautifully dressed dolly. Ruth was not surprised. She never doubted it. She grabbed it and kissed it, and they went for a second song. This time louder than ever. It was a song of praise to the Lord. I was too stunned to sing with them. (Praise to You, Oh Father, for what you have hidden from the wise, you have revealed to little children. Luke 10:21).
Ruth asked me, “Can I go over with you and give this dolly to the little girl? I want to tell her Jesus really loves her”. We were on our way, walking towards the little girl. I was ashamed of myself for being of so little faith. How could I say nothing was impossible for the Lord and not believe it?
The parcel had been on its way five long months before, prepared by my former Sunday school class who ‘obeyed God’s silent order’ for a bottle and a doll for two African kids at the request of a tiny girl called Ruth. Signed, a children’s doctor.
Before they even call, I have answered. (Isaiah 65:24). When you cross turbulent waters, I shall be with you … for you are precious and glorious in My eyes and I love you. (Isaiah 43:2, 8). Before you even whisper, I have heard your plea. I am with you always. I am the wind on windless days, pushing your sail towards shore.
Read about Joey Velasco, the children painter of the Lord, who recruited squatter (ghetto) kids to pose as the 12 apostles in a painting of a giant mural he called “Hapag ng Pag-asa” (Table of Hope). The painting went viral in the Internet. https://eastwindjournals.com/2021/03/26/squatter-kids-pose-as-christs-disciples/
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MORE INSPIRING ARTICLES – eastwindjournals.com.
FOR THOSE WHO NEED HEALING, spiritual or physical (depression, anxiety, loneliness, terminal cancer, covid, diabetes, etc.) – say an online healing prayer with one or both healers below. Terminal patients have been healed in cyberspace –
1) Father Fernando Suarez – www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UP3LHBgtIc.
2) Sr. Raquel Reodica, RVM – www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAZcwNimBSg
Download free e-book ‘Healing Stories of Sr. Raquel’ at eastwindjournals.com/2021/08/13/healing-stories-of-sr-raquel-e-book-free-download/).
AUTHOR’S BOOK – Wings and Wanderlust – Discovering Your Inner Self. At age 26, the author hitchhiked 25,000 kilometers in Europe and North Africa for three straight years. In this book of his wild adventures, he learned deep insights that changed him totally, which he wants to share with readers. It also a guidebook on how to plan your own adventure.
Order a paperback or an e-book. For paperbacks, if you are a Philippine resident, save on shipping cost by ordering by email at eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com. For e-books, if you have an IPAD, download the app ‘kindle’. For non-IPADS, buy a kindle device (check guidelines.) – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KS7QYWL.
Author’s Credentials. Blogger – ex-Columnist (Inquirer) – Healing Ministry – ex-Professor (Ateneo University) – Documentary Producer-Director (freelance, ex-ABS-CBN, ex-TVS Tokyo) – ex-Broadcaster (Radio Veritas) – Facebook “Bernie V. Lopez Eastwind” / Pages “Eastwind Journeys and Journals” and “Mary Queen of Peace”.
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