Page 36 - Unseen Hands by Nona Freeman
P. 36
Unseen Hands
claim that he ran 130 kilometers behind a car from Ad dis Ababa to Debre-Berhan. Friends there bound him with ropes and took him to Mekele. He got away from them and lived in the forest with wild animals, making forays into town to satisfy his thirst for liquor.
Oneday Teklefound him on the street. Knovdng that he could not pray there, he clasped the man's hands tightly and commanded the devil to take the man to his place of lodging. Later, while Tekle fasted and prayed in his room for the unfortunate man, someone told him that a crazy man sat on his doorstep and that he should chase
him away. He opened the door and rejoiced to see the ob ject of his earnest supplications to God. He led the miserable wretch to his room and laid him on his bed, ig noring the stench from his unwashed body and his long, matted hair.
The sight terrified Tewolde, Tekle's alcoholic brother, and Getachew Gebre, a Pentecostal friend, when they returned and found Tekle praying for the filthy creature.
Tekle paused to warn Tewolde, "The demon "will come out of this poor man and will enter into you, unless you repent of your sins and give your heart to Jesus."
Tewolde fell on his knees and wept earnestly. Tekle interceded, wrestling in prayer for deliverance. The Lord gave a twofold victory: the alcoholic repented of his sins, and the crazy man's mind returned to normal. As he sat up and looked in wonder around the room and then at the three young men, he asked, "Where am I?"
"You are in the city of Mekele, and we are your friends in Christ," Tekle answered with tears of joy. Tekle washed the man's pathetic body and gave him a coat. Getachew contributed a pair of pants, and they took him
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