A Lasting Impression

While with the Thrive Africa team, my wife Natalie and I visited the Harrismith hospital and had the life-impacting privilege of praying with and for some of the patients.  This experience enabled me to see the Lord with greater clarity.  One patient, in particular, made an impression.  Her name was Palice.  When our Thrive group approached her bed, we asked whether we could pray for her.  She consented.  Next, we asked her condition and how we could pray for her.  She murmured that we could pray for her piles, or hemorrhoids, which we said we would.  After receiving her permission to lay hands on her, each of us proceeded to pray in the Spirit for Palice’s healing and relief from her hemorrhoids.  The Thrive leader, Charlene, then proceeded to share Jesus with Palice.  Charlene then asked if Palice wanted us to pray for anything else.  Tears welled in Palice’s eyes.  I swallowed, intuiting from Palice’s non-verbal response that there was more.  Palice mustered her strength and reached for the drawer in the metal stand by her hospital bed.  She opened it slowly and fumbled toward the back, producing a small, folded piece of rectangular paper, which she handed to Charlene.  Charlene unfolded the paper, read it and sighed, handing it to me.  The paper read: “HIV Reactive.”

I have read the stats and figures surrounding HIV-AIDS in South Africa, but, in meeting Palice, the stats faded away into one tearful face.  Her courage was phenomenal, for, as I understand it, admitting to having HIV-AIDS is exceptionally rare in South African culture.  Charlene’s courage also was inspirational because, by sharing Jesus at Palice’s bedside, she demonstrated to me (and, from what I could tell, Palice) the power of Jesus.  I have a feeling that the Harrismith hospital may not be the last one in which Natalie and I pray for the sick.

- Dave Thompson

Dave and Natalie Thompson served with us for two weeks as volunteers.  They reside in London, UK.

4 Responses - Add yours below

1. daniellehodgson says:

   Wow…not just statistics…people with dreams, hopes, famalies…

   Praise God for the work of Thrive

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2. Jace says:

   this was powerful. God is so gooooooooood :)

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3. Martina Crouse says:

   Hello Dave and Natalie,

   My name is Martina Crouse, and I was one of members you were originally supposed to be with. God’s timing is always impeccable, and I knew he had reasons of holding your trip until a later time. This was (I am sure) only one of the many life changing experiences you had on this trip. Thank you for sharing.

   Tears are streaming down my face as I read this and I am remembering the day I was at that hospital praying with people. God is mighty and and his presence is powerful in South Africa. He is faithful and I know he will continue to do great works there with you people like you, your wife and Charlene.

   Glad we connected (even if it wasn’t in person).

   Martina

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4. Tamara Gress says:

   Dave and Natalie, Charlene and Thrive….Thank you does not seem near enough a way to show you how appreciative I am for the work that continues. I too visited Harrismith Hospital, had eye opening, heart wrenching, Spirit led awakenings. I am still pursuing where God would have me, my family. Thanks again for pursuing God and His Mission.

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