Life Changing Words Ministry
Missionary Journal
November 2007
It is November 11, 2007. We were supposed to be in India...at least that was what we thought. From Junction, TX, Emma Fey thought she would be coming to our home in Aloha, OR, on the Saturday before our schedule to leave on the 31st of October. But, that didn't happen. She arrived on Monday afternoon...according to the Lord's plan.
Our first delay came through the reality that Emma's passport did not arrive as scheduled. She had done all that she had been instructed to do...but it was not the Lord's plan to leave according to our schedule. So, as we waited, I finished up the things that would have been left undone or would have been a confused burden for the individual who was willing to handle the finances as I had laid out in detail. We all felt a disappointment, which was understandable in the flesh. It was not a flesh issue. It was a choice to yield to something that was out of our own control.
Emma's passport arrived the following Monday, a week later! We knew that it was in transit when I contacted our travel agent with the rescheduling of the flight. Later in the day, however, she called back to let us know that we would have to wait another week to leave. While I held on the phone, she was checking other possibilities for our departure. As I held to phone to my ear, I heard the Lord's voice say to me, "You are not ready yet." Our tickets were confirmed for the only day and time to leave...according to the Lord's plan.
For Emma, it was the Lord giving her another week of adjustment away from her home for the first time. We were getting to know one another in uninterrupted opportunities. God was also working on her behalf in situations back in Texas that she had to trust the Lord to do. She knew it was a time for her family to step out and trust the Lord in new ways and in ways that the Lord would draw them to Himself.
For me, this last week of waiting would be the time that I would actually be able to commit myself to prayer, reading, and spiritual preparations for this trip that would be new, different, and more powerful than the ones before...according to the Lord's plan of "deeper and higher" things. My spirit knew that this time we would see more miracles, signs, and wonders to confirm the gospel than we had ever experienced before. I wanted to be ready, sensitive, and watching for every prompt or unction...a servant waiting on the Master's command.
Emma and I have spent much of our time in the "upper rooms" worshipping, reading, praying, and waiting quietly. In between, we have our two meals downstairs and brief times of getting to know each other or encouraging one another in what the Lord is showing us. Bill is winding down his business jobs, getting the outside chores finished, as well as, some inside the house honey-do items that he now has opportunity to get in order. He has his quiet times in the evenings.
I drove Emma to the coast to see the Pacific one afternoon. We set out in the morning to get gas and stop at the bank on the way out of town. Because Bill had pulled the battery cable on the Buick, it set the radio/CD unit into a locked position. At the gas station, I checked the owner's manual and found out that without a code number, we could not unlock it to play the CDs. So we went to the dealership to find out the code number. We had to wait.... We had been informed on the phone that the charge would be $30. We didn't know there was an option. But, when we arrived, the man who came to take our service order told us that he was the only one who could do it and the company charges a lot for it.
"Perhaps, I could make a special offer of no charge, if you can wait a few minutes for me to finish what I am working on."
"You will be blessing servants of the Most High God, who are going to India this next week. Today, I am taking our guest from Texas to see our beautiful coast." I piped up to him.
He smiled. "I guess that that is what I can do. Come with me." He took us to the waiting room.
We sat where we could watch the other people and the TV was on with "The View" broadcasting. It was a sad feeling that the sense of what was communicated was that people have no sense of purpose in their lives, other than to draw it from others they perceive as successful, even if they are immoral. Oh, Lord, open their eyes and hearts to see that their whole being and purpose lies in You.
It was still overcast and foggy when we headed west to the beach. On the way, we asked the Lord to hold back the rain and give us a good day for our travel. About that time we approached a tunnel through the mountain. On the other side, we drove out into a clear, non-foggy environment with a patch of sunny sky. Ahead of us was the gray fog layer that is common over the water in the fall and winter season. As we came around Saddle Mountain, the gray fog-clouds looked as if a large hand had made a swipe across them, just as someone would wave a hand in saying, "Have fun!" Thanks, Lord!
