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"Surely there's one drop of Jesus' blood for my son?" She speaks her words in a confidential tone — phrases and half sentences — accompanied by the staccato snipping of the scissors, “Ever since you told me that Jesus heals … I’ve begun to pray to Jesus — I never thought to use his name before … since he came to help us — since he gave his blood …”
Then in a voice barely audible, half questioning, half hoping she adds, “… surely there’s one drop of blood for my son.”
My eyes tear up — not because of the bits of hair pricking my face and neck but because these words are so totally unexpected coming from my friend! My mind flashes back to our conversation of the previous week when she poured out her heart about her son’s relapse into drug use. On that day I shared a testimony which I happened to hear on TV earlier in the week — a drug addict of 20-plus years whose introduction to Jesus resulted in his complete healing and restoration.
In numbed silence, I knowingly nod my head and mentally reply, “Oh there is, there is — blood enough for you and your son … enough for the whole world! Just believe in Jesus.” And I silently pray, “Jesus reveal yourself to her.”
Her voice regains a confident note as she adds, “I’m at peace about it — I know that you are praying too.” Indeed I am. There was no opportunity to talk openly that day — but Lord willing, we’ll have another chance.
THE REST OF THE STORY, NEWLY UPDATED:
Remember how my friend had begun to pray to Jesus for her son? Listen to this.
You would typically find Ben Joseph hanging out on the ASU campus in Phoenix, Arizona, where he and his wife, Aleyamma, have been ministering to international students for about as long as I have been in Mombasa. But in May of 2005 they “took a risk” and joined us for one “marathon” month of ministry among the South Asian communities of Mombasa, visiting in homes, speaking to various groups, preaching and teaching in the church and being a blessing in countless ways.
What a thrill it was have them return in June 2006 for another “marathon” month. To use a favorite phrase of mine, we literally “ate our way around Mombasa” as we visited in homes, extended and received hospitality night after night, sometimes in group settings but often one family at a time. It was awesome to be a part of sharing “the truth in love” in each of the settings.
One such evening was spent with my friend.
After dinner our conversation took a more serious turn as Ben challenged her to go beyond just believing in Jesus to answer prayer for her son’s recovery from drug addiction — to trusting Jesus as her Savior.
She was thoughtfully quiet — we did not press her to respond. However, she did want Ben to meet with her son if it could be arranged.
A few days later an invitation to meet was received and accepted.
It had been awhile since I had seen her son — his movements had become that of a wizened old man — sleep deprived eyes acknowledged my introduction of Ben and with a seemingly painful effort he spoke, inviting Ben into the house …
An hour or so later when I returned, I was immediately struck with the impression that he looked better.
Later my friend related to me that her son had called her at work at the end of Ben’s visit. The tone of his voice so amazed her that she commented to her assistant, “I’ve never heard my son's voice sound so confident.”
Ben had shared the story of the prodigal son. My friend's son readily saw himself in the younger son, as he too had recently “come to his senses” and had embarked on a self-detoxification program. At some point in the discussion, Ben offered him the choice of “being prayed for, which would help temporarily” or “going to the Source.”
He replied that he had no faith, but that he understood what Ben was talking about and wanted to go to the Source.
Ben introduced him to Jesus Christ.
My friend's prayer for her son was answered!
My colleague who meets weekly with my friend's son sent this report,
“His change has been so drastic that even his wife … has been shocked at how 'different' he is now. Before, when he was on drugs, he would sleep for hours on end and often be sick because he hadn’t gotten his fix. Now, he says he is awake everyday at 6:30 a.m. singing and joyful that God has been so gracious to him.”
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