There was an oppressive spirit at the hospital last week. I can’t quantify what we felt; but there was definitely a dark power against which we were fighting. It was hard to pray, hard to concentrate, hard to see past all the sad situations and mournful faces.
This week we realized that extra prayer was needed before we could go. We prayed against the principalities and powers, and we prayed specifically that we would be able to identify the person God meant to be saved that day.
Our prospects didn’t look so good as we set out, however. Once again our primary translator was gone, and our backup translator was sick. As we prepared to go, we passed our friend “John,” whom we’ve invited in the past, and who has always indicated his reluctance to accompany us. “John, you are welcome to accompany us and translate for us,” I teased as we passed…and to my surprise, he said, “OK, I’ll come.” When it took him nearly 15 minutes to finish his responsibilities and change his clothes, however, I began to wonder whether inviting him to join us had been a mistake.
We arrived at the hospital 15 minutes late, but we could immediately sense a different spirit from the one we’d encountered the week before. There were smiles on faces, and the praying came easily.
Friends from the West had given us some stuffed animals to distribute to area children, and we took them to give to the kids in the children’s ward. How the faces lit up with smiles as each one selected his or her toy!
But the best part of the visit hadn’t yet happened.
This week we realized that extra prayer was needed before we could go. We prayed against the principalities and powers, and we prayed specifically that we would be able to identify the person God meant to be saved that day.
Our prospects didn’t look so good as we set out, however. Once again our primary translator was gone, and our backup translator was sick. As we prepared to go, we passed our friend “John,” whom we’ve invited in the past, and who has always indicated his reluctance to accompany us. “John, you are welcome to accompany us and translate for us,” I teased as we passed…and to my surprise, he said, “OK, I’ll come.” When it took him nearly 15 minutes to finish his responsibilities and change his clothes, however, I began to wonder whether inviting him to join us had been a mistake.
We arrived at the hospital 15 minutes late, but we could immediately sense a different spirit from the one we’d encountered the week before. There were smiles on faces, and the praying came easily.
Friends from the West had given us some stuffed animals to distribute to area children, and we took them to give to the kids in the children’s ward. How the faces lit up with smiles as each one selected his or her toy!
But the best part of the visit hadn’t yet happened.
“Larensha,” a little burn victim, clutches the animals she chose for herself and for her twin at home
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