A Barber Trip Linked to an Arm Amputation

Now that’s quite a title, no?

I had just finished up a week in the YWAM PNG National conference in Port Moresby, and looking somewhat like a wild man of Borneo, I thought it might be good before I disappeared into some remote places to get a haircut and beard trim.

The hotel where I stayed the night had a barber shop, and so, right after breakfast, seeing the very reasonable prices, I headed in for a buzz and trim.

As I walked in the music playing was a worship song that deeply touched my heart and to which I sang along quite easily as it was loud and no one would hear me. As I waited for my turn in the chair I had quite the worship time and refreshment in the Presence.

Then later, sitting in the chair I was suddenly the only person left In the shop and with a young barber called Eniel. I remarked about the worship, thanked him for playing it and “blessing me so much already”, and then asked him if he knew Jesus. He said he did and he told me the story of how he nearly lost his arm when he was (even) younger.

He showed me his right arm with its huge scar and told how he messed it up through an accident and the doctors had him go in for surgery to remove the arm. He did not know God at the time, but prayed that the LORD would save his arm.

When they started up the machine to cut off his yellowed arm he was bracing himself for the inevitable. However, the machine stopped just as they brought it to his arm. They fiddled with the contraption, got it going again, and brought it to his arm again. Once more the machine packed up.

The doctor said at this point, “I think we need a second opinion”. That opinion was sought and a decision was made to work on his arm, removing some artery length from his chest, and they monitored his arm closely over several days. Within that time the arm had returned to a healthy colour and he now has full use of his arm. No side effects nor problems.

As we talked he mentioned he didn’t attend church. I asked him why and told that illustration of how a live coal separated from the fire would grow cold and die out. He then told me what I thought I would hear: He had been badgered (in his early days of knowing Jesus) by ‘mature’ Christians to give up this and that habit and to conform to their legalistic ways.

Before leaving the premises I ended up praying with him and his colleague (who came back in off a break) and thanked the LORD for their “worship ministry” in their barber shop and prayed blessing on their lives. He later thanked me for the links I sent him (sermons from Uganda), which he showed much interest in receiving. I know as he listens to those sermons he will be challenged, and, I am believing he will soon be in church again to bless brothers and sisters that will need his story and witness.

I just love these divine appointments, and the prompts the LORD gives beforehand, to make one ready for the doors He opens! He had told me that I needed to be bold and step out that morning and when I heard that worship music, I knew how He wanted to take me into a ministry opportunity. I took the step’ the LORD brought it home! Hallelujah!