Out of my comfort zone then traveler's angels!

This morning It was cold and drizzly here in Crimea. I could have made it to the 7:25 AM bus to Simferopol on time but decided not to. I waited for the somewhat less convenient 10:10 bus knowing I would have to make a bus change to get to Simferopol. I was 15 minutes early at the bus stop. By the time the bus arrived, 8 minutes late, the bus stop was full of people as was the bus...standing room only. As I climbed on the driver was arguing with a passenger. I would usually mention that I was going to Balka (the next little village) but needed to connect to Simferopol. I just said, " Balka." I got off at Balka to find people huddling out of the rain in the bus stop. They informed me that the bus I wanted had already come and gone. But they suggested I shout at the next car. An old Moskvich came. They all shouted and the driver stopped. They shouted at him, "Zelenogorsk" as I ran to get in. I didn't know I wanted Zelenogorsk. I thought Simferopol but I was on the way to the next bus stop where the bus to Simferopol SOMETIMES stops for a few minutes.

Ten minutes later we saw it WAS there waiting...for me? I shouted, "Thats my bus!" The Moskvich driver parked about 20 feet in front of it so as to block it from leaving I guess. I was unable to get out of the car (no handles on the passenger side). The old driver, who had refused payment for the trip, ran around the car wavng at the bus, to let me out. I thanked him, ran for the bus and engaged the bus driver in a short explanation while I paid for the trip to town. I MEANT to say, "I am having an adventursome trip." Because the words for adventure and revival are similar in Russian I said, "I am having a revival-like trip!" That turned out to be a prophetic word. I was on my way to pray for Hussein Amanov's mother. She was healed two+ years ago when I visited her with my then 86 year old mother, but her legs had started hurting her so badly she cannot walk. I was on the way to pray for her again.

When the bus arrived in Simferopol I walked quickly to a bus stop where buses to her suburb stop. The first bus (No.104) didn't stop when I flagged it! I grabbed the second bus...No.27. But when it got to Beloe it went to the other side of the village. There other No. 27 buses waited before making their return. I was still a long way from the Amonov home and it was drizzling. I muttered that I had made a mistake and the driver heard me, his only passenger by then. He said, "Whats wrong?" I said, I needed to go to the other side of this village near the highway." He said, "Then you should have taken bus 104." I said I flagged it but it didn't stop." He turned around and asked why I was going there. I said, "To heal a granny's legs." So for the second time since i have lived in Simferopol a bus went off route to take me where I needed to go." He also gave me back my bus fare and dropped me off near the Amonov home! I went in rejoicing at our Lord's grace. Granny was sleeping alone in the house when I arrived. Hussien was in church on the other side of the city. I knocked and shouted but no answer.

Finally Hussein's niece came across the road to let me in. Granny was curled up tight on the bed. When we awakened her she started crying. She turned over. I was looking at the face of death! Her white wrinkled face never looked worse. Her round frightened eyes were surrounded with deep black creases. she cried, "I am dying like a dog, unwanted and alone." I quickly anointed her with oil and commanded her to be healed in Jesus' name. She complained some more, but more quietly. She started feeling better, drank some tea her grandaughter fixed. Next I ahook her legs and commanded them to be healed. She said they started burning. I spent some time just touching her shoulder and listening to her, answering her questions. When I left she was much better, asked after mother Ruth. I told her about my wonderful mother. She sends her love. God is wonderful. She started repeating, "God give her health." The black circles had gone from her eyes and she looked way better.

She needs to be baptised but she has been afraid that her Muslim Tatar neighbors would ostracize her. Once again the fear of man has held sway in a life and nearly killed the victim. I hope to persuade Hussein to baptize her once she is mobile enough. She is not far from death's door even yet. She knows Jesus cares for her and that He is still alive. Please pray for Babushka Amanov...for her salvation and that she will take that so important step for a Muslim...to be baptized in water in the name of Eesa Mahdi (Jesus the Messiah).