With his Crook and
his Staff He Leads me
I was leading a careless
life, sinking into a sea of sins. The Bible to me was a novel about God
and so I always treated it like any other book. But deep down in my heart
I always believed that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God. This particular
belief is responsible for my being alive today. It is God’s mercy that
he did not abandon me and it is his love that he had such a wonderful plan
for me. Exactly as God reveals in Jeremiah. 29:11 "I know the plans I have
for you and I will listen to you". This I experienced in an unexpected
miracle. In March 1995 I met with a terrific road accident in Kuwait (RTA).
I received multiple fractures and misplacements of joints all over the
body. I was treated in the casuality care unit with many life-saving machines
attached and a hole made on the throat for respiratory purposes. All efforts
were on just to keep me alive as I was in a coma and doctors had given
only 2% surviving chance. All those who were around me expected my death
to happen soon. But the Lord heard the prayers of my dear ones and responded
with a miracle as I opened my eyes. I was in a coma for one month and in
a semi-conscious state the next month. But I was not discharged until after
nine months due to the injuries after a knee operation and the final medical
report clearance. After my discharge I was sent directly to the airport
to board a flight to India as my company had arranged. So in December 1995
I reached Bombay on a wheel chair because I was not able to walk. The head
injury had affected my balance, therefore I could not balance myself when
walking. In Bombay I consulted a famous neurologist and he too confirmed
that there was no treatment for imbalance in medical science. For this
reason I preferred seeking ayurvedic treatment and so reached Kerala. But
before the treatment I proceeded to Divine Retreat Centre for a retreat
in the second week of February 1996. The day after the retreat I got myself
admitted to an ayurvedic hospital. One day after lunch something provoked
me to attempt walking. I tried to do so as my brother and a friend stood
beside to witness a miracle. As days passed I kept improving and in December
1996 I attended one more retreat using only a crutch. Unfortunately my
improvement was halted as I could not quit using the stick. My state of
desperation and frustration deepened. So I attended a private retreat at
Bombay in August 1998 and my spirit was recharged. In September 1998 I
happened to attend a retreat in Tabore Ashram at Kalyan. I was there along
with my mother and she was suffering an eye disorder which had no treatment.
The Lord healed my mother physically and I received spiritual healing.
The preaching of Fr. Mathew Elavunkal and Fr. Martin Kalamparambil touched
my heart. The Holy Spirit gave me a message through them. I attended two
more retreats the following weeks and I abandoned the use of the stick.
In November I reached Divine alone and that too without a support. Today
my faith is renewed. Praise and thanks to the Lord!
Ivon D'souza
Vikhorli East
Mumbai