Praying in the Spirit

Have you ever stepped back from a situation and thought, "is this really my life?" Am I really sitting in this gypsy village? Am I really traveling every single day to a new church and a new town? Is this amazing landscape really my home for the next month?

Starting in Mikrevo, we headed for Sofia and then the rest of the country. I honestly don't know the names of the cities and towns we passed through. In each place we met the pastor of a local church and then hustled off to
the service. We joined in the worship and singing whether we knew the songs or not. After being introduced to the congregation one of us would preach or share a testimony. Then came my favorite part of the service. We had the joy of praying for individuals in the church, specifically the young people. God has been teaching me the importance of intercessory prayer and how to better pray for other people. It is usually a struggle for me to
intentional pray well for a random person standing in front of me. Thus, when I faced this prospect a hundred times over, looking out over the people gathered in church to be prayed for, I took a deep breath and asked God for wisdom. I was reminded of the verse in I Corinthians that says, "likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered." Even though we could not understand each other, everyone with whom I prayed shared a connection with me through the Holy Spirit. We prayed together knowing that the Holy Spirit would pray with and through us. I learned to enjoy the times we spent praying in the churches. I am beginning to cultivate the practice of intercession. It is challenging me to truly look beyond myself and understand the spiritual needs of others. I trust that the Spirit will give me the words to say. He knows the needs of my brothers and sisters.

In addition to praying for people in church, Rayna and I were given an extra opportunity to intercede. While hanging out on the front porch with the gypsy family hosting us and wrapping onions to be sold in the market, Mladen approached us. He said, "You two can come with me?". We looked at each other and shrugged, "Sure….go where?" He said, " there is a little girl, she is sick." The other girls were sleeping after a long day. With nothing better to do, Rayna and I piled into the car with Mladen, the pastor, and his son. For some reason we had assumed that it was right around the corner, instead the house was located clear on the other side of town. We climbed out and made our way to a little trailer/house, slipped our of our shoes, and filed in, followed by about five people from the
little girl's family. Atanaska, the thirteen year old girl, had just had
surgery to remove a brain tumor. While the tumor was no longer present,
the after effects of the surgery were still wreaking havoc with her brain.
Collectively, we surrounded her and prayed for healing, peace, and God's
will to be done in her life.

I know that many of you may be hoping for an incredible ending to this
story; one that might included a sudden, radical visually observable
transformation. However, this story has a different miraculous ending.
After praying for Atanaska, we prepared to leave. However, we were
interrupted by Atanaska's mother. She talked quickly with Mladen and the
pastor. They, in turn, talked with Donca, atanaska's mother for a few
minutes. When Mladen finally began translating for us, we learned that
Donca wanted to repent and turn to Christ as her Savior. Rayna and I
prayed with her as Mladen fully explained the gospel. It was a beautiful
moment seeing a new sister added to the body of Christ!

As for Atanaska, I am confident that the Lord is working in her life and in
her body. Healing is sometimes instantaneous and sometimes gradual.

Please join me in continuing to pray for Atanaska and her family.