Something's happening. There's a shift
coming. I do believe it. I await eagerly to continue to see what the
Lord is doing. There's darkness here. MUCH. There's witchcraft, just
plain evil. People dying. People being abandoned, forgot, left for
dead.
A few weeks ago we saw him. A listless
4 year old, barely catching a breath every few seconds, floppy and as
good as gone. Eighteen family members were there waiting for him to
die because, you see, as long as they're there “paying their
respects” the spirit of this dying boy won't be mad. And, they'll
likely get a good meal. Worth the wait.
They thought.
Along came a crazy white woman and her
faithful friends and they would NOT stand to see this child thrown a
way. It's the first time in my life that I got so mad I wanted to
start a fist fight with this young father how seemed indifferent in
the passing of his beautiful son. And what about the mom? What all
has happened that she's too scared or too lost or too paralyzed from
her motherly instinct of life and love for those who have come from
her womb. Imagine if I ever lost the fight for my cherished ones? The
hopelessness and guilt must suffocate.
The family put up a strong fight. They
were not willing to the hospital. They were NOT going to go. But,
they were toe to toe with this white woman willing to fight and
determined to win. I prayed. I prayed and prayed that God would use
this opportunity to bring His glory to this DARK place-- where
witchcraft is given far more respect than fear of the Lord. Will God
shine through this time and start the needed shift in this area?
I doubted this little one would live.
He was far gone. I prayed anyway.
I prayed. We all prayed. Wouldn't it be
wonderful???....
We got news twice that he was still
admitted in the hospital. Will he come home? Alive?
The next week we were visiting another
patient and, walking towards us was the man whose face I had wanted
to punch in. The change was incredible. Had I not been told, I
wouldn't have known who this man was. And, in his arms was a bright
eyed, glowing, chatty 4 year old boy. My heart sang praises. “The
Lord has done a miracle! Can you recognize this and give glory to the
one and only in whom it is due?” THANK YOU LORD! Not only to the
testimony of modern medicine to treat malaria but to the fact that
you are the God who fights for the voiceless. Those who awaited his
death went home hungry because you Lord care about the least of
these!
Even my team needed this amazing
encouragement. Though the cerebral malaria has robbed him the use of
his legs we've continued to see improvement and we prayerfully
believe he will be running and playing again. This area needs to turn
from the darkness and see the LIGHT that is Jesus.
And then this week, we were called 200
meters from this young boys house to a very ill man. We arrived to
hear the witch doctor's casting out the curses that they believed to
have been possessing this young man. Our team refused to be okay with
this practice being the solution. I prayed with all of my being that
the Holy Spirit would show up and shift this environment. His glory
must keep shining in this area-- He promises to complete any good
work that He has begun, I needed to remind myself. Come on Lord be
visibly present again! Come on, my spirit shouted!
And, after a fair amount of time
praying and dwelling in this dark hut with 2 witch doctors, we left
the man who had been groaning and contracting his arms in agony, in
peace. Yes, peace! And, as the witch doctor ran after us trying to
give us money we were able to decline it and say, “It's only God.
Praise be to Him!”
I don't know how he'll be next week.
But...I wonder if we'll find him sitting up conversing with us? I
think we might because, God is up to something big! The environment
is shifting and may the love of Jesus that we bring be the change
that this area needs-- to bring Him the Glory!
Pray with us! Come Lord Jesus, on earth
as it is in heaven!
