“Oh, She’s Sleeping” ~ A Healing in a Chinese Village by Cindy Reynolds

Some years ago, while living with my husband in a remote community in NE China, I had a remarkable healing experience. I have been encouraged to write about it for the validity of the Gifts of the Spirit. Believe me, they are very real!

Early one morning, I was preparing to go with my dear friend and translator to purchase goods and to deliver them to the children we were sponsoring in our ministry, Threshold Ministries. It was just another workday, but suddenly our home on the Yalu River was invaded by a group of noisy and official looking government workers and tv reporters. They insisted on accompanying us as we went about our day saying they wanted to film “A Day in the Life of Cindy Reynolds”.

I had begun to build a reputation in the community as a generous and kind foreigner who often stretched the patience of the local government with my giving of food and clothing away to needy families. I was making the local government look bad. Still, they enjoyed the added revenue to their community and were in a quandary as to what to do with me. Filming and publishing my activities seemed a good idea to them as they tried to figure me out.

Soon, we were on our way in our tiny white minivan with a caravan of large black government cars following closely behind. We shopped in the local marketplace and packed our goods all while being filmed and discussed. We soon had additional bystanders joining us and were growing weary of the unwelcome attention.

We left the market and traveled along the little dirt roads, across small rivers, and through village alleyways to deliver much needed food and clothing to our needy children and families. Our last stop was at the home of a child I had not been invited to visit before. We had been delivering her supplies to her school instead of her home and I had wondered why.

She was waiting outside for us, along with friends from the village. They greeted us warmly, I hugged the child as was my habit, and she took my hand to lead me into her little mud house. I sensed there was something amiss, as conversation grew very quiet as we entered through the kitchen. It was a typical village home with dirt floor, small wood burning heater and oversized wok cooker. It was very dim inside and as we proceeded further onto the living and sleeping space, I noticed the young mother asleep on the family bed. Everyone was silent as I approached her.

“Oh, she’s sleeping,” I whispered to my translator. “Is she Ill?” I asked. No one answered me, averting my gaze and also trying not to look at the sleeping woman. I sensed something was very wrong. It was a very dark and foreboding atmosphere and the group of people, cameras ready, were obviously very uncomfortable. I moved to the bed frame to sit beside her, and the others found small chairs to sit on or stood, shifting their feet uncomfortably. I began to pray in tongues to myself, not wanting to alarm my communist companions, and I quietly took her small hand.

She began to wake up, shaking her head to clear it as she woke from a very deep sleep. I apologized to her for coming into her home unannounced and asked if we might stay with her for a little visit. I told her we had brought gifts of food and clothing. The group around us began to murmur as she sat up, all the while continuing to hold tightly to my hand. I continued to pray silently and for a little while we just sat together on the edge of her bed as she stared at the group of strangers. The cameras were rolling. I began to pray aloud quietly, as I felt very called to do that while she began to speak with some of the group that had gathered. By now there were also neighbors leaning in the only window in the room and she seemed very glad to see them.

I released her hand and slipped my arm around her back, telling her that we must return home for the day, thanking her for the visit. She said she would walk me to my car and stood on wobbly legs to walk me out. People gasped and backed away to make room for us to pass. I thought, “What in the world?” We walked to our van with her arm through mine and she chatted excitedly to the growing crowd of village neighbors and friends. Cameras still rolling, we piled into the little white van after a goodbye hug, and the government cars filled again with camera men, crew and officials.

It wasn’t until we had begun the journey home that my translator told me what had happened. This dear woman had been in a coma for eight years and had not left her bed the entire time until I held her hand and woke her up! It was a miracle played out before this group of tv reporters, government officials, villagers, and friends, all unbeknownst to me until afterward!

God healed her in front of all of us, Praise Him! Then, He kept me safe after the entire story was played on Jilin Provincial television! Two major miracles happened that day in my life and in the lives of all who were there. God used me because I was willing, had asked for the Gift of Healing, and also for His Holy Protection.

God Bless you all as you seek and use His Gifts. Expect miracles!