Page 37 - Unseen Hands by Nona Freeman

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to the barber shop for a hair cut.
As the man's strength returned, he witnessed to the
whole city of the mighty power of Jesus that delivered him from Satan and restored his imderstanding.
"God has sent a man to our town who can heal even the insane!" the people shouted in amazement. They brought their sick and afflicted; many found peace with God and received healing and deliverance.
At the end of the year Tekle felt that he should go to Wollo Province. On the way he preached at Maychew, Korem, Alamata and Woldiya. In a village near Woldiya he saw the people worshiping a grove that surrounded a sacred oak tree. No one could come near the tree ex cept its priest, who regularly oiled it with butter and sprin kled it with blood. If any other person touched it, he would be killed at once. Without knowing this, Tekle broke off one of its branches. He saw the crowd nmning toward him and happily thought. The Lord is sending people to hear the Word. Then he saw their angry faces and the threatening axes and spears in their hands.
The power of God evidently restrained them when they came near, for they could only stare at him with in tense animosity.
"Please sit down on the grass," he requested courteously, "and listen to what I have to say."
They reluctantly sat and glowered at him, still clutch ing their weapons.
"Would you please tell me the story of this tree?" he asked.
Everyone shouted at once, "This tree has been our great god for many generations—for our forefathers and for us."
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