This last month was all about practicing listening prayer. We listened and God told us to minister to each other. We listened and did prayer walks and God lead us to a little family run sandwich shop. Throughout the time we were there we developed a friendship with these amazing people. When we told them our names, they quickly memorized them and daily asked about where we were if someone was missing from the group. It was a wonderful time getting to know little bits and pieces about them throughout the month. The oldest of the three sisters had two children. We fell in love with the baby boy and at first he was scared of us but by the end of the time there he was reaching out to be held by us! So Cute!
At one point, our month of listening to God came to a crucial decision. Anna’s money belt, with her passport, credit cards, and money, had been stolen. When they went to the Embassy to get a new one issued they were told that it would take two weeks to get it. They were insistent that we stay the full two weeks and even made the girls promise the officials they were not going to try to leave before May 26th. The problem with that was that we had train tickets back to Bangkok on May 24th, which was a Sunday, so we needed her passport to arrive by May 22nd. Everyone scrambled as we all tried to think through what we should do. This month had been about team and sticking together no matter what. We had to make the decision to a) exchange all 7 tickets for the 26th, b) split up the group and only exchange two tickets for the 26th, or c) keep the tickets we had and trust that God would get the passport to us way early. We met together as a team and prayed and God told us to trust Him and that we would be able to leave on the 24th. It was not at that point, but probably a day later, as I was praying about the passport that God told me it would come on the 18th. That means the passport would have to arrive a week early and give them only one week for processing! I thought I heard wrong or that it was just my own thoughts, but as the days went by I couldn’t help but look forward to that day. The 18th finally came and it quickly passed and we received no phone call. I was a little disappointed, but I still trusted God to bring it in before the 22nd. The next as our team was worshipping we received a phone call. Anna had been expecting a phone call from a pastor she had met that Sunday so that she could babysit, but the numbers didn’t match up. I knew it had to be the Embassy. We called the number and it was! There’s no way I’ll ever know for sure if the passport had arrived on Monday and we just got the call on Tuesday, but I am convinced that is what happened and God worked a great miracle. Actually two miracles: 1) the passport arrived a week early so that we could all leave on time and together and 2) God told me ahead of time clearly! I’m still learning how to hear from God and know His voice. It’s exciting when God speaks and even more exciting when I’m listening!
Other times in the month were full of time spent with God and words from Him. Whether it was scripture for my team or an individual teammate or knowing who or what to pray for, God was speaking. Along with all of this I had been reading the book “A Royal Priesthood” which is about Intercessory Prayer. God really showed me that I needed to be lifting up my team and my squad by Intercession. He gave me a few specific things about my team that I should pray about and when I did He revealed some personal things that He wanted me to deal with. God often brings revelation about things in your life when you are praying for others. It was such a great month of growing personally.
As I learned more about Intercession my heart was broken for my squad. I didn’t just want this for me, but I wanted my entire squad to come together as Intercessors. Just imagine 52 people interceeding for Africa with the same heart…the heart of God! Not only that but I really started to feel the need for team and squad fasting. This is not something I have regularly been practicing on the race, so I thought it would be almost impossible for my squad and the same thing with the intercession! But NOTHING is impossible with God! When we arrived in South Africa we did not have transportation set us, so we spent two days in JoBurg at a hostel. While there, Jenni Weir, Nick and I had the opportunity to witness to one of the workers there. It was refreshing and placed in us a desire for our squad to go deeper. We eventually got a bus to take us to where we are now…Nelspruit, South Africa. We are staying with an amazing missionary couple that house short term missions teams. We are by far the largest group they have ever had. Yet they have blessed us trmemdously with their generosity and hospitality. We have felt the connection of being a family as we have been here. While the squad played, the squad leaders were busy trying to get us to Mozambique. As things seem to be falling through, God has arranged something even better for us. God sent a lady to where we are staying for the specific purpose of praying with and for our leaders. As she talked to them she told them that who we have been as a squad is not who we will be for the last half of the race. God wants to take hold of us and do mighty things with us. That all started last night. We worshipped together and asked for healing, renewal and a fresh start. This morning we spent time in silence. From the time we woke up until 2pm we spent time with God as a squad. The things I thought were impossible happened! Not only were we to spend time with God, but more specifically each one of us had a specific person to interceed for and we were to fast one meal today! This is just the beginning! God has so much in store for us. He has given us this time as a retreat. We still don’t know when we are leaving for Mozambique, we were supposed to leave today but now it could be as late as Monday. Our squad does not mind at all where we are and while we are here we are going to continue to minister to ourselves. We even have the opportunity to participate in a worship night with and organization kind of like IHOP (International House Of Prayer) tonight. We have been blessed beyond all comprehension!
Please pray for us!
1. Unity in the entire squad.
2. That we will live beyond reproach.
3. That there will be confession and healing amongst us.
4. We will maintain our victory in Christ.
5. That we will remember our first love and keep our eyes on Him.
6. We will be selfless and give up our rights.
7. We will not judge one another.
8. That fasting and Intercession will become part of who we are as a squad.
9. We will fear God and no other.
10. We will be known for our love.
