We Serve a Mighty God

We've been very much encouraged by the emails that so many of you have sent these past few weeks, assuring us of your prayers. That means a great deal to us. We've said it before, but we'll say it again. We need you! Your role is huge in this ministry. So, thank you.

So many of you have asked how the individuals are doing that we mentioned in a prayer update a few weeks ago. We apologize for leaving you hanging. We often forget to give follow up reports...

• The young man who was told that he would be buried within 10 days after he refused to return to his home village to serve in the shrines... He is still alive! The power of God has broken the power of the curse that was put on him. He is doing well. He stops by our place just about every day so we have much contact with him. He and a few other young men in the church that we attend here in Jinja have been meeting with Nate on Wednesday evenings for almost a month now for Bible Study. He is a fervent seeker of God, but wrestles with many questions and has been a bit distracted lately by the "Prosperity Theology" group that is so prevelant here. Please pray that he will not be swayed from the Truth, and that he would be a bold witness for Christ.

• The little neighbor girl that was raped... She has come by a few times since the incident. It's hard to say how she's doing. Outwardly she's her smiley, sweet self, but we know there is so much pain and confusion inside of her. The man who committed the crime is still not in prison. The punishment for rape here is a minimum of seven years, but it seems that he has worked some kind of an under-the-table deal to get out of the consequences. It's been extremely frustrating for us to be on the sidelines. We have informed our landlord who works in the government and is quite influential, and he has promised to look into it. Please continue to pray for this little girl. Last week as she was washing dishes for me she was singing loudly, "I love you, Jesus, deep down in my heart. I love you, Jesus, deep down in my heart." We are so happy that she knows Him and loves Him. He alone has the power and ability to give her lasting healing and comfort.

• The neighbor woman who's husband beats her... No change as far as we know.

• The lady that daily helped us with housework for many months and that left abruptly mid-May... Her husband does not know where she is, and he believes that she ran off with another man. It seems the husband has consulted a witch doctor to put a curse on her. We have no need to fear such a curse, for the power of God is infinitely greater and stronger. However, such curses can cause much pain and misery for the one who is not protected by the blood of Christ. Please pray for her protection and for her repentance.

• Finally, for those of you who read the AFLC World Missions blog (aflc-wm.blogspot.com), we posted recently that the wife of Pastor Martin, one of the pastors we work with here, fell ill and was in a coma. Pastor Martin informed us after he had been summoned home from school to be with her in the hospital that he found out she was ill as a result of witchcraft done against her. His response to that was almost of relief because he knew that God's power is greater and that therefore, the power of witchcraft could and would be broken. We started praying, he started praying, many of you started praying, and she quickly came around. She was discharged a few days later and is regaining strength at home. Praise God! We serve a powerful God.

I didn't mean for there to be a theme in this email, but the power of God quickly became the theme. Our God is a powerful God! What a privilege to serve a God like Him. His power can be fully manifested in our lives when we are fully surrendered to Him.

In Him,

Rhoda (for Nate too)