Stories From the Field

The overland truck rattled and shook as the team made its way over roads that were more sand and potholes than pavement. When the unscheduled rains arrived, the muddy road wreaked havoc on the truck as it slid into a

hole deep enough to keep it stuck for days. That night the mosquitoes were so thick we wore them like a trench coat. Sleep only worked when I stepped off the truck and got into the only pitched tent. It was 5 AM when I opened

the tent flap to a sea of eyes; the Malawians had come to greet us. We trudged on foot through mud for hours to reach our destined village to tell them what God had done for them in Christ. Once we arrived, the entire village gathered around and even though I saw his face in the crowd, my eyes were drawn to the tumor pushing against his red shirt. There it was, large near his stomach, his hand not even able to cover it. I laid my hands on him and prayed that he would be healed. I looked down at his stomach and saw that the tumor remained and he went to sit in the shade of the tree. The memory of the next moment plays out in slow motion in my mind -- I do not know his name, but I recognize his red shirt and I watch as he raises his hand. His other hand is gesturing at his stomach. The red disappears as he lifts his shirt. His Chichewan words spill out of his mouth so quickly that the interpreter cannot keep up. But I do not have to hear the interpreter's translated words to know what

has happened I know that this man has been healed. It's gone, the tumor is gone, I repeat over and over to myself. Then it dawned on me -- it is not about the tool, it is about the hand that the tool is in. The Lord has

you in his hand and it is not about your life, not about your performance, it is about what God wants

to say to people. I realized at that point the power of a young person in the hand of the Lord. If God had to use a perfect vessel or use a perfect tool He could never use anybody. I realized that it is the Lord's agenda, it is His Kingdom, and it is what He wants to say. I knew at that point that I was going to submit myself to what His heart was for people and allow Him to use me. Later that day the team prayed for a lady and she got up and walked.

Written by David Philips