It's been an eventful couple of days. Americo and Cocoliso (Jose Manuel) both graduated from high school last night. It was a nice grad. My Facebook profile status states it best...
"The invitation said 6 PM. We got there at 7:30. It started at 9. Supper was at 11. I got home, after driving people to their houses, at 3. Another grad bites the dust!"
I'll post some more pictures and a bit more of the story tomorrow when I have some time. Right now I just wanted to tell you a little bit about another experience I had tonight, and ask you to pray.
There's a young guy I know from the boy's home where I used to work. He was always a favourite of mine. He has one of those dry senses of humour that catches you off guard and then totally kills you. His expression is often very serious, and yet that seldom expresses what's happening in his head and heart. I really enjoyed this young guy's friendship.
I haven't talked to him much since I left that home, but recently we've reconnected. It was a bit strained that first day when we visited, but it didn't take long for us to be talking and laughing about old times. I saw him the other night, and without much prompting, he shared some things that have been going on in his life.
He wasn't sure how to explain it all, but as he talked, I quickly realized that he was describing some serious spiritual attacks. Even with his low key personality, I could tell he was feeling kind of desperate. I suggested we get together to pray about it, which he quickly agreed to. It made me a bit sad that he didn't feel like he had anyone else who could pray with him.
The only time we could get together was tonight. Otherwise we'd have had to wait a couple of weeks, and I didn't want to see him suffer through this for any longer than he needed to. I had Americo's grad supper with his family, but I just explained that I had to leave for a bit and that seemed fine with everyone. They were all busy trying to put up tarps to deal with the monsoon rains that showed up unexpectedly tonight, but that's a story for another day (I have pictures that I'll be posting).
It was around a 45 minute drive to the little town where this guy lives. I think a few people thought I was crazy for driving that far in the crazy rains we were having, but I'm a Saskatchewan farm boy. I've driven a lot farther, in a lot worse weather, for a lot dumber reasons. At least here if you have some kind of problem there's no risk of freezing to death.
As a side note, I do have to admit that one of these days my whole, "This road seems to be going in the general direction I need to go in. I'm sure it'll be fine..." attitude is going to backfire on me. But it didn't tonight. I had a couple of moments, as I skidded around on what was not the kind of road one wants to be on in monsoon rains, when I wondered what exactly I'd been thinking. It felt like winter driving conditions in Canada, as my truck did the whole let's slide sideways down this muddy hill for awhile thing a couple of times. But it was all good. And I always enjoy that moment when I'm like, "OH...so this is where I am!" when I hit an area I recognize.
Eventually I made it to where my young friend is renting a room with his wife. We chatted for a bit and then started talking about what had been happening. Obviously it was causing a lot of stress for both of them. We talked about our authority in Christ as Christians, and how we don't have to suffer through these kinds of attacks. I had a moment when I wondered how intense it was going to get, as my young friend got very serious and stoic as we were talking. I wasn't exactly sure what he was thinking or experiencing. After what happened at the house last time, I'm a little more cautious. But we prayed together, and in the end it was really good. He seemed much more at peace and there was a sense of joy in both him and his wife that wasn't there before.
I wanted to ask you to pray for this young couple. Like so many of these guys I run into, this young man was still experiencing the spiritual consequences from his life on the streets. As you can imagine, so much of what happens on the streets is very demonic.
Most of these guys don't understand or know how to communicate what's happening to them now when they experience these attacks. And they don't trust many people to tell them what they're going through when they do. So they suffer through it. I was able to explain about our authority as Christians over the spiritual realm tonight to this young guy, so he'll be better prepared next time. But there are still so many who don't know what to do when these attacks come.
Please pray that this young guy will continue to experience God's freedom and His protection. Pray that, if the attacks start up again, he'll know what to do. Finally, pray that he will be able to sleep through the night and experience the peace that comes as a child of God.
Thanks everyone. Tomorrow we're back to the hospital for Sandro's other eye operation. The first one went well, so I'm sure this one will be fine too. Sandro experienced a lot of discomfort the first time though, so pray for a speedy recovery this time around.
