Once upon a time- Persecution (Romania)

God keeps ‘taking me back’ to Drăgănești-Olt, Romania and three years later, I am only now learning torealize the impact that was made upon my spiritual life, while there.  Truly, it is the place that began to open my eyes to the ‘unseen supernatural’ world that is around us every day. 

*Now, I feel as though I should also place a disclaimer.  When I mention the ‘unseen supernatural world’, I am only referring to that which is talked about throughout scripture, nothing more.  As a point of reference; I would like to highlight Ephesians 6:10-20 but take note of verse 12 specifically.  This is the world that God truly began to open up my eyes to while in Romania.  I pray that Grace and understanding will fall upon you as you continue to read.

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.¹⁹Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

I would like to share a story with you that involved myself, team-mates, our contacts and local police authority.

September 2013

I remember the day as though it was yesterday.  After spending another morning soaked in prayer, worship and meditation our ‘mission’ for the day was to visit a nearby town and hand out tracks.  Handing out “tracks” is one way in which the local church evangelizes.  The goal was simple.  Break into groups of 2-3 people and go door to door in the village handing these tracks out.  We were too knock on each door and engage the homeowner in conversation (if they were home and open to having a conversation), or place a track at the door if there was no reply and move onto the next homestead.  

Simple and harmless right?

I would think so, however, I have neglected to mention a few key political aspects.  In Romania, you are free to follow Jesus.  You are free to believe what you would like to believe.  However, when it came down to evangelism, local authority (police/ mayor etc) had final say as to it being allowed or not.  Basically, you could end up in jail if you were caught evangelizing in a town/community that deemed it illegal.  

Not so simple anymore is it?

Keeping this in mind, we piled into vans and collectively headed out.  As we drove, I wrestled.  I bargained with God and I pleaded to Him to simply keep me safe.  I am not sure if my contacts or my team could tell how nervous I was about what we were about to do.  Nervous is actually an understatement.  I was flipping scared…Like a broken record, the thought of ‘I could literally get thrown into jail simply for talking about Jesus’ continually filled my brain.  Guilt filled me, as I recalled countless of conversations with friends/family back home in Canada in which I proclaimed that I would ‘die for my faith’. Yet here I was, afraid to simply hand out tracks at the thought of it potentially landing me in jail.  I was so out of my comfort zone and we hadn’t even started.  With the final words of “have fun!” from our contacts, we were dropped off in the middle of the village; with half the teams going right while the rest of the teams took the left side of the village.  Before I knew it, I was walking up to the first house whether I was ready or not.  Truth be told, I don’t remember much of actually handing tracks out or the response from the locals.  It was like time had stopped.  Perhaps what happened next, is why I don’t remember much of anything else.

The group I was with, had run out of tracks and so we headed to our central point for more to keep going.  It was there that we were informed of what was going on by a fellow squad member.  We were asked to stop what we were doing and to pray.  Remember how I mentioned earlier about how the local authority had the final word in evangelism being legal or not?  Turns out, the local authority (police and town council/mayor) of the village we were in, had established a law AGAINST street evangelism.  Basically, we were all committing a ‘crime’, punishable with jail time, by simply handing out pieces of paper that included the Jesus’ work on the cross (aka Tracks).  I think my temperature must have risen about 25 degrees. 

Information was limited about our squad-mates.  We knew that the group of about 10-20, who had gone the opposite direction than my group did, were being held at the local police station.  To our knowledge at the time; local authority was debating what to do with them.  There was talk of simply giving them a fine and releasing them but there was also word about jail time as the mayor wanted to ‘make an example’ of them. By this point, those of us who were able to, were literally on our hands and knees praying.  Not only were we praying but we prayed with the authority in Jesus’ name.  An authority ABOVE ALL authority.  We knew God is LORD and that HE would prevail.  We knew, well I was honestly learning ‘on the fly’, and that our battle wasn’t against flesh or blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Our contacts were actively involved in trying to settle this quickly (while still holding to the Truth of God’s Word).  They knew of the ‘battle’ that laid ahead as they had personally experienced this form of persecution before.  However, my admiration/respect for my contacts, grew as we got word that they refused to ‘back down’.  They were sticking to what they believed, trusting that God would provide what was needed, even if that meant going straight to the USA embassy in the capital. (*side note, I was the only Canadian on my squad so those being held were all American and because of this, I was personally told to try and stay further back from everything-but to continue to pray).

Not only did God provide a supernatural sense of peace to us (and those being held), I truly believed that He opened the eyes of the police and council in a supernatural way.  Before long, EVERYONE was released and we were ALLOWED to KEEP handing out tracks.  We were told later, by team-mates who sat at the police station unsure of what laid before them; of an incredible peace that they felt throughout the ordeal.  A peace that they could only explain came to them through our prayers.  They told of us unbelieving police officers who ridiculed and mocked them at first but who later asked for tracks for themselves and for their families because they too, wanted to know of this JESUS.  They wanted to know of whom these young people were willing to go to jail for!!  Talk about the power in Jesus’ name alone! What satan deemed for evil, GOD magnified into glorious POWER.  Darkness was forced into the light.  Truth became known and God’s Kingdom on earth was established further. 

God would later use an Indian missionary couple in Cambodia; to further teach me about PRAYING FOR persecution among our churches (especially the North American churches) today.  God taught me about trusting in Him in ALL situations; through a Filipino pastor couple confident that God would provide for them, a green roof for their church simply because God is a ‘God of colour’.  God would also reveal to me more of the power of the supernatural realm through a South African believer passionate about early morning prayer and meditation and bringing God’s Word through the game of football (soccer).  For now; God once again affirmed to me of His unfailing love to His children and the true honour it is to lay our lives before Him regardless of our unknown futures. 

