A Spiritual Battle

We were in the middle of our Wednesday night lesson, when suddenly we saw Eric and Pastor Nelson running out of the church toward us. “Move the kids! Move the kids!” They yelled. “There’s a snake!”

We quickly moved the kids. A snake slithered into the church during the preaching. Eric was sitting across from where it came and pointed it out. Everyone scampered back and the snake slithered back out. It ended up on the other side of the wall from where the children were. A minute later we heard everyone stoning it, then we saw them beating it with long sticks with brush on it (similar to a broom).

We finished up our lesson then all went out of the gate to see it. Max chopped it with a machete then burned it. Some said it was a black mamba, others a spitting colbra. Take your pick!😆

Many here are still without homes and crops are washed away from the hurricane. Corn last year was around $6. I believe it is over $20 now and they are talking about it possibly being up to $100 a bag! The Lord provided a way for us to buy some bags of corn for people. The needs are so great and we desire to help people as they face starvation, but it can be discouraging as they do not respond with gratitude. Instead, no matter what we give, their response is that we have not given enough. That is when we are reminded to take our eyes off men and focus on the Lord. We will get discouraged if our eyes aren’t on the Lord. We have to just pray and do what the Lord directs us to do, whether it is appreciated or not. But it is like that in any ministry.

I have recently found out that some of the kids asking for prayers are actually practicing witchcraft personally. One young one even admitted to traveling very far in the evening to attend a ceremony. My heart feels very heavy! Oh! May the Lord save them from satan’s clenches! May He reach them before it is too late!

A couple weeks ago one of our pastors was in an accident. They were directly told by someone that they had been “praying” to Satan for him to die so they could have blood for their sacrifice. The spiritual battle is so great, and we can feel the oppression from it.

Here in our home we have been struggling with a sickness that is going around. Everyone has been struggling with a lingering cough. Anna in particular has been hit hard by it and has been having fevers off and on for over a week. We did test her for malaria, but it seems like it will just need to take its course. I pray that it won’t be too much longer.

Amidst it all, our water system has broken again, the van battery and alternator needed to be replaced, we have been hindered from going to Phokera for 3 weeks, and the bank hasn’t allowed us to get the money we had sent over a week ago. I must admit with all that is going on, I have had a few moments of discouragement. But in moments like that, there is only one place to go-I run to my Savior! When I am weak, then is He made strong! What a sweet comfort!

Please continue to pray for us! And not only is us, pray for your missionaries who aren’t as vocal about what they are going through. They, and I, cannot always share what we are facing. But we desperately need your prayers as “…we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:23 It is a battle that can only be fought on our knees. Will you fight this battle with us?