Family of Love - Healing Conference 2009 (Part II)

My Personal Experience for Sharing

As a young career mom of two wonderful children aged 7 and 5, I am challenged daily with demands, trials, stress, pressure, tensions as well as warmth, love and joy of work-family life. So, when I first noticed the Family of Love Conference advert (poster) in church, I immediately made up my mind that I must attend the event. As there is not much detail about the content of the conference itself in the brochure, I assumed it’s about family, parenting and the church which is very relevant for me who is struggling with work, family and faith. I had no idea that it included healing, praying over, experiencing the Holy Spirit etc.

Then, God tested me. As an introvert, I needed someone to come to the conference with me and I have no one except my husband in mind. Knowing very well that I would receive a negative reply, I prayed and lifted my concerns to the Lord. After gathering enough courage, I scanned the brochure and registration form and emailed it to my husband. I did not get a reply for 3 days. I was desperate for an answer and therefore, sent him a SMS to inform that I have sent him an email. To my surprise, he replied positively and requested for me to proceed with the registration. God has done His part, to convince me of His power.

As the day of the event drew near, I was tested again. Since both of us will be away for 2 days over the weekend, who is going to be looking after the children? My son has violin on Saturday afternoon and both children have Sunday School to attend to. Someone has to drive them. The conference schedule is clashing with their timing. This time I was more positive, with God, nothing is impossible. Yes, indeed, my in-laws agreed to help and the children just loved to be with them. Praise the Lord! Alleluia!

At the start of the event, I enjoyed very much the praise and worship sessions. The first session of the conference was a talk by Rev. Fr Joey on Bridging the Gap between Church and Family. The things he said are all very relevant, realistic and true. It made me realised the importance of God in our lives and in our families.

In the afternoon, we sang praises to the Lord and prepare for Eucharistic celebration presided by His Grace Archbishop John Ha. After that, Fr Joey prepared everyone for praying over session. We sang and prayed, lifting up our worries, problems, pains and sufferings. As this is my first experience to be prayed over, I have no idea at all what was going to happen, how the feeling would be and I just ask the Lord for forgiveness and mercy, surrendered my worries to Him and left all my trust in Him. As I was doing so, I can feel how powerful the Lord is, how great He is and that I am but an unworthy servant, begging for mercy. Tears started to flowed uncontrollably. I did not know if that is common or part of the process. I did not bother even to wipe away, or to be ashamed of it. I just surrendered myself to him and continued praising him. I believed then the Holy Spirit has touched me, but I did not realise it.

I was looking forward to be prayed over by Fr Joey. I wanted to experience how it is like to be touched by the Holy Spirit. I waited anxiously for my turn, my eyes closed and I was repeating, “I surrender to you Lord” but to my disappointment, I did not fall. Many people ahead queuing of me, fell upon the touch of the Holy Spirit through Fr Joey, but I didn’t. I did not understand. I was asking Him, why, why, why not? In my mind, only people who are touched by Holy Spirit will fall. So, I dare not ask anyone for fear that I might be told that I have not prayed hard enough or I am not “holy” enough. I was very disturbed. I could not understand.

I went home at the end of day 1 with questions circling in my head. I needed the answers and I was hoping someone could clear the cloudy skies. My husband somehow felt that I am disturbed. He guessed the reason I did not fall, was that I must have prayed for other people and not my own self. I never realised that he knew me so well. Yes, he was correct. I was praying very hard for my niece to be healed. My niece is overseas, very far away from me but I remembered in the bible it was revealed in Matthew 8:5-13, where Jesus healed the Roman Officer's servant without going to his house. So, I prayed for the Lord to hear me and heal my niece.

I met an old friend at church later that evening, who is a humble servant of the Lord. I took the opportunity to share with him what I had gone through and he consoled me by telling me that everyone has different experiences and not everyone will fall. Maybe I was still holding on to something and I had not let go completely. With the explanation, I was quite satisfied but not fully yet.

In the programme the next day, we had a healing session for past hurts and memories. It was a fantastic session. Never had we (my husband and I) experienced healing between spouses. We were asked to face each other and hold hands, pray to healed of past hurts, ask for forgiveness and to forgive. Again, tears flowed. It is really healing, though. At the end of the session, I really felt very light and peaceful. Wonderful experience!

Before the end of day 2, participants are requested to volunteer and share their experiences. One sharing that I remembered clearly was from a man who voiced out his disappointment that he did not fall upon the touch of Fr Joey's hand during the pray over. Alike me, he was wondering if he is not worthy. God is really mysterious and He listens. Fr Joey came up to clear the doubts. God or the Holy Spirit is doing their work even in the most ordinary way that we do not realised it. In my case, I have been touched even before the pray over and many times throughout the conference. I could have been wanting for more but the Holy Spirit has already healed me. I felt the serenity. I was happy throughout. I did not worry about my children or any other things. I felt peace.

"Isn't He beautiful? Beautiful, oh isn't He?
Prince of Peace, Almighty God, isn't He?
Isn't He wonderful? Wonderful, oh isn't He?

Prince of Peace, Almighty God, isn't He, isn't He, isn't He."

At the end of the 2-day conference, I am determined to bring my family members and friends for the healing rally. Some were doubtful, but they came along. My children were with me too, despite that they have school the next morning. It was really an eye opener and reinforcement of one's faith. The lame walked, the hearing impaired could hear and many many have been healed that evening.

With all my heart I will thank the Lord ... How wonderful are the things the Lord does! ~ Psalms 111:1-2.

Praise the Lord!

Alleluia!