In January 1982 there was a lot of talk about the flu, and how people were missing weeks from school because they were so sick. I thought it wouldn't happen to me, but I didn't realize that I needed to protect myself through prayer from believing this lie.

One Friday in January I felt ill. Because I had a wrestling match I went to high school, even though I wasn't feeling well. I wanted to wrestle so I just went on. I won the match. However, I was disappointed because I did not receive the "Wrestler of the Week" award, even though the coach told me I deserved it and that a mistake had been made.

On the following Monday I still felt ill. I tried to ignore the discomfort, but by the end of the day I felt awful. When I got home from school I asked for help in Christian Science from my parents. But on Tuesday I didn't feel any better. I knew that I shouldn't put off praying for myself any longer. I could clearly see that my ignoring the problem wouldn't make it go away. It was time I understood more of the truth of my real being as the child of God. I began to study the Bible Lesson, found in the Christian Science Quarterly, and to think about spiritual truths I had learned in the Christian Science Sunday School. Then on Wednesday my parents and I decided to call a Christian Science practitioner for help.

The following day I asked my mom to call the practitioner again. She told the practitioner that I still was ill and hadn't been able to eat. The practitioner asked if I had been discouraged or unhappy about a recent activity. My mom told the practitioner about the wrestling situation. The practitioner gave us some citations to read dealing with "promotion" and "nourishment" and said that he would continue to pray for me. (The citations were from the Bible and the writings of Mrs. Eddy.)

In talking with my mom after her call to the practitioner, I was concerned about whether I could be healed of all the discomforts that were bothering me because she hadn't described them all to the practitioner. She explained that it wasn't necessary to know the details of a belief in order to heal it, and that we could be sure that just the right work was being done. I knew that I could respond to prayer, and that nothing could prevent healing. I studied the citations given me. There was a definite improvement in my physical condition. I felt better and began to eat a little.

Friday morning all the discomforts were gone. I was aware that there were a number of sores in the process of being healed inside my mouth. Up until then I had not noticed that the sores were there. This fact showed me clearly that the physical details don't have to be known in order for one to be healed. By the end of the day the sores in my mouth were gone, and my normal coloration had returned. I was no longer weak. I was well.

It has taken me a long time to write this testimony because I felt that by thinking back on all this, I would be acknowledging the disease as a reality. But when I finally sat down and wrote the testimony, I realized how much I had gained from this experience, and I knew that thinking back on it could only help me appreciate the healing and strengthen my spiritual understanding. I have learned a great deal from this healing and from writing about it. I am grateful for Christian Science and for my Sunday School training.

BRAD HILL Mesa, Arizona

As Brad's mother I witnessed his healing and would like to verify that it occurred as he has stated.

When they learned that Brad was sick, school officials expressed concern that Brad's brothers would become ill. Brad's healing included freedom from the disease for the entire family. No one else in the family became ill.

For this demonstration and the many others our family has experienced through the practice of Christian Science, I am indeed grateful.

ELEANOR KRAHL HILL