A MIRACLE

In late July, I receive word that one of the students at Grace Emmanuel School is gravely ill. Her name is Ruth Shama, a 4-year-old who just finished her first year of kindergarten. 

As soon as we find out, we go to visit her in downtown Port-au-Prince. Because we arrive past visiting hours, the security guard hesitates to let us enter. After some convincing, he finally agrees to let us in.

As I walk into this overcrowded, underfunded hospital, I can feel the sickness like a heavy wool blanket on my shoulders. There are many children laying in beds everywhere in one, large room.

Ruth Shama after being hospitalized for 15 days

Ruth Shama has been here for over two weeks, and has a high fever and an infection of some sort. We are told the doctors are unsure what she has, and the test results will give us more information. They think it may be meningitis. She is horribly thin and unresponsive. She looks nearly lifeless, the only movement coming from her quivering lips. 

Although I am terribly disheartened, I know Jesus is capable of healing her. It is evident that He will need to intervene in a powerful, supernatural way. So I lay my hands on her and pray for just that, pleading with the Lord to comfort her and strengthen her weak body.

After we get back in the car to head home, I look over at Valerie, a friend who accompanied me to the hospital, and ask, “Do you have a good feeling about this?” She and I both feel that there may be no hope for her survival. 

But we continue to pray.

Frequently, I receive updates from her dad that she is slowly making progress. He sends a picture of her smiling and wonders when I will visit again. Soon after, I return to pay a visit. Ruth Shama, although skinny an not yet able to speak, is moving and flashes a few smiles in my direction. 

There is hope, after all.

At the beginning of September, we hold a make-up photo day for the students who missed the scheduled days in August. To my surprise, Ruth Shama walks in with her mom. She is healthy, energetic, and full of smiles! I can hardly believe my eyes! She looks more beautiful than ever, and her mother smiles with peace and a joy that cannot be erased. 

I am in the presence of a miracle.