“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” Matthew 9:35
Many of the most extraordinary Moments of my life have taken place in the Sahara
Desert. . . in an all-Muslim nation-in-exile. Nearly 200,000 refugees.
Due to the long-standing political impasse, half of the People of Western Sahara are
refugees in the Sahara Desert of western Algeria, North Africa. The other half remain
in their historic homeland of Western Sahara, but under the brutal military occupation of
the Kingdom of Morocco. The desert refugees, the extraordinary native people of
Western Sahara, have chosen to do all they can during their forced exile to retain their
human dignity, to lay groundwork for their deep passion to return to their rightful
homeland. In their desert exile, they have prepared themselves to be able to “hit the
ground running” when they are finally able to return to their historic Homeland of
Western Sahara.
Giving one’s life for that cause is something that most of the hundreds of thousands of
them are willing to do.
I was in the refugee desert camps when a young man who had been on a hunger strike
for his people’s ‘just cause’ was in everyone’s minds. He was near death. I knew of the
situation, and its widespread attention of his nation. His name was on everyone’s lips.
It was an extraordinary act to try to bring the world’s attention to their plight.
I had never personally witnessed a real life situation unfolding like this. It deeply
touched my mind and heart. An unexpected thought began growing in my mind…. that I
needed to go to his deathbed and pray for him. This is not something I would normally
consider, but the thought continued to grow stronger.
I asked a friend in the camps if I could go to this young man. Just for a few minutes. A
car and driver was arranged, and I was soon on my way through the desert. When we
arrived, I was directed to the young man’s bed. . . outside, on a thin mattress on a
shaded concrete “bed”. His form was so very thin, that it took me a few seconds to
realize that his skeletal body was under the thin sheet. His eyes were closed, his
breathing very slow and silent. The scene broke my heart. I was alone with him as he
lay silent and still.
I gently put my hand on his arm, and quietly asked God to come near to him and speak
to him in his silent, motionless sleep. I asked God for His Presence to surround this frail
young man with His Peace. I asked God to whisper to him of His Love, His Presence,
and His Purpose for his life. I asked God to hold him… that he become aware of God’s
Nearness.
As I reluctantly, tearfully returned to the waiting truck, I continued praying for God’s
nearness and intervention in this young man’s life. I asked God to make Himself real to
him, and to spare his life. I never heard anything more about him after I returned
home.
This past year, on a return visit to the refugee camps, a young man approached me and
we spoke of several things . . . a simple exchange.
Then he stopped and looked directly into my eyes. “I want to thank you.” I had no idea
what this total stranger wanted to thank me for. “I want to thank you for praying for me.
I was that young man very near death some years ago, and you came and prayed for
me.” I was stunned. I had never heard if he had died (which I assumed) or anything
else of the situation.
He continued, “Your words. . . your prayer to God for me, changed everything. It
changed my life. . . . Thank you.” And he was gone.
We never know when a “Moment” will come in our lives and we have the privilege of
inviting God’s Presence into a situation. He comes. And that can make all the
difference in the life of a person who has lost all hope in this world.
He Comes.
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