Patience. Endurance. A Rising Up.

 After writing out my previous post, we headed up to one of our team member’s rooms to worship the Lord. God met us there. We had some amazing words of encouragement from a couple of the team members.  I adore how God has used this time to teach us. Grow us. Change us. Challenge us. During one of the devotionals we got word from our team leaded that we needed to be in the Lobby ASAP. We were heading home. I had a sudden surge of peace. I knew that it was time to go home. God is not done working.  This has been a major spiritual battle. You could feel it. You could see it.  We are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies but against evil rulers and authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12) We have a STRONG team. STRONG. And the other side knows that. We are going to Ethiopia with PURPOSE. With authority and empowerment. We are going to bring people into the kingdom. We are going to awaken a passion for Christ in the hearts of our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia. The enemy knows that and he wants to prevent that.  Today it had become clear that a door had been shut that no man could open and we weren’t doing any good just sitting in the Marriott at the airport. I don’t know why our trip ended up like this or exactly how for that matter. What I do know is that God will use it.  He has used it. I know that when we do get to go back we will go with more power, more strength and a stronger awareness of our authority that we have in Christ Jesus. We walk in the same power that Christ walked in. We must rise up and use it.  We will Persevere! We have learned to wait on the Father. To have PATIENCE.

Patience: capacity, willingness to endure

Endure: bear hardship

Hardship: personal burden

Burden: mental weight, stress 

We learned to endure the hardship of our personal burdens and stresses during the weight of this trip. We praised him through our storm and we will continue to PRAISE HIM. For He is WORTHY of all of our PRAISE. As we continue to wait upon the Lord we will praise and seek wisdom and guidance on what to do next.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. 

Hebrews 11:39

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 

Galatians 6:9

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

While sitting quiet yesterday I was reminded of a story I had once read. I couldn't remember all the details to post it exactly but I woke up this morning and a friend had posted it on the church Facebook page. How perfect. Here it is: 

Heidi Baker, missionary in Mozambique Africa, set up an orphanage and a medical clinic in Mozambique at great effort and expense. The government deemed the project as uncertified and shut them down. So, she regrouped and set up a 2nd orphanage and clinic at great effort and expense. This time she pleaded with the government for support, but they refused her again and shut her down a second time. They took her orphans to the local hospital due to several cases of Cholera, and asked her to leave the country. So, she regrouped and assembled a small prayer team to go to the hospital. Only doctors were allowed in the Cholera unit within the hospital due to its deadliness. However, Heidi and her team waltzed right in through the front door, past security, and began to pray over 100 infected children and adults. They were vomited and defecated on over the course of the afternoon as they cried out to God for the people. The Spirit of the Lord suddenly rained down from Heaven and every single person with Cholera was instantly healed! The entire wing of the hospital accepted Christ, including the staff. A doctor working there, after seeing the miracle, gave her heart to the Lord. She immediately resigned from the hospital and took a job with Heidi. This doctor encouraged Heidi and the team to open the orphanage and clinic up for a 3rd time!!!
They did and the doctor was able to get them certified by the government!

His encouragement to us: DO NOT GIVE UP! Regroup and go again; even a 3rd time if necessary or a 4th. God’s desire is to bless the people of Addis with hope and the enemy employs his smoke screens, land mines, traps and snares. You guys are going to walk right through the front door of this country and see miracles.

Persevere!

After waiting on standby last night for a flight home, we decided to bail and rent some vans. We drove all night and finally got home at 5:30 this morning. But it ok! We will not give up!! We will RISE UP and go again!! We will PERSEVERE!!