Taking Time #2: Almaz

The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out.

-John 1:5 (MSG)

One thing that I've learned on the many travels that I've experienced is that the Lord will always take me to a place to grow me, yes, but to also pinpoint a specific person or situation as to why He sent me there at that specific time. One instance that keeps reoccurring in my heart is of the day our team broke up into smaller groups while we were in Ethiopia. During this time, we were visiting homes and ministering to the families there.

I had the opportunity to visit a woman named Almaz. She had recently lost her husband and lived in a one room mud hut with her 2 daughters and brother. She had been in that home for 30+ years. It was in the center of Korah--which is one of the most impoverished places in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She not only welcomed my group of 4, but opened up her heart as well. She shared how she was thankful for the ministry of Project61 and how they were supplying the educational and physical needs of her children. She spoke of how she still went to the dump daily in hopes of finding food for her family because she lacked the resources to care for their daily needs. She also spoke of how she had been suffering from fistula for over 8 years. What was deeper than her physical scars was the emotional shame that she was carrying.

As she was speaking and opening up her heart, the Lord quickly showed me his overwhelming love for her. It was beautiful. After she was finished, the Lord immediately had me ask her if we could lay hands on her and pray for her. Before I could get the words out, her desperate and heartfelt response of "YES" followed. We opened up by inviting the Lord, Jesus Christ, to come in and do what only HE could do. He entered and ministered directly to her heart--cutting off all shame, dispair, hopelessness, and grief. Jesus revealed who Almaz was to him and his love for her. At that moment, her heart broke and began to heal. She's a believer, but there was a level of freedom that she began to experience that day.

There is something amazing that happens when we listen and obey to what the Lord is saying to us. In an instance, Jesus did in her heart what could have taken a lifetime. Darkness fled and the marvelous light of Jesus entered. My heart was also changed. I was reminded once again that nothing is too great for the Lord to handle. He is truly enough. Almaz reminded me of that.

After prayer, we began speaking and I found out that Almaz means "diamond." She also spoke of us to pray for her oldest daughter whose name is Hellen. My heart stopped because that's my name. Only God can do that--bringing a girl named Hellen to minister to a mother whose daughter is named Hellen. I then let her know that her daughter's name means "light" and that they are both called to shine brightly in the place of darkness--letting everyone know of the freedom found in Jesus.

No one left with dry eyes. Our hearts were touched and we were able to see once again that Jesus is enough. This was learned by "taking the time".

How precious our Jesus is!