In an hour and half we had reached Seaside, OR, where the Lewis & Clark Expedition boiled the seawater for salt, and unending waves of the Pacific Ocean. The wind was blowing somewhat as we walked out over the sand to where the wet sand was. We took a couple pictures and then wrote, "India for Jesus" in the sand. Emma took a picture of it.
The city of Seaside is a tourist town, especially in the warmer days and on holidays. We had an enjoyable time checking out one of the antique malls on the main drag where we had parked. Emma and I laughed over the fact that she found a kimono to wear as a robe. Are we going to Japan or India? We took with us some homemade fudge and saltwater taffy that the area is known for.
We drove south on Hwy 101 to Tolovana Beach and ate some clam chowder at the famous MO's restaurant. Our drive took us farther south to the city of Tillamook, where the famous cheese factory resides. We watched the workers in their three assembly lines cut, wrap, and package the cheese that had been made previously and now were being brought out of their holding and aging areas to be presented for purchase and shipping. I never get tired of going and watching the process, ever since I went there the first time in 1972.
I safely deposited Emma to our house in time for Steve's chicken dinner. [We take turns cooking in our house...especially when we are home.] We went back to the upper rooms to continue our waiting time.
Last Saturday, I showed Emma the styles and types of clothing that we would be wearing in India. "Wow, I feel like I can't breathe. I am used to wearing loose and full clothes. This will be hard."
"It won't be as bad as you think. The clothes will be tailored to your fit, but the sleeves will fit snuggly to your arms."
"Are the blouses only half a blouse?"
"Yes, and as you will see, your midriff will be covered when I get you dressed properly."
I dressed her in a turquoise and pink sari and took her picture. She looked like an Indian lady...right down to the smile...
This is the time to put the laptop into the bag...until later...and in India...
Today is the last day of November already. It seems as if the moment we arrived, we have been off in the race to minister for the Lord. We arrived into Bombay (Mumbai) on the 14th, close enough to be considered on time. We got through immigration faster than I think we have done before. Our bags were near the end which has been typical in the past years. We were directed to a line to pass through customs and have our bags x-rayed before leaving the airport.
An agent came up to me and asked me, "What do you have in your bags, anything to claim?"
"No, we have clothing and books. These two are also with me," I replied.
"OK, you go." And again we were through quicker than ever.
Our next stop before exiting the airport was to the currency exchange booth. This time we were met with some disappointment in that the currency rate was down from last year. We got Rs 38.5 from last years Rs 43-44. I am generally hesitant to get a larger amount of money exchanged at the airport, and then later wish I had gone ahead and done so. I am still learning... Lord, make up the difference for us.
The first face I saw was our young phonogram teacher, Joshua, and then Ravi More waved. By the time we maneuvered our luggage carts toward them, they were on the cellphone to Pastor Paul, who came from the right side of the building, with his bright smile and big hug. The men gave me a second look, because I had worn my "snap-on" hair. It is blonde. [My sister has blonde hair and I have always wanted to know how I would look in her hair color. Pastor Irma and Emma told me that it transformed me to ten years younger...still the expressions on the fellas faces were priceless.]
In about an hour we were at our familiar homestay of Raj and Reema Powar. Reema had suffered two heart attacks early last month and was recuperated enough to have us. She would do our laundry and fix a simple breakfast (nasta) for us each day. Our stay in their home would be like a bed & breakfast in the USA. [Later, she was unable to do any hosting, so we adjusted to just sleep and have an evening bucket bath.] In the main room (living room) Bill and I would sleep on the futon. Emma had a pallet on the floor, made up of a grass mat and a blanket. Five years earlier Bill and I had the floor privilege that Emma experienced.
When Pastor left, Reema sat on the couch with me to show me her hands. The finger tips down to her knuckles were devoid of pigment. The tips were as white as my hands. She told me that she would be going to the doctor for some treatments next week. They thought that the laundry soap she was using was causing this. [Later, Raj said that it may be caused from the medications she was given for the heart attacks. She is also having some diabetes and eye problems.]
