Answered Prayer in a Gypsy Camp
Our partner in the Middle East took me to visit his ministry's pastor to Gypsies during my recent Middle East trip. During the pastor's first visit to a Gypsy camp, he told them about Jesus and offered to start a literacy class for the camp. Most of the adults were illiterate, and they agreed to the literacy class. During his talk he noticed one man, about 60 years old, who sat in the front row with tears streaming down his face.
After the meeting, the tearful man offered his home for the literacy classes. The pastor, as was his custom, again spoke from the Scriptures for the first few minutes at the initial class. Then he began to teach the Gypsies to read. The older man who had offered his home again teared up. The class was so full that a new venue had to be obtained for the class.
The man continued to come to the literacy class and often stayed afterward to talk with the pastor. After awhile he committed his life to Christ - the pastor's first convert from Islam among the Gypsies. More time went by and then one day the man pulled the pastor aside after class and asked to speak with him.
The man explained to the pastor how his wife several years previously had needed surgery for which he could not pay. The Gypsies can't afford health insurance. He told how another wealthy man had offered him the equivalent to $2000 for the surgery. All he had to do was sign a paper (which he couldn't read). He signed the paper, received the money, and his wife had her surgery. Later the man who gave him the money demanded the equivalent of over 15 times the original amount. He responded that he had only received $2000. The man pointed to the paper and said that he had agreed to repay the larger amount.
The wealthy man threatened the Gypsy man with prison if he didn't repay. The man responded that he would never be able to repay that much money. The wealthy man told him then that he could either go to prison or give him his daughter in lieu of the money. The Gypsy man told the wealthy man that he would go to prison. But the Gypsy's daughter did not want her father to go to prison. She decided to go with the wealthy man.
The Gypsy man then told his pastor that they had not seen their daughter in two years and had no idea where she was. The pastor told him that he did not know for sure what he could do specifically at the moment but that he would pray for his daughter's return. Within the next several weeks the daughter returned to the family. The wealthy man had put her out as a prostitute in a large city. He used some form of black magic to control her. She explained that she had felt under bondage from which she could not escape.
The daughter had previously asked the wealthy man to allow her to return home, but he had always refused. Then one day she felt as though the bondage had been lifted. She asked the wealthy man if she could return home, and he said yes. When they discussed what day this had actually happened, they discovered that her release occured the same day that the pastor had begun to pray for her release.
Now the young son of the first Gypsy convert is in desperate need of surgery. We were able to help our Middle East partner to assist the family with the necessary resources to have the surgery done. We praise God for the way He uses faithful men such as the pastor to the Gypsy camp to bring souls from all tribes, tongues, nations, and peoples into His kingdom.
After the meeting, the tearful man offered his home for the literacy classes. The pastor, as was his custom, again spoke from the Scriptures for the first few minutes at the initial class. Then he began to teach the Gypsies to read. The older man who had offered his home again teared up. The class was so full that a new venue had to be obtained for the class.
The man continued to come to the literacy class and often stayed afterward to talk with the pastor. After awhile he committed his life to Christ - the pastor's first convert from Islam among the Gypsies. More time went by and then one day the man pulled the pastor aside after class and asked to speak with him.
The man explained to the pastor how his wife several years previously had needed surgery for which he could not pay. The Gypsies can't afford health insurance. He told how another wealthy man had offered him the equivalent to $2000 for the surgery. All he had to do was sign a paper (which he couldn't read). He signed the paper, received the money, and his wife had her surgery. Later the man who gave him the money demanded the equivalent of over 15 times the original amount. He responded that he had only received $2000. The man pointed to the paper and said that he had agreed to repay the larger amount.
The wealthy man threatened the Gypsy man with prison if he didn't repay. The man responded that he would never be able to repay that much money. The wealthy man told him then that he could either go to prison or give him his daughter in lieu of the money. The Gypsy man told the wealthy man that he would go to prison. But the Gypsy's daughter did not want her father to go to prison. She decided to go with the wealthy man.
The Gypsy man then told his pastor that they had not seen their daughter in two years and had no idea where she was. The pastor told him that he did not know for sure what he could do specifically at the moment but that he would pray for his daughter's return. Within the next several weeks the daughter returned to the family. The wealthy man had put her out as a prostitute in a large city. He used some form of black magic to control her. She explained that she had felt under bondage from which she could not escape.
The daughter had previously asked the wealthy man to allow her to return home, but he had always refused. Then one day she felt as though the bondage had been lifted. She asked the wealthy man if she could return home, and he said yes. When they discussed what day this had actually happened, they discovered that her release occured the same day that the pastor had begun to pray for her release.
Now the young son of the first Gypsy convert is in desperate need of surgery. We were able to help our Middle East partner to assist the family with the necessary resources to have the surgery done. We praise God for the way He uses faithful men such as the pastor to the Gypsy camp to bring souls from all tribes, tongues, nations, and peoples into His kingdom.