One of the first weeks that we were here in Ongole we prayed
for a woman of Pastor K’s church because she had been struggling with demon
spirits. She felt as though she was being spiritually attacked, had trouble
sleeping, and heard voices telling her things like not to read the bible and
she would get so weak that she could not go to church or have energy to do
anything. Before she came to the church she had been a Hindu and worshiped the
Hindu gods and Pastor asked our team to pray for her at her home. When we
arrived at her home we could all sense that something was not right. All seven
of us and Pastor K laid hands on the woman and prayed over her. We prayed to
God to protect her, that whatever spirits were doing this would leave in Jesus’
name, that she would be filled with the Holy Spirit, finding so much joy in
Christ and having so much strength and energy to worship God and strive to live
like Jesus and praise God in every aspect of her life. It was so intense we all
felt God show up at her home.
The next day we were able to see her and spend some time
with her overlooking the city of Ongole and she told us that she had the best
night of sleep and she looked like a completely new person. Everytime we see
her now she always has a smile on her face , came up and hugged us, called us
her friends and told us she was ” chala happy”. Every Sunday at church we see
her and she took every opportunity she has to praise and worship God to thank
Him and pray to Him. I love being around her it makes me so happy to see her
and the joy that she has. We decided as a team to go back to her house to visit
her and get to know her better and pray for her again. This Saturday seven
people from the village of Pastor K’s church who are being baptized at the sea
coast. Two of the seven being the lady and her husband. She invited all of us
to come and see and be there to support her. She is so excited and am so happy
to see the joy of the Lord that she has attained and to see her beautiful smile
and how it can light up a room and how through her actions and attitude can
show others how to be like Christ. She is such an example to her family,
children, and neighbors.
This
week we were also able to do more village outreach which we hadn’t been able to
do in awhile. I forgot how much I enjoyed doing it. Even when I have no idea
what is being said or sung most of the time I still get a lot out of it. The
churches are always full and even though it gets so hot the people do not care
they are so happy to get the opportunity to praise God together and listen to
His word. Its also a really good time of fellowship as a team. We always have
such a fun time at the villages with eachother and the ICM staff members.
I find myself laughing so much
whether it be because of Pastor K’s way of saying and explaining things or
Chitti Babu’s jokes or just the conversation that we have during our meal that
they always feed to us of rice and sambar. I feel God’s presence so much on
these nights and I get so much joy
out of it and can tell a change and renewal in my attitude.
Quotes From Pastor K :
” You are a baby?”
” It’s complicated.”
” Let us leave this place.”
” Pray for that lady.”
“You are a gymnastics man?”
” Terminator”
” It is a very walkable distance. Katie come into the van.”
