I know that most of the blog readers also get Amanda’s Facebook updates. However, I could not miss an opportunity to show off my son. Here is the newest picture we have of Zander. He is 30 weeks alone and is set to make his grand entrance to the world in late June, but we are praying he comes a little early to help his mom and dad get his passport and visa in order in time to come back to the field.
Isn’t he cute?!
It is hard to believe, but we are once again getting ready to leave the field. In just two days we will board a plane and make our way back to Canada for the summer. Our plan is to return to the field again in August. In fact, most of the necessary details re completed. We just need to raise some money for the work and we are praying to be able to raise some money to invest in a car.
In the process of getting ready to leave we have done a lot of ‘last’ things. Last church service, last visit to the capital, last visit with friends… it’s always a bit of a sad time. Last year we took off right after General Conference, it was such a high and low moment that this year we made sure we had a few weeks to wind down.
We are looking forward to being home. It will be nice to see family and friends. To be honest though, I am already looking forward to getting back to the field. This is where God wants us, and it is where I want to be. Certainly we all get a little home sick when miles separate us from our loved ones. However, knowing you are doing a work for God makes every sacrifice a little easier to bear.
This may be the last post for a few days, depending on internet availability at the airports. Keep us in prayer as we travel and for next week. We have a busy time in Canada planned and we hit the ground running: we arrive Sunday and Monday I have an interview with the district board – jet lag and all! Should be fun.
Our national Assistant Bishop shared an amazing story with me this morning. Last night his church had their weekly Ladies Meeting. A man arrived in a taxi and had to be carried into service. The man explained that he hadn’t been able to walk for 8 years. A few months ago he had a dream that he was in a church with a pulpit in the middle and the congregation arranged on 3 sides of the platform. In that church, in his dream, the crippled man was walking. He spent a few months looking for that church with no luck. Finally, someone told him the church in the dream matched our Assistant Bishop’s church. After sharing the story he told the ladies, “If you pray, I will walk!”. They prayed, he stood up, stumbled a bit, then said, “I’m healed” and he walked to the bus station! God is SO good!
Well, as I said in my last post we had some car trouble when we went to the capital to visit Sis Shalm over the weekend. What I didn’t mention before is how the weekend ended. Sunday, as some of you know, was my birthday. Thanks to all who called/e-mailed to wish me a great day. However, the comments did not seem to work.
I had a great morning. Sis Shalm made waffles for breakfast. Then we spent some time teaching Sis Shalm how to make a newsletter and a few other things on the computer. Then we had pizza and one of the best cakes I have ever tasted! But then the fun ended.
On the way home from the capital we had car trouble once again. We ended up having to call Sis Shalm to pick us up and take us back to the capital so we could get on a bus and go home while our driver fixed the car. All in all it took us about 8 hours to get back to our city.
But the fun wasn’t over yet! We had to get a taxi from the bus station to our house. But the taxi driver spoke almost no English and had no idea where we lived. After I finally got him to listen to me and follow my directions we got very close to home when the police pulled us over. It seems the Prime Minister of the country was visiting a home very near ours and the police were not letting ANYONE pass. Eventually a high ranking official came and let us by because we are foreigners and not terrorists. In all the 3 minute drive from the station to our house took 45 minutes!
If that had been the end it would have been enough, but the fun wasn’t over yet. Our driver finally got the car fixed and was on his way home at about 2AM when a van cut him off forcing him to slam on his brakes. When he did 4 men with machine guns jumped out of the van and robbed him. It is just by the grace of God they did not harm him or the car. A miracle really.
In the end I paid about $125 in car rental fees and repairs for a car that didn’t even get us home and got our driver robbed! This was not exactly the best way to celebrate a birthday. But thank God for his protection over us.
Who ever said birthdays got less exciting as you got older? This seems to be the most memorable (or at least most unforgettable) of any of my birthdays so far!
Last night we decided to head to the capital and spend a day with Sis Shalm. So this morning we headed out with a rental car as we really didn’t feel like taking the bus this time. Well, we always have an adventure when we rent cars. Without fail, I end up doing repair work for the rental agency in order to get where we want to go. Today was no exception. On the way we had to stop and fill the gas tank and afterwards the car would not start. The ignition wires caught fire and burned out. It cost us a few dollars and an hour of our time to get new wiring done. Then, when we pulled into the Shalm’s driveway, the car overheated and the wiring burned out again. Another 5 dollars and repair time later the car is running… for now! Anyway, if anyone out there reads this message before Sunday, say a prayer for us and the rental car so that we can get back home in one piece: us and the car!
During our General Conference a small earthquake hit our capital city region. Likewise, in a spiritual sense, there was a real shaking during our conference. The brethren were taught and challenged, and in the night sessions hundreds were baptized with the Holy Ghost for the first time!
However, when the conference ended, God was not finished. On Sunday morning we felt the after shocks of the great outpouring of the Spirit. Amanda and I were at different churches Sunday, hosting some of the guests with local pastors. In the service Amanda went to 8 received the Holy Ghost that morning! In the service I was in another 5 received the Holy Ghost! What an awesome morning.
I must say, the guests this year just came in and connected with the people. They had all been here before and I think it made a huge difference. They knew what to do, what not to do, and God really blessed everything that was done!
Friday night we had our final crusade night. It was powerful. Hundreds received the baptism of the Holy Ghost for the first time! Unfortunately, the power went out on our lighting system so an accurate accounting was impossible at that time. Reports will continue to flow in over the next few months. However, we can confirm more then 700 healings over the 3 day crusade! It was a great conference and a powerful experience. Thank you for all of your prayers!
Just a quick update: we had 6000+ in attendance last night for the second crusade service! 700+ miracles of healing happened! I was so busy praying for people I missed hearing the reports but I know it was another awesome night!
First of all, let me say the day sessions with Bro Raymond Woodward and Bro Jack Leaman have been so powerful that I had to sit and weep during the sessions. I could hardly comprehend the fact that men could be so powerfully anointed to teach; it was that powerful! The last two days have been marked with teaching on the blood, the name, and the Holy Ghost! Pentecostal preaching done in a way that impacted us as much as it impacted the local people! In one word: Awesome.
Last night was our first crusade service with John Arcovio. He preached a powerful message of faith and prayed for the sick. Hundreds gave testimony of healing and a girl in a wheelchair who had never walked stood up on her own power and was able to take a few steps. It was wonderful to watch and we are believing that she is HEALED. Healing can take time, but we are claiming that she received the touch she needed to change her life forever!
Official reports will be made in the next few days as testimonies finish coming in, but in the mean time, keep praying! Friday at 10AM Eastern Standard Time will be the Holy Ghost Crusade and we are still believing for 1000 plus to receive the Holy Ghost!
We have finished the first day of GC 2009 with great success. There was a spirit of unity in the business meeting and everything went forward without any issues. We are taking this as a sign of God’s blessing upon this conference. Continue to pray with us as there continue to be hurdles to cross, but we are believing God for a mighty outpouring of the Holy Ghost on Friday night.
