How would it make you feel if someone who could not walk without a cane since the age of 10 was suddenly healed in a restaurant before your eyes?  Then, how would you feel if a couple sitting in the restaurant who witness the healing declare, “Whatever you did for her, do for me!” and then both surrender their lives to God?  Today was a great day.

Louie and I were working near Plaza Bonita in National City today.  We decided to take a break.

Louie:

Do you want to do some healing?

Yes!

We entered the mall and proceeded to look for the usual: casts, crutches, wheelchairs, etc.  We walked from one end of the mall to the other.  Though it was a crowded day at Plaza Bonita, we couldn’t find anyone who met the description.  We walked the upper floor and then the lower floor…to no avail. 

Finally, we decided to walk through Target (which is attached to the mall).  We found a man in a motorized cart who had somehow broken both of his heels.  His pain level was at a 5 on a scale from 1 to 10.  Louie asked for permission to pray for him and the man consented.  The man’s pain went to a 4 after the prayer, so we prayed again and his pain went to a 3.  While this was SOME level of progress, I was discouraged; this was NOT the kind of demonstration of the power of Jesus Christ that you read about in the Bible. 

Mavic

As we walked out of Target to enter the mall, we noticed two young women and one of them was using a cane!  In talking with them, we learned that they were not only Christians, but were there with a small group of people who were at the mall for the purpose of telling people about Jesus Christ–Talk about a lay-up!  Of course they were open to Louie and I praying for Mavic (the woman with the cane).

Mavic:

I had polio–probably when I was born.  We noticed the problem with my legs when I was 10.  One leg is shorter than the other.

Mavic wanted to use the restroom before we prayed, so I sent a text to a few prayer warriors.

Me (through text):

About to grow out a woman’s leg in the name of Jesus.  Please pray for Jesus’ healing power!  She’s had polio since a child & one leg is shorter than the other.

When she returned, the rest of her group was with her and we all walked into a restaurant to find a chair for Mavic to sit in as we healed her leg.

Me:

Mavic, sit in this chair and put your rear all the way back in the chair so that we can compare the legs without you being able to move them.

She sat in the chair and took off a leg brace she was wearing.  It became obvious that her left leg was about an inch shorter than the other leg.  We began praying…and when we did, it was AWESOME.  These people knew how to pray, and you could feel the faith in that restaurant!  It didn’t dawn on me until much later what a sight this must have been in the restaurant, with 7 or 8 people huddled around Mavic as we prayed.

I don’t remember seeing the leg grow, but when I looked down the legs were even.  The others hadn’t seen a leg grow out before and they were blown away, praising God, and snapping pictures.

We had Mavic try out her new leg…without the cane or leg brace.  She even pulled out an insole in her shoe that lengthened her leg.  She got up…was a little off-balance at first, and then she started walking around.

Mavic:

I feel comfortable walking without the leg brace!  I wore one leg brace for the last year and then this brace since September.  My ankle was this way (motioning)…Now it’s not!

 Tonight, I called Mavic to see how she was doing.

Mavic:

She won't need these anymore (cane and leg brace)

I went up to my father and handed him the cane and the leg brace and said, “I won’t be needing these any more!”

Mavic is very excited.  The entire incident is a faith-builder for all involved: her, her family, her friends, me, and Louie.

Before we left the restaurant, an older man (Tony) sitting with his wife motioned me over. 

Tony:

Whatever you did for her, do for me!

Louie and I spent some time talking to Tony and his wife.  There were specific (and serious) things that Tony needed prayer for.  We prayed with him, then his wife, then both of them together.

When we were done, both Tony and his wife confessed their sins, accepted the gift of forgiveness for their sins (from what Jesus did on the cross), and then made decisions to follow Jesus.

“They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit.  In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ…”  Romans 15:19

In what way was the Good News presented?  Paul makes clear that “the power of miraculous signs and wonders” is a critical component to presenting the Good News of Christ.  I wonder if Tony and his wife would have been open at all had they not witnessed a miracle.

UPDATE (4/10/11): A total stranger, having read this story, contacted me today for help with some serious issues that are causing a great deal of anxiety.  We met this evening and he surrendered his life to God.  Three strangers have reached out to God because of one miraculous event.  Click here to read his story.