"MOUNT PLEASANT — An avid runner who competes in marathons and triathlons, Claire Weslaski’s hard-core training was disrupted about two years ago.
"Weslaski, 49, of Caledonia, developed a heel spur, a bony growth on the heel that can cause pain. She tried icing it and stretches, but 'nothing was working,' she said. 'It’s a total life disruption.'
"With a half-marathon scheduled for the end of October that year, Weslaski said she thought she’d have to compete in a 5K instead.
"A few people then referred her to the Healing Rooms of Greater Racine and she went in for a session about a week before the race.
"'After they prayed over me,' they said, ‘stand up. See how you feel,’ said Weslaski, president of Image Management in Racine. 'It wasn’t like ‘throw the wheelchair away.'
"But every day after, her pain lessened, she said. While she did compete in the 5K instead of the half-marathon, 'I did it without any pain in my heel at all,' she said.
"'I said ‘Jesus will heal you. If he did it 2,000 years ago, he’ll do it now,' Weslaski said.
Not ‘magic’
"The Healing Rooms of Greater Racine is a faith-based group of Racine County residents that meets twice monthly to pray over people. They also may lay their hands on those seeking such prayers, said Director Craig Husch, 58, of Racine.
"'The one prayer we know won’t be answered is the one we don’t pray,' said Husch, who teaches at Christian Life School in Kenosha.
"Members of the Healing Rooms of Greater Racine say their informal Christian organization is devoted to praying for individuals with illnesses, injuries or physical ailments. This Racine County group is a member of the International Association of Healing Rooms, according to the organization, which is headquartered in Spokane.
"The group meets from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. They meet at the home of group members, 1925 Grand Prix Drive, Mount Pleasant. There is no charge for visitors, Husch said.
"Other nearby healing rooms are located in Zion, Ill., Pewaukee and Mukwonago, according to the International Association of Healing Rooms.
"Husch said his group — which currently has 14 members and has been operating for about three years — is not affiliated with any particular local church. He said group members, himself included, belong to a variety of churches.
"Typically, there are at most three people praying for the person in a bedroom-style room. They don’t use 'exuberant' televangelist styles and 'nobody’s gonna holler at you,' Husch explained.
"Husch said the group does not advocate that people stop seeing doctors or taking their medication.
'We don’t practice magic here. We just do what we can,' he said."
Read more: http://journaltimes.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/group-practices-the-healing-power-of-prayer/article_6d3d34e2-d202-5f91-bea3-6854aef1b801.html
I've not heard of "Healing Rooms" before. I may check out the Racine group.
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