Revelation 12:11 says: “They
overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; …”.
When we tell testimonies of the Lord God’s power and saving grace on our lives,
the devil slinks away tail between legs. So, let us share our amazing stories
of God’s love in action and shame the evil one.
We look forward to reading your
own story of faith in the coming weeks. Your well-written story should be about
800 – 1000 words. Send your story to: barbarankala@gmail.com.
Selected stories will be compiled into an anthology of stories of faith.
Here is
today’s story of faith told by Khethiwe Ndlovu. Enjoy! Look out for the next
story of faith next week.
Khethiwe Ndlovu
A DATE WITH JESUS
Jesu, bomi bami, Ngiyabheka kuwe;
Wen’ uyinjabulo yami, Ngithobiswa nguwe …
This is one of my favourite songs from AmaGama
Okuhlabelela, a Zulu hymnal number 262. This song hails and exalts the Lord
Jesus, who is the singer’s all in all. The Lord bestows good living and joy to the
singer. He brings healing; he is the great fountain; a river of love; he is
everything. I pondered the comforting words of this song as I lay on a hospital
bed at Corporate 24 in Bulawayo. I had been going through excruciating pain. I
love Scripture. One of my favourite verses is: “And we know that in all
things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose” Romans 8:28. I wondered about this situation
working for my good? I remembered that in times of great suffering and pain, we
are never alone. He promised he would never leave us nor forsake us. I told
myself that this time in August 2017 was a special date with Jesus. I had all
the time in the world to pour out my heart to him.
It had all started way back in 2003. I had experienced a
pain in the centre of my abdomen towards the right. The discomfort came on and
off. The consulted doctor said the pain was caused by some small stones in my
gall bladder. He prescribed some medication for me and encouraged me to have a
diet that is natural and has a lot roughage. He said those small stones would
dissolve gradually. I followed those instructions to the book.
I believed I was fine, but in 2015, the pain recurred. I
went back to the Doctor who again prescribed some medication that only stopped
the pain for a short while, then it came back with a vengeance. I experienced
severe pain at intervals. The Doctor recommended that I should undergo a number
of scans. Nothing was seen. I survived a journey of taking endless ‘stoppain’
tablets. All the while I was in prayer for healing and so was my husband, family
and church family. The crux came when I was in class attending a course in
Theology. This time, the pain was so severe that I could not stand or walk on
my own. My husband was called to come and pick me up. Jefter came and decided
that it was time to seek a second opinion elsewhere. He took me to Corporate 24
in Bulawayo. I was admitted and further tests were recommended by the
specialist there. A scan done revealed something foreign in my gall bladder. The
doctor said it was not very clear what that was, and the only way to find out
would be to have an operation so he could have a proper diagnosis.
We continued to pray hard as a family. Many thoughts
harangued my mind. What if this is life threatening? What would become of my
young boys if anything happened to me? My oldest boy, Praise was eleven years
old, and the youngest, Malibongwe was seven years old. Would my husband cope on
his own? O, God, you promised that when we “cast our cares on you Lord, you
will sustain us and that you will never let the righteous fall” Psalm
55:22. Show yourself true to your
word Lord, I prayed. Family and relatives were worried. I knew some relatives
who believed otherwise would have wanted me to try seeking healing elsewhere.
But they respected our beliefs and stood with my husband as he took me to
hospital.
Jefter and I are Pastors of a small congregation at Brethren
In Christ (BICC) Montgomery Church outside of our other full time occupations.
We were seconded to this church by Rev Collen Sibanda
of BICC Mahatshula as this church had gone for a long while without a Pastor.
But, Jefter runs Emplicity Enterprises, a family printing company. I am an
Assistant Police Inspector at Mzilikazi; and I am also working on my Honours
Degree in Theology at the Theological College of Zimbabwe. Actually, when I
fell acutely sick, I was on study leave doing my theological studies. I am a
chaplain in the ZRP. This course will enhance my profession.
We booked for the said major operation on 22 August 2017. I
was in the theatre for a good six hours. I was shocked that seemingly one of
the small stones detected in 2003 had grown so big that it ended up damaging
the gall bladder. The whole organ was taken out. When I opened my eyes in the
recovery room, I noticed everyone in that room was in tears; my husband, my
mother, my sister Patience and my niece. Why were they crying? Were they
mourning me? Was I still already in another space? I was to learn later that I had
taken too long to recover and had been too long in the theatre they thought I
had passed on.
“Mrs Ndlovu, I don’t know how you survived with such a
thing. I am going to take it to the laboratory to find out if it is free of
infection,” the doctor had said. I did
not even want to look at the monster removed from my body. I remained in
hospital for almost a month with all sorts of tubes connected to me. It truly
was an official date with Jesus. As I became better, I had to learn to walk
again like an infant. Praise the Lord, there was no infection or malignancy in
the thing that was taken out. I improved day by day and was able to sit up, eat
on my own and even go to the bathroom on my own. The agonizing pain was gone,
but the wound had to heal. He is a miracle working God.
Being confined to a bed in hospital for four weeks is not a
joke. Since I was on a date with Jesus, I really learnt to be still and know
that he is God. I learnt to trust in him as my faith grew deeper and deeper
roots each day. When I had lain on the hospital bed helpless, unless someone
moved me, it became a reality what might happen unless God intervenes. I needed
someone to help me and that help is due only when there is the love of God in
the picture. God is love and I managed each day because I could feel the love
and grace around my bed. I had all the time in the world to let Jesus know my
innermost feelings. I learnt to appreciate life more. I appreciated the love of
my family and other relatives and friends more. It meant a lot when my young
son would come and sit by my side and say, “You will be all right Mama!”
Currently, I am good and strong except for occasional back
pain if I overwork or bend for some time. My faith in God is unshakable. I am
in my third year in the Theology course and I continue to support my wonderful
husband in the pastoral work.
Khethiwe is married to Pastor Jefter Ndlovu and they have
two lovely sons. They live in Bulawayo.
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