What do a large tub of water, two strong men and a broken hand have in common?
Okay, people this is not joke. What they have in common is that they are all part of my past week. I will explain.
1. Large tub of water: Baptism of course! Last Saturday 6 boys that Jonathan and Tom had been discipling were baptized at our house! It was such a blessing. These children were beaming as they shared their testimonies about how Jesus has changed their lives!
2. Strong men: The power team came to visit Svay Pak! For those of you that don't know, the power team is a group of American strong men that do feats of strength and share their testimonies. The village was freaking out! They looked on as the men did incredible things like bending a frying pan like a burrito and bending a tire iron with his teeth. The strong men shared their testimonies and asked the men of the village to come to the newly opened gym to learn more about Jesus. It was amazing. I pray that the men will be interested and want to learn about getting strong physically and spiritually.
3. Broken hand: Sadly, Alli broke her hand! It was the result of a tuk-tuk accident. We were riding back from Svay Pak, when our tuk-tuk had to stop suddenly. Our driver fish-tailed and the bike became detached from the tuk-tuk, almost causing it to flip completely. Alli was thrown from the tuk-tuk and caught herself on her hand. Today we found out it was broken. Although Alli is in pain, we are thankful there were no more injuries. The accident could have been a lot more serious especially if the tuk-tuk would have fallen on Alli and the driver. Praise the Lord that the injuries were minor!
That is my week at a glance. Sounds exciting, right? Maybe almost as exciting as being attacked in a Spiderman costume. :)
Please remember our team in your prayers.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The journey continues
Things have settled down quite a bit. I haven't been attacked by any small children lately. Ha Ha!
In Svay Pak feel like there continues to be increased favor and connections. More children know me by name and greet me with smiles. Also, we continue to receive isolated smiles and interest from some of the adults.
I'm amazed at the work that I get to do here. I get to spend hours with these precious children in the middle of their hurting.
I know the reality.
The truth is that for many of them our hours together is a respite from the life they live. When we leave the village at 5 o'clock many will have to spend the night in forced prostitution.
For years, I've asked the Lord to put me in a place with those that are broken. Each day I have a chance to love and encourage one of these small ones in the name of Jesus. Each day I get to be there while they are reminded that the Lord has called them by name and they are his (Isiah 43:1). What a blessing!
I feel that the Lord has great plans of restoration for Svay Pak. Restoration that will take place with much prayer and time. I have asked you all to pray and I feel the urgency for prayer even more. Svay Pak is so dark and oppressed. Some of the most important things we do is praying and warring in the spirit.
Know that your prayers are needed and felt. It takes armies to fight wars and you are part of that army. Please continue to pray for Svay Pak. Ask for breakthroughs. Ask for connections in the village. Ask that the enemy's stronghold would be broken and people would be set free.
Please also pray for my time here. Our team's time is almost up and I am prayerfully considering staying longer. I am asking the Lord for a more defined vision of the work He has for me if I stay.
In Svay Pak feel like there continues to be increased favor and connections. More children know me by name and greet me with smiles. Also, we continue to receive isolated smiles and interest from some of the adults.
I'm amazed at the work that I get to do here. I get to spend hours with these precious children in the middle of their hurting.
I know the reality.
The truth is that for many of them our hours together is a respite from the life they live. When we leave the village at 5 o'clock many will have to spend the night in forced prostitution.
For years, I've asked the Lord to put me in a place with those that are broken. Each day I have a chance to love and encourage one of these small ones in the name of Jesus. Each day I get to be there while they are reminded that the Lord has called them by name and they are his (Isiah 43:1). What a blessing!
I feel that the Lord has great plans of restoration for Svay Pak. Restoration that will take place with much prayer and time. I have asked you all to pray and I feel the urgency for prayer even more. Svay Pak is so dark and oppressed. Some of the most important things we do is praying and warring in the spirit.
Know that your prayers are needed and felt. It takes armies to fight wars and you are part of that army. Please continue to pray for Svay Pak. Ask for breakthroughs. Ask for connections in the village. Ask that the enemy's stronghold would be broken and people would be set free.
Please also pray for my time here. Our team's time is almost up and I am prayerfully considering staying longer. I am asking the Lord for a more defined vision of the work He has for me if I stay.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
I was attacked by an angry mob
My adventures at Svay Pak are endless. Since working there I have: had a small dead chick thrown at my back; been stoned by 10 small laughing children; and recently been attacked by an angry mob. . .
It all started on Wednesday. We began teaching about how powerful God is. Alli had a great idea to dress up in super hero costumes. The idea was that we would show our super powers and begin fighting only to have God silence us with one word. Thus, showing God as all powerful.
Well, let's just say the children lost their minds.
They were fine at the point when each superhero was introduced, but something clicked inside of them once we started showing our super powers. I couldn't see much through my spiderman mask, but at one point my eyes met the crazed eyes of 80 small children as they stormed towards us. Suddenly 80 children became one great mob. They were screaming and pushing and trying to rip our costumes right off of us. At first I thought they would heed our cries and sit down.
But they didn't!
I felt my feet leave the floor more than once, as I was carried by their small hands. As I felt my body being slammed into the wall repeatedly, I began to ask, "God, is this how I'm going to go?" I couldn't think of a more humorous way to die than wearing a spiderman costume and being trampled by 80 small children.
But soon my rescue came. I heard Alli yell in a loud voice "Ï will protect you!" Finally the translators convinced the children to sit down. Alli encouraged us to stay pressed against the wall until it was safe.
I quickly checked my body for injury and found only a few scratches.
Whew! That was close!
I never knew how quickly I would face this kind of persecution. Ha Ha!
The truth is that despite the children stoning and beating us, we still love them. They are amazing children with broken hearts that just want to be loved.
So, for now I guess I'll take the rocks and hopefully learn how to dodge them a little better!
*Please continue to pray for our team and the work that is happening in Svay Pak. I feel like we are finally able to make some connections with the families.
Blessings,
Ruthie
It all started on Wednesday. We began teaching about how powerful God is. Alli had a great idea to dress up in super hero costumes. The idea was that we would show our super powers and begin fighting only to have God silence us with one word. Thus, showing God as all powerful.
Well, let's just say the children lost their minds.
They were fine at the point when each superhero was introduced, but something clicked inside of them once we started showing our super powers. I couldn't see much through my spiderman mask, but at one point my eyes met the crazed eyes of 80 small children as they stormed towards us. Suddenly 80 children became one great mob. They were screaming and pushing and trying to rip our costumes right off of us. At first I thought they would heed our cries and sit down.
But they didn't!
I felt my feet leave the floor more than once, as I was carried by their small hands. As I felt my body being slammed into the wall repeatedly, I began to ask, "God, is this how I'm going to go?" I couldn't think of a more humorous way to die than wearing a spiderman costume and being trampled by 80 small children.
But soon my rescue came. I heard Alli yell in a loud voice "Ï will protect you!" Finally the translators convinced the children to sit down. Alli encouraged us to stay pressed against the wall until it was safe.
I quickly checked my body for injury and found only a few scratches.
Whew! That was close!
I never knew how quickly I would face this kind of persecution. Ha Ha!
The truth is that despite the children stoning and beating us, we still love them. They are amazing children with broken hearts that just want to be loved.
So, for now I guess I'll take the rocks and hopefully learn how to dodge them a little better!
*Please continue to pray for our team and the work that is happening in Svay Pak. I feel like we are finally able to make some connections with the families.
Blessings,
Ruthie
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