Friday morning Emma and I dressed in the Indian suits we had brought to go shopping. It was fun to watch Emma shop for the Indian pant suits. Later we went to a sari wholesale shop for another experience. With all the fun colors, styles, designs, you can't be in a hurry to decide. You think you have selected and then there is another beautiful one that is brought out, or one your eye has caught, because the helpers are always folding up the ones not chosen. We spend hours shopping...until we are tired!
Bill shared at the evening meeting in the Immanuel Prayer House (IPH) church. We are glad to see our people come to meet us before the service. Bill shared on prayer.
We have all our meals at the church. The evening meal usually is after the services. Then we take an auto rickshaw between the Powar apartment style house and the church. It takes about fifteen minutes depending upon the traffic. Only three passengers can ride at a time, so Pastor leads the way on his motorcycle. Gladson, Graceson, or Florie will ride on the back with Pastor to see us safely home.
Saturday was a full day. We went to Roja-akka's house for our breakfast of south India idli. It is a round saucer-shaped pillow made out of rice and steam-boiled. Over it you have a curry and a spicy chutney made of coconut. Emma has been brave to taste the foods, but the ladies know that unless she eats it all, she must not like it. Watching her makes me remember my first trip to India in 1971! I was hesitant too.
Next, we were whisked away to the tribal village of Warli Pada to observe how the children were learning in the phonogram class. I was pleasantly surprised at their progress.
We remained in the village to visit and have lunch at Ramu and Laxmi's hut until two pm when the ladies' meeting would begin. I shared on 1 Peter 4:7-8. By dark we were back to the main church in the Indira Colony.
The evening youth service began at 7:30pm. Isaiah 43:8-12 was my scripture. Youth from both services and several languages were present. Translation is usually in Hindi, the national language. Seven youth stood to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit; three received the evidence of speaking in tongues before the service was over.
Florie is a great cook. Her father worked as a chef in Bahrain when she was younger. Her challenge is to cook something that would be easy on Bill's stomach and that Emma would like and eat it all.
She told me, "You are one of us. I am not worried about what you will eat. I don't want Uncle and Emma sister to be hungry."
"Just pray and ask the Lord for creative cooking. He will help you."
Emma sister tried the curry, but mostly ate all her plain rice before we went back to our homestay.
Sunday morning first service began at 8am. Pastor came early to get Bill to speak for that service. Emma and I would come with Raj's son, Rohan, who plays the keyboard at the second service. The message the Lord gave me for second service was selected verses from Hebrews chapters three and four on the Sabbath rest.
We had lunch and many visitors stopped by. The ladies were excited to meet Emma sister.
"She looks like a Nepalese lady."
"No, an Indian lady!"
"She has dark hair like we do."
We did a lot of laughing.
Florie told me to wear my hair piece everyday. The children did not know that it wasn't my real hair.
Before we knew it, it was almost 5:00pm and Bill and Pastor were leaving to go to the cell church meeting in the Sindy Colony. Emma and I refreshed and prepared to go to the evening service in Warli Pada, where Emma sister would give the message at 7:30pm.
Florie and I had planned to discuss and set into an itinerary for the rest of the month, week by week. Somehow, we didn't arrive to the church as early as we wanted to in the morning. [We were handicapped in the aspect that we were dependant upon Pastor to come and fetch us. If he was busy, we had to wait.] With the other activities that come up in the typical pastor's home, we missed our window.
It was Pastor Paul's birthday (19 Nov). The youth were going to put on a party in the evening for him and had brought some things for Florie to cook for them. They would do the serving and clean-up. They had asked Ravi More to come and put up the HAPPY BIRTHDAY Pr PAUL lights. Because Bill's birthday was on the day we left for India, the party included his name on the wall too.
Emma and I signed Bill's card I had brought with me for the occasion. Emma presented him with a pen set, and Bill informed Pastor that he would purchase new lights for his motorcycle as his gift from the two of us. [Vandals had broken the lights when Bill and Pastor were at the Sindy Colony meeting.]
