No no the Assafou 40+ is not a football play, but based on this past month if it were- it would be one intense and crazy play- guaranteed to score! Assafou is the remote village we stayed in the past month. And as for the 40+…well keep reading.
I honestly find it hard to know where to begin after this month. It held true that we would have no electricity, no running water and the heat was in the 100’s daily.
But through all the challenges we saw LIGHT break through the darkness! We were told very early on that there had been teams come into this remote village and try to bring the good news of Jesus, and they failed. This guided my prayer in the beginning to say, “where others have failed, bring us victory God!” And He held up His side of that prayer.
We were welcomed physically, but spiritually it was evident we were not welcome. This village has been run by witch doctors and “strong men” (which we quickly found out was demonic activity) since its start.
We were “welcomed” with heat and skin rashes, sleep deprivation, mosquitos, bug bites and sicknesses that included malaria and typhoid. I remember vividly sitting with our team day 3 feeling defeated and wondering when enough was enough, but holding true to when we are weak the Spirit is strong. It was the Spirit and strength that only comes from Jesus that kept us there- and I am extremely blessed and thankful that we did.
We worked with the entire village- our teams throughout the month made our way to every home in the village and presented the love and good news of Jesus! We teamed up with another YWAM “DTS” team that was from there area and they help us translating (THANKFULLY). All of us together totaled about 12 and we made covered the entire village. We brought LIGHT into the dark. Idols have been worshipped and the village has been under control of demonic presences, but we were told as well as we experienced while we were there, the FREEDOM that was brought!
We worked with adults and children alike. We held services every night with dancing, worship and preaching! We would go house to house and simply build relationship and trust with these wonderful people of Assafou.
Yes we did have struggles, and over half of our team was sick with either typhoid or malaria (including Faith, she is recovered now 🙂 but we pushed through to bring LIFE, LOVE, LIGHT and FREEDOM to this village.
We were told that at the end of our time there that over 40 people had given their lives to Jesus and wanted to start a relationship with God through Jesus! PRAISE GOD! We were told that because of some oppression from family members or friends, people would even come in the dark of night to learn more and receive Jesus! PRAISE GOD!
This is what we are here to do! There was a member of the DTS team that was designated to staying after we all left and maintain and develop more of the Church. This was extremely encouraging to me.
Overall I want you all to know how much we appreciate you all and your prayers. We want you to know that because of your support and prayer that the Kingdom of God was brought to this village and people were saved AND are being saved! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
This month was one of the most difficult, but most rewarding for me. Africa is no joke and the village we were in for the month was “primitive as can be”. I remember the last day I was overwhelmed with emotion and I couldnt figure out why. Honestly there were many days we were ready to leave, so it didnt make sense that now I am getting in the van to leave why I felt this was. The Lord clearly spoke to me and said “when you experience GENUINE, AUTHENTIC love it is moves your Spirit”. For me I affirm that.
In a world where we are all searching for authenticity and we are surrounded and fed artificial, when you are encountered with TRUE AUTHENTICITY and that being LOVE, the most powerful form of LOVE, in giving yourself for others it is incredibly powerful.
I know Faith will be putting up pictures and a blog soon, so stay tuned for even more insight.
Overall, as much as I can go into different specific difficulties I want to focus on the most important part in being that God was glorified and that people came to relation with Him!
Please continue to pray for us as we leave for Ghana tomorrow and continue to pray that God is glorified through us.
With love and for His glory,
Austin
