Let there be LIGHT!

June 2009 Update

It has been a whirlwind month of grace and battle.  Truly it would have been impossible without the love and prayers of so many of our global family.  For you I am truly grateful.

Every day where we live seems to inch closer to precipices of hostility.  Intermittent reports blow like the storms of rainy season: one moment calm, the next violent in intensity.  Thousands have died in the last 6 months in the South in intertribal clashes over resources and land, making its recent history bloodier than even its northwestern neighbor of Darfur.  Reports from our pastors in the field reach us regularly of famine, drought, destruction of seed stores by worms and instability that make daily life a veritable crucible of love and faith.

What do you do in the face of an impending tidal wave of darkness?

For one, remember darkness cannot stand in the face of light.  It only calls for beacons to shine the reality of another realm.  Darkness cannot chase the light, but light sure can chase away the darkness!

So while aware of our at times precarious placement in the Kingdom, we choose to focus that for such a time as this God has called us to shine the light of love in the middle of the storm, raising up a generation of storm dancers and light carriers that will shift the atmosphere over this nation.

It has also been an intense time on our base as sickness has seemed to attack from every side.  I personally was hit with a severe case of malaria followed by bacterial dysentery, followed by a rare reinfection of malaria all in the span of 3 weeks.  Others on our base have been battling at times life threatening intestinal infections and malaria as well.  

Yet in the middle of the onslaught we can celebrate the nearing completion of our land lease paperwork (a 2 year battle!).  I am thrilled I got to preach my first sermon in Arabic even while sick AND share with the entire gathered police force of our city. 75% of them gave their hearts to Jesus!

Our churches are growing and planting more churches, our family is maturing in love and one of my favorite memories of the last 3 week ordeal was about 45 of my kids turning up on my porch one morning to pray for me.  This was the idea of an unexpected instigator- little Aarona now seven approached Kafi one of our eldest saying "We need to pray for mama"  So up they march to my house and by the time they were done I was feeling so loved and in need of a chiropractor- they can be a bit heavy handed my lil guys can.  Hmmm does it help if we push harder?

I am so excited as we are about to start the construction of 200 person House of Prayer that will be open for 24-7 prayer and used for our church services as well.  It is  a vision coming to pass at just the right time.

Thank you for your love and prayers.  You are signs and wonders to us in your love and support.   I am leaving for approximately a 3 week trip to the states where I will be attending Catch the Wave with my mother (hopefully resting and getting my strength back!), preaching in AK and then stopping for meetings in Holland on the way home.

I very much need another supernatural miracle of grace for my body to be healed and restored.  But I have the best Doctor in the whole wide world!

Please pray

*For the base especially Jenny Joy as she holds down the fort in my absence, as well as our national team

*For sickness to be kicked off our our compound and 7 fold retribution of divine healing to be poured out

*For our indigenous leaders and pastors facing extremely difficult circumstances

*For wisdom for all of us as we listen to Love's heartbeat

*For healing for me and a good time of connecting with heaven and family.

Love all of you so very much,

Michele

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