The next day, Tuesday, we were picked up in a private rental Qualis that could hold the three of us and Pastor's family. We were heading to the Operation Mobilization bookstore in Mumbai and then, to the Gateway of India.
On the way, we had to stop and get new passport photos for our permit applications for Nagaland. There was a new man in the Homeland office and we needed new photos for Pastor Kilang to submit on our behalf. We would need to get a new winter jacket for Daniel and send it with the documents.
We probably spent a good two hours in the air-conditioned store. The children enjoyed it as much as I did. We found some resource books for the church and a dictionary for the phonogram class. [We realized later that we had forgotten to buy more of the Foundations for Righteous Living, by Derek Prince for the new ones who would be water baptized. It is the next step in training for servanthood.] We called in our order for pickup when the shipment came in.
On the way to the tourist spot, a traffic cop on a motorcycle hit the vehicle we were in to make it stop. The driver jumped out to see what was wrong. If the cop needs a little extra cash for his pocket, he will pull someone over with a trumped up excuse in order to get a bribe. Pastor got out to see what he could do. We agreed to give Rs 100 to get us back on the road, but we would deduct the amount from the vehicle rent. Later, we gave a Rs 100 gratuity that drivers usually get. The driver was relieved.
We walked around the Gateway and took some pictures. Hawkers were trying to sell huge thumb shaped balloons, just for the "fun". Our eight hour vehicle limit was almost up, so we headed back to the car for the trip home.
One thing no one denied was that the time continues to go by very, very fast. It was already time to get back to our homestay, after a delicious supper meal.
Wednesday, we arrived to the church about eleven. By this time Reema had gone for her treatments. Her sister came to get her. Reema's way was to wake us up by opening up the drapes and the doors to the veranda, because Raj had to be up to leave by 8am for work. By ten am, she would stand in her bedroom and pray loudly for 5-10 minutes. Then her day as a stay at home wife and mother begins with greeting all her neighbors who are leaving for shopping or work. Rohan, 22, had gone at 2 am for his job. He interacts with Australia. She would be up with him following him to the door, loudly slamming and making sure the lock was sure, turn out the lights and return to bed.
But today, she is not in the house. Raj is not good with hospitality presentation. We adjust with gratefulness for his efforts to supply hot water (garam pani) for bathing and for coffee before heading to the office.
After our lunch at pastor's house, I was managing to start to put the paperwork together for the church. [There are many distractions and disruptions in the tiny area that I have to work. It is even entertaining to watch the little mouse-sized rats run out in the open area. You almost imagine that they are playing some kind of game to see how long it takes them to get to cover.] It is already time for Emma and me to go to the Sindy house group. Pastor and Florie go with us. The Holy Spirit leads with words of encouragement for the people. We receive tea and snacks before going back to the church for the Bible study that Emma sister will give at 7:30pm.
We've been getting back to Raj's usually between 10:30 and midnight. He lets us in and goes back to bed.
Thursday we fasted in the morning. Emma and I had been invited to Meena's hut. We, along with Florie, take the auto rickshaw to the edge of the field and walk the remaining way. Last year I wore a sari and had to climb over the wall. This time we wear the pant suit and navigate over the wall fairly quickly. Meena is a leper, but because she takes the required medication, she is not contagious. Shalan and Joshua will meet us at Meena's. We have a good visit, prayer time, and leave a new sari with her. She is very happy and feels loved. She has three little daughters.
From Meena's we go the back way to Warli Pada, so Florie can cut Wandana's hair. Wandana is handicapped, but responds to directions. She also talks a little. Florie does a nice job on her hair. It is almost 5 pm when we head down the mountain to go back to the church for our supper.
There seems to be some confusion about the new language group who has come to the church. It was our understanding that the new Tamil service would be an added blessing to IPH. But there is a problem -- the elders of this group are not paying the tithes to the pastor. Instead, they are only giving him 10% of the offerings and banking the rest under an illegal IPH bank account in the next city. The checking account doesn't include the pastor's name. So we arranged for a meeting at 8:30pm.
