Boldness in Troubles

Megan at events for neighbors

Ma Riziki came by the house to tell us about her troubles: sick grandchildren, taking in her ex-husband who is dying of cancer, the cost of medical treatment and feeding children. She is an old woman.  At this point in life, her children should be supporting her, but everyone still looks to her to care for her children and her children’s children.  You could see the tiredness in her eyes and in her spirit.  What can we do for her? We can help her with some food. And we can pray for her, with boldness asking for her heart and the hearts of her family to be changed.  Ma Riziki has never had much space for religion but she listens to our prayers. Sometimes, I think they touch her heart.

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Ma Nadjma came by telling us her brother, studying in Uganda, is sick and having nightmares of dead people.  She wanted us to give her money so she could get a local religious teacher to come and do prayers for him.  We told her that we will not give money for prayers.  Prayers are free, we explained, and the prayers said in the name of the Savior hold the real power.  So we prayed for her boldly.

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Another island friend knew that we would be coming together to pray together on Sunday and asked that our group pray for her older brother. He is an alcoholic and his drinking has caused more and more troubles for him and his family.  Suddenly, he is determined to stop drinking. But where will he find the strength?  “I know that when you guys pray, things happen,” our island friend said. So we prayed for him, but we also realize that someone will have to speak boldly with her and her older brother.  If he wants to be free, he will have to put his trust in the one who can set him free.

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English Teachers at Conference

Our teammate regularly visits a family with an old grandmother who is ready to die.  The old woman talks of it constantly, and even goes out in the rain in the hopes of speeding the process.  This past week our teammate knew that she had to speak to this woman. And a few days ago she did just that and told her the truth that could finally bring her final peace and set her free.  The old woman listened and accepted and we hope that it is enough for her to be set free.

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Desperate troubles make us bold.  It opens doors that were not there before.  Why is it so often this way?  Why do we only listen when all else has failed?  I would never wish troubles on anyone, and yet if it will awaken their heart, can it be anything but blessing?

Our weekly English club

If we had more perspective, we would see the chains that hold people down.   We would see the darkness that binds them.  We would see them starved of hope, of life and of spiritual nutrition—no matter their outside appearance, on the inside they are like POWs in a prison camp.  If we only saw more clearly, would we not do everything we could to set them free? To give them life? To give them hope?  But it takes boldness to storm the camp.  Troubles reveal the true conditions, and we storm the camp with prayer.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We are thankful that our future teammate gained clearance from the medical assessor and we can expect to have her join our team in February!  We’re thankful that our team’s visitor arrived safely and seems to be enjoying her time so far on the island.  We pray that we will continue to be mutually encouraged!  We are thankful for all the opportunities we have had to be bold this week.  May we continue to see clearly and speak boldly.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray for bold conversations that still need to happen, and for powerful answers to our prayers that would open doors to still greater things.  Pray for even more opportunities to speak boldly in love.  We learned of two more new sisters going for a swim on the little island this week!  May they be shepherded well and grow in truth and wisdom.  We heard some sad news this week of a brother who took a second wife.  Pray for him, his family, and the larger fellowship as they consider what to do about this difficult situation.  Pray for the emerging leaders in the fellowship family who are dealing with greater and more difficult issues all the time.  May they have humility, grace and patience.  Pray for us as we help to encourage and advise them.