Title:  Healing

Francois Sieberhagen

Then a man suffering from a dreaded skin disease came to him, knelt down before him, and said, “Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I do want to,” he answered. “Be clean!” At once the man was healed of his disease.” Matthew 8:2-3

Once you have been very sick, you understand how valuable your health is.  And when you are suffering from leprosy you understand this so much better.  Leprosy is an illness that in general does not occur that often.  But this illness is far-reaching when someone is suffering there of.

Funda is a rural village north of Luanda, Angola.  A colony of leprous people is living there.  This is also a safe haven for these people who have been affected and has been stigmatized by the rest of the community.  The residents at this care unit have lived there for different periods of time.  Some of the people have been taken in during the mid seventies.

I had the opportunity to visit these people and to listen to their stories. I take pictures in between and it is only that evening when I realise what I have captured on my camera.  I have captured people living normal lives within their secluded area.  People laughing, crying and dreaming their dreams.  I captured families with children, even though mom and dad might have had a few amputations.

When we prayed I took a photograph of a woman holding her hands together with so much respect.  She does not have all her fingers anymore.  The ones that are left are full of knobs.  But that does not stop her from holding them together when praying.

When we left I was under the impression of what these people were experiencing and what they were dreaming about.  Health was high up on the list of priorities, but I also experienced something different.  I experienced people who were healed in their relationship with Jesus Christ.  Spiritually they are healthy and at peace with themselves.  They were fulfilled in Christ and satisfied that His grace will be enough every day and always.

And if you are longing to be healed, may you find it in your relationship with Jesus Christ and may His grace be enough for you every single day.  Maybe your illness will not disappear but you might heal spiritually.

Prayer: Thank you Lord Jesus that you are there for me every single day.  Thank you for letting me experience healing in and through you.  Amen.