The outcome of the meeting was not as expected. The main players came by 10pm and an argument ensued. We decided to have an earlier meeting in the next day or two, but to have a decision by Sunday. There was to be no meeting on Sunday, in order for the people to experience the blessing that Sunday is supposed to give. The meeting ended up being set for Monday evening the following week. We would pray and fast for then. We got to bed very, very late.
Friday the 23rd started out with a beautiful day, not too warm and a little breezy. We ate our breakfast at the church and by 12:15pm, we headed to Manda's house for the usual ladies house meeting. She lives on the top edge of the slum which borders Warli Pada on the Thane side. So we took the auto rickshaw to the Thane border and walked the remaining way up the mountain. Manda's house is less than four foot wide and about six foot long. It has corrugated metal walls and a wooden entrance door. We enjoyed the simple yet tasty lunch Manda fixed. This was my fourth visit to her house. Her house quickly filled with the ladies and others who came just for the fun of it.
During the ladies meeting, the Presence of the Lord came sweetly. No one wanted to leave. The ladies asked us to come to their little houses nearby for prayers of blessing. Their houses were all in a row, so we went. First, we prayed for the Lord to bless Joshua's house. They need to build a second floor. He and his teenage brothers are growing and they need the extra room. Currently, they all sleep on the floor and his parents have neither privacy...nor any room to walk, for that matter.
God opened a special door of invitation from Manda's mother to come to her house. She used to "make noise" regarding this Jesus. Today we will visit her. We told her about Jesus and salvation. We prayed for her salvation and for her hurting knees. The Lord touched her. She was so grateful that she asked for Emma sister's bible and placed a small gift offering inside. Emma prayed a blessing prayer for her.
Altogether, we witnessed one healing, two salvations, and gave three house blessings. We were rejoicing as we were coming down the mountain. We got down into the Thane residential area, where we met three of the children who attend IPH. We gave them some of the snack we had received from the last house, where we brought the Lord's blessing.
We crossed over to the other side of the street and started down the alley way, retracing our way coming. We had to stop and wait for eight years old, Gladson, to catch up with us. He had met a friend and was offering him a snack too.
It would soon be dark soon, so we were trying to get back to the area where we could catch an auto rickshaw. Emma sister was behind me. I was walking carefully, because I had slip-on sandals from USA. Emma sister was wearing shoes that were like a tennis shoe.
Florie was ahead of us at the street already. Emma and I were almost to the end of the alley. Suddenly, Emma slipped and fell to my left. She cried out and I turned to see her on the ground. I shouted Florie's name and motioned for her. As I turned to stoop down to help Emma, a young man appeared and took her dupatta (scarf) and carefully tied it very tightly around her ankle. Emma could not move. The young man helped her to stand up. We became keenly aware that she was in much pain. I helped her with her bag, while a couple of young men helped her to the street where we caught the auto rickshaw Florie had flagged down.
Florie called Pastor to meet us at the end of the street where the church is. He and Graceson led us to the same bone hospital I had gone to last year with the bone spur in my shoulder. Pastor carried Emma sister up the stairs to the second floor waiting room. [It was his workout for the day that we later laughed over.] Next, he had to carry her into the x-ray room. The x-ray revealed a break in the bone that was on the outside of the ankle. A soft support cast was put on with the instructions to remain quiet and to elevate the leg for five days.
Emma is quite the trooper. She obediently adjusted to the private room we created with newly purchased curtains.
Florie smiled, "Emma sister has her own house here in the church."
"Wow, King David desired to live in the house of the Lord. Emma gets to experience the fulfillment of it in her life, too!!!" I expressed as she was coping with the pain of trying to get her leg into a comfortable place.
"Don't worry, Emma, we even got a special potty for your convenience." Her eyes spoke volumes of words that went unspoken. She would have to stay put for five days, much to her disappointment.
