Laughter is Freedom
This is Tumé he is one of the boys at the “Lesedi home” for children with HIV/AIDS, we went as a team today to watch a few of the children while the others were getting treated at the clinic. We played in the sand, but that didn’t seem to be enough so we added water and Tumé went crazy! He was laughing so hard, it was the simple act of getting dirty that he loved. We had to wash the kids in the hose outside before we were allowed in the home. I love the children’s laugh, for some reason it is the sweetest sound, only in the fact that these children have been left with nothing and expected to die. This will blow your mind but it is reality here, many mother’s will have the babies but then throw them in the out house and are left there to die. It is only God’s grace that some of them are found in time. It breaks my heart in places I can’t even speak of. So when I see one of these little ones laughing, it touches me deeply. I am also adding prayer request to this blog. We are in deep and need to be covered in prayer.
When we all came to Africa we were warned about the spiritual warfare we would encounter.
I don’t think we took this lightly as much as we were too naïve to take it as serious as we should have.
Now that we are here, we are experiencing things, our families are experiencing things and these things are spiritual and can only be battled in the spiritual realm.
That is why we are writing, to build a prayer support.
We don’t know how to say this lightly, but we need people to commit to fight for us in their prayer and not just casually lift us up.
We have entered warfare, and it is a more intense thing than any of us have ever seen.
We were told it would be more intense and obvious, but that is always a preface for trips.
Since being here we are seeing the effects of the warfare.
Driving down the road you will see tape around trees that are a curse for accidents that the Satanist put there.
In the townships there are witch doctors who dedicate their lives to Satan.
People go to them for healing and many of them are taught to put curses on others.
Just last week we prayed for a baby whose cousin put a curse of “death” on her, we prayed in the name of Jesus for her life and that curse be cancelled- she was healed!
We have even seen satanic alters made over the townships we are ministering at.
It is vital that as we minister we have a team of prayer warriors covering us in prayer and speaking out life over this country.
The thing is, the people here are very connected to the spiritual.
Their power is coming from darkness though.
They believe in the spiritual realm and so it shows up.
I know that this is hard to imagine in the States, believe us, it is hard to understand being in the face of it.
But the more we see things happening around us, people being healed from sicknesses put on them by a witch doctor or people being released from oppression, the more we see the reality of the enemy working in this place against the work God has planned.
Please pray as we face this everyday.
This letter is not written out of fear, for we know we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us, but it is a letter for the body to specifically pray for the Kingdom of light to come.
Heather I am pray for you and the team. God is standing firm and His hand is on your ministry.He has provided for you!
Thanks for sharing thisgood to know more about your environment and where (and why) the prayers are needed most. Great to hear from you!
In Jesus,
joe
The faces, including yours, says it all! Jesus puts a smile on your face, even when everything around you seems to be falling apart. I know you’ve heard me say it before, but you make God smile too!
Be blessed,
Scott
Heather, I shared your letter and had the prayer meeting folks at our church pray for you and your team last night. We have some real prayer warriors and they will not forget you. I was drawn to II Kings 6 to pray for you guys. Elisha told his servant when the enemy surrounded them, “Don’t be afraid, those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” God will protect and empower you so that His name will be great among you.
Blessings, Parker
Praise be to Him who opens the eyes of our understanding. This is there, but the same is here, just in more oblique forms to fit our “sophistication” Ha! Remember in Isa. 14:16 what he really is and looks like. The demonstrations of Your God, like Moses before Pharoah, prevails. God bless you with grace and favor in that land. Much Love, Marsha
Dear Heather,
Thank you for keeping us informed on what you are doing so that we can be specific in our prayers for you. You are on the front lines and we pray that our Lord will nourish you with His word and that you would put it to memory so as to be able to fight the lie with the truth. It is a war and it is more obvious where you are than over here in the states, just under cover. See and memorize Ephes. 6:10-17
Because of love, dad
Heather
Thank you for keeping me informed. My heart aches for the folks that are living in darkness and we know how real the enemy is. God is greather than any darkness and wherever you put your beautiful smiling face, God will watch over you so the enemy will be driven away. I will cover you in my prayers, stay close to God’s Holy Word and commit it to memory so you can all on Him whenever you need Him. God has much for us to do to tell others of His great love. Treasure Jesus and He will never leave you.
Love and prayers,
Grandma White (Barbara)
Heather my dear sister, I so wish I was there. My heart aches, I know our father is the strongest and he will keep all of you safe. it sounds like satan is angry because you are invading his space so he’s trying all he can to shake the gound you walk on. Keep your armor on be strong. I love you with all my heart, continue to pray for you, the team and all of your safety. Hug the children from me.
Love As Always and God Bless
Debbie
Heather,
I love getting your updates. It puts “skin on” the prayers… if that makes sense. I am so glad you are getting to experience the laughter of the children and that God is using them to warm your heart and fuel your energy. I have never experienced first-hand the battles of the type of spiritual warfare you are in but I have heard from many people who have. Continue to draw close to the Lord and He will be your refuge and strength. We will continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will work through your team to draw others closer to Christ!
<><
Nikki
Yes i am praying and fighting for you guys! i love you all so much!
Heather,
Martha and I are so proud of you and the team you are on. She has your pic. by her bed and on the fridge. She talks about you and prays for you a lot. She is so amazed that you are in Africa. Love the update and the pix of those little smiles you get to see everyday.
Love and Prayers,
Kel and Martha
Hi Heather,
This is May Sanguma I was so amazed to get from Kelli this information I am praying for you, I know that this is someting you wanted to do for very longtime and now the time has come for you to forfill what God has called you to do, and God will bless you for helping others. Have good time in Africa.
Love in Jesus Christ.
May Sanguma
It has been a busy month for me but I did want you to know that I have been praying for Ellie. Lynn keeps me informed and she said the other day that the retina has started to re-attach itself and that is a praise. I know we serve an Awesome God and He knows everything Ellie will endure for Him. I am praying for you that you are doing great things for Jesus and will be home soon to enjoy Ellie in person. I thank God for your willingness to serve Him in such a poor country. He has many Blessings for you as you continue to walk with him.
Love and Prayers,
Grandma White (Barbara)