saechurch.org
Sent: Tue, 17 Apr 2007 1:47 PM
Subject: Prayers Answered in Des Moines, IA

Fr. Jack and Anna Marie,

The work you do touches so many people, it must be difficult to remember them all.  And I imagine there are many times when you don’t hear about those answered prayers.

I am a member of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, where Fr. Bob Kem is the Priest.  He introduced OSL to us and I am an active member in our chapter.  Last fall, you and Anna Marie were at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Des Moines for a regional OSL conference.

You may remember Betty Kloeser, she was the woman who felt a burning sensation in her heart as your prayed for her to receive the Holy Spirit.  You stopped and announced that she had had a word of knowledge and asked that anyone who was experiencing difficulties with their heart to come forward.

I was at the back of the line.  Fr. Bob turned around to me and encouraged me to go up.  I hesitated, given the demographics of the population – it could have been anyone.  Bob said “Andi, you need to go up there for Annika”.  I moved forward, then stopped again, he gently nudged me forward.   Betty and her husband laid hands on me, when I looked up I saw people all around, praying, Fr. Bob and another man from St. Anne’s had tears rolling down their faces.  The power of the Holy Spirit was palpable.  Then we started to sing – it sounded like angels.

I walked away, moved by the power of the Spirit, with a desire to believe that our 4 year old daughter’s heart was healed.  Yet, I couldn’t completely believe – I knew Fr. Bob had told you about Annika.  I know that I had told Betty about Annika nearly a month before  – was this for real, or was this a set-up.   I talked with a friend the next day, who couldn’t be there that Friday night, and didn’t witness what happened.  She told me to pray for my unbelief.

For the past several months we continued to pray for Annika.  Bob kept saying things like she’s been healed.  When I told our OSL group that her next cardiologist appointment was the day after Easter, Bob said we will be celebrating a resurrection.  I responded, yes, hopefully so.  I’ve never doubted that Annika would be healed, if her heart didn’t heal itself, I knew the medical community had the ability to help her.  But I didn’t want her to have to go through surgery.  I had had dreams that she would go through surgery and something would go terribly wrong.

April 9, 2007 – Fr. Bob  met Joel, Annika and me at the doctor’s office.  He waited with us, and came into the exam room with us.   The doctor listened to her heart, the two student doctors listened to her heart – they couldn’t hear the murmur.  He sent her in for an ultrasound – the hole is closed.   After 2 1/2 years of prayer, She is Healed!  PRAISE GOD!

I thank God for that night in October, for the prayers offered by everyone, for the strength of faith that Fr. Bob showed us, and most importantly for the healing power of our LORD Jesus Christ!

On a side note, I have never identified more strongly with Thomas, from our Gospel Reading this past Sunday.  I wanted to believe but I couldn’t completely until I heard the doctor say, ” you don’t need to bring her back”.  I needed to see the evidence.

Thank you for being here in October, and for all you do in your ministry.  I look forward to the Ministries Retreat in Grinnell this coming July.

May God continue to bless you in your ministry,

Andi Baker,
St. Anne’s, Ankeny Iowa.

(Marjorie, Two years later, I wrote for permission to publish this testimony. She said yes and gave me this precious update!)
As far as updates: Annika is a happy, healthy 6 year old girl with a heart attuned to God’s presence like no one I know.    Just earlier this year – she saw my recent prayer sheet from OSL on my bedside table.  She wanted to know what it was – I explained to her that it was a list of people who were asking for prayers for healing for themselves and the people they love.   She said,  ” Mommy, was my name on this list when I had the hole in my heart?”  “It sure was” I replied.  Then she bounced up on my bed and said with absolute certainty  “Mommy, the doctors didn’t heal my heart, God did.”

Our OSL chapter is going North tomorrow to do a conference in Fort Dodge Iowa.  There is a priest there, and one coming down from Spencer Iowa along with a dentist from the area who has done a lot of mission work.  They are coming to be inducted as members in OSL and both areas are hoping to start new OSL chapters.  This is exciting work that the Lord is doing.  Keep us in your prayers if you would.

Faithfully,
Andi Baker