We all gathered to pray and ask the Lord for a miracle of healing. Five is the number of God's grace and we wanted to see His grace manifested for her. Emma cooperated with our prayers. We began to believe that we would see the healing in the second x-ray.
By 5:20pm on the 28th, we had Emma sister in the waiting room for her second x-ray. After its development we could hardly wait to see it ourselves...sure enough the break was gone!!! Hallelujah!
The doctor witnessed Emma walking into his office. He was surprised. I handed him the x-ray, while he called Emma around to his side of the desk. He pressed here and there asking her if it hurt. The last place, she said firmly through her teeth, "Yes!"
He did not acknowledge the change in the x-ray, but he did change his prognosis. Instead, he would have a soft fiberglass cast put on for not three, but two weeks in order to strengthen the bone with protection. She must return on Dec 12th for a check-up. [At least the expenses are affordable...about $100 so far including pain medication.] She decided she would endure by grace.
What wonderful things God does in people's lives...the successes experienced in Warli Pada. His enemies do not want us to walk in His victory...so they try to break the walk. BUT, we are overcomers in this life in the Lord...declare by faith His outcome.
Saturday, Emma sister spent her day snug in her new house within the church. I went through some training with Florie and Joshua showing them the new phonogram class lesson book that Marisa Alexander worked so hard to create and put together. Lord, let her see the fruits of her labors one day.
After lunch the ladies met at the two o'clock meeting; the youth meeting in the evening kept me alert in prayer and waiting in my spirit for the voice of the Lord to direct me. Both meetings emphasized the individual need to have a personal relationship with their Heavenly Father, Creator God.
Sunday was my turn to speak at the Tamil church during the first service. I knew that the heart of the Lord would not want us to focus on the issues that were yet unresolved. I was led to share on the purpose of the night watch prayer and how to be a watchman, which leads one into maturity. [The elders expressed their surprise that they were not beaten down with scriptures, as is often the case when there are problems within the church.]
Bill spoke in the second service, while Florie and I worked on the lunch. By the time we had eaten and done the clean-up, there was only an hour before Bill and Pastor went to the Sindy Colony house service at 5pm.
The IPH Phonogram children came at 7 pm for their class. They are so energetic and participate with enthusiasm. Florie and Joshua went to the Ghatkopar church; they had not returned in time, so I took the class for him. It was so fun and satisfying to do.
Bill and I were tired by the time we got back to the Powar house and to bed.
Monday afternoon I prepared the Baptism Class seminar for Tuesday. Florie and I went to two houses for prayer meeting. One person received salvation and healing requests were answered. [No pictures taken!!! Help me, Lord!]
The outcome of the evening Tamil meeting was the result of fasting and prayer. It went well with a peaceful explanation of the church accountability and policies. I read the business meeting minutes of the first meeting since the Tamil group came to the church.
I asked the question of those attending, "You show that the church needs are five in number. The last is a Tamil pastor. It was my understanding that you came to IPH to ask if Pastor Paul would lead you. "
"Yes, Ma'am, that is true."
"It is clear to me that the Lord did not send you another pastor. In six months, Pastor Paul has been your pastor. Don't you think that it is the right thing for him to receive the tithe for the pastoring he has done for you all?" I asked Mr. Johnraj.
"Yes," he replied. "Ok, ok, we will do it."
There was no argument and we felt the grace of God flowing in the meeting. We showed the flow of the tithes, offerings, and alms. There was no dissention. They were struggling with trusting man with their money, instead of giving by faith, allowing the pastor to see that all the bills are paid, and still have an adequate living allowance. But they voiced an agreement to stay and submit to letting Pastor Paul be pastor. We were rejoicing that the Lord has done a work to bring these babes to IPH for growing up in Him.
Tuesday we began the morning Baptism Seminar. Bill took the first portion on the background of water baptism. Emma took the second segment on repentance, believing, a good conscience, and discipleship. I closed the last session after covering the purpose and practical things of water baptism. Those being prepared were prayed over for protection and to be able to overcome the evil one, who would do whatever he could to hinder them from this obedient action of faith. We also encouraged them to fast, especially on Friday, the 31st, and expect to hear the voice of the Lord speak to them a new Christian name.
