A Gardener's Revelation
Lando is Victory Fort's head gardener. He usually starts work just as the sun is up to avoid working under its heat. Usually by the time I get to work just before 8 Lando is finishing up his morning rounds. It is then that I would have interesting conversations with him. Lando's revelations about the Lord always encourages me. From seeds, plants, roots and nature, Lando draws revelations on his relationship with the Lord from places that I would never think of.
On this day I took this picture for a very special reason. Four days ago, Friday, August 24, I found Lando doing his afternoon watering of the plants. He did not look like his usual self. He looked down. I engaged Lando and asked him how he was doing. He told me the reason for his being down. His son in law was languishing in the hospital, actually in the throes of death from a vicious diseas known as Leptospirosis. Left untreated the disease can be lethal. Unfortunately that was what happened to Lando's son in law and now he was fighting for his life. Lando was saddened because neither his daughter nor his her husband were believers in Christ. He was very concerned.
I asked Lando if he had contacted the church's pastoral services that assists church members with financial aid for hospitalization and prayers. He glumly said, "the doctors say its too late." Something inside of me rose up and I told Lando that we would pray together and believe that God can heal him. Hands clasped Lando and I prayed , "No one living in Zion will say, “I am ill”;and the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven." I then followed it with "Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all our diseases." That was that and we went our separate ways.
Come Tuesday, this day, as I drove up the church's parking lot early this morning, Lando was flagging me. As my window rolled down he said, "Mabisa ang panalangin mo." in English, he said, "your prayers work." Then he said, "My son in law recovered over the weekend and he and my daughter are coming to church this Sunday." I told Lando we need to have our picture taken so we will always remember this day. Just another day when those who trust in their God will not be put to shame.
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