Imo miracle water dries up

[SunNews]

From GEORGE ONYEJIUWA, Owerri

For weeks, the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel Anglican Communion in Mgbidi, Oru –West Council Area of Imo state was a pilgrimage site of sort as people from within and outside the state trooped to scoop "miracle water" that flowed from the base of a tree in the church premises.

The sudden appearance of the water said to have healing powers, was exclusively reported by Sunday Sun in its edition of May 11, 2013.

However, a recent visit to the site of the tree revealed that the water has stopped running. Although no one could tell why it dried up, residents and some of the visitors to the area suspected misuse of the 'strange' water by those who thronged the church premises while it lasted.

One of the 'pilgrims',             Mr Chidi Nwike, who came from neighboring Utulu community, told Sunday Sun that the sudden disappearance of the water was due to the "unruly behaviour" of some of the visitors.

According to him, two birds that had always perched on the top of the miracle tree flew away when people began to fight over access to the water; and three days later, it stopped coming from the tree base.

He said: "There was crisis because people fought at the site over whose turn it was to scoop the water and the sale of the water to those that could not get to the base of the tree. I have been coming here since the water started flowing from the base of the tree. The two doves that were usually seen at the top of the tree flew away immediately people started fighting and demanding money before they were allowed to take the water. Three days later, the water stopped flowing.

"Those doves were always at the top of the tree since the water started coming about a month ago and I think it was the ungodly behaviour of the people that caused the water to stop flowing. We know that the Holy Spirit cannot abide where there is ungodliness."

However, Mr Nwike was optimistic that God would restore the water whenever it pleases him to do so.

Apparently confident that the healing power in the miracle water could have rubbed off on the ground, people still visit the site in their numbers to scoop the sand from the base of the miracle tree. When Sunday Sun visited the church premises, many of them were seen scooping the sand into plastic containers, believing that the power in the water was still in the sand if used with faith.

Mr Obinna Okereke, who came from Isiala Mbano, said that he came to the site when he heard about the healing powers of the water, but discovered that water had stopped coming out from the tree base. Determined not to miss out, he scooped some of the sand at the tree base into a plastic container.

"When I got here, I found out that the water no longer came out, and as a man of faith, I decided to scoop the wet sands from where the water used to gather. I believe that if used with faith, it will work for me. Every thing is faith, so whether the water has dried up or not does not matter to me", he said.

It also did not matter to Madam Mary Ozo who came from Owerri to fetch the miracle water. She also scooped some of the sands into a plastic container believing that the power that was in the water remained in the sand.

H e satiated: "The power that is in the water is the same power that is in the sand and I believe that it will do what the water has done for those who believed without doubt."

However, one of the priests at the Cathedral who spoke on condition of anonymity told Sunday Sun that the church was aware that the water stopped coming out about three days ago, and did not know what happened even though people have continued to come hoping that the water would return.

"We only knew that the water suddenly stopped coming out and we really don't know what happened. But as you can see, people are still coming to the premises of the church, hoping that the water will soon start running again. You know this is an issue of belief ", he said.

Via: Sun News Online