In the evening Pastor Paul, Florie, and I went to a house prayer meeting in Thane. The family is new to IPH and it is customary practice for the pastor to visit at least once a year his members. The family holds prayer meetings for the people in the building where they are living. We also invited Akshay, Charles, and Sam, who missed the morning meeting because of school commitments. Three of the four neighboring visitors prayed the prayer of salvation.
The boys prepared for the Friday water baptism appointment. Charles had a lot of questions and hesitancy. It was clear that the enemy of our souls did not want him to go through with the Lord's plan. Charles struggled in the battle that was raging inside. He was afraid of what his father, who was working in Bahrain, would say about his decision to be baptized. We rebuked the fear and asked him a few more thought questions. When he finally made his decision, you could see the victory on his face, but more the relaxing of his physical body...then the smile.
Akshay and Sam are friends at school. Sam brought this family to IPH and to the Lord. Sam wanted to be baptized with his friend.
Rajishree, the lady of the house, suffered an attack of the enemy on her physical body. At the same time, Pastor Paul saw an open vision of the "monkeys" running from inside the house, as I was praying a closing prayer.
Before leaving, Pastor anointed their home with water, signifying the blood of Jesus, and then blessed it in the name of the Lord at the husband's request. This made Rajishree's husband very happy, since he had to go to Delhi the next day for work. He said he would take water baptism when he comes back the end of December.
The first time we were able to be out for the internet to check emails was on Thursday, almost two weeks since we arrived here. I spent about 2.5 hours on their dial-up system, but I was not discouraged. I only had to retype one email that was lost and the total bill was about a dollar. Bill and Pastor ran errands while I was working on the computer. He dropped Bill and I back to the church and went to finish his errands.
The rest of the afternoon I worked on sorting and organizing receipts for the pastor. I finished up the receipts and cleared off the table for Florie to use for eating. While she was cooking, Emma and I were downstairs praying and worshipping the Lord. Two hours went by like ten minutes. Pastor had returned and joined our prayer time. We finished by praying for him.
Since the church baptism group would be leaving early in the morning for the river. We would not be permitted to go with them, because we are foreigners. Since our transportation helper would be at the river, we would stay overnight at the church, too. It was so refreshing to get a restful sleep. It was spiritually peaceful compared to where we were currently staying.
Because of Reema's ailments, we asked through Pastor or Florie if she would want prayer. She would say that she would, but when we were praying for her, she would not receive the powerful healing that came to her from the messenger of the Lord, Emma sister. This element of unbelief prevented Reema from getting better. She began to manifest a different attitude toward Emma sister, which was very apparent and uncomfortable for all of us.
One evening before Pastor and Florie left for the night, Reema told us her son, Rohan, was sick. We offered to pray for him and he came out of the other room. He seemed to be receiving up to a point and then nothing. We began to ask questions as the Lord gave direction. What came out was that Rohan was talking with the devil in the form of a woman every night. He would go outside to meet her at the gate in front of the building.
We suggested that he stop, repent, receive forgiveness from the Lord, and fulfill his destiny.
"I don't want to stop," he replied. "She tells me things. She can wake me up from my deep sleep when she is at the gate."
"Rohan, the Lord has gifted you with an anointing for music. Don't you see that the devil does not want you to glorify the Lord?" I asked him. "He is trying to deceive you through her?"
Pastor, Florie and Emma each attempted to encourage him to change his mind.
Later the Lord opened my eyes to see over the couch a large "cat eye" drawn in ink on the wall over the couch where Emma slept, since she moved off the floor, because her foot needed elevated at night. I had just read about the "watcher eye" that occult practitioners use on unwitting people to harm or inflict others. We could not remove it, and we had no authority to do so either. We recommitted ourselves into the hand of God. His grace would have to be sufficient for us to remain in their home. We did not have another option at this time.