For those that have been following Team DRC/Malawi I thank you and especially those of you who were interceding for us in prayer.  As soon as we left Rwanda (where we stayed on Monday night, September 10^th with our ALARM hosts before moving on to Malawi) we lost all [internet] connection with the world outside our immediate area of African travels.  For me it was tough knowing that we could not send out words of update or especially some much needed prayer S.O.S.’s.  From the onset of our planning to go to Africa our team was certain that prayer coverage for each of us and those we went to serve would be the most essential aspect for ensuring our continued safety and effectiveness for our ministry efforts.

Gratefully, even without the benefit of Wi-Fi communication many of those committed to praying for us continued to faithfully do so.  Several even reported that they were awakened from their sleep to pray for us.  One member of my personal prayer shield (someone who goes on record to be committed to praying for me, my ministry, etc.) wrote me that she had night terrors during the first two nights we were in Malawi which were indeed the most challenging of days during the entire trip.  

For those who may not be familiar with the term, night terror is the term used to describe spiritual attack from the dark side.  Unlike a really bad dream or a nightmare, night terrors have their source in the demonic realm and can be extremely frightening if one does not know how to contend with the enemy and who is firmly grounded in their true identity in Christ.

Back to Malawi – our first two evenings were extremely difficult for each of us on the team.  To get to Malawi we traveled all through the night from Kigali, Rwanda with a long, four-hour layover in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; it was a grueling fifteen hour trip from beginning to end.  By the time we arrived in Malawi to begin the second leg of our ministry trip we were physically and emotionally exhausted.  I am confident that at the conclusion of our time in the DRC that each of us would have been very content to return the U.S. and would have done so with a genuine satisfaction for a job (already) well done.  But that was not to be because from the beginning we were also called to serve some choice leaders in Malawi – some very real battles were awaiting us there. 

Our experience reminds me of a reoccurring theme and spiritual principle: It’s yours – now go fight for it!  [This principle is illustrated in the narratives of the Book of Joshua.]  Are you able to identify this theme in your own experience?  Have you also discovered that partnership with God often requires a fight to possess what He has already given to you?  This was true at the time at the writing of the sacred Scriptures and remains just as true for us today.  Take a moment to consider: what are you contending for that the Lord has already given to you?     

I’ll write more about our ministry travels and some of our learning in future posts.  Thank you for reading and thank you for praying. 

Affectionately yours,

Ed

Ed meets Memory in Malawi for the first time, his World Vision sponsor child