Its taken me 3 years to begin to realize the impact this specific experience had on me and my faith.  I am not claiming to ‘know all the answers’ as I am still on this journey with God.  Rather I am simply bearing witness to the supernatural power that God has given every Believer, through the Holy Spirit.  After all, it was Jesus Himself who said that, ‘But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” John 16:7. Jesus also spoke these words, “and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and He will be in you” John 14:16-17. 

Prayer works.  God hears and He is here.

Holy Spirit convictions

Today is Ash Wednesday which also means that today is the start of the Lent season; the 40 days leading up to Christ’s Crucifixion and Resurrection (Easter).  It is during this 40 day period that (some) Believers (Christians) ‘give up’ something in their lives.  It doesn’t have to be something bad that they give up; in fact, it is often something that is good.  The point is to use that time to reflect on just how much we need Jesus in our lives each and every moment of each and every day.  Other Believers may choose to ‘add’ something to their daily schedules that will also help pull them closer to Jesus.  Waking up earlier to read the Bible, fasting, spending more time in conscious prayer are a few things that I have heard of people purposely ‘adding’ to their days during Lent season.  In the past, I have done both of these.  I have both ‘given up’ things and have ‘added’ things as well (separate years of course).  Like most things, I am really good at it for a while but keeping up that stamina is hard.

 

This year, I knew from the start that I would not be doing either one of them.  When I made that choice, I felt at peace about it.  After all, Jesus is supposed to be a part of our every waking moment of our lives 365 days a year…not just the 40 days before lent right? 

Enter Holy Spirit.

I’ve come to know myself (who I am) pretty well; especially over the last few years.  I have come to know how God speaks to me and I have come to trust those ‘feelings’ within me.  Learning to trusting those feelings has NOT come ‘overnight’ as it has been a long, hard, frustrating, rewarding, easy, and an incredible journey along the way with plenty ups and downs.  

Lately I have been having ‘one of those feelings’ and because I know the situation attached to it; the word ‘conviction’ is better suited in this case.  When God is trying to speak to me, His voice is constantly in the back of my head and I cannot ‘let it go’ no matter how hard I try.  NO matter how hard I attempt to distract myself or to ‘run’ from it (Jonah and the Big Fish anyone?!?!)  I had a very honest conversation with a friend/mentor of mine the other day in which I flat out said, “I know what the Holy Spirit is calling me to do, but I so don’t want to do it.  Jesus can make an exception to this situation right?  And He will allow me to act the way I (my flesh) wants to respond too right?  I mean, I have been so ‘good’ and have withheld for quite some time…Jesus can just close His eyes on this one right? I think I’ve earned it”.  My friend simply responded with a chuckle as they could totally relate to what I was/am wrestling with.  They also knew that I KNOW what to do because of how the Holy Spirit is convicting me.  Basically, they were just an ear to vent too.  The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak!

So what does any of this have to do with Ash Wednesday and Lent season?  God calls us to be imitators of Him.  To see, feel and act against things in this world that bring Him pain.  To care for those who are marginalized and to help bring justice in places of injustice.  I don’t know how exactly it will look and I know it will carry on way past Easter (and probably for the rest of my life) but this Lent season I know God is going to work on me, and my heart, when it comes to truly learning about justice according to how Christ sees it as.  For me, it will have a focus on learning how to forgive those who I (my flesh) feels as though have no right to be forgiven, let alone be LOVED by God, when they are the root cause of so much deep pain in so many people’s lives. Surely God will be 'okay' with it, if I don't forgive them right? (*insert typical sunday school answer here*)

Even though I know it will not be easy; I am especially excited for the next 40 days to see how God continues to speak to me and convict me.  He may lead me to have some very difficult conversations with certain individuals that I will especially need your prayers for.  He may ask me to simply be silent, something that is even harder for me, and to trust Him through the process.

In closing I ask that, if my name crosses your mind, you pray for me and this journey ahead.

Thank you

This song has been on my repeat for many weeks now and every time I hear it; God uses it to speak to my soul.  I pray it does the same to you. 

Africa

I am torn.  Last night-I heard some news from about one of my 'kids' in Africa.  One of the girls who I met last time while I was out there, passed away this last tuesday.  Apparently she got Malaria, and although she was admitted to the hospital and treated-died within a span of 12 hours...

Upon getting that news-it really hit me and I am not quite sure what to do with it.  Since I met her last time I was there-I was super excited to head back with the team now in November and introduce her to them (she is/was one of the girls that our church is sponsoring through the home/dorm we are paying for-so an extra special connection...). 

She was one of the newer girls there when we went last year, and so she was a little quiet but we spent the day with her (and others) at a game park and started to see her Character and wow, what a character she was.  By the end of our time there, I had grown to love and cherish her just like the rest of the kids-so the loss is felt.  Yet still, I take comfort in knowing that this last year and a bit, of her life-she was loved so incredibly where she was.  A love she may not have felt/realized had she not been there.  I also take comfort in the fact that I know I will see her again.  Not on this side of Heaven, but the side where we will dance, sing, laugh and cry in a language we both will fully understand-a place where I hear there are streets of gold, where nothing but love exists. A place where we will sit before the Lord Almighty.

In the mean time, join me in praying for the kids, the workers, staff and people of SoH as they work through/go through this loss of one of their own..



That all said, this morning-I was also encouraged and the desire to return back to Zambia-was very present.  I am SO EXCITED to go back and although I will miss my 'old' team, I am excited to take this new group and share a huge piece of my heart with them (especially to show my brother!)  I am excited to see and hear how God will move in their lives.  I am excited to have my 'heart broken for what Breaks God's"

73 more days!