The Noisy Neighbours

At the new house we live in, the neighbourhood is very colourful. We rarely go a day without a noisy stereo blasting from one or more of the neighbours. The neighbours directly in front of us are the worst because the noise travels straight up from their garage into our house. Most of the time they only play it during the day rather than at night, but it is still frustrating. I have been meaning to go over and introduce myself. Not to complain about their stereo, just to say hello. Unfortunately, I have gotten busy with life, so I haven’t done it yet.

Then the other day, I was putting some recycling in the bin at the front of our house when I noticed a man next door doing the same thing. I said hello to him and got chatting to him. He eventually invited me to his house to meet the other people who lived there. He took me straight to his garage where the same people who play their noisy stereo were sitting and chatting. They offered me a beer, but I said I don’t really drink but that I would sit with them.

There was an older Maori lady there who wasted no time in telling me that she had a sore leg which meant she couldn’t go anywhere for Christmas. I, in turn, wasted no time telling her that I pray for people and they get healed. She got me to pray for her right there, so I did.

I prayed a short prayer of healing in Jesus’ name.

Then I asked her to try walking. You should have seen her face! She was able to put weight on it and walk up her stairs with no pain, which she hasn’t been able to do for a long time. Then she asked me to pray for her back and that was healed. Then she asked me to pray for her neck and that was healed too!

The whole time this was happening, her son was there drinking beer. He has cerebral palsy, but he said he’s “too far gone.”

He obviously had no faith to be healed so I didn’t bother praying for him.

I just concentrated on the lady. I started explaining the kingdom of heaven to her and repentance but she changed the topic, so I didn’t bother continuing. She brought up the topic of her stereo a few times and how they always try to keep it down for the sake of our children.

She did tell me another interesting thing.

She said that earlier that day, she had been visited by a friend of hers who used to be in the black power. He used to be a “mongrel,” according to her. When he visited her, he was completely different. He had given his life to God and she could see that he was a changed man.

I told her that it is interesting that both of these things happened on the same day and that God is trying to tell her something. Then I left it at that. I pray that she will come to a place of repentance soon. Jesus urged us to love our neighbour. Showing them God’s love through healing is the best way I can think of to do that!