Last month in Phoenix

Today,its exactly my one-month remaining in Phoenix,as I am leaving for Atlanta on April 28th.Going through the feelings of being gloomy and excited at the same time,for my next and last round in the US.However,the excitement is not as much as it is the sense of being worried.The reason for getting worried is going to a new place,and living for 45 days alone.This will be the first time during my stay in the US,that I will be living alone.

I remember ,when I left Davis,CA for Phoenix ,then I was quite apprehensive about my coming and living in Phoenix for a long time,as by the time I was leaving Davis,that dormitory was a home for me,if not a proper one.It was sad though to say good-bye to the Humphrey Fellows in Davis,I spent my one month and a half with.I didn’t realize that time that how difficult it would be to say good-bye not to the fellows, i would have spent nine months with,but also the new friends I have made during my time in Phoenix.

I couldn’t develop the sense of being-at-home in Phoenix until October,and I remember,Dr.Bill kept saying that you all one day will feel about Phoenix as your home.Thats exactly what happened to me.Sometimes,I look at myself and ponder,”Is it me,who has never left home ,and now I see The Met Apartments my home.”Actually this happened with me.I knew telling it to my room-mate Khara,who was also surprised to hear this.As she is the only one who knows that how much connected I am to my family,as she hears everyday my conversation loudly with them on Skype.I think ,its been hardly three or four times,that I ever missed talking to my family on Skype,to which Khara is witness.

When I was leaving Pakistan on June 13th,there were tears in my eyes to leave my family,as I have never been out of my country nor away from my family ,and I was leaving them for a year.But,now as I am leaving Phoenix in April,it will be more difficult for me to say good-bye to all my friends,whom I never know will I see in my life.My fellows,Khara,Dr.Bill,Kristi,Brian,Chelsea,Gardenia,Sandi and my Church people,and all other friends ;all these people have given me so much love that ,I don’t know,how I will say good-bye.How can I ever forget anyone of them. Sandi,who will always live with me-when I go to church in Pakistan-as she is the one who has been picking and dropping me on every Sunday since September 2011.Kristi’s parents hospitality and her brother’s flying us(Me,Mona and Taati) are all unforgettable experiences.

I will never forget the first Sunday in Phoenix,when me and Taati (my friend from Namibia) started to walk to search for a church.It was such a scorching heat,that by the time after 45-minutes walk ,we reached the church,we were about to faint.We were de-hydrated,as the water in our bottles were finished.It was the first-ever-adventure of me and Taati.I am thankful to God that,He knows our needs,for that he provided me with the friendship of Taati,whose faith and relationship with God,has always strengthened mine.I am so blessed that even after coming to the US,when I would be leaving,it would be full of spiritual experience and God’s love,that I came with.We always share our life’s testimonies with each other,and I miss that part forever.At the same time,I am so happy that we are friends,and we can talk to each other on Skype.

Some places,will always make me nostalgic,whenever I will think of them in Pakistan.Arizona Mills,Walmart,Target,Dollar Tree and off course my favorite Ross.The way all these stores are interlinked and on one path will always make me miss them.I wish we would have stores like these in Pakistan.There are so many other stores,which I don’t know names of,will be greatly missed.

When I went to spend Christmas vacations with my brother and his family,I remember ,how happy ,I was when he was seeing me off on Ontario Airport.I told him that I was going to home.Thats true,whenever,I was away from Phoenix,I wanted to come here after spending some days away from here.The Met Apartments,has been the wonderful experience.For a person like me,who has never lived away from family,coming and living here,was very easy for me.

The credit of my feeling about Phoenix as a home goes to many friends,I have made here.The Humphrey fellows all live in the apartments,which make it more like a home.I know that,I can easily go to any of my fellows,be it any matter.We all have spent nine months just like a family,have been together on every occasion,where we were always in the lime light.We were all always felt very special,whenever it was the presentation or Wednesday Excursions.I will never forget all this,they are all well imprinted in my memories.

