“Can I be a donkey?”

Up until forty-eight hours before, we did not know what Holy Island was. Andrea rang the numbers God had given her in prayer. One door closed completely. Another, on Lindisfarne, opened wide. Andy and Anna of the Northumbria Community gathered others of their fellowship to meet us.

Chidera taught that when Jesus sent for the donkey it was tied and had to be loosed, because the Lord had need of it. Matthew tells us the disciples brought a donkey and her colt, a picture of vulnerability. “The vessels Jesus is looking for are not people of reputation or strength. They are simply people who are available for service.”

You two may be an answer to that prayer. The Lord does not forget.

Andy read us a poem from their own writings: “Work to be done, you'll always need a donkey … The Lord has need of me. That's what I say.” He told us, “We have people queuing up to say, Can I be a donkey? You're talking our language.” Anna told us that fifteen years before, she and Andy had laid their hands on the rock of Bamburgh Castle and prayed for revival. “You two may be an answer to that prayer. The Lord does not forget.”

They asked for an impartation, and to pray for us from that ancient sending place. We laid hands on them and they prayed over us. On the hill above the village the Holy Spirit came on one of the sisters, who prophesied that the work would be “in the ones and the twos”.