Richard’s Healing
In 1998 Richard Ortieno of Nairobi, Kenya, was in a serious car accident that left him crippled. Four years later he was walking, albeit with great struggle and only with crutches. Doctors said he would never again walk unassisted. In the winter of 2002 Richard attended a pastor’s conference in Kenya. Our Pastor Jim Moore from SHOP was assisting in ministering there alongside Pastor Nnamdi Aranoutu. The conference was to be a significant turning point in Richard’s life: Pastor Aranoutu called Richard on stage. At that moment, God healed Richard. Liberated from crutches, freed from pain, and all the glory to God.
Richard was married to Lillian, and they have two beautiful children, Nnamdi and Patra. His son Nnamdi was named after the minister who God used to heal Richard. Prior to the car accident Richard supported his family as a waiter. The years he was crippled were full of hunger and need. Richard's heart was to pray, and to pastor and serve his people. When Richard was healed, he dedicated his time toward ministry. His calling is intercession through prayer. The family currently lives in an isolated city outside of Nairobi.
SPIRITUALITY
Richard and God
Richard is a Christian unlike anyone we have ever known. It is not his culture or tradition that separates him, but the manner in which he interacts with God. His calling is, undoubtedly, intercession. Richard is a human example of the biblical form of one who prays without ceasing. When he hears from the Lord or otherwise feels it is necessary to pray, he immediately stops whatever he is doing and retreats to his room or the boulders in the hills or a corner of the church sanctuary to be with the Lord. This dedication and fervency in seeking God is pronounced; it is clear that the Lord is his first priority. Our inclination is to wait until a break in conversation, or just to pray silently in our minds, but Richard completely disregards social norms or "politeness" toward whomever he is with so that he might be with the Lord. When we served together in Mexico, he often abruptly left conversation or a time of ministry to go pray.
In Africa, Richard goes into the bush to pray. He separates himself from society for sometimes days at a time until he hears an answer to whatever he is praying for. There are other men in his community who are similarly seeking the Lord. And just as Richard prays when he is called to pray, so he approaches all Christian disciplines such as fasting and reading scriptures.
Richard is constantly overwhelmed when he prays. He is amazed because his visions and dreams regularly come true. The Lord speaks to Richard all the time, and he knows nothing else other than to listen. When we observed him pray in Mexico, he often spoke in English, and then switched to his primary language of Swahili. When he prays in his native tongue, his voice lowers substantially and his whole body becomes tense. His loud, passionate language first scared us and the Latinos to which we ministered, but we soon learned it was simply his manner of prayer, and it also reflects the way his community prays.
In stark contrast to his usual vigor and liveliness, Richard is withdrawn and quiet after praying. He pulls a neon yellow or green cloth from his pocket and wipes the sweat from his face. He is physically weak and sometimes needs assistance to walk. Abstaining from conversation, he participates minimally as he begins to acclimate to the community again.
PROVISION
Blessing through Relationship
Pastor Jim
For the first year after Richard’s healing, he and Jim corresponded solely by email. Jim found it interesting that Richard did not approach their relationship by appealing for funds as so many do, but rather focused solely on friendship and companionship through the relationship, by simply desiring someone to talk with and pray with. Through this, Jim learned his heart and developed a strong friendship. Out of this love, Jim heard from the Lord that he was to support Richard and his family monthly, and eventually to assist Richard in coming to Mexico. Jim only felt God asking him to do this after years of relationship with Richard. Richard was overwhelmed with how God used Jim and his wife Linda to bless his family.
Angela
Angela is Jim’s niece, and serves at the SHOP under Jim.
Angela was interested to know who this guy from Africa was. Jim informed her of Richard’s journey and Angela’s heart began to be drawn toward Richard. During the last year God impressed Angela to aid Richard financially so he could travel to Mexico. At this time Angela was serving at the IHOP in Kansas City, and praying for Richard constantly. Eventually Angela wrote him a short email. This evolved into an exchange of emails, and Angela finally heard what God was doing in his heart. One day he mentioned he wanted his kids to go to school. She thought it would be the coolest thing to support him and send his kids to school. She wanted to support a direct contact, not like World Vision or another (albeit reputable) foundation. She prayed about it for over a month. It was the desire of her heart, and so she decided to support him. Only $100 monthly would cover tuition and uniforms for both children, leaving an extra $5 for family needs. Richard said that he would finally have enough to buy milk for his family, and he would give the excess to orphans. When Angela sends funds via Western Union to Nairobi each month, the test question to pick up the money is, “Who is the greatest?” And surely Richard knows the response.
When Richard’s children began attending school he sent photos of their new uniforms and the car that picked them up to go to school (which is a huge treat for the kids). He told Angela that when he told the school about how God had provided for his children’s tuition through Angela, the principal allowed the kids to attend without charging the entire tuition at the start of the school year. Because of the financial provision, the school was named after Jim, and the laboratory after Angela. Nnambia and Patra are called The Angela Kids. And it is far beyond Angela’s comprehension that she could touch someone’s life so profoundly.
No comments:
Post a Comment