A Mysterious Messenger Brings Malaria Healing

Amazonian Wednesdays 🌴

This story comes from memory archives dated even before my time as a missionary began. As shared by my mother-in-law recently:

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“My husband was gravely ill with severe malaria,” Mamita Carmen recalled. “It was so bad that I gathered my four children together. They were between the ages of four and nine. “Papá is in danger of dying,” she gently explained to them. “We so deeply want him to live, don’t we!”

“Yes!” they all exclaimed, with fierce emotion and tears gathering in their eyes.

“Then, we need to fast,” she asserted firmly. She made an exerted effort to keep her voice steady as she pronounced these words.

The young Arimborgos agreed. Carmen made some bread available for them in case they felt they needed it at any time. But even at that tender age, the Lord provided supernatural strength for her children to engage in fasting. (By the way, I would not at all recommend this for children unless you had an exceedingly clear word from God about it. She did. She received these instructions in an encounter with Him.)

The prayers that ascended to heaven were from the depths of their hearts. The young family interceded with great fervor and passionate faith.

Not long after they began to fast, they heard a knock on the door. Carmen answered, looking out at an unfamiliar face. “Does Jose Arimborgo live here?” the man asked. She nodded. “I am Dr. Soto. I have come to attend to him,” he continued.

She was puzzled. She had not requested an in-home doctor visit. They could not afford such a thing. But she opened the door wider, and he came right in. After looking Jose over, Dr. Soto confirmed that this was a particularly dangerous form of malaria. He provided some medicine for Carmen to administer. He then looked her directly in the eyes and declared, “He will never have malaria again after this.” With that he left, never to be seen or heard from again.

Upon asking everyone she knew, Carmen found that no one had ever heard of this man. Neither had anyone called a doctor for them. Here’s the even more amazing thing. Jose soon recovered supernaturally, completely healed from the illness.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Yes, that’s exactly what dawned on the Arimborgo family too. They are all pretty sure that Dr. Soto was an angel.

This story took place almost forty years ago. The Arimborgos could tell you many, many more stories of God’s miraculous interventions as they have faithfully served Him in the Amazon Jungle. They are the first to testify: they have seen angels intervene for them over and over.

Be greatly reassured, beloved child of God. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His angels are watching over you, too, today. “Are [angels] not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” (Heb. 1:14, NKJV). You are never alone. The Father will always provide exactly what you need in your hour of greatest trial. You are so very loved!