"The invitation said 6 PM. We got there at 7:30. It started at 9. Supper was at 11. I got home, after driving people to their houses, at 3. Another grad bites the dust!"
I'll post some more pictures and a bit more of the story tomorrow when I have some time. Right now I just wanted to tell you a little bit about another experience I had tonight, and ask you to pray.
There's a young guy I know from the boy's home where I used to work. He was always a favourite of mine. He has one of those dry senses of humour that catches you off guard and then totally kills you. His expression is often very serious, and yet that seldom expresses what's happening in his head and heart. I really enjoyed this young guy's friendship.
I haven't talked to him much since I left that home, but recently we've reconnected. It was a bit strained that first day when we visited, but it didn't take long for us to be talking and laughing about old times. I saw him the other night, and without much prompting, he shared some things that have been going on in his life.
He wasn't sure how to explain it all, but as he talked, I quickly realized that he was describing some serious spiritual attacks. Even with his low key personality, I could tell he was feeling kind of desperate. I suggested we get together to pray about it, which he quickly agreed to. It made me a bit sad that he didn't feel like he had anyone else who could pray with him.
The only time we could get together was tonight. Otherwise we'd have had to wait a couple of weeks, and I didn't want to see him suffer through this for any longer than he needed to. I had Americo's grad supper with his family, but I just explained that I had to leave for a bit and that seemed fine with everyone. They were all busy trying to put up tarps to deal with the monsoon rains that showed up unexpectedly tonight, but that's a story for another day (I have pictures that I'll be posting).
It was around a 45 minute drive to the little town where this guy lives. I think a few people thought I was crazy for driving that far in the crazy rains we were having, but I'm a Saskatchewan farm boy. I've driven a lot farther, in a lot worse weather, for a lot dumber reasons. At least here if you have some kind of problem there's no risk of freezing to death.
As a side note, I do have to admit that one of these days my whole, "This road seems to be going in the general direction I need to go in. I'm sure it'll be fine..." attitude is going to backfire on me. But it didn't tonight. I had a couple of moments, as I skidded around on what was not the kind of road one wants to be on in monsoon rains, when I wondered what exactly I'd been thinking. It felt like winter driving conditions in Canada, as my truck did the whole let's slide sideways down this muddy hill for awhile thing a couple of times. But it was all good. And I always enjoy that moment when I'm like, "OH...so this is where I am!" when I hit an area I recognize.
Eventually I made it to where my young friend is renting a room with his wife. We chatted for a bit and then started talking about what had been happening. Obviously it was causing a lot of stress for both of them. We talked about our authority in Christ as Christians, and how we don't have to suffer through these kinds of attacks. I had a moment when I wondered how intense it was going to get, as my young friend got very serious and stoic as we were talking. I wasn't exactly sure what he was thinking or experiencing. After what happened at the house last time, I'm a little more cautious. But we prayed together, and in the end it was really good. He seemed much more at peace and there was a sense of joy in both him and his wife that wasn't there before.
I wanted to ask you to pray for this young couple. Like so many of these guys I run into, this young man was still experiencing the spiritual consequences from his life on the streets. As you can imagine, so much of what happens on the streets is very demonic.
Most of these guys don't understand or know how to communicate what's happening to them now when they experience these attacks. And they don't trust many people to tell them what they're going through when they do. So they suffer through it. I was able to explain about our authority as Christians over the spiritual realm tonight to this young guy, so he'll be better prepared next time. But there are still so many who don't know what to do when these attacks come.
Please pray that this young guy will continue to experience God's freedom and His protection. Pray that, if the attacks start up again, he'll know what to do. Finally, pray that he will be able to sleep through the night and experience the peace that comes as a child of God.
Thanks everyone. Tomorrow we're back to the hospital for Sandro's other eye operation. The first one went well, so I'm sure this one will be fine too. Sandro experienced a lot of discomfort the first time though, so pray for a speedy recovery this time around.
2 comments:
Thanks Ken, I'm definitely praying!
Wow...I missed a lot. Lots to pray about tonight! xo
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