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Healed of Cancer
by
Amedia de Souza, Maryland
My name is Amedia de
Souza, and I am a cancer survivor. In September 2002, I was diagnosed with endometrial
cancer. Having gone through the pain of surgery and radiation treatment, I was told that the
cancer was arrested and that my prognosis was good. I looked forward to my life returning to
normal. But this was not to be.
A year later in
September 2003, it was discovered that the cancer had come back with a vengeance. I spent five
weeks in the hospital and rehabilitation center and then began my regimen of chemotherapy in
November 2003. While on my second cycle of chemotherapy, I learnt about Fr. Mathew
Naickomparambil, V.C. visit to the United States and of the healing service on De. 7, 2003 at
Montgomery College hall in Germantown, Maryland. Because of the illness, my mobility had
sharply decreased and travel was difficult. But I decided I had to make the effort and
surrendered myself to the Holy Spirit.
During the healing
service, someone or other would step forward in response to Father’s call to testify that he
or she had been healed. At one time there was an anxious moment when Father proclaimed that
someone was getting healed and should testify to the same. Nobody did. And ever since I have
often wondered whether it was me.
After the service
ended, I happened to meet a fellow parishioner, Dr. Joseph Thomas, who upon hearing my story,
requested Fr. Mathew to pray over me. Fr. Mathew immediately obliged, placed his hands on my
head, and prayed to our gracious Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to give me strength to bear
my pain. I returned home renewed with faith and vigor.
Five days later, a CT
scan showed that the tumor had shrunk. I was elated--this was the first encouraging news I had
received in months! During the fourth cycle of chemotherapy, a CT scan taken on January 23,
2004, revealed that the tumor had completely disappeared from my system. The next chemo cycle
was due to begin on January 29, 2004. My oncologist, bless him, ruled against it. Now here I
am, eighteen months and six CT scans later--the last one taken just a week ago--telling you
what the CT scan reports have been saying all along:
“NO EVIDENCE OF
METASTATIC DISEASE OR RECURRENCE”
In the spring of
2004, my oncologist referred me to an orthopedic surgeon who successfully operated on my
spine. Since then I have discarded the use of the wheel chair and the quad cane as my mobility
has vastly improved.
I give praise and
thanks to God--the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, for His Mercy and Love, also to Our
Lady of Lourdes and Vailankanni, St. Jude, St. Peregrine, St. Padre Pio and Blessed Mother
Teresa. I also thank Fr. Mathew for being God’s instrument in healing me. I will continue to
pray for the conversion of sinners, as he requested.
+++++++++++++++
Christ lives in us – A Divine
Testimony
Praise the Lord!
“We are well aware that God works with those who love him, those
who have been called in accordance with his purpose, and turns
everything to their good.” Romans 8:28
How meaningful are these words and our Lord’s Promises to us. I
have personally experienced God’ love and caring in abundance
and herein is a short testimony to glorify His name.
I live with my family consisting of my wife and 2 kids in
Northern Virginia – about 40-minute drive from Washington DC.
Raised in a devout Catholic family I grew up in a spiritual
atmosphere… amid intercessory prayers and Retreats. My father
(who is no more) was a great source of inspiration to me. From
his life I understood that the essence of leading a Christian
life was to become child-like and simple-minded and basically
lead a life that imitates Christ.. in fact, during my
high-school days – he presented me with the book “The
Imitation of Christ”.
After my graduation as an Engineer in Electronics and
Communications, I went on to seek good jobs in the IT industry
in Bangalore. As time passed my ambitions grew and I set out to
seek more lucrative jobs in US with better career and financial
prospects. Meanwhile I got married and became the father of a
boy who is now 7, and later on a girl who is now 2 ½ years old.
Our initial years in US were pretty modest as I was the only
earning member in the family. But as the years passed – I got my
Permanent Resident status, sought out better job opportunities,
and my wife also started working. I went on to become a
Technical Architect with a world-renowned software company,
where I work currently. With our financial picture now much
better than before– we surged on to buy a Town-home and later on
a Single-Family home and luxury cars. Our spending habits
reflected extravagance and we were enticed in the web of worldly
possessions and riches. Our social circle of friends changed and
we were in the so-called “elite” circle, where we were
recognized by mainly by merits of our financial and career
achievements.
Somewhere down the line – in the midst of climbing the corporate
ladder and becoming a financial success – we had drifted away
from our simple life and now prayer had become no longer a need
but an optional matter depending on convenience and time. Our
excuses would be numerous like – lack of time, lack of energy
after a long day, lack of reason to say daily prayers et al. In
short – due to our lackluster attitude to prayer – God was
lacking in our life. But God has a great plan for each and every
one of us. He can talk to us through His powerful Word and
signs.
