Before I began this journey, I had a few expectations. One was that my faith would be stretched and I would learn to trust and obey God's voice. And my faith was tested just the other day.
It was afternoon and we were preparing to go to yet another school to meet the students. This school was a carrier school for young girls and the closest to our house of any we had visited so far, only a short walk down to the base of the hill. We intended to meet the girls, sing some songs with them, and Sarah and Kayla were going to share their testimonies.
As we got ready to go I grabbed my Bible and a few things to bring with me. Suddenly, I was stopped by a sense of foreboding. I had a feeling something bad was going to happen here at the house. We are staying at a very nice guest house on the church grounds. I prayed God would protect our house and not let anything get stolen, but I didn't tell anyone.
We went down to the school and started our little service. We introduced ourselves and, as usual, were treated a bit like a comedy act with such strange words as, Scott, and Delaware. It seems we are hilarious no matter what we say wether it is in English or the local toungue. So we've learned to laugh right along.
We were having fun singing with the girls, but when we were directed to sit down on the stage and Sarah began to talk, my sense of foreboding returned. I prayed again for God's protection and that He would make everything work out, but I felt more and more certain something bad was happening. I argued with myself for a bit that I was just being paranoid all the sudden. But, I wondered how I would feel if I didn't say anything and something bad happened that I could have prevented. This was the reasoning that won out, so after one more prayer for God to prevent whatever was going to happen, I leaned back in my chair and whispered, "Dre, Andrea!"
She looked at me questioningly.
I wasn't sure how to express my bad feeling without alarming her, and I was surprised at the words that came out of my mouth, "I feel like the house is being attacked."
Attacked? Why had I used such a strong and scary word? Was there really an attack of some kind in progress?
She just answered in a whisper, "What do you want to do?"
"I don't know. I guess, can I have the house key and go with Drew to check it out?"
"Sure."
And so, trying not to cause too big of a distraction from Kayla's talk, I went over to Drew at the end of the stage and quickly explained and asked him to come with me.
Soon we were walking back up the hill to our house. I tried to explain my bad feeling and why I'd had to act on it just to make sure everything was okay. He was understanding and generously willing to accompany me.
When we reached the house, all was quiet. Nothing was out of place. All was still.
We'd only been gone a few minutes, so we went back down the hill to rejoin the others.
I wondered aloud if something hadn't happened because we did check on the house. I wondered why I'd had that feeling if nothing was going to happen. Or did my prayers stop it? I wondered if I was wrong in thinking an attack was coming on the house. Maybe it would be a spiritual attack and would come somewhere else.
Drew thought maybe it was a warning to be more cautious.
We got back just as the headmaster was thanking us for coming and finnishing things up. But I was able to talk to some of the girls there and get to know them a little better. I was so releaved the house was okay it just put me in a good mood to chat with these girls. I answered all kinds of questions about my home and my family. And I tried to understand how they live and what they wish for.
Several of them wanted to become taylors which is one of the things taught at this school. So they are well on their way.
Please pray for these girls to learn about God and see His hand evident in their lives.
Later on that night after we had finnished dinner and had sat around talking for a while, some of us were getting ready to go to bed. Emily and Dre were preparing their sermons since they were going to preach at All Saints Church the next day.
I was in bed and nearly drifting off to sleep, when I heard a ruckus outside. It sounded like loud laughter and then someone was screaming! I tried to wake myself up from my drowsy state as I wondered if someone was being hurt and if we should try to do something about it. The noises got louder as if a small crowd was stopped on the road right in front of our house. I was grateful for the dense bushes that blocked the house from view of the road.
But then I heard a crash on the roof. The crashing continued as somethings were being thrown onto and rolling down the tin roof. By now all five of us girls were in the bedroom I share with Sarah and Emily. It only took a moment for everyone to get on mine and Emilies bed and hold hands and begin to pray. I was more awake now, but I was filled with peace.
Why in the world would I be filled with a calm peace when there were screaming people outside throwing rocks at our house? Because this was the attack I'd been told about. God had known this was going to happen and it was no surprise to Him. He already had it under controle before it had begun.
And I suddenly knew there were three giant angels guarding our house: one at our front door, one at the front of the ajoining apartment Scott and Drew stay in, and one guarding the back of the house.
I told the others about the angels, and the noises had all ceased while we were praying, but the others were still pretty nervous.
Dre began calling our squad leaders, our ministry contact, Ezekiel, and trying to hear from our men next door.
I knew things would be taken care of and God was still good. So I let the peace that was washing over me overtake me so I couldn't stay awake any longer. And I was asleep within a couple of minutes of the noises stopping.
So that was my little faith stretcher.
We found out later it was some boys from a school down the road who had snuck out and gotten drunk. The leadership of that school apologized profusely and repeatedly. We told them everything was fine and no harm was done.
Was it wise of me to ask God for more faith? Now I'm wondering what shape the next little faith workout will look like.
