Testimonies Blog

3 AUGUST, MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE — Surpresa Sithole, our Mozambican national director, seems incapable of a negative thought. Brimming over with the Holy Spirit, he grins broadly and laughs easily in all circumstances. He is my constant companion in the bush, and we go everywhere preaching together. Jesus supernaturally called him away from his village witch doctor parents and has made him a powerful leader among our churches.

But for a moment today he is more serious. He is on the phone from South Africa, and again we face a test of faith. Simon Ndubani, one of our strongest pastors and a member of our leadership commission in South Africa, is sick. Actually, he is almost dead. Starting with coughing and diarrhea, he’s been declining for a year, but without money for a doctor has not been diagnosed. People suggest that he has advanced stomach cancer, or AIDS — but he’s been tested HIV-negative. Normally a very big man, he is a shrunken shell of what he once was. In the last three days he has deteriorated precipitously. He is in great pain. He cannot eat. He cannot walk. Today he cannot even move or turn over in bed. His vision is blurry, and in the last few hours lost his speech and hearing.

It’s hard to understand, but Simon has been one of our most  gifted preachers, and has shown great faith. Jesus has used him to heal the blind and crippled instantly. Many desperate people in his church have come to him for prayer, and have been delivered. He is known as a great man of God. But now he is at death’s door, destitute and helpless. He has no money, insurance or health benefits. His family is without transportation. His wife is sobbing and at her end.

This is really terrible news. What of God’s reputation? How will our churches handle such discouragement? What will we say? Surpresa and I pray over the phone, and we keep praying, along with many others. Surpresa drives Simon to a hospital and carries his thin, bony body to his room. Simon is in a coma, and still Surpresa has to carry him to the toilet every ten minutes. It is such a mess. The doctor expects Simon to die tonight. If he lives three days, it will be a miracle. Simon’s wife is so afraid and distraught she will not even come into the hospital to see him.

Surpresa, Heidi and I have major conference meetings coming up in a few days in Mozambique. We have to speak the Good News to thousands of sick and destitute people without any hope but Jesus. We cannot defend the Lord’s reputation. We will just keep loving Him. Simon is yours, Jesus. You be his God and doctor. We are yours, and we will keep living for you.

And so through the night and the next day we keep praying for Simon — and preparing for our meetings in Maputo and up north. Another night comes, and Simon is still barely alive. On we go. There is no direction but up, into His heart. Saturday comes, and Surpresa is expected to open our regional conference for our southern provinces tonight. But he is still at the hospital with Simon. I call him again, fighting the good fight of faith, because he needs to drive right away to Mozambique.

Surpresa responds with majestic understatement. “Well, it seems like a great miracle has taken place. I’ve been sitting here with Simon this morning, and we’ve been talking and laughing for hours. In fact, Simon doesn’t remember going to the hospital or even why he is here! He is fine. The doctors will give him some extra blood, do a few tests, and send him home…”

Surpresa leaves Simon money for food and transport, and heads off to Maputo where we have a terrific meeting. Days later we hear by phone that Simon is one hundred percent and doing all that he used to do… Jesus has the last say!

From Iris Ministries 14 August 2002 newsletter.  Want to read more then go to: www.irismin.org