Conference yukon::christian_v7

570.0. "Amanda" by MIMS::CASON_K () Mon Sep 19 1994 16:46

    It was a normal Tuesday night visitation.  I was leading the team of 
    three to the home of a young lady who had received Jesus as Lord and 
    Savior the Tuesday before.  As with all followup visits I had a preset 
    agenda to discuss.  More of a checklist really, less concern for the 
    order than the content.  When Shannon met us at the door she was all 
    smiles, glowing with the joy of her salvation.  We sat down in the 
    kitchen and began to discuss Shannon's questions from the previous 
    weeks Bible reading.  We talked about church membership and water 
    baptism, means of spiritual growth and the baptism in the Holy Spirit.  
    All of a sudden the front door swung open and in walked Amanda.  Amanda 
    lived in the trailer next door to Shannon and would often come in 
    unannounced.  Shannon was like a second mother to this little four year 
    old and didn't seem the least disturbed by her unorthodox entry.  
    Amanda quickly made her way to Shannon's side and tried desperately to 
    distract her from the conversation.  Amanda was small, as four year 
    olds go, with blond hair dirty and disheveled from the summer days 
    activities.  She wore only a tee-shirt and a pair of panties which 
    had more than a faint smell of urine.  To any outside observer she 
    would have appeared to be a nuisance, keeping us from our appointed 
    mission but I couldn't help but allow my attention to be drawn back to 
    her.  There was something God wanted to do that was not on the agenda, 
    outside of the checklist, but I didn't know what.  After a few minutes 
    of unsuccessfully trying to secure Shannon's attention she focussed on 
    the conversation at hand.
    
    "Whatcha doin?"
    
    "We're talking about Jesus", I answered.
    
    "I love Jesus."
    
    "You do?  Well, Jesus loves you."
    
    "I love Jesus very much!"
    
    "Well Jesus loves you very much!"
    
    "I love Jesus very, very much!"
    
    "And Jesus loves you very, very much!"
    
    We added more than a few "very's" before Shannon interrupted.  "You've 
    heard about Amanda haven't you?"  I confessed I had not but my two 
    partners had.  
    
    "She was in all the papers last month.  She was raped by her 16 year 
    old uncle.  He's in jail for it now and they're trying to figure out 
    what to do with him because he's kinda retarded."  My heart sank.  
    Somehow, I kept my eyes from showing the tears in my heart.
    
    "Come here Amanda."  At first she wouldn't.  She was terrified of men 
    now.  With Shannon she felt safe but to walk around the table would be 
    a terrible risk in her little four year old mind.
    
    "It's okay, come on."  She came over to me but kept her eyes on 
    Shannon.  I explained to the rest of the team that God had a different 
    agenda for the evening and I felt like we just needed to pray for this 
    little one.  They agreed without hesitation.  Ronda, the only female 
    member of our team, and I laid our hands on her head as we all began to 
    pray.  I asked God to heal her physically, emotionally and spiritually.  
    I asked God to bathe her in His love and compassion and for peace in 
    her dreams.  As we prayed she put her head on the table and went to 
    sleep.  Shannon looked surprised at what was happening.  When I asked 
    her about it she said that Amanda didn't sleep.  Whenever she would 
    fall asleep she would be awakened by nightmares.  I set Amanda on my 
    lap and we went on with our previous conversation as much as we could.  
    Mostly, we just talked about God's goodness.  Amanda stirred only 
    briefly as we left.  With sleepy eyes she asked that if she laid on 
    Shannon's sofa would I pray for her again (in her words "tell me some 
    more stories about Jesus").
    
    The next Sunday, shortly after service had started in came Shannon with 
    Amanda in tow.  Amanda, unconcerned that the service had already 
    started blurted out, "There's that man who told me the stories about 
    Jesus."  As they sat in the pew directly behind me I reached back and 
    held Amanda's hand through the whole service.  At least I think I did 
    because half way through my arm went numb.  After we were dismissed I 
    turned around to talk to them.  Amanda jumped from her seat into my 
    arms and gave me one of the most precious hugs I think I shall ever 
    receive.  After a few moments she pulled back her head and smiled from 
    ear to ear and said,
    
    "I love Jesus."
    
    "Jesus loves you."
    
    "I love Jesus very much."
    
    "Jesus loves you very much."
    
    "I love Jesus very, very much."
    
    You get the picture.  I cried most of the afternoon.  God is so good.
    

Wish I had seen it!

 w o w

    WOW is right!  Thanks for entering that, Kent!

    drip drip, rain, rain... okay where are the kleenexes! 
    
    Father in Heaven,
    
    I praise you for the work you're doing through our Brother.  Lord,
    annoint him as he continues to be your vessel and to serve those around
    him.  I thank you for Amanda and Lord I pray that her heart would
    continue to be knit closer and closer to You.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

    That one brought a tear to my eye (okay, both of them).  So much for the 
    tough-guy image, eh?   8^)
    
    I never cease to be amazed at how God works His will.  Praise to God.
    
    -steve

    Man you're not alone, Nancy pass the tissues over here. What an
    INCREDIBLE testimony.
    
    ALL HAIL KING JESUS!!!!!!!!
    
    Sylvain

    Thanks for sharing Kent.
    
    Love in Him,
    
    Bing