The Mysterious Workings of God

I am currently laughing as I write this blog because God works in mysterious ways. Ben and I had our first trip to the hospital yesterday. I was walking down the stairs at the Church and took a very bad fall. I went into shock for about five minutes and was unable to see and then was taken to the hospital for x-rays. Nothing is broken and I can now proudly say I have had an x-ray done of my buttock. Sri Lanka’s churches are currently fighting on the front lines of the spiritual battlefield. Both Pastor Adrian and his wife, Auntie Ophilia, have been sick for over a month now and deal with extreme pain on a daily basis. Two weeks ago a young women who has worked in the business world for years decided to make the change over to full time ministry. She is an amazing asset to the Kithu Sevena Team and will certainly bring order to a somewhat chaotic working environment. Since her decision she has caught filaria, a mosquito born illness and also experienced horrific vomiting and was rushed to the hospital. Another staff member just caught Dengue fever. Kithu Sevena has started working a great deal in the North and many devout Buddhists have come to know the Lord. Yesterday we had the opportunity to hear multiple testimonies from pastors working in the refugee camps. One pastor has even been able to set up a church in the middle of a camp. This is truly a miracle. This is a revolutionary time for the church as the church prays for a revival in this country. As the churches hard work continues the devil is continually trying to get in the way using sickness, pain, depression and discouragement. After I fell yesterday the Kithu Sevena team prayed continually for my healing and although I feel extremely sore today I feel much better than yesterday. One of the Pastors at our church came to me this morning and said he was praying for me all night and that God had given him a word for me. Pastor Shri said ‘That although I thought I knew God's vision for my life that it would become blurred while in Sri Lanka but that God would slowly show us what we are called to do. So not to worry." He encouraged us to work on our prayer life and to continue leaning on each other in difficult times. This was so powerful to me. This is exactly how I have been feeling. I no longer know where Ben and I are called to work but I am assured he will make it clear. Now I just need the courage and strength to listen. Through this challenge came many amazing spiritual moments. I feel a new bond with the Sri Lankan team and I believe they feel a new bond with us. They view this challenge as a spiritual attack and have taken Ben and I under their arm. We are now fighting the spiritual fight with them. We are no longer just the white visitors but on their team. It is a truly amazing feeling! Please pray for the spiritual attacks currently taking place on the Kithu Sevena Church Staff. Another prayer request is for Ben and my visas. We only received a two-month visa when we asked for a twelve-month visa. They show great prejudice to Christians here and so Pastor Adrian will have to try to use his political connections to get us a longer visa. Please pray he will be successful. There is an Australian team here currently and it has been very fun for Ben and I to get to know people from this part of the world. Please pray for quick healing over my body so we can travel to the farm on Monday. We have not moved to the English speaking church yet but hopefully we will move their soon. We are very excited about beginning our work there. Thank you for the emails you have sent. Your prayers and encouragement are truly what helps us make it through.