Chapter 6

6.

"Oi, Julius. How are you doing tonight?" Rose asked walking up to him on Friday night.

"Bom," Julius answered with a smile. Tonight the smile was actually happy. There was hope in his eyes.

"It's good to see you smile." Rose knelt down in front of him and returned his smile. "I'm having the feeling that we should start by praying for your leg to grow out. Can I take your shoes off?" Julius nodded.

Rose took his shoes off and took both feet in her hands to compare them. There was a noticeable difference between them, with his left leg several inches longer than his right. "In the name of Jesus we command the right leg to grow out to the same length as the left," Rose began to pray.

After about ten minutes Rose saw the right leg slightly move. At first she thought she was just seeing things but than Julius began rambling excitedly. "Pi! Pi!" he squealed pulling at his father's sleeve.

Rose looked at him with a big smile. His eyes sparkled with boyish delight. "Lord, we thank You for the work You have started in Julius. We ask that You continue."

"Leg, grow, in the name of Jesus!"

Ever so slowly the right leg grew out. Finally it was the same length as the left one. Julius clapped his hands in excitement as he continued to ramble something to his father. He then looked directly at Rose and said something. "He...can feel your...hands on...his..." Violate pointed to Julius' feet as though she couldn't think of the word for them.

"Feet?" Rose said.

"Yes, his feet."

"Thank You, Jesus!" Rose looked back to Julius, her own face mirroring his exhilaration.

Rose thanked God for what He had done for Julius and went back to praying. Now she turned to praying that God would bring strength into the boy's legs, enabling him to walk.

"Can you stand?" Rose asked as it was almost time to leave. Again Violate and Julius' father helped him out of his wheelchair. This time, however, he didn't fall but stayed stable. The smile that had been getting bigger and bigger through the night now swallowed up his whole face. Rose also smiled. How she loved to see this boy with a radiant smile. The eyes that had been a fathomless pool of sadness and lost hope were a deep pool of joy and hope. She couldn't stop praising the Lord in her heart for the wonder He had done in this precious child.

"It's time to be heading to the bus," Erik announced. Rose looked up and saw the others leaving.

"I have to go now. I don't think I'll be coming back, but you keep coming up for prayer if it takes that. I believe you will be healed," Rose said looking back to Julius.

Julius who had been resettled into his chair leaned over and gave Rose a big hug. Rose returned the hug smiling to herself. She was overjoyed at how much Jesus had already touched him. She knew without a doubt that soon he would be walking and running. She loved this little boy and would never forget him. She was sure he was going to grow up to be an impressive young man and was a little disappointed that she would miss it.

She straightened with a groan as her legs complained at being left in the same hunched position. She turned to Violate and then to Julius' father and shook their hands. His father didn't show the same level of excitement as Julius did but it was still evident that it did him good to see his son doing so well. With one final smiling nod, she headed out.

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Lydia wondered about trying to find someone to pray for. She had prayed for several people. There was no one else to pray for. Those wanting to be prayed for already had one or two people surrounding them. She absent-mindedly listened to the Brazilian band as they were playing in the background.

Seeing there was absolutely no more people seeking prayer, she grouped up with Kari who was praying for a middle-aged lady who was shorter then both of them. "What's she need prayer for?" Lydia asked looking over the lady's head to Kari.

"She wants a deeper relationship with God."

"Qual e seu nome?" Lydia asked cocking her head so she could look the woman in the eye.

"Kyla," the woman responded. She had beautiful hazel eyes that seemed to be searching for something.

"Vem, Senhor. Vem." Lydia looked up heavenward as though in invitation.

"Draw Kyla into Your arms, Father," Kari chimed in.

"Yes, Lord. Sim Senhor. Woo her like a groom woos his bride and give her a love for You that is beyond her own capability." Lydia took Kyla's hands in her own as she prayed.

Kari walked away but Lydia felt that she should stay and so kept on praying. "Lord, she can't understand what I'm saying but I ask that You would translate for her. Give her a deeper revelation of who You are and let her know how You see her."

"Give her a kiss from Me." Lydia heard that still, quiet voice.

"No, Lord, what would she think of me? What would everyone else think of me?" Lydia argued.

She thought maybe it had just been her own random thoughts, but it was such a wild one and something that had never even entered her mind before. Also, she felt Him urging her to do as He said. Still, she didn't like the idea. The more she argued the point, though, the more she felt God urging her on.

Finally Lydia relented. "Ana, can you translate something for me?" she called to Ana who was not occupied at the moment. Ana closed the distance between them with her long, graceful strides. "She is wanting a deeper relationship with the Lord. I was praying for her when I got the impression He wants me to give her a kiss from Him," Lydia explained.

"He wants you to give her a...what?" Ana raised her eyebrow in confusion.

"A kiss. God wants me to give Kyla a kiss from Him," Lydia restated slower this time. She also used her hands to try to make it clearer, pointing upward, at herself, to Kyla, then back up at the ceiling.

"The kiss is from God?" Ana asked as though trying to clarify that point.

"Yes," Lydia nodded.

Ana nodded uncertainly as though she was still not real sure about the assignment. Yet she turned to Kyla and relayed the message. Kyla looked to Lydia as if to confirm it. Feeling awkward and uncertain Lydia raised her hand to her mouth and blew a kiss to Kyla. She in return turned her face up and blew a kiss to Him who had just given her a token of His love. She closed her eyes and kept her face heavenward reveling in His presence.

Lydia sighed a sigh of relief; Kyla had understood. She gently squeezed Kyla's shoulder with finality and moved on, letting Kyla alone with the King of kings.

Several minutes passed by before Erik gave the summons to head for the bus. Lydia grabbed her bag, slipped her sandals back on and headed for the door. This was their last night at this church. It had been a good three days and Lydia was pleased. "Thank You, Lord, for coming and meeting these people." She whispered a prayer as she climbed up the steps into the bus.

"How's that little boy you've been praying for?" Lydia asked Rose as she sat down in the seat across the aisle from Rose.

"Fantastic! He was standing up just now and he could feel his feet. Before tonight he didn't have any feeling in them!" Rose bubbled exuberantly.

"Awesome!"

"Yeah. He's going to walk. I just know it."

"What about you, Cat?" Lydia asked turning to Cat who was sitting beside her.

"I prayed for several people who were healed," Cat said with a tired sigh. Seeing that she didn't seem to want to talk at the moment, Lydia backed off and let Cat have her space.

Lydia looked back across the aisle at Rose who was looking out the window at something and wiggling two fingers back and forth like little legs. "Yes?" Rose said opening the window. Portuguese drifted through the window. There was a moments pause and then English words that Lydia couldn't quite make out followed. Rose's face was lit up with renewed exhilaration.

"Thank You, Jesus!!" Rose exclaimed. She laughed with pure delight. Lydia knew before being told what had just been said.

"Julius has started to walk a little bit!" Rose informed whoever would listen.

"Was that the kid who was in the wheelchair that you have been praying for?" Pastor Rod asked from a couple rows back.

"That's him." Rose's hazel eyes danced.

"Praise God!"

"That was an amazing night!" Erik voiced the sentiments of the bus. Some turned their attention to him but as always there were those who still talked. "All right, I know it's been a great night, but I need your attention for a few minutes. We need to do the stats."

It only took a few minutes for Erik to get through all the stats and he was about to go into his usual entertainment mode when Stefano's phone rang. He was one of Randy Clark's Brazilian interns. He answered it and began a conversation with the person in Portuguese. Erik gave a mischievous grin and without missing a beat put on a high-pitched, mocking voice. "Hi, Honey. Yes, I'll be there for supper." The whole bus load of teens and leaders began hooting behind hands. The scene of Erik "translating" Stefano's call was too funny. Erik had a certain flair that made him a hilarious actor.

Lydia felt sorry for poor Stefano who was trying to have a serious conversation and had to deal with Eric's tomfoolery. Stefano bent over in his chair trying to escape from Eric's translation game. He didn't have such luck for Erik kept it up.

"Sure, I'll do the laundry for you tonight. Yes, I can do the dishes with you too, Pumpkin. I love you, Sweetheart." Eric's grin got even broader when Stefano gave him a raised eyebrow. He pursed his lips and made a smooching sound for added effect. Stefano hung up and looked up at Erik with feigned disgust, but anyone could see he was taking it all in good humor.

Lydia shook her head in amusement at the antics Erik thought up. She had learned to like and respect the twenty-six-year-old man who had been the "bus captain" of her bus. "Bus captains" were the main leader over all the teens and other leaders, gave announcements, took stats, and were the spokesman to the churches they went into. He could have made a great pirate with the bald head and gold hoop in one ear. Yet it didn't take long to find out that Erik was on fire for God and had a gift for keeping an audience entertained over an extended period of time. Overall he was a neat Christian man who was liked by all.

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Pastor Rod eased himself into the chair in front of the desk. He shook his head in a vain attempt to shake the tiredness out. He was too old to be staying up late and getting up early. "Can I write something first?" Mary came into the second room of their suite.

"Yeah, here." Pastor Rod got out of the chair and let her sit in it. He leaned against the wall and closed his weary eyes as he waited for her to finish.

Hi again,

Mary first;

Guys, the kids and Rod and I are wrecked!!! I honestly had doubts if it was really true what we heard about this trip. It is true!!!!! Beth, Rose, and Kari have been drunk in the Spirit the last 2 nights. The meetings have been unbelievable! The kids will come back changed and on fire for God and healing and everything else. This is like Toronto. Lots of drunk in the Spirit kids.

"Here you go," Mary said, getting up and moving out of his way.

Pastor Rod sat down in the chair and began to type his own piece into the e-mail.

Rod:

Today was our best day yet! One night in youth group before we left, Lee Yoder had a vision while they were praying for those of us going to Brazil. He saw an eagle wrapped up in chains. Then he saw the chains break off. That has certainly happened!!!! The prophetic has been released on this trip. The kids are all hearing from God.

This afternoon we had worship and Randy Clark preached on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Then it was off to our evening meeting. Randy started it with words of knowledge. Ellie, Lydia, and Beth were some who had words. Sixty-four people there were healed in their seats before Randy started to preach. Randy was in the pulpit for 3 hours with all of us at the edge of our seats. After that, we prayed for an impartation for people. People were receiving God's power throughout the room. Then it was prayer for healing. A lady with a tumor in her lymph node the size of an egg was instantly healed! Another lady had a tumor in her arm pit area the size of a golf ball and was also instantly healed! Hearing was restored to some. We ran out of time in the bus for testimonies.

Mary and I also got to pray for a witch who gave her heart to Jesus in tears. An older woman also received the baptism of the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues. She was so excited she hopped around for 10 minutes! By the end of our prayer time almost 100% of people were being healed! A total 146 people were healed tonight!

Good night!

Keep praying!

Tomorrow will be our longest day yet. We start at 8:00am and go till ……

Blessings!