In February 2007, my daughter, who was then a year and half, was
afflicted with typhoid. She had to go through almost 3 weeks of
pain and suffering when she was hospitalized and pierced in
numerous veins to send down medicine and fluids into her body.
Her body was badly dehydrated and the infection threatened to
spread into her lungs. Her pain was unbearable to us, and for
the first time in several years – we fell down on our knees
praying fervently for her life. Although we had been to Divine
Retreats (in India) in the past, our prayers were devoid of any
intensity. Now, we sought prayers of the priests and religious –
in Divine Center (NJ) and Kerala. Miraculously – God answered
and my daughter was discharged and recouped completely in less
than 2 months.
We grew stronger in our faith, but our faith would know new
depths and be tested time and again. In May 2007, we took a trip
to Detroit, MI where we were blessed to be part of a live-in
Retreat conducted by the spiritual team of Rev. Fr. Mathew
Naickamparambil, Rev. Fr. Martin Kelamparambil, Rev. Fr. Anthony
Thekkanath and Rev. Sr. Teresa. Our Lord touched us in ways
never before – and my family was blessed abundantly. It was a
unique experience and I personally experienced the touch of God
through the Gift of Tongue and Gift of Heavenly Vision. While I
was skeptical of these gifts in the past and viewed people
blessed with similar gifts with great suspicion – I now realized
that when the Lord touches you nothing is impossible.
Although we came back spiritually renewed and enjoyed the Lord’s
bliss in our life for several months to come – we got back to
our routine life and soon prayer once again took a backseat and
became a matter of convenience. We got back to our petty
ordinary lives where squabbles, bickering in the family, judging
others, gossip, extravagant socializing, negative thoughts,
grumbling at daily-life, sorrow et al. crept in. But, Our Lord
is good and loves us despite all our shortcomings and patiently
awaits our turning to Him.
During the latter half of last year my daughter contacted warts
and skin-sores on different parts of her body. We consulted a
pediatrician who assured us that it would “go away”. But
instead, this condition became worse and my daughter was
troubled with itchy skin and sores that rapidly spread on her
arms, legs and belly. We came to Divine Center in NJ during the
Christmas season of ’07 and Rev. Fr. Martin and Rev. Fr. Anthony
prayed for our daughter. We went back again renewed in faith and
prayers. The next morning a miracle happened! Lo and Behold!
Couple of sores on my daughters’ left arm showed signs of
healing and the inflamed skin returned to normalcy. We got down
on our knees and praised the Lord!!
 I
write this here – as a testimony and inspiration to show that
God is real, His promise is real and He really works in our
every day lives when we walk in His line and be ardent in our
prayers. That is why I started out with this verse from Romans -
We are well aware that God works with those who love him, those
who have been called in accordance with his purpose, and turns
everything to their good. How meaningful and true this Word
proved to be in our lives.. we were able to experience God and
know His love through our suffering which was brought upon us by
ourselves when we strayed away from Him and gave priorities to
worldly pleasures and riches. Now I realize that I have been a
fool to believe in my own abilities and intellect, rather than
submit myself to the infinite Love and Mercy of our Lord Jesus
and allow Him to take control of my life. Suddenly all my years
of learning, the so-called profound earthly knowledge and all my
professional and financial achievements seem like a big ZERO. I
learned the real purpose of this temporal life on earth is to
experience our Lord, glorify Him, overcome Satan and strive to
be ultimately united with God in his Heavenly abode. I also
learned that if you live a life of faith and good works in Our
Lord Jesus - you and your family will be saved. Our faith
constantly undergoes trials and tribulations and needs to be
consistently renewed by listening to the Word of God –
especially by attending Retreats like those conducted by the
Divine Prayer Center (in Washington, NJ). It is time to reap a
rich spiritual harvest – embrace the Word who is Lord Jesus and
invite Him to make a dwelling in you, crushing the powers of
Satan and this mortal world. You will be filled with eternal
love and happiness only He - our Creator can give.
God Bless!
Mathew Sebastian
Chantilly, VA
Email:
sebastianmatt@gmail.com
+++++++++++++++
Good Confession and Peace after
30 Years
Thanks for keeping me and family in your prayers. I can see the
Lords mighty hands working on me. After about 30 years, I was
able to have a true confession of my sins and was able to be at
peace with myself. I had never fasted in my life and I was
afraid of fasting. This week I was able to fast and pray to the
Lord. I see that you all are keeping me in your prayers.
I want to spend more time to learn the scriptures. I should
prioritize my acts and reserve more time for the Lord. Please
continue to hold me up in your prayers.
Sincerely, a Prayer Warrior , Cyiac Kunnath
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