As missionaries, we often face challenges and dramas that others cannot imagine. Our journey is filled with spiritual battles, trials, and tribulations. Yet, despite the hardships, there is nothing else we would rather do than follow God’s will. Our mission is a calling, a divine purpose that drives us to continue, even when the path is difficult.

I used to find it a bit irritating when people would ask for “unspecified” prayers. As humans, we’re naturally curious. Not knowing the specifics can be frustrating, and we wonder what could be so private that it can’t be shared publicly. But I’ve learned since, that sometimes when you ask for prayers without giving an explanation, it’s because there simply isn’t a way to explain it.

Right now, I find myself in this very situation. We’ve been hit by so many spiritual attacks over these past 2 weeks that I wouldn’t know where to begin. The battles we face are not just physical or emotional, but deeply spiritual. The weight of these struggles can be overwhelming, and it’s challenging to put into words the extent of what we are experiencing.

Ephesians 6:11-13 reminds us: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

This passage resonates deeply with us during these times. It reminds us that our struggles are not just against the physical world but against spiritual forces that seek to derail us from our mission. We are in the midst of a spiritual battle, and we need the full armor of God to stand firm.

So, as my church family, would you join us in prayer? We need wisdom to navigate the complexities of our ministries, peace to calm our hearts amidst turmoil, and endurance to keep going when these cycles of highs/lows are simply wearing us out.

Thank you for standing with us. Together, with God’s grace and your prayers, we will continue to fulfill our calling and overcome any spiritual battles that we may face.

***

JUNE 7th

This story from June 7th, 2018 showed up on memory wall. It’s so fitting for what we are facing that I couldn’t help but share it again. 

My dad has been here for the past week building our Lab/Pharmacy. He led a special prayer service with some of our staff & church members on Sunday night. We know that we walk in darkness here – but we also know that we are Children of the Light. It’s important that we remind ourselves of that from time to time.

Dad talked about the fears that each child & each home may be struggling with right now. It’s not a coincidence that we found vacant land across the street from the cemetery. NOBODY wanted to live by it.

MANY people are afraid to walk by the cemetery at night. We have had to shift the times that our workers clock in/out AND adjust the timing of our evening programs – because no one wants to be near it when night falls.

There are rumors that zombies walk across the street and onto our campus. There are rumors that thousands of rats roam the area infected by the zombies and waiting to pass it on to us. There are rumors that vultures fly over it waiting to capture people who pass by.

We were supposed to go from the prayer service right to the orphanage and pray. But APPARENTLY – the spirit led my dad in a different way.

After sharing the victories, he has seen over his life-time … he decided to take a detour. Instead of walking right over to the orphanage – he led us across the street – INSIDE the cemetery – just as the sun was setting.

Not gonna lie – not everyone was ready to walk through those gates ….and many did not.

BUT FOR THOSE THAT DID – they faced that fear. They saw how peaceful it was – how there were no zombies walking around. We did NOT see a single rat either (which is kind of weird cuz there’s always a rat to be found if you look hard enough).

My dad wanted us to face that fear so that when we told our little ones not to be afraid – we could say we know first-hand. WE were there at night and the stories are NOT true.

In America, when your child is afraid, you look under their bed and say – “Don’t worry; there’s no monsters”.

In our experience – when this same thing happens here – the parents are just as afraid as the children are. And if you knew what darkness they have had to face – you’d know why their fears are very real.

The enemy wins when he can keep us afraid. But when you expose the lies…. then you advance His Kingdom. We had an unplanned, unexpected, God-inspired victory walk that night.

We are in a life and death spiritual battle here that’s raging like we’ve never seen before. Please pray that God will expose the darkness for what it is – and that others will believe and know- Greater is He that is in us… than he that is in this world. #lightINdarkness