All I know that ,I don’t know if I can ever see any of these people ,I have met here.Even though,I would ever come back ,and visit Phoenix,everything would be here but the time and the people associated with it.

Benny Hinn Crusade in Phoenix on March 15,2012

I remember since the time I have come to Phoenix-and have met Taati,my friend from Namibia,who is also a Humphrey Fellow like me-both of us have been making plans ever since to attend Benny Hinn’s Crusade.It was our speculation that who will come to Phoenix,and Benny Hinn no way.So,we planned many times to search for his Crusade in the nearest states of Arizona.Two Sundays back,we met and she gave me this news while handing me the pamphlets and saying fervently,”Lubna,Benny Hinn is coming to Phoenix,not only that,she continued ,Juanita Bynum is also coming.”Oh wow,I retorted.She also told me the story that how she ended up going to the church,instead of going to the church she goes to every Sunday.I thanked her and always remember that,because of her,I have got this privilege to attend Benny Hinn’s Crusade.I have seen Benny Hinn’s Crusade on DVD for a long time,it was always my desire to see him Live,and witness the anointing face-t0-face.I never imagined that,God will grant my desire of heart this year,which was yesterday.This was certainly the biggest even of my life.I have always asked God to also give me the spiritual exposure after coming to the US besides the professional one.Nothing more than this I can ask for.

Me and Taati reached the Church at 5.30 pm ,as the service was supposed to start at 7.00 pm.But it was already jam-packed ,fortunately we got the place inside in the gallery ,got a clear view of Benny Hinn.I didn’t know when he came in,as we were all praying,but when I opened my eyes after prayer,I whispered to Taati,”Benny Hinn is here.”For a long time,I kept looking at his face and then looked at myself,that was it real.Then I thanked God again and again.He spoke for less than an hour on’Where would you go,if you die today?”He started by mentioning about the funeral of designer ,whose funeral he was asked to preach.He told that how in that funeral ,when he was sitting between an Imam and a Jewish Rabbi and he spoke about Jesus is the only way to heaven.Filled in Holy Spirit,Benny Hinn,beautifully drew the contrast between the story of Joseph and life of Jesus Christ,so much so ,he also related the story of Abraham and Isaac with the Father and Son.

”You are born not by your choice ,but with the choice of your parents.But ,where you want to be in next life,is your choice.”Hinn proclaimed.He also stated that if you want to be saved ,then there is no other way but accepting the Jesus as your savior in your life.”Nothing is impossible with God,”that song sung by him and the choir,always made me realized that ,I have seen this manifested in my life so many times.Every word Benny Hinn spoke,was filled with the wisdom bestowed on him by anointing of the Holy Spirit.

He also enumerated the seven anointings: 1)Preaching;this he said is you can easily see in the preacher,as when he preaches the souls are saved,and bodies are healed.2)Teaching;its not like a teaching in the school,but when this happens,it feeds your souls.3)Healing:killing of diseases in seconds with the touch of Holy Ghost.4)Deliverance:This is the time when you have battle with the demon possessed .He specifically mentioned about this anointing that ,this is stronger than healing.The reason he stated a was ,its easy to heal people,but its difficult to deliver people out of bondage.He also cautioned the pastors and preachers,that be well prepared to take the demons out,as if you are not strong,then these forces can defeat you.5)Prophetic.6)Worship and praise.7)Prosperity.

He was to speak on these seven anointings today,which I can’t attend due to my class that time.I always regret it,but attending his one day crusade compensated this.I was telling my friend Taati,that the anointing was felt during the whole time we sat there.We had been sitting there since 5.30 and came out at 11.00,and then we looked at the light-rail station clock,which was showing the time.

I have also witnessed the healing part,when people suffering from kidney,asthma and many diseases were coming up and sharing their testimonies.What a wonderful man of God.I will never forget the evening of March 15,which has given me so much blessing,that I can cherish for myself and my family.Our next venture is Juanita Bynum,another powerful servant of God,can’t